Human aging is related to cell division.
The decrease in Potential Aura is also related to cells.
Nitro Rice has the effect of increasing lifespan. Earlier, when Law and his group consumed it, they only slightly enhanced their Potential Aura.
Apart from lifespan, the effect wasn't very noticeable.
Perhaps because they were still young, that aspect of the effect hadn't manifested much.
But for Netero, the effect should be quite significant.
Among everyone present, the ones most eager to see the effect, besides the Hunter Association's members, were Biscuit.
As a disciple of the Shingen-ryu school, she was also a student of Netero.
With that connection, she naturally paid close attention.
Except for Law, who was contemplating how to persuade Sanbica to stay, everyone else quietly watched Netero, who had just consumed the Nitro Rice.
After a few moments, nothing happened.
Netero closed his eyes, carefully sensing the changes within his body.
Outsiders couldn't see his changes, but he himself knew that the Nitro Rice had indeed taken effect.
His Potential Aura was steadily increasing.
It was like a half-wilted flower slowly regaining its vitality.
The process occurring inside his body was clearly perceptible to Netero.
This change brought not excitement or agitation, but... a sense of movingness.
His body, and his Potential Aura, were regressing to levels from ten, maybe twenty years ago, or even further.
He didn't need to return to his peak, but any change at all was already deeply satisfying.
"So this is... the effect of Nitro Rice."
After a moment, Netero slowly opened his eyes.
The eyes shimmered with the bright glow of Nen.
"Chairman, how were the effects?" Cheadle asked eagerly when she saw Netero open his eyes.
From his appearance alone, there was no change.
The Nen flowing through Netero was as silent and steady as ever, devoid of the slightest alteration.
Netero smiled but didn't speak. Instead, he opened his Aura Nodes and released his Nen to its maximum extent.
Once his Aura was manifested, waves of force arose at his feet.
His Aura, which had always been very silent, was now infused with abundant vitality.
Seeing the change in Netero's Aura, everyone's eyes brightened slightly.
This was clearly a stronger Manifested Aura than before, meaning the Nitro Rice had produced an excellent effect.
The Aura Netero released snapped Law out of his thoughts.
He looked at Netero, raised an eyebrow slightly, and smiled. "Not a bad effect, huh."
Netero said with emotion, "Yes. It should have pulled back about 20% of my strength."
"It seems the older you are, the better the effect of taking Nitro Rice," Ging said, rubbing his chin with interest. "If Don Freecss is still alive, his strength might have been maintained at his peak level."
"That's highly likely," Tonpa echoed Ging's statement.
Having witnessed the effect of Netero taking Nitro Rice, it was easy to imagine Don Freecss's current template.
"But, there seems to be no change in appearance, right?"
"Well, it only increases lifespan, it doesn't make you younger."
"Since the Chairman said it, it seems the effect is very good."
The change brought by the Nitro Rice was a welcome result for the Hunter Association's members.
The Chairman was, after all, the face of the Hunter Association, and strength was one of the hard conditions.
This change slightly dispersed the clouds of worry hanging over the Hunter Association's members.
A faint smile hung on Netero's face. The effect of a single stalk of Nitro Rice made his thoughts stir.
This way, the chance of completing the mission would increase accordingly.
Law seemed to see through Netero's thoughts, but he had known from the beginning that Netero intended to see this through.
He couldn't stop him, nor could he take his own team to take risks.
So, what he could do was give Netero some important supplies, like the Nitro Rice he had Netero consume just now, or the Grass Jelly that could heal injuries...
And these donations were the groundwork for keeping Sanbica behind.
Netero regaining 20% of his peak strength was good news, but another piece of good news quickly followed.
That old man Shiro, with an incredible stroke of luck, had consecutively drawn two Breath of Angels, healing both Ginta and Dafifi.
They had been the most seriously injured... treating them would have taken considerable time.
Now, with two Breath of Angels drawn, it saved a lot of effort.
This string of good news suddenly gave the Hunter Association a glimmer of hope.
Law promptly led Netero away to have a private conversation.
Under the premise that the Hunter Association insisted on continuing to pursue Beyond's team, Law certainly didn't want Sanbica to go with them.
He knew that although Sanbica's ability was formidable, her weakness was her physical frailty.
She was like a porcelain doll, potentially shattering at the slightest touch.
If they engaged Beyond's people head-on, even if the Hunter Association won, it would certainly be a costly victory, and Sanbica would undoubtedly be on the list of casualties.
This possibility was one hundred percent.
Law was absolutely certain.
Thus, he took Netero to a quiet environment and directly explained the effects of Lichen and Grass Jelly.
Hearing Law describe these precious supplies, Netero's eyes gleamed with intensity.
"I'll give you some Lichen and Grass Jelly, but Sanbica must stay with me. I need her assistance with something," Law stated his request.
Netero was very tempted, but he couldn't agree directly. "We'll have to ask Sanbica's opinion."
He very much wanted to agree outright, but he couldn't make the decision for Sanbica.
"Is that so..." Law looked troubled.
Netero narrowed his eyes, looking Law up and down, thinking to himself, 'This guy is usually quite sharp, why is he so dense about this matter?'
The most suitable person to convince Sanbica to stay was, in fact, Law himself.
Netero thought about hinting this to Law, but then reconsidered. If he hinted, he wouldn't be able to legitimately ask for the Lichen and Grass Jelly.
With this in mind, Netero said seriously, "I'll convince Sanbica for you. After all, by your account, the Grass Jelly has a stronger healing effect than Sanbica's ability, and I'm also well aware of Sanbica's weakness. Taking her into battle would indeed be extremely risky."
Law's eyes lit up, and he nodded. "Deal."
After that, the matter of keeping Sanbica behind was settled.
With Netero doing the persuading, it was naturally effortless.
In exchange for receiving precious supplies from Law, Sanbica had to leave the team.
The Hunter Association's members had no objections, naturally, because the effects of Lichen and Grass Jelly were simply too explosive.
It was like two equally leveled players fighting, but one had no potions while the other had healing and mana potions.
That was the effect of Lichen and Grass Jelly.
Sanbica's stay evoked various feelings in many people.
Menchi tried her best to erase her presence, her complex gaze silently shifting between Sanbica and Law.
There was envy, but more of lament and heartache.
Although Netero was the one who told Sanbica to stay, she knew very well that Sanbica's stay was definitely related to Law.
Anyone who used their brain could guess why Law wanted Sanbica to stay.
And precisely because of this, Menchi felt so miserable.
She silently looked at Law's back, then finally looked at Machi.
Menchi slowly lowered her head.
Anyway, she couldn't cry.
What Menchi could discern about Sanbica staying behind was naturally not lost on Machi either.
However, she wouldn't get jealous. But as a woman, she still had the necessary vigilance.
She thought that after the Hunter Association's members left, she would have to thoroughly interrogate Law.