"Seems your people pack a punch," Jed muttered through clenched teeth, fists tightening. He was the last one left.
"Oh? My people?" Netero replied with a calm smile, despite being imprisoned. "I wouldn't call them my people. How could I have that honor?"
Facing the cold night air, Netero let out a quiet sigh. He suspected Larry was behind the attack, which explained his lack of worry, after all, Larry was right here in the Sky Arena.
"Why? Why do you act like nothing happened?" Jed shouted, frustration boiling over. "Tell me, Netero!"
Netero's calm and relaxed expression only fueled Jed's anger, especially since he was already upset over the loss of his comrades. "Ho ho ho, the important thing is someone will come to save me," Netero said with a playful wink. "Otherwise, I wouldn't be so calm."
If his hands weren't tied, he might have stroked his beard in amusement. Jed sneered in response. "Hehe, Netero, you're still as old-fashioned as ever.
Tell me, who could possibly save you now? The two kids you just threw down? They're probably crushed to bits by me already, right?"
Jed laughed mockingly at Netero's words, unaware that in the original story, those very kids, Gon and the others, had actually defeated him. But not like they were stronger, It was just the plot that had him killed off.
During their fight, Gon suddenly became incredibly strong, knocked Jed down, and despite being consumed by On, he was awakened by the "power of friendship" alongside Killua. Like a "Super Saiyan," Gon delivered a single punch that defeated Jed.
"I'm not talking about Gon and the others," Netero continued. "You don't really keep up with current events, do you? You haven't even heard of Larry?" He spoke of Larry as someone far stronger than himself.
Netero remembered Larry's feats vividly; the memory of that meeting, with those five intimidating auras, left a deep impression on him.
"The new waves really are stronger than the old. I guess my time has passed. The new era belongs to Larry!" Hearing that name, Jed recalled Netero's earlier speech where he openly admitted he wasn't as strong as this person called Larry.
"Well, if you have such high hopes for Larry, it'd be great if he had the guts to show up," Jed sneered. "Then I could tear him into 367 pieces right in front of you!"
Netero stayed silent in the face of Jed's taunts. He knew that only after Jed was defeated by Larry would the truth sink in, so there was no point arguing further.
With a scowl, Jed lifted his cloak, turned his back to Netero, and his pale face darkened. His original plan had been to have Shura cut off all communications in the Sky Arena and then negotiate directly with the Hunter Association himself.
Now that Shura can't be used, he has no choice but to come alone. This way, the information won't be blocked.
He plans to show the pictures directly to everyone across the six continents, exposing just how rotten the Hunter Association they trust really is. He wants everyone to see how pitiful the Netero they admire truly is.
Inside the vast office of the Hunter Association, the response was the same everywhere: "Sorry, we have nothing to say right now." "There's nothing we can comment on at the moment."
Facing endless questions, the Hunter Association couldn't provide any clear answers. Beans, the Chairman's secretary, was running around busily, probably wishing he had more legs to keep up.
Meanwhile, Pariston, the vice Chairman, seemed more like an audience member watching a show, sitting back in his chair without lifting a finger.
"It's really unlucky. The Sky Arena was invaded, and yet Chairman Netero is nowhere to be found," someone remarked.
"Luckily, Mr. Larry is on the scene and seems to have things under control." The bean-faced man was juggling calls from the V5 and the public, muttering under his breath as he rushed about.
Catching a glimpse of Pariston sitting idly in his office, he murmured, "People really are different. How can someone be like you?"
Suddenly, a female employee shouted, "It's starting! The mastermind has begun a live broadcast across the six continents, and Chairman Netero is in the footage!"
On the big screen in the office, Jed's figure appeared, with the imprisoned Netero standing behind him. Because this was a live broadcast, everyone watching across the continents saw the captured Chairman.
"Chairman…" The bean-faced man looked on with worry as Netero bowed his head in the image.
Then, in the dark night illuminated only by the soft glow of the moon, Jed spoke directly to everyone: "Good evening, everyone in the Hunter Association, everyone across the six continents. In just twelve hours, at five o'clock, I will execute Netero right here!"
As Jed delivered his speech, Netero suddenly had a thought and glanced toward the corner beside him. Emerging from the shadows, a figure appeared, barely visible in the dim moonlight.
Netero's eyes widened in shock as he recognized the figure, his pupils contracted sharply in disbelief. "What is this?!" he thought.
"My demand is simple: make the Hunter Association's Dark Record Book public!" the figure declared. "Until that happens, I will stay with Netero."
Without Shura's influence and with Jed changing his mind, the scene unfolded differently than before, Netero wasn't immediately cut off or imprisoned, which only heightened the tension. This unexpected move could stir public panic, and perhaps, by rallying the people's power, pressure the Hunter Association's top leaders.
After stating his demand, Jed closed his eyes, waiting to see how both the Hunter Association and powerful countries like the V5 would respond. If they agreed, great. If not... then after Netero's death, it would be their turn to face consequences.
The contents of the Dark Record Book weren't just dirt on the Hunter Association, they detailed the darkest deeds assigned by the Association and exposed the dirty secrets of countries like the V5. Today, he intended to reveal all those so-called "good deeds" carried out by these hypocritical leaders.
Though the top brass had orchestrated these actions, the blame had been unfairly placed on others. Releasing the Dark Record Book was only the first step in a much larger plan.
Jed wasn't satisfied with just ruining their reputation, he wanted those people to pay in blood. Though his words were calm, they sent shockwaves across all six continents. His live broadcast was linked to the Sky Arena, meaning everyone watching the Sky Arena's broadcast saw it unfold.
Their most respected Hunter Association Chairman, Netero, was imprisoned and completely at the mercy of others. And the silver-haired man declared he would execute Chairman Netero!
Questions flooded viewers' minds: 'Was Netero in danger? What was this dark record book Jed mentioned? '