Hello everyone. I'm Gon Freecss, and I'm really feeling the "Correction Force" of destiny regarding this election. The time has finally come...
***
It was the day of the first round of the Chairman Election. Over 600 pro hunters had gathered at the Hunter Association headquarters, each writing down their preferred candidate and casting their ballots. While some were absent—like Shalnark of the Phantom Troupe, who was currently incarcerated—almost every active hunter participated to avoid the risk of losing their license.
The observers for the first round were three members of the Zodiacs: Ginta (Sheep), Pyon (Rabbit), and Kanzai (Tiger). On this day, they came face-to-face with an exceptionally "thick" group of individuals.
"Tsubone is so comfortable to ride! People look like trash from up here, and your shoulders are nice and soft!"
"Ai!!"
"Hohoho. I pride myself on being the best in the world at carrying passengers. Master Gon, please give me another massage with your Muscle Dialogue later so my shoulders can be even better."
The first thing that caught everyone's eye was a massive, pink-haired elderly woman emerging from the crowd with two children perched on her shoulders. Her impact was so great that it was obvious she wasn't a pro hunter, but Tsubone'sstrength radiated such a heavy pressure that even the weaker hunters nearby trembled, allowing her to pass without challenge.
"Hmm... there are a surprising number of small fry here. ♦ Everyone is a 10 or lower. It's a nasty surprise that even the Zodiacs there are below 50. ♣"
"Is that so? Aren't they the combat-specialized Zodiacs?"
Next was the notorious Hisoka and the mascot-sized Gon sitting on his shoulder. Even Ginta and Kanzai—among the strongest combatants of the Zodiacs—couldn't hide their tension as they stared at Hisoka's roiling aura and the small creature that looked non-human yet spoke perfectly normally.
"He looks plenty strong to me, though," Leorio added. "Given Cheadle's case, maybe he's a support type."
"Mentioning another woman's name in front of me and the children? It seems a harsh punishment is required tonight," Kurapika remarked coldly.
"Why are you getting mad at that?! Leorio, keep a tighter leash on her!" Killua sighed.
"Impossible!!" Leorio cried.
"Guma..." Gin the Foxbear added.
Bringing up the rear were Leorio and Kurapika, with Gin carrying the twins on his back. Killua, true to his assassin roots, had the thinnest presence of them all.
Leorio (20) now radiated the dignity of a battle-hardened medic, while Kurapika had evolved into a glamorous beauty whose baggy Kurta robes couldn't hide her presence. Seeing a Foxbear walking through the lobby with infants was an utterly bizarre sight.
Despite being a group of lunatics parting the crowd like Moses, the Zodiacs maintained their composure.
"Hi. Is the famous Ging Freecss not here? I was looking forward to seeing him. ♦"
"That idiot just voted and vanished! I swear, I wish he'd just drop dead once!" Pyon chirped.
"What a shame. ♠"
"Is that why you came?" Kanzai barked at Hisoka. "You usually don't care about this stuff."
"Actually, that's not true. ♥"
Contrary to Kanzai's expectation, Hisoka cast his ballot with a name written on it. Gon's group followed suit. Finally, the tiny Gon hopped onto the desk. Pyon reached out, fascinated.
"It moves normally, but what is it? Someone's Nen beast? ♪"
"I've never seen a creature like this," Ginta added, observing closely.
Gon didn't flinch as Pyon poked him. He gave a wide grin. "Nice to meet you! I'm Gon Freecss, from the 287th Hunter Exam."
"You're a Hunter?! Wait, Freecss... are you Ging's kid?!" Kanzai roared in shock.
The room erupted in whispers. Unlike Ging, Gon was polite, and his cute appearance made Pyon and Ginta look at him with doting eyes.
"My dad will be here for the results, right? Could you tell him not to run away? I'd appreciate it."
"That's an easy request! ♪"
"I'll make sure to taunt him into staying! ☆"
Having finished the exchange—which would have made Cheadle offer a silent prayer for the Association's sanity had she been there—the group left the hall. They had provided enough gossip to last a lifetime: Ging's son was here, and the infamous Hisoka had actually voted.
"...Wait, was it okay that there were several complete outsiders in there?" only Kanzai, often called an idiot, stopped to wonder.
***
"Yo, Kil. You look well."
"Illumi?!"
"Hmm? Something's changed. ♣"
As they headed out to find a place to eat, they ran into Illumi. While Killua immediately flared his aura, Illumi stood there with his usual unreadable, vacant expression. Hisoka, however, sensed a distinct abnormality in his longtime associate.
"I'm on my way to vote, so you guys are already done? It saves me the trouble of looking for you."
Illumi spoke as if the incident at Kukuroo Mountain had never happened. He pulled a letter from his pocket.
"I have a letter for Kil from Dad. I've delivered it. Bye-bye."
Illumi stuck a needle into his face, transforming into Gittarackur, and walked away casually.
"...That was strange, even for Master Illumi," Tsubone noted.
"I hate him," Alluka muttered.
"Ai," Nanika agreed.
The group found a private room in a restaurant. Once they were settled, Killua opened the letter.
"...Ah. I see."
"What does it say?" Gon asked.
"Since Alluka and Nanika's 'Requests' and 'Wishes' are basically neutralized now, it looks like Dad did me a favor. He says Illumi used his own needles to make himself forget everything 'inconvenient' about the rescue."
"Can we trust that?" Kurapika asked, wary of anyone who could manipulate memory.
"I saw the needles," Leorio confirmed. "They were definitely in there."
Killua burned the letter with a spark of electricity. "If Dad sent a formal notice, it's true. Illumi isn't skilled enough to 'act' this convincingly. If he were faking it, it would mean the entire Zoldyck family is being controlled by him."
Killua patted the heads of Alluka and Nanika. "Dad said we should enjoy the outside world. He's calling off Tsubone's surveillance once things settle down."
"Master Killua, I shall remain by your side to care for Alluka and Nanika even without the surveillance orders," Tsubone declared, her eyes tearing up.
"Heh. It helps to have you around, Tsubone."
***
In a conference room at headquarters, Beans and a few clerks were looking over the first results.
"This is... well, we knew it, but it's still blatant."
"His personality aside, it's a fact that he's done a lot for us clerks and the Temp Hunters."
1st Place: Pariston Hill — 249 votes (37%)
2nd Place: Cheadle Yorkshire — 40 votes (6.1%)
It was a landslide victory for the Vice Chairman who ruled the Association from the shadows. However, since no one reached a majority, a second round with the top 16 was required.
"The top ranks are all legends," one clerk noted. "But to think a rookie in his second year would rank this high."
Gon Freecss had secured 11 votes, putting him in a tie for 9th place.
"Look at the quality of his voters, though. He'd be Top 3 if we weighted them by prestige."
Ging had insisted on a rule of "No Anonymity." The hunters who voted for Gon included Bisky, Morel, Knov, Tsezguerra, and Kite—and, of course, Hisoka. It was already a formidable faction.
***
As the clerks left to prepare for the speeches of the top 16, Netero entered the room with tea and snacks.
"Good work, Beans. Take a break."
Netero poured the tea—a rare sight. Beans sipped his tea and sighed.
"...I think I can see it now. The future of the Hunter Association."
"Ho ho. That's not like you, Beans. What do you see in these results?"
"Maybe it's because someone close to me got young again, but I feel like trying something new too. I only saw him from a distance, but... man, that radiance. I thought I'd turn into a husk just by looking at him."
"Kakkakka! As expected of you, Beans. You weren't fooled by his looks."
Netero's mental and physical rejuvenation was affecting everyone. Beans pointed to Gon's name on the list.
"The Hunter Association is going to revolve around Gon from now on. He has surpassed even you, Chairman. They will all move under the protection of his overwhelming strength."
"Only for now!!" Netero barked, accidentally crushing his teacup. "I'm not letting anyone protect me! Gon, Hisoka... I'm the one who's going to crush all of you!!"
Beans sighed and began cleaning up the spilled tea while lecturing the Chairman. Their roles had changed—Chairman and Secretary were gone—but their friendship remained as troublesome and eternal as ever.
***
10 Advanced Chapters Available on my Patreon!
https://patreon.com/Well_being