"If you're here to interrogate me, you can ask directly. I'd be happy to sell out the people behind me,"Pariston Hill smiled faintly.
Biscuit Krueger shot him a disgusted glare but said nothing.
Pariston didn't mind. In fact, he smiled even more cheerfully.
"I have no real interest in V5."
Aoki Hiroshi finally spoke, his calm gaze falling on the man.
This was someone with a twisted mind—a man who found joy in being hated. That was why he constantly stirred up conspiracies, inviting animosity from all sides.
"Do you want to live?" Hiroshi asked quietly.
"If possible, sure," Pariston shrugged nonchalantly."Though I doubt I can meet your demands."
"Then hear them first," Hiroshi said.
Pariston's face turned serious.
"Go ahead."
After all, who wants to die if there's a way to live?Facing someone who could kill him at any moment, Pariston shed his usual smirks and flippancy.
Hiroshi was not Netero—he wouldn't hesitate if displeased.
"First," Hiroshi said calmly,"You are not to stand against me for the next ten years."
"Second, tell me the route the Chimera Ants used to smuggle themselves into the human world."
"Third, fulfill one request unconditionally from Chairman Netero.If he dies before it's used, the right transfers to Biscuit.If she dies before using it, the right passes to Ging Freecss."
Pariston's expression twisted rapidly.
Those three conditions came dangerously close to his psychological limits—especially the third.
An unconditional task—meaning even if asked to die, he'd have to comply.
It was no different from putting a slave collar around his neck.
But the names involved—Netero, Biscuit, and Ging—gave him some hope.All three had high moral standards. Netero, especially, might just ask him for something trivial.
"Fine. I accept," Pariston sighed with a bitter smile.
Beside them, Biscuit was stunned, her eyes wide.
What is going on?
Why those conditions?
Why do they feel like… a farewell message?
"Then make a vow with your Nen ability," Hiroshi nodded.
"Alright," Pariston raised one hand and began the vow.
This was a Nen-based contract of restriction.
If he violated any of the three terms, he would permanently lose his Nen and fall into a state of Zetsu.
If he broke two, he would lose a large amount of aura and lifespan.
If he broke all three, he would die instantly.
"W-Wait!" Biscuit interrupted, frustrated."Can someone please explain to me what's going on?"
Pariston chuckled, glancing at her.
"Every skilled Nen user has a curiosity about the Dark Continent.Mr. Aoki is no exception."
Biscuit froze for a second… then looked at Hiroshi in shock.
She recalled the second condition: "Tell me the route the Chimera Ants used to smuggle into the human world."
He wants to sneak into the Dark Continent!?
She was stunned.
Under normal circumstances, that would be nearly impossible.
But this was Aoki Hiroshi—the man who had mastered five Nen systems, developed a multi-type Nen Beast, and reached the pinnacle of Nen mastery in less than a week.
It wasn't unthinkable that he could pull it off solo.
"Hiroshi, you…" she couldn't find the words.
She wanted to stop him—but couldn't bring herself to object.
Pariston was right—any truly powerful Nen user would yearn to explore the unknown.No one could suppress that urge.
"Let's go, Biscuit," Hiroshi said simply, offering no further explanation as he walked out of the cave.
That was his plan.
To disappear as if he had gone to the Dark Continent.
Let the world believe a powerful, mysterious Nen user had vanished—dead or alive, no one would know.
Such uncertainty would deter many would-be enemies in the shadows.
But over time, influence fades.
So his first condition—"Ten years of peace"—was precisely calculated.
"Sigh…"
Biscuit exhaled deeply and followed him out.
Inside the cave, only Pariston remained, his expression dark.
Agreeing to those terms meant he couldn't make any big moves for ten years.
But refusing meant instant death.
If he endured those ten years, though… he'd have a shot at rising again.
"I underestimated you, Aoki Hiroshi."
"Not even Netero was this terrifying…From Nen awakening to mastering Renshan in under a week?"
"Good thing you're not interested in the human world.Otherwise, I'd be the one fleeing to the Dark Continent."
He exhaled heavily.
Buzz. Buzz.
Suddenly, his phone vibrated.
He answered without checking.
"The mission failed."
The other end fell silent.
"I'm seriously injured. I can't operate within the Association anymore," he said."I'll go to the Kakin Empire. If you need to reach me, contact me there."
"And from now on—anything involving the Association or Aoki Hiroshi, count me out."
"I don't want to die."
He hung up immediately.
On the other end of the call...
Inside a grand video conference room—
Beep. Beep. Beep.
The V5 leaders sat in silence, staring at the call's abrupt end.
"We failed?"
"All of our people… dead."
"Absurd. That was a 30-man squad with full gear."
"And Pariston… actually backed off?"
They couldn't believe it.
Even if the assassination failed, they expected Hiroshi to be gravely wounded.Slowing his growth would've been a win.
Instead, their elite forces were wiped out.And Pariston retreated.
"Aoki Hiroshi's rise… is now unstoppable."
One of the leaders spoke in a low voice.
"Change our stance. Befriend him. Do whatever it takes—make him our ally."
The others nodded in agreement.
"Yes."
"Women, money, power, treasures, beasts—whatever he wants, give it to him."
"Exactly. Let him feel our goodwill."
"Also, track down Pariston."
"This was all his plot. We had no knowledge of it."
"Right. If he survives and escapes to the Kakin Empire, we can reassess cooperation then."