The grudge ran deep. After losing members of the Seven Deadly Sins, Wrath, Envy, Greed, and Gluttony, Pride's hatred for Larry had reached a boiling point.
But this wasn't just about settling a personal score. Pride believed that by killing Larry, he could erase the shame of his previous defeat and use his Nen ability to absorb or evolve further through that act.
On top of that, Larry was now a big name in the world, especially after his legendary performance at the Sky Arena. Everyone knew the name "Larry." If someone that iconic died at Pride's hands, the boost in reputation and Nen potential would be immense.
That's why Earthworm's message could be summed up in one clear sentence: Pride was coming for Larry.
The people who had arrived today representing the World Mafia were actually Pride's men. This whole meeting might have been the stage for something bigger.
"Looks like it's almost time to catch them all in one go…" Ging muttered with a thoughtful tone, glancing at Larry, who didn't look concerned in the slightest.
Ging knew the history between Larry and the Seven Deadly Sins all too well. It had started back at the ruins of Solvren, where Wrath and Envy had been taken out.
Then came the retaliation, Greed and Gluttony, both gone as well. With four of the original Seven already dead, the group had become little more than a joke.
Now, Pride had joined forces with the World Mafia and risen to one of the highest positions in the underground world. Was this all part of some master plan to strike back again?
Ging didn't know the exact details of Pride's Nen ability, but from what he could tell, Pride seemed like the type to hold a grudge forever. As a criminal, that was hardly surprising. But even Ging suspected there might be more to it.
From everything he'd seen, Pride didn't just want revenge, he wanted power. Fighting Larry wasn't just about hate.
There was one thing Ging didn't say out loud, though. If Pride really made a move while sitting in the seat of a Ten Don, the consequences might ripple far beyond just their small circle.
The impact could shake up the entire underworld, or even spill into the surface world if the Mafia misjudged their moves.
But ultimately, Ging let go of the thought. These things weren't his responsibility. He sighed, relaxing his furrowed brow.
There was no need to worry, Larry wasn't someone who needed protection. Even if he stirred up trouble across all six continents, Ging felt confident that Larry could deal with it effortlessly.
In fact, Larry's strength alone wasn't the scariest part. His collection of powerful Nen beasts made him even more dangerous.
Each of them had unique abilities, healing, teleportation, exorcism, storage, things that most Nen users could only dream of mastering one at a time. Larry had all of them.
That made Ging think of the Dark Continent. Having someone like Larry on the expedition would be like bringing an entire elite team rolled into one person.
With how things were shaping up, Ging was starting to think he should pull Larry in for that journey, no matter what. Especially with Nen beasts like his… Larry could be the key to surviving that hellish place.
What Ging didn't realize was that he wasn't the only one watching Larry. Others had started paying close attention to him as well, and a few were already scheming how to get him on their side.
Not long after, the group reached the door of the special conference room. Larry suddenly realized just how large their party had become.
At first, it was only him and Menchi. Then Gel joined them, followed by Biscuit. Now Ging was here too. The five of them walking together was an intimidating sight.
To any outsider watching, this group looked like an all-star lineup. Even the least known among them, Menchi, held the impressive title of being the youngest one-star Hunter in the entire association.
In the world of Hunters, star rankings mattered. Starless Hunters were everywhere, but once someone earned a star, they were considered an elite.
As they stepped into the meeting room, Larry immediately noticed how huge the place was, definitely a large conference hall. Inside, about twenty people had already gathered, and the number was still growing. It looked like there would be at least several dozen in total by the time things got underway.
The attendees could be split into two major groups. First, the top brass from various powerful factions, members of the Hunter Association's Zodiac, high-ranking V5 officials and nobility, and representatives of the world's Mafia families.
The second group was made up of solo Hunters with impressive credentials. Biscuit and Menchi clearly fell into that category. Larry even spotted a few familiar faces among the crowd.
One of them was Morel, standing calmly in a corner with his iconic pipe in hand. Out of respect for the venue, he wasn't smoking, but the way he held it made him look as composed and sharp as ever.
He hadn't faced off against the Ant King yet, so for now, he was still considered just a one-star Sea Hunter. But after the Chimera Ant incident, his promotion to a three-star Hunter was already set in stone.
Everyone gathered in the large conference room today for one reason , to officially announce the top five telepathic users in the world!
The room was massive, with a long rectangular table stretching down the center, enough to seat dozens. But only those with recognized status had the privilege to sit.
The rest, those with less clout, stood behind them. About half the people in the room were seated, the other half stood silently at the back.
"Hoo ho ho ho, looks like our main character has finally arrived," said a familiar voice from the head of the table. "Come on, take your seat."
President Netero gently set down his teacup and welcomed Larry with a calm smile. A spot had clearly been saved for him in advance.
As Larry stepped in, he quickly recognized several familiar faces near the President. Most noticeable was Linne, who looked much healthier than before and greeted him with a warm smile.
It turned out Larry had been right, Linne was the one who personally asked Netero to bring him back. Clearly, even she felt Larry was more deserving of this seat than herself.
At the center of the table sat Netero, with Linne on his right. To his left sat a white-haired man, Zeno Zoldyck.
The old assassin narrowed his eyes slightly as Larry entered, silently observing the young man. Zeno had heard plenty of rumors about him, but this was his first time seeing Larry in person.
What stood out most to Zeno was something his son Silva once told him. After returning home from a job, Silva mentioned that their family's legendary elder, Maha, had actually lost to a young man, someone who had challenged the Zoldycks head-on. And that person… was Larry.