While Allen was busy progressing through the final few bosses of the Molten Core raid, Cheadle had already safely returned to the Hunter Association Headquarters via airship.
Just like last time, the moment she stepped off the airship, she was met with Pariston's irritating, smiling face. She immediately frowned and questioned him, "What kind of mischief are you up to now?"
"Mischief? No, no, no, you misunderstand. I'm simply here to welcome you back. You know, that young man Allen is truly remarkable. After only a few days of quiet, he's managed to uproot both the notorious Shadow Beasts and the Class-A bandit group, the Phantom Troupe, in Yorknew City. Many within the Association now view him as a scourge of crime, the Grim Reaper of justice," Pariston teased in a playful tone.
"Hmph! Don't act as if you're unaware of the complex web of interests behind the Phantom Troupe. Chrollo and the comrades he gathered may be dead, but the Troupe won't simply vanish; it will be reborn in another form. That is dictated by politics and profit. It cannot be erased by one or two powerful Bounty Hunters alone. However, this time, I believe the new Phantom Troupe will show considerable restraint. There is now a sharp sword hanging over their heads; the moment they cross the line, it will bring down immediate destruction."
As she spoke, Cheadle stared at him with a warning look, the implication clear.
"A sword hanging over their heads?"
The corners of Pariston's mouth curled up, revealing an eerie expression quite unlike a normal human reaction. "That sounds quite wonderful. I'm sure with a decisive Bounty Hunter like him as a deterrent, violent homicides worldwide will see a sharp decline. However, it's hard to say how the masterminds behind the scenes, those who have suffered massive losses, will react."
"Is that not something you should be coordinating in your capacity as the Vice Chairman of the Hunter Association?" Cheadle retorted with a cold sneer.
"Haha, of course. How could I forget such professional duties? In fact, I've already recommended Allen to those fellows, suggesting he become the new leader to reorganize the Phantom Troupe. What do you think? Isn't it a brilliant idea?" A mischievous grin spread across Pariston's face.
Hearing this, Cheadle's expression instantly soured. "You're playing with fire!"
Pariston shrugged nonchalantly. "Playing with fire? Perhaps. But unfortunately, he is clearly much smarter and more difficult to deal with than I imagined. He rejected that tempting proposal without a moment's hesitation. A very interesting person; I'm actually quite eager to meet him now."
"Your wish will be granted soon enough. Before long, Allen will formally issue a challenge to the Chairman. I only hope you aren't too frightened by him when the time comes."
With that, Cheadle ignored the repulsive man and walked straight into the Association building.
Watching her receding back, an excited and expectant light flickered in Pariston's eyes. He muttered to himself in a voice only he could hear, "Challenging Chairman Netero? Now that is incredible news. How long has it been since someone dared to challenge that troublesome old man?"
As soon as he finished speaking, the "Rat" of the Zodiacs pulled out his phone and dialed a number.
After about ten seconds, a gruff voice answered from the other end: "Hello? Is there something important for you to be calling at this hour?"
"Ah! Indeed there is. Your father, the Chairman of our Hunter Association, is likely about to face a challenge from a junior. And this time, the challenger is different from those fools of the past; he's a very, very troublesome and formidable fellow," Pariston said meaningfully.
"Oh? Will the old man die?" the gruff voice asked bluntly.
The tone wasn't that of a son concerned for his father, but rather one full of schadenfreude.
There was no need to ask. This was Netero's only son, Beyond.
A "filial son" who, in order to explore the Dark Continent, wouldn't hesitate to set a trap to eliminate his own father, a man comparable to Lordaeron's "filial son," Arthas. As for who was more "filial," that was a matter of perspective.
Pariston replied with a laugh, "I think there's a high probability he won't. After all, the Chairman is highly respected now; killing him in public would carry immense political risk. Anyone with a modicum of intelligence wouldn't do something so stupid. But one thing is certain: the Chairman will likely be quite thrilled. So, you'd better hurry with that plan of yours. If he finds psychological satisfaction in this battle, our scheme might run the risk of falling through."
"Understood! Don't worry, the Queen Ant on the Kakin side is nearly finished being cultivated. The next step is to deliver it to a suitable location. Oh, I almost forgot to ask. Who is this person challenging the old man? Will he affect our plans?" Beyond asked with interest.
"His name is Allen. A fifteen-year-old monster. His aura capacity, abilities, and growth speed are all terrifying. Furthermore, as far as I know, he can steal the abilities and aura of others. This means that anyone he defeats becomes fuel for him to grow stronger."
Pariston held nothing back, relaying all the information and intelligence he had gathered.
Beyond fell silent for several seconds on the other end of the line before finally sighing in admiration. "Only fifteen? What a terrifying little fellow! If possible, I'd like to meet him after the duel is over. You'll arrange it, right?"
"Meet him? You don't mean..." Pariston's face showed genuine surprise.
As a co-conspirator, he understood better than anyone how proud the Chairman's son was; Beyond was practically a replica of Netero in his youth.
"Yes! I think he would make an excellent collaborator and teammate. Our ultimate goal is the peril-filled Dark Continent. Someone like him, who masters multiple abilities, is exactly what we need most. If we can bring him into the fold, it would significantly increase our survival rate during exploration. Besides, the Kakin Royal Family has its own agenda; we can't rely on them too much," Beyond explained.
Pariston nodded thoughtfully. "Fine, I'll find a way to arrange it. But you'd better not get your hopes too high. He's not the type of child who is easily persuaded; he's a reaper who captured and executed hundreds of wanted criminals in just a few months."
"No. You're wrong. He will be persuaded. For a true Hunter, there is nothing in this world that compares to the Dark Continent. Whether they are Bounty Hunters, Gourmet Hunters, or Magic Beast Hunters, they can all find the ultimate goal of their lifelong pursuit there. For instance, the herb that can cure all diseases, the rice that extends life, the stone that generates electricity when placed in water, or the Trinity Elixir that is the source of all liquids. Therefore, he will surely become our comrade," Beyond guaranteed with absolute confidence.
"I hope so..."
Pariston clearly didn't want to engage in a pointless argument and hung up, heading into the Association building.