“Haha~” Netero looked at Bai Ze with a playful glint in his eyes: “Eating before playing a game, what kind of logic is that?”
Bai Ze remained calm and composed: “Respecting the elderly and caring for the young, I’m worried you might lack energy.”
In the surveillance room, Zeno squinted and muttered: “This old geezer would never lack energy.”
Ignoring Bai Ze’s excuse, Netero cracked his neck, a satisfying sound reverberated as he anticipated the challenge.
“Alright, let’s eat first then.”
Meet force with force, water with earth; Netero was unsure of Bai Ze’s motives.
However, in the face of absolute strength, all strategies are ultimately futile.
Confident in his abilities, Netero feared nothing.
Even if Bai Ze had poisoned the food, he would have a way to counter it.
Little did he know, this was a mental attack.
Seeing Netero take the bait, the big fish finally hooked, Bai Ze waved his hand and summoned an endless supply of Dan Dan noodles and pearl milk tea.
In an instant, a steaming bowl of Dan Dan noodles and a cup of pearl milk tea appeared before Netero.
Throughout the whole process, Netero’s pupils trembled.
Because before he could even react,
Bai Ze had already completed everything.
What technique was this?
Was this Bai Ze’s Nen ability?
It felt a bit like Nobunaga’s "Four-Dimensional Apartment."
Telekinesis?
Interesting.
As Netero was astonished, Bai Ze made an elegant gesture of invitation, smiling slightly.
“Please enjoy.”
The presentation looked good, seemingly without any flaws. Netero examined the Dan Dan noodles before him.
Without wasting time, he held the bowl of noodles in his left hand, picked up his chopsticks with his right, and started to eat.
This Dan Dan noodles was a feast for all senses.
Especially the two meat balls, they were exceptionally chewy, bursting with flavor, quite delicious.
The only downside was, the amount of meat balls was too small, only two.
After finishing the noodles, Netero felt thirsty, so he picked up the pearl milk tea and took a sip. The milky aroma filled his mouth, quite good.
Finally, Netero gave his assessment.
“They are both very good delicacies.”
“You would be quite suitable as a Gourmet Hunter.”
“The only pity is, the meat balls in the Dan Dan noodles are too few.”
“The amount of pearl milk tea is also a bit small.”
Bai Ze patiently explained: “The supply source is scarce, so the amount is limited.”
“After all, each bowl of Dan Dan noodles requires the egg of an adult male.”
Something about that statement felt off... causing Netero to frown.
“Bai Ze, what do you mean?”
Immediately, Bai Ze waved his hand.
In an instant, a projection screen appeared before him.
“Please watch the VCR~”
The screen displayed the images of Wang Da Dong, King Arthur, and Ding Xiao Yu.
The three were standing before Duan Chang Ren’s stall, waiting for him to prepare their meal.
The entire VCR was a meticulously filmed record of Duan Chang Ren’s cooking process.
A grotesque expression, castrating his own testicles, to make the Dan Dan noodles.
And the pearl milk tea?
It involved him holding a motherly yellow dog, forcibly squeezing out a cup of pearl milk tea.
Afterward, Duan Chang Ren solemnly served the food.
Before eating, Wang Da Dong, Ding Xiao Yu, and King Arthur were chatting and laughing.
King Arthur was even speaking in his Shakespearean manner.
After eating, when Wang Da Dong, Ding Xiao Yu, and King Arthur learned about the ingredients used, they immediately vomited on the spot.
The VCR ended after Wang Da Dong and the others finished vomiting.
However, this scene was permanently etched in Netero's mind.
Leaving Netero in a state of disbelief, his mouth twitching, and a look of dejection on his face.
He was indeed not afraid of poisoned food.
But this mental attack actually froze Netero for a few seconds.
Ten thousand grass-mud horses ran through his mind.
Taking a deep breath, Netero forced himself to regain his composure.
He put down his chopsticks, smiling cheerfully as usual.
“Young friend, thank you for the hospitality.”
“I have to take back my words.”
“You are not suitable to be a Gourmet Hunter.”
“So that’s it then. It’s already late, I shall return now.”
After saying this, Netero stood up.
At this point, he had also figured out Bai Ze’s approximate strength. There was no point in staying any longer.
As for the game of ball.
Netero, who had just been tricked once, didn't have the heart to play the game of snatching the ball anymore.
To this, Bai Ze maintained his harmless smile.
“Go slowly.”
“Looking forward to our next meeting.”
Netero nodded slightly.
He grinned, revealing his pearly whites.
He said something that surprised Bai Ze a little.
“Do you have more Dan Dan noodles and pearl milk tea?”
“I would like to take a box to go.”
Bai Ze instantly guessed Netero’s little intentions.
This old rascal had been taken advantage of, he must be planning to go and trick someone else!
To this, Bai Ze readily agreed, as long as he wasn’t at a loss.
After giving Netero a box of Dan Dan noodles and pearl milk tea.
Netero waved goodbye and left with a flourish.
At the same time, he left these final words.
“Bai Ze, when you leave the Zoldyck residence, come and participate in the Hunter Exam.”
“I’m planning to form the Twelve Zodiacs, a team of elite Hunters.”
“You would be a perfect fit for one of the Twelve Zodiacs.”
“I have saved a spot for you.”
Although Bai Ze had tricked Netero a little.
Netero actually enjoyed this feeling.
He had already reached the pinnacle of the world, his boring life needed a little surprise like this.
His purpose in forming the Twelve Zodiacs was to have them manage the Hunter Association when he had matters to attend to, and to be his playmates during his leisure time.
In the original story, Rat-Pariston Hill had been stirring trouble all along, opposing Netero, but Netero genuinely enjoyed this unique kind of competition.
Regarding Netero’s invitation.
The Twelve Zodiacs?
It was still unknown, Bai Ze didn’t think much of it.
Improving his strength was his only current goal.
On the other side, Netero, carrying his takeout Dan Dan noodles and pearl milk tea.
He walked back to the surveillance room, intending to say goodbye to his old friend Zeno.
However, before he reached the room, he heard a burst of laughter.
This made Netero frown involuntarily. He opened the door to the surveillance room, stepped inside, but found nothing unusual.
Only Zeno, with a solemn expression, was sitting in a chair, holding a hot cup of tea, sipping it slowly, looking like a friendly old man.
Netero stroked his beard and tentatively asked.
“I seem to have heard laughter.”
Zeno pretended not to hear, in other words, played dumb.
“Ah… did you? ”
“You must be mistaken.”
Clearly, Zeno had seen the footage of Netero eating Dan Dan noodles and drinking pearl milk tea, the rare sight of him being outsmarted.
But, he was an assassin after all, so he patiently explained.
“You know, I am an emotionless assassin, professionally trained. I don't normally laugh, unless I can’t help myself.”
“Ahem~” Netero coughed to cover his embarrassment: “Alright, let’s just forget about it.”
“I will keep it a secret for you.”
Meaning that Zeno had to keep a secret for Netero too.
Zeno acted as if nothing had happened, and nodded: “Of course.”
Immediately, Netero left the surveillance room, but as he took two steps.
Laughter came from the surveillance room again, Netero immediately turned his head back to look at the room.
Zeno, who loved to tell little lies, seemed to be quite skilled at this, now he was again acting like a kind old man, with no trace of a smile on his face.
However, when Netero left, laughter came from the surveillance room again.
Netero: ...。
Turning his attention back to Bai Ze.
After this round of tricking Netero.
His reward was exceptionally generous, an A-grade blind box was successfully obtained.
When he opened it, the reward did not disappoint his expectations, it was—the Shadow Soldiers, and Chrome.
The guardian squad from Jackie Chan Adventures.
And Chrome from the anime Katekyo Hitman Reborn!