"I understand what you mean, Chairman," Ethan said slowly. "But with the conflict between me and Meteor Street now, it's not something that can be resolved just by me unilaterally backing down."
As he spoke, it was clear—even if Ethan wanted to stop, the Council of Elders in Meteor Street likely wouldn't accept it.
The leadership of a major organization values not only their interests but also their pride. Without enough benefits to serve as compensation, pride—or rather, the fear of losing deterrence—cannot be compromised.
Ethan had no intention of offering them any benefits. Even if he could, he wouldn't.
Just like when he dealt with the Black Dragon Society: he was willing to resolve conflicts only if the other side conceded—never if it required him to retreat.
His strength might be growing, but Ethan's character remained unchanged.
He still approached life and death lightly and would never compromise once provoked.
"That's true," Isaac chuckled. "Getting old tends to make people a little sentimental."
Ethan smiled. "Don't say that. Having experienced seniors like you is a blessing for us younger ones."
Of course, Ethan knew Isaac wasn't being sentimental. The Chairman brought up Meteor Street only to give him a reminder.
After that, their conversation shifted to other topics—like the nature of Nen practice and advancement.
Not counting the abilities granted by his Thread Fruit, Ethan was now firmly moving toward the top tier in terms of Nen mastery. Naturally, he was eager to deepen his understanding of advanced concepts.
As the discussion turned to training and battle philosophy, Lisa and Mia also eagerly joined the conversation.
After all, sitting before them was once the strongest man in the world—what a waste it would be not to seek advice.
Isaac wasn't stingy either. He answered their questions generously, offering insights that were immensely valuable.
After chatting for a long time, Ethan and the others respectfully thanked Isaac before leaving.
Sitting back in his chair, Isaac took a sip of tea and smiled to himself.
"Such a thrilling spirit... maybe it won't be long before I finally find a worthy opponent again."
He hadn't asked Ethan here just to warn him about Meteor Street. In truth, Isaac had sensed the spark he'd been longing for.
Ethan's growth rate far exceeded his expectations. Such rapid progress was a sure sign of incredible potential.
Where others might feel threatened, Isaac only felt excitement and anticipation.
He looked forward to the day Ethan could stand in front of him as a true rival—before time finally took its toll on him.
Leaving the Hunter Association headquarters, Ethan hailed a taxi. Together with Lisa, Mia, and Dilumon, they rode toward the airport.
Ethan sat up front, while Lisa and Mia, with Dilumon perched comfortably, sat in the back.
On the way, Mia sighed softly. "I didn't expect the Chairman of the Hunter Association to be so kind. I thought he'd be a much more serious man."
"During the Hunter Exam," Lisa added, "Ethan was the one who had direct contact with him. To me, he just felt... unfathomable. I never thought he would be so approachable."
Receiving advice from Isaac himself had left a strong, positive impression on both women.
"Meow, that human felt really dangerous to me," Dilumon chimed in. "Not in a hostile way, but like the natural pressure of a superior being looking down on a lesser one."
Although Dilumon had stayed silent earlier—pretending to be an ordinary pet—it had been observing the Chairman carefully the whole time.
Ethan chuckled as he caught Dilumon's reflection in the rearview mirror. "You're not wrong. With Isaac's strength, not even all of us together could survive a fight against him."
The reason they could even hope to survive was because Mia's Door Fruit ability allowed them to escape into a different space.
In terms of raw combat power alone, Ethan knew he still wasn't a match for Isaac—not unless he downplayed things heavily.
Isaac's signature ability, the Hundred-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, was overwhelming. Even with the protection of the Thread Armor, Ethan doubted he could withstand a single strike.
If Ethan felt that way, Lisa, Mia, and Dilumon would stand even less chance.
The gap between each level of strength only widened the stronger one became.
Especially at Isaac's world-class level, even the tiniest difference in strength could determine life or death instantly.
While discussing Isaac, the group soon arrived at the airport. After buying tickets, they moved with the crowd toward their designated airship.
Suddenly, Ethan stopped dead in his tracks.
"What's wrong?" Lisa asked quickly, both she and Mia immediately becoming alert.
It was instinct—honed after so many battles—to react to any sign of trouble.
"I sensed danger," Ethan said gravely, his gaze locked onto the nearby airship.
His danger sense wasn't something vague—it was a deep, primal warning. And now, it was screaming at him.
Lisa and Mia trusted him completely. The two women immediately scanned the surroundings, searching for possible snipers or hidden enemies.
Meanwhile, Dilumon sprang from Mia's arms onto Ethan's shoulder, its sharp feline eyes scanning the area.
Despite the tension, nothing happened.
However, Ethan could feel it—whatever threat existed, it was coming from the airship they were about to board.
Without hesitating, he said, "Let's go. We'll find another way out of here."
The group kept their expressions calm and casually exited the airport, leaving behind the danger that still loomed near the airship.
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉 advance chapter in PATREON
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