Chapter 54 – Interlude

''So that's how it is…'' Netero finished and smiled as he absently brushed down his beard, watching the looks on his Zodiacs' faces. Who will be up for it and who will pass, he already knew. But it was still nice to see his Zodiacs come together and to see how stronger they have all gotten. Not to mention, all the tension between some of them can be so amusing.

A bubble of laughter left from his mouth. He could still not believe this was happening.

Unexpectedly, the air-tight door hissed and opened, revealing a flustered Bean. 'Chairman!'' He yelled as if their building might be on fire, which if this was the case, he really should be running to call the maintenance team. Netero's brows rose as his secretary bend over to catch his breath. Whatever this is must be important.

Ah, how troublesome…

''Chairman.'' With slightly trembling hands, his secretary pushed a black tablet to his hands.

It was one of his apprentice's favourite shows, it seemed.

He sighed. ''I know, I know, Bean.'' He tried to hand back the gadget to his secretary. ''But I am a bit busy right now, please do record it for me later.''

Surprisingly, Bean's face crumpled and he shook his head desperately. When his secretary motioned at him, Netero leaned down and Bean trilled into his ear. ''Mongoose!''

He looked down on the muted video as Bean tapped it to play. Bright colours and spotlights teased his eyes, followed by a series of beautiful women who curiously looked different from the usual Daisies' girlish style. His eyes widened as the introduction video rotated and showed a woman who, indeed, looked quite the pin-up beauty – long dark hair, luscious curves and those legs…

With an impatient sigh, his secretary tapped on the screen again, focusing on the woman's face. Netero froze as the eyes struck him and what felt like tiny insects crawled over his skin.

Why, you little!

There, replacing a lounging woman wearing a next-to-none robe was the same woman in another outfit, a full length silver dress – thank the Goddess – holding onto the famous Million Jenny man. If Daisies' goal was to parade her like one of his trophy beauties, he failed.

He looked like he was the one captured.

Pariston once called her a Man-hunter. Netero had inwardly scoffed then but now it just might be true. That girl has a propensity of attracting the oddest of people – men, most of all.

You little troublemaker, what have you done now?

With a cheery smile pasted on his face, he pushed the tablet back to his secretary and motioned him out kindly. ''I'll be there in a second.'' Bean nodded and marched off; his tiny legs fast on the floor.

''Is something wrong, Chairman?'' Cheadle asked, frowning concernedly while the rest of his Zodiacs exchanged curious looks. The Rabbit looked like she was already trying to hack Bean's tablet through her phone, that little sneaky brat.

Netero threw his head back and barked out a laugh, surprising his guests. He turned his attention back to his expectant Zodiacs and tried not to linger on Boar who, again, had no idea what mischief his daughter was getting into.

Too busy with his little detours to look back on this one. Not like he can fault him on that.

The Boar was definitely a model Hunter. Netero even admires him for it.

It was a disappointment indeed that there was no more space in the Zodiacs for her, but then again, his apprentice might just belong in a wholly different level. He smoothed his beard down.

The next generation looked positively bright indeed.

''Uh…Chairman?''

''Nothing, Cheadle. Nothing at all.'' He let out a dramatic sigh that fooled no one. ''Well, it is all up to all of you if you are interested about this expedition. I do have my back-ups. But I thought some of you…might be interested.'' He said, eyes lingering on her father before he turned to leave. ''I do have an inside source who implied it is not for the faint-hearted!' He added airily, smirking at the spikes in some of their auras behind him. ''That it is life-endangering, indeed!''

His inside source, who cried when she said he was going to die. Netero's usual mischievous smile softened at the memory. The scope and depth of her abilities was still unknown to him but it – if it was not simply delusions – was definitely a special surprise. As he continued fidgeting with his beard, Netero wondered about how many more secrets did she have.

''Well, I don't know about everyone but I am definitely in for this expedition, Chairman!'' Pariston yelled after him enthusiastically.

Of course, he was. And he would definitely be trying to hack into his digital history later on too. Bean sure has his work cut out for him, this time, Netero mused. But he was really getting less amused about the Rat's attempts to break into his private floor nowadays.

''Would our Gin-chan be joining us? She seemed awfully quiet nowadays?''

The dangerous question made him pause at the threshold. Smiling, he glanced back inside the board room and to his Zodiacs who all looked interested about her news – aside from his apprentice's father of course. But the little man was not fooling anyone, much less he.

She does not make it easy for him to cover her tracks here. Why was he doing this again?

He suppressed the urge to shake his head. He needs her to grow up to be a wonderful hunter. Also, how bad would it look on him if she dies too quickly? He would love to fight her shadows again too.

''Ah…Gin-chan is just busy at the moment. She sends her regards though! Well, cheerio!'' He waved a hand and walked leisurely away, his wooden sandals echoing down the empty white hallway – the one she hated so much because of the colour.

Later, he sat cross-legged on his couch as the TV blared across him. Bean furiously focused on his laptop, working constantly to privatised his channel.

He took a bite off his mochi. Mid-way his chew, he bellowed out a laugh. ''Wooo!'' He cheered as his apprentice finally appeared, strutting in an all-black tight fitting lingerie with a massive pair of wings strapped behind her. ''Bean! Bean look!'' He pointed at the screen laughingly, watching as the show's guest performer followed after her, trying so hard to catch her attention. But his girl walked on, chin up and beautiful.

She must take after her mother, he thought.

''I can't sir. There are multiple hackers on the line.'' Bean replied, still typing furiously on his computer. If his apprentice was here, she would be right behind the secretary as he worked, wiping the growing sweat on Bean's brow and offering refreshments. She would cast him glares when she thought he wasn't looking and then brightly smile at him when he turns to look.

He let his laugh die as he fell back down the couch. He sighed just as the first part of the show ended and reached out for another mochi. He took a bite and glanced down at the red bean filling – her favourite.

A knock sounded on his door and his lips curled back into an impish smile. Bean looked up, surprised and after realising the Nen signature at the door, he scowled disagreeably at him. Ignoring him, Netero called for his guest to enter.

His guest opened the door and plodded in; his face twisted into a frown. Netero threw the rest of his cake into his mouth and motioned for him to sit where she usually sat.

There was a lovely phrase his late wife had told him before. What was that again? Ah yes…

The men the gods want to punish, they give a daughter.

Netero reached for the control and muted the show. ''Do ignore Bean.'' He told the other man. Even if he remains oblivious throughout the whole ordeal, it would still be amusing. Perhaps even more so.

He lifted the teapot and offered him his daughter's favourite tea, smiling. ''Tea?''

A/N: Thank you for reading.