There has always been a vacancy in the Zodiacs, which was reserved by Netero specifically for Law.
Law had no intention of obtaining a Hunter License anytime soon, let alone joining the Zodiacs. Because of this persistent vacancy, the Zodiacs remained incomplete.
Pariston, representing the Rat. Currently a Triple-Star Hunter and the Vice Chairman of the Hunter Association.
Mizaistom, representing the Ox. Dressed in a black-and-white cow-patterned outfit, he is a Double-Star Crime Hunter and works as a lawyer in the private sector.
Kanzai, representing the Tiger. With hair resembling the stripes of a tiger, he is a hot-tempered Treasure Hunter.
Pyon, representing the Rabbit. She's a young-looking, adorable girl who recently became a member of the Zodiac Twelve. She is a Paleograph Hunter and has translated Selbo script for both Ging and Law in the past.
Botobai, representing the Dragon. A burly man with face paint resembling Peking opera makeup, he is a Triple-Star Terrorist Hunter. His reputation and strength within the association are second only to Netero's.
Gel, representing the Snake. A Poison Hunter who, after parting ways with Law six years ago, devoted herself entirely to her profession and achieved remarkable success.
Saccho, representing the Horse. With a face resembling a donkey or horse, he is a Double-Star Problem Hunter, functioning similarly to a psychological counselor.
Ginta, representing the Sheep. A burly man with thick body hair, he is a Poacher Hunter.
Cluck, representing the Rooster. Always dressed in revealing and sexy outfits, she is a proud and arrogant Plant Hunter.
Cheadle, representing the Dog. A Triple-Star Disease Hunter who juggles multiple roles, she is an exceptionally sharp-minded woman.
Ging, representing the Boar. A Double-Star Ruins Hunter and the most apathetic member of the Zodiacs when it comes to handling duties, with top-tier slacking skills.
The last position, representing the Monkey, remained unoccupied… reserved specifically for Law by Netero.
All members of the Zodiacs were aware of this. Aside from Ging, who was quite familiar with Law, the others also knew him and had basic information about him.
For example, every year, Law would wear a different human skin mask to participate in the Hunter Exam, yet he always did the same thing… saving examinees in danger.
Over time, examinees began calling him the [Rescuer], with most mistakenly believing that the Rescuer was a special arrangement by the Hunter Association's committee to reduce examinee's mortality rates.
Since the appearance of the Rescuer, the pass rate increased while the death rate decreased. Countless examinees praised this measure by the Hunter Association as highly humane.
Their understanding of the Rescuer remained shallow. Over the years, they only figured out two ways to identify him each year:
Firstly, the Rescuers shared the same name, Law.
Secondly, upon arriving at the first phase of the exam every year, the Rescuer would immediately ask the notorious [Rookie Crusher] Tonpa for a drink.
With these two clues, it was easy to determine the Rescuer's identity.
There is one thing that the examinees don't understand, that is, 'Why the Rescuer always ask Tonpa for a drink?
Therefore, a small group of imaginative veterans let their creativity run wild, assigning Tonpa a role of an undercover agent arranged by the Association to secretly test newcomers.
Connecting this theory with the Rescuer, the truth seemed crystal clear.
No wonder both Tonpa and Law failed the exam every year! They each had their roles… one tasked with rescue missions, the other with covert testing. They were the legendary duo!
Those who believed they had uncovered the truth spread the rumor, and surprisingly, more and more people began to accept it.
After this 'truth' was exposed, in the Hunter Exams of the following two years, some examinees deliberately approached Tonpa to ask for drinks.
Some wanted to prove how they could turn the tables in a disadvantageous situation, while others brought antidotes in hopes of earning bonus points.
This slow but undeniable change gradually brought Tonpa's long-standing 'enjoyment' to an end.
He desperately wanted to scream at those foolish examinees: "That's not how it is!'
But it was futile. Once the majority accepted a belief, no amount of denial could wash away the misconception.
Tonpa's fun was on the verge of being ruined, but Law had no interest in calculating the extent of Tonpa's frustration. Nor did he care how the examinees viewed him. Even if it was all an act, he was happy to play along.
Because Law's disruptive behavior during the Hunter Exams not only repeatedly angered the examiners but also earned the disdain of over half the Zodiacs. They had collectively urged Netero to quickly find someone to fill the vacancy.
Unfortunately, Netero's decisions were never swayed by others, so the position of Monkey in the Zodiacs remained vacant.
The one who probably found this most regrettable was Pariston.
In his original scheme, that vacant spot was meant to be filled by one of his own people through careful maneuvering.
But because of Law, all his attempts over the past few years had ended in failure.
"So, the only way to get Saiyu into the Zodiac Twelve as Monkey is to kill Law?" A deep, rough male voice came from the other end of the phone.
Pariston stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of a high-rise office, phone pressed to his ear, his usual insincere smile nowhere to be seen.
Gazing at the nightscape below, he replied calmly, "You could say that."
Inside the lavishly decorated room, a man lounged on an extravagant leather sofa. His face was slightly elongated, with a close-cropped yellow buzz cut.
His most striking features were his eyes, mouth, and ears… all unusually prominent.
Crossing his legs lazily, he watched Pariston, who was still on the call by the window. His large, wind-catching ears twitched slightly, picking up the conversation from the phone.
"Law is someone the old man values highly. He must have something special. How much would it cost to eliminate him?" The gruff voice continued.
Pariston answered coolly, "A great deal."
Hmm. I'd rather have him join us." The man's words suddenly took an unexpected turn… one moment discussing removal, the next, recruitment.
"Who should make contact?" Pariston seamlessly adjusted to the shift in topic.
"That's the problem. No matter who goes, it won't work, right?" The man burst into laughter mid-sentence, as if amused by his own words.
Pariston didn't share in the humor. His expression, even his eyes, remained as still as stagnant water as he listened to the laughter on the other end.
"Never mind. Infiltrating the Zodiacs can wait. Most of our objectives are already achieved. Right now, your priority should be balancing power and securing real control. That's what you need to focus on." The man abruptly stopped laughing and issued his orders.
"Understood." Pariston's eyes were deep as the call ended.
'If the goal was simply to free up a spot in the Zodiacs, there was no need to target Law specifically. Weren't there weaker options to remove instead?'
'So… what exactly are you planning?'
Pariston slipped the phone back into his pocket.
'If Saiyu was to be forcibly inserted into the Zodiacs, the most suitable candidate to eliminate would be Pyon, who had only joined in recent years… not Law, whose level of obstruction was far more extreme.'
'Abandoning the plan before even committing to it didn't seem like that man's usual style.'
'It seems he believes that lacking a spy within the Zodiacs won't significantly impact the plan.'
Pariston mused silently before turning to Saiyu, who was still sprawled on the sofa.
"How about I go and feel him out myself?" Saiyu suggested.
At this moment, Pariston's trademark spring-like smile returned to his face.
"That wouldn't be wise, Mr. Big Ears."
"Oh?"
Saiyu's eyes narrowed coldly, "I don't agree."
Pariston didn't respond immediately, silently studying Saiyu's defiant expression. Deep in his gaze, a faint glimmer flickered.
After a pause, Pariston murmured, "Perhaps, you should request permission first."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, he clapped his hands together in mock frustration, "Ah, I've been so busy lately that my memory's failing me. I completely forgot to mention… Law is currently at Heavens Arena."
When Saiyu heard this, his eyes flickered slightly.