"Hello, everyone. I'm the Chairman of the Hunter Association, Gon Freecss. I know I said I'd steeled my resolve, but… that was a lie."
Third Round Election Results
| Candidate | Votes |
| :--- | :--- |
1. Gon Freecss321
| 2. Pariston Hill | 209 |
The moment the results of the third vote were announced, a new Chairman was born. With a vote count that just barely cleared the majority threshold, the rookie had snatched the seat away from Pariston like a sudden gust of wind, sending the Association into a frenzy.
Taking advantage of this rare gathering of Hunters, Gon announced that he would deliver an official address. The auditorium was even opened to a few non-Hunters as the speech by the new Chairman began.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Gon Freecss, and I have officially assumed the position of Chairman."
The familiar, mascot-sized Gon sat dutifully on the miniature throne atop the table. Someone had even provided a miniature desk, complete with a tiny but functional microphone and stand.
"First, regarding our stance on the Dark Continent: the Hunter Association will neither actively support nor interfere with expeditions. I am leaving everything up to individual Hunters."
His policy toward the Dark Continent—a topic fresh in everyone's minds—mirrored Netero's own: those who wanted to go could go, and those who wanted to stop them could act on their own. It was a declaration of pure non-intervention.
Some Hunters breathed a sigh of relief while others grimaced, but as an Association policy, it was logical enough that no one raised an objection.
"Next, I'll be appointing the Vice-Chairman and other key roles. I should mention now that I'm changing quite a bit. This is mainly because of my age, which I'm sure is the reason my victory was so narrow. You're allowed to refuse an appointment, but I ask that you listen to the full plan first so you can grasp the big picture before making a decision later."
While his age had certainly influenced the close race, the fact that Netero was still alive played an even larger role. Many had voted for Pariston out of fear that he might defect if he didn't get his way, while others had voted for him simply because they hoped Netero would eventually be reinstated. Gon stood upon a glass castle, supported only by the tentative acceptance of his detractors and the unwavering loyalty of his supporters.
"First, I appoint Pariston Hill as Vice-Chairman. I want him to use the experience he's gained since the previous administration to keep the Association running."
The announcement caused a massive stir. Pariston, suddenly the center of attention, maintained his usual plastic smile to mask his inner thoughts.
(He's appointing me even after those threats? Does he intend to keep me under surveillance? I can scheme around his friends in plenty of ways without ever touching them directly.)
Knowing he could still refuse, Pariston weighed the choice between staying by Gon's side or joining Beyond for the Dark Continent expedition. However, the words that followed left him stunned.
"I am also appointing a second Vice-Chairman: Cheadle Yorkshire. During the Chimera Ant crisis, we suffered from a severe lack of manpower. I believe it's better to have another high-ranking official capable of managing the Association, and she is the perfect fit. I've confirmed with Beans that there's no rule saying we can only have one Vice-Chairman."
Cheadle's eyes widened. Being appointed as a second Vice-Chairman—and placed on the same level as Pariston—brought a mixture of relief and irritation.
(If I'm a Vice-Chairman alongside Pariston, I can monitor him easily, but it means I have to deal with him constantly. If he doesn't refuse, I almost want to... but I already declared I would help Gon.)
Leaving a regretful Cheadle behind, Gon continued his appointments.
"Next, I want to establish a new, Hunter-led Audit Committee. I'm asking the Pure Paladins, led by Teradein Neutral, to monitor the Association's operations from a fellow Hunter's perspective."
Gon saw the absolute power of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman as a major flaw. While it was a testament to how skilled Netero and Pariston were, even the Zodiacs often had no idea what the top leadership was actually doing. To fix this and create a system of mutual oversight, he decided to utilize the Pure Paladins—the group recently formed by Teradein, Bushidra, and Loupe.
"As for the Zodiacs, I'd like you to continue your roles. However, those who take on roles like Vice-Chairman will step down from the Zodiacs, and the group will select new members to fill those spots. For now, I'm appointing Botobai Gigante as the temporary leader, but the group can decide their own leadership internally."
The Zodiacs had handled a wide range of tasks as the top executives, but Gon honestly expected more than half of them to quit. They were a group of eccentric, elite Hunters who were deeply devoted to Netero. Gon knew that forming a brand-new executive team might be smoother, but in a situation where he didn't even know ten percent of the six hundred members, he wasn't in a position to pick new favorites. If some stayed, great. If those who stayed picked their own replacements, even better.
"That covers the appointments. These decisions were made after consulting with Beans to ensure we can handle the increased workload from the Dark Continent and to make the Association's operations more transparent."
Beans, the Chairman's secretary, stepped up beside Gon and bowed. He pressed a button, and an organizational chart appeared on the screen behind them.
The chart showed the Chairman at the top, supported by two Vice-Chairmen, with the Audit Committee and the Zodiacs forming the foundation.
"Now, finally, I'll announce the most important role."
Everyone's eyes moved to the chart. Under the box for Chairman Gon Freecss, there was a blank space.
"As Chairman, I appoint Ging Freecss as my Chairman Proxy for a limited time!"
""ARE YOU KIDDING ME?!""
"There's no rule against having a proxy either!" Gon shouted back over the roar of the crowd.
The auditorium descended into chaos. Gon waited for the noise to subside before explaining his reasoning with a wry smile.
"I'm sorry to those who voted for me, but it's just not realistic for a twelve-year-old to be the formal head of an organization that deals with national governments. People wouldn't take us seriously, or worse, they'd think we're mocking them by putting a kid in charge."
No one could argue with such a common-sense point, yet many remained unsatisfied.
"The Proxy will have all the powers of the Chairman, except for the right to appoint other officials. And there is no right of refusal. Ging, you know why."
『...It's because I voted for you as a prank, isn't it? I'm not pathetic enough to ignore the orders of the Chairman I chose myself.』
Ging watched Gon's smug grin and Beans' apologetic-yet-satisfied expression. He deeply regretted voting for Gon as a way to get back at him for the punch. He also remembered Beans suggesting he should just become Chairman himself before the rules were set—he realized now that he had been stabbed in the back because he hadn't been on his guard.
(Damn it. Pariston and old man Netero didn't see this coming either, huh? A half-hearted, middle-of-the-road choice like this wouldn't even cross their minds.)
Ging, Pariston, and Netero—all world-class masters of psychological and intellectual warfare—had over-analyzed Gon. They assumed that if Gon were in their position, he would either steer the outcome perfectly to his desire or destroy the system entirely. The idea that he would win, accept the minimum responsibility, and then appoint a proxy just to buy himself free time was a logic so "ordinary" it was outside their calculations.
(This is bad. If he says those words, I won't be able to back out.)
(This is a nightmare. There's no escape, and I can already see the mountain of work... but a part of me is actually looking forward to it.)
(My brain must still be rattled. I've never misread someone this badly.)
The three new leaders of the Association were bonded by a strange sense of solidarity and despair as they heard the words that made it impossible for any Hunter to run away.
"As I said, you're free to refuse," the muscular mascot goaded, essentially daring them to quit if they didn't think they could handle the others. Gon nodded in satisfaction as he saw the sour looks on their faces.
"Of course, if Ging does a terrible job and his approval rating drops below fifty percent, I'll take responsibility and resign. And I'll state right now that once I'm old enough to not be mocked for it, I will officially take over as Chairman."
It was unprecedented, but the balance was well-thought-out enough that it was hard to argue against. Most of those who voted for Gon or wanted Netero back decided to wait and see.
"Now, finally, I'm going to give you all a reason to be proud of having me as your Chairman! Killua! Alluka! Nanika!"
As the Hunters watched with confusion, two children climbed onto the stage: Killua Zoldyck, radiating a brilliant aura, and Alluka Zoldyck.
"Are we really doing this?" Killua sighed. "I think they've got the point already."
"The first impression is everything," Gon insisted. "I need to remind them that I'm not just a figurehead."
Killua gave in and looked down at Alluka and Nanika, giving a "Request-Order."
"Temporarily nullify the recoil on Gon's body. And make sure the building doesn't get destroyed."
『Aye-aye!!』
The moment Nanika touched the mascot-sized Gon, a light erupted from his body that was almost impossible to look at directly.
"Gah! My eyes?!"
"What is that light?!"
Amidst the blinding glare, Gon's voice boomed.
"Union Ability: The Ultimate Gon!"
As the light faded, the Hunters beheld something on the stage that was far beyond "pure violence given limbs." It was a降臨 (descent) of a crystallized being of power and muscle that made everyone want to fall to their knees.
"Let me introduce myself again. I am Gon Freecss—the one who reached the peak and saw what lies beyond. Behold!"
He flexed, striking a pose. That simple movement made the auditorium groan under the pressure, even with Nanika's protection. The mass of high-temperature, hair-like muscle coiled at the ceiling didn't ignite, but it sent the room's temperature skyrocketing.
"Wh... what..."
"Gah! Muscles! Why so many muscles?!"
"It's over... we're all dead..."
"How can something like that exist? There's no hope for any of us!"
Hunters who would have scored less than 10 points on Hisoka's scale fainted in droves. Those under 50 points collapsed in despair at the unfathomable gap in power. Even the strongest few grew pale, realizing the chasm between them. Even Hisoka, who wore a look of pure ecstasy, didn't dare to pounce on such supreme muscle.
"Words are hard," the glowing, Ultimate Gon said, his voice vibrating through their bones. "So I'll give you a much simpler, clearer explanation."
He gathered even more aura, ensuring Killua had moved Beans to safety before roaring:
"IF YOU HAVE A PROBLEM WITH THE ASSOCIATION, TAKE IT UP WITH ME! I'LL TAKE ON ANYONE! WITH MY FISTS!!"
The sheer intensity cracked the stage, and even more Hunters passed out, foaming at the mouth.
"Court is adjourned! Dismissed!!"
"Don't try to end it after causing this much trauma?!" Leorio shouted.
Afterward, Leorio and Kurapika—who were perfectly fine because they were used to Gon—provided mental health support. Ging was even roped in to provide "animal therapy" to help calm everyone down. Leorio and Kurapika's efforts in lecturing the Ultimate Gon earned them so much support that they were later drafted into the Zodiacs by popular demand.
By the time the entire election process was finished, Gon Freecss's approval rating hit an impossible 95%.
+++
Peace had returned to the Association after the whirlwind caused by the Ultimate Gon. In the highest-grade reception room, the two new Vice-Chairmen, the Chairman Proxy, and Secretary Beans were gathered.
"Ging, what on earth did you create? That thing is unstoppable," Pariston remarked.
"Tell me about it," Ging replied. "I'm glad he hit me while he was weakened. If that version had hit me, there wouldn't be a speck of me left."
Bonded by the experience of facing such absurd violence, Ging and Pariston spoke with a surprising level of calm. Ging, who had been treated by Leorio in the chaos, was finally bandage-free and happily devouring a hamburger.
Cheadle, exasperated by the two idiots, tried to steer the conversation back to the Association's future.
"We need to move away from a system based purely on strength. We should introduce a new category of Hunters—Hunters focused on research and intellect. Let's call them 'Category C' Hunters. We need to increase the number of people who aren't just muscle-brained worshippers of Gon."
The Hunters who had once looked down on Gon for his age and appearance now worshipped him as a god of violence. It was natural for a group of rough, strength-oriented individuals, but everyone in the room agreed it wasn't a healthy direction.
"I agree with the 'Category C' idea," Pariston said. "I have connections with Mr. Beyond. I can reach out to some promising people in the Dark Continent expedition group. What about your connections, Ging?"
"I know plenty of people who have talent even if they aren't strong. I'll give them a call."
"Then we just need Gon's permission. I'll ask him through Kurapika," Cheadle concluded.
Leaving Beans behind, the top minds of the Association began checking off major agenda items. Seeing Cheadle, Ging, and Pariston actually cooperating was a sign that the Association's future might actually be bright.
"Still, Beans, you went way too far supporting Gon. Thanks to you, I'm stuck with this annoying Proxy job," Ging grumbled while stuffing his face.
Beans, looking remarkably like Netero in that moment, just smiled. Pariston sipped his tea with a look of pure disgust.
"Well, as the Chairman's secretary, it is only natural that I help. But if you're going to complain, perhaps you don't need my assistance as Proxy?"
"I'm sorry, I was out of line," Ging muttered instantly.
Fates that should have never intertwined had been forcibly bound together to face a common threat.
"Honestly. Do you have any idea how competent Beans is, you deadbeat?" Pariston mocked.
"Call me that again and I'll sew your mouth shut."
They weren't best friends, but compared to before, the improvement was night and day.
"Can't you rest in peace for five minutes, deadbeat? This is why Gon outsmarted you, deadbeat," Cheadle added.
"..."
Beans watched them with a glowing, shiny expression, determined to support them with everything he had.
+++
In a small apartment Netero used as a hideout, two men who looked nearly the same age were drinking together.
"I can't believe you still had wine from this cellar. I drank mine ages ago," the younger-looking one said.
"I always keep a stock of this rare vintage. Even I haven't had a glass in ten years," the other replied.
They consumed the rare, expensive alcohol like water. As the drinks took hold, their conversation turned to the election.
"What kind of monster is he? Even I can't see a single path to victory against him, no matter what I try. And the worst part is, he's not even satisfied with his current strength," the first man said.
"Ho ho ho! He left me in the dust a long time ago. I can't fathom where that drive for self-improvement comes from."
They were both baffled by Gon's endless ambition. It was natural for any strong person to relax once they realized they were the best. Even Netero hadn't been that obsessed with getting stronger in his later years. But from their perspective, Gon was at the peak of a mountain and was still reaching for the stars.
"He mentioned it before—he's aiming for someone. If he thinks he hasn't caught up to them yet, then that 'someone' must be an alien or something far beyond the Dark Continent."
"That's ridiculous. If such a person exists, I'd love to meet them. ...Hey, you idiot! This snack goes with thatwine! Your terrible taste hasn't changed at all!"
"What?! You're the one with the palate of a child!"
They turned away from the things they couldn't understand and continued their feast, as if to make up for lost time and ward off future troubles.
"Damn it! I lost the bet, so help me out! Are you really okay with Isaac Netero remaining a loser to the Dark Continent?!"
"Of course not! But I hate the idea of losing to that kid even more!! I want to be the strongest again!"
They drank through the night until the sunrise. By the time the housekeeper arrived for the scheduled cleaning, they were both out cold.
The world keeps turning, even if history has veered far from its original path.
(NGL was a failure. I must do better next time.)
Some tragedies were averted, others were born, but many new happy endings were written.
"Ho ho ho. The Dark Continent belongs to us. Through the Succession War, the Kakin Empire will secure its place for eternity."
The world remained full of malice and danger, a fragile balance that could collapse at any moment.
(I wonder when the next chapter will be released...)
The future remains uncertain, but the fan-made Gon will continue to aim for the peak.
"I'm going to become the ultimate Gon!"
The world keeps turning, spinning a history far removed from the original tale.
+++
Author's Note:
And with that, we are finished!! Thank you for your hard work!!
I'm usually quite fickle, but thanks to everyone who read, favorited, reported typos, and left comments over the last two years, I was able to make it to the end.
Thank you so much!!
This is the end of the main story, but I plan to write a few extras. Heaven's Arena, Yorknew City, Greed Island 2, Memphis... I have those ideas in mind, and I'll write them if I can flesh them out.
Again, thank you to everyone who touched this novel. I'm happy if I could make your time even a little more enjoyable.
Until we meet again somewhere else! See ya!
***
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