"You! What did I say before?" Biscuit's stern glare met Gon upon his return, despite the significant earnings from the six victories.
The reason for her anger was Gon's agreement to fight Hisoka. More accurately, it was Hisoka who agreed to fight Gon under the condition that Gon had to win his battle against Guido first. Hisoka, impressed by Gon's performance, which was much stronger than in the original timeline, agreed to the fight. Gon's stubborn determination left Biscuit with little choice but to warn him to be careful in the upcoming battle.
Gon's determined eyes spoke volumes. Being an Enhancer, he was straightforward and resolute. Once he made up his mind, changing it was almost impossible. In the original story, Gon faced Guido head-on and ended up hospitalized for nearly two months after taking a direct hit from his spinning top attack. Fortunately, Gon had learned Nen by then; otherwise, he might have ended up permanently disabled like many others who had faced the baptism.
The next day, the arena was bustling with anticipation for the battle between Hisoka and Gon. Many spectators hoped to see Gon continue his winning streak and possibly defeat Hisoka.
"Master, are you leaving?" At the hotel entrance, Zeno and Zhi Xi, along with Daniel, were there to see Biscuit off.
"I've already spent too much time here, and there's nothing more I can teach them. From now on, it's up to them."
Typically, instructors from the Hunter Association would only teach the basics of Nen, like the Four Major Principles, much like how Zeno did in the original story. He saw potential in Gon and Killua but only taught them the basics and Gyo. Biscuit, however, didn't want to see Gon, Killua, and Daniel waste their talents, so she had taught them extensively.
This year's Hunter Exam had produced many qualified hunters, but only Biscuit and Kurapika's teacher, Waterwen, had truly dedicated themselves to teaching Nen. Kurapika's rapid progress, culminating in his defeat of Uvogin, was largely due to Waterwen's guidance on restrictions and vows, which were crucial for Kurapika's unique abilities.
Of course, Kurapika's intense desire for revenge also played a significant role in his progress. Unlike Gon and Killua, who didn't have the same drive to obtain Nen at any cost, Kurapika's thirst for vengeance pushed him to extreme measures.
Leorio, on the other hand, was still struggling with the Four Major Principles. It wasn't that he lacked talent but rather that his focus was entirely on studying medicine. Despite his desire to become a doctor, his Nen ability didn't align with medical practices. In contrast, Machi's Nen ability was incredibly effective for treating injuries. A poison hunter in the Twelve Zodiacs had Nen abilities suited for creating antidotes, and a virus hunter specialized in biological research. If Leorio could develop a medical-related Nen ability, it would significantly aid his medical career, much like Daniel's Surgery Fruit.
For Biscuit, whether Gon won or lost against Hisoka, it would be beneficial. It would help Gon understand the gap between himself and stronger opponents, fueling his growth. Hunters must walk their own paths.
"By the way, the old man said you should visit the Hunter Association when you have time," Biscuit mentioned to Daniel before leaving.
"I'll be leaving too. Please convey my message to Gon and Killua," Daniel said after Biscuit left. He had no interest in Gon's fight with Hisoka, knowing the outcome already. Despite Gon's increased strength compared to the original story, there was still a significant gap between him and Hisoka, making the result predictable.
"No problem," Zeno nodded, understanding Daniel's disinterest in staying for the fight.
"Batera, the rich romantic. Lucky for him he found me," Daniel muttered with a smile as he checked his phone. Originally, he considered betting on the Hisoka-Gon fight, but after obtaining information about the wealthy Batera from the Hunter website, he changed his plans.
Batera's longstanding bounty on the Greed Island game had driven its price to astronomical heights. When the game first appeared, it auctioned for around 5 billion, but Batera's bounty had raised it to 17 billion for the software and 50 billion for a complete walkthrough.
"Am I crashing the bounty hunters' party by doing this?" Daniel thought. A 50 billion bounty for a game walkthrough had attracted many bounty hunters, despite the dangers of Greed Island. The potential reward was too enticing to ignore.
Many hunters sought the game not just for the bounty but for the sheer challenge and the potential wealth it offered. Even for Nen users, 50 billion was a massive fortune.
Daniel, however, wasn't interested in earning money through bets or participating in the auction. He saw a different opportunity in Yorknew City, where Batera would be attending the auction. With the event starting in just two weeks, Batera had already arrived and reserved an entire hotel for himself and his security team.
Batera's dedication stemmed from his desire to save his comatose girlfriend, who had been in an accident. Despite his wealth and efforts, he hadn't been able to wake her, so he placed his hopes on a card from Greed Island, "Angel's Breath," said to heal any injury.
Even with professional hunters at his disposal, Batera couldn't obtain the card. Only when Gon and his friends entered the game did they manage to clear it, making one wonder if Ging designed the game specifically for Gon.
"Good thing I have the Philosopher's Stone. Otherwise, I wouldn't dare take this job," Daniel mused, standing before the heavily guarded hotel. Batera had likely hired numerous hunters and possibly even Exorcists, yet none had succeeded in healing his girlfriend, indicating the severity of her condition.
Despite his vast wealth, Batera hadn't been able to hire top-tier hunters like Ging, who would have easily solved the problem. Batera might not even be aware of Ging's existence, given the lack of information about him online and even on the Hunter website.
Even with Red Queen, his AI, Daniel couldn't breach the digital fortresses in this world. The presence of Nen created areas completely inaccessible to technology.
"Do you have information on Greed Island?" In the opulent living room on the hotel's tenth floor, Batera's anxious face greeted Daniel. Behind him stood four heavily armed bodyguards, whom Daniel quickly identified as Nen users, though their strength was uncertain.
"I do have information on Greed Island," Daniel confirmed. Batera was a genuine billionaire, his status surpassing even the leaders of underground organizations. Although the dark underworld was powerful, it couldn't match the influence of legitimate elites like Batera.
"How much do you want? I'll transfer the money immediately," Batera offered without hesitation. His concern for his girlfriend was evident, but he also had confidence in dealing with any deception, considering Daniel a mere novice hunter.
Hunter licenses granted many privileges, but those were insignificant to someone like Batera. Daniel's initial plan to use his license to meet Batera had failed, forcing him to leverage his knowledge of Greed Island instead.
"Money can wait. While I do have information on Greed Island, that's not why I'm here. I believe I can heal your girlfriend," Daniel stated, his words shocking Batera and prompting his bodyguards to release their Nen auras in response.
"Pathetic. Even a wealthy man like Batera can't find truly powerful Nen users as bodyguards," Daniel thought, sensing their auras were weaker than those of Guido and his ilk in the Sky Arena.
Batera's strongest protector was a one-star bounty hunter named Jezza, though he was likely the weakest of his rank, unable to even handle Bomber.
However, Jezza was more interested in the 50 billion bounty than in actually protecting Batera.
"Batera, I specialize in a unique Nen ability focused on healing. I'm confident I can treat injuries. If you allow me to try and I fail, I won't charge a penny. But if I succeed, aside from the bounty, I have one additional condition," Daniel proposed, releasing his own aura to paralyze the bodyguards, demonstrating his power.
"Decide if you want my help," Daniel said, turning off his aura and preparing to leave.
"Wait," Batera called out as Daniel reached the door, "I agree to your terms."
"Time is of the essence. Let's see your girlfriend's condition first," Daniel replied.
"This way," Batera instructed, leading Daniel.
Batera had already relocated his girlfriend to Yorknew City, as this year was his final hope.
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"No wonder you're a billionaire." Daniel couldn't help but marvel as he entered the upper floor of the hotel, a room filled with high-tech equipment and a plethora of doctors and nurses. Even though Daniel himself was now exceedingly wealthy, he had never experienced such luxury. Among the medical personnel were not just ordinary doctors and nurses but also Nen users. Batera had truly gone to great lengths for his comatose girlfriend, but despite his efforts, her luck had been terrible.
In a typical scenario, the injuries from a car accident would have long been healed with Batera's resources. However, his girlfriend's situation was the worst kind. She had been in a coma for over a decade, her condition steadily deteriorating. It was only thanks to Batera's immense wealth that she had survived this long. But human effort has its limits, and today, it had reached its end. Batera had come to Yorknew City with a desperate resolve.
From the original story, it was clear how determined Batera was when he bought out all seven Greed Island game consoles at the underground auction, spending nearly 300 billion each—totaling over 2,000 billion.
Killua's brother Milluki even emptied his entire savings and borrowed 150 billion from his father, yet still failed to win a bid. Ultimately, Batera only obtained six consoles, as one was stolen by the Phantom Troupe.
"The body and brain appear normal. It seems the problem might lie with the soul." Daniel did not begin treatment immediately but first examined the thick medical records. These records indicated that every possible examination had been performed, even those beyond Daniel's imagination, courtesy of the world's few medical Nen users. While these results were ultimately unhelpful, they saved Daniel a lot of trouble.
"Didn't they consult Kite, one of the Twelve Zodiacs from the Hunter Association? Was it unaffordable, or is there no record of it? They probably couldn't contact him. If they could, they should have also found Ging." After reviewing the records, Daniel pondered this question.
The Twelve Zodiacs of the Hunter Association included Kite Yorkshin, one of the few three-star hunters and a specialist in difficult medical cases. A three-star hunter is the highest rank, awarded for numerous historical discoveries or global achievements. There are fewer than ten hunters of this rank worldwide.
With this thought, Daniel set down the records and approached the woman's head, placing his hand on it.
"Room."
"As expected, it's the worst-case scenario." Using the abilities of the Surgery Fruit, Daniel sensed the problem lay with her soul, just as he had anticipated. Despite having Kamar-Taj's magic, there was no straightforward way to treat soul-related issues.
Kamar-Taj's magic primarily deals with one's own soul rather than others'. For someone with a physical ailment seeking treatment at Kamar-Taj, it wasn't the Sorcerer Supreme healing them but rather their own practice of Kamar-Taj's magic that gradually cured them.
"Luckily, I have one last trick up my sleeve. If it's a soul issue, I'll address it with the soul." After a brief silence, Daniel took out the Philosopher's Stone and began inscribing runes nearby.
In addition to Nen, another reason Daniel found the Hunter world exciting was the existence of runes. These runes were similar to the runes and glyphs Daniel had mastered, possessing mysterious powers. A boxer in Greed Island could enhance his Nen abilities using runes.
Zeno could use runes to create the Vow Rope, and the items Ging left for Gon, seemingly random pieces of metal, were so tough that even Killua's full-strength attack couldn't scratch them.
During his time at the Sky Arena, Daniel studied runes alongside his Nen training. Although he had not mastered many, he had learned enough to be proficient. Both Biscuit and Zeno had some knowledge of runes, though not to an expert level, it was quite substantial.
If there was someone in the Hunter world with profound knowledge of runes, it was undoubtedly Ging. Daniel even suspected that Greed Island was created using runes by Ging and his companions.
Otherwise, it would be hard to imagine how Ging could create such a vast island with complex monsters, NPCs, and plotlines, and maintain it over time. Even an advanced game like Oasis required massive servers and power to operate.
Of course, the runes Daniel was inscribing were non-functional, serving only to conceal his use of the Philosopher's Stone and to show that he was making significant efforts to heal the woman.
"It works like a charm." As he used the Philosopher's Stone, the woman on the bed finally stirred. After a while, her eyes slowly opened, revealing a dazed and unfocused gaze. It was normal given her prolonged coma.
"Mia, Mia." Tears streamed down Batera's face as he watched through the glass door, his excitement palpable.
"Done." Daniel thought, feigning exhaustion as he used his Nen to appear weak. After all, to claim Batera's 50 billion bounty, he had to look the part.
"Mr. Batera, she has awoken. Given her prolonged coma, her body is extremely weak. She will need intensive care and nutritional support for some time, but I'm sure that's no problem for you," Daniel said.
"Thank you so much. Truly, thank you," Batera said, overwhelmed with gratitude.
"No need for thanks, Mr. Batera. We each got what we needed. I deeply admire someone as devoted as you." Because Daniel was pretending to be weak, Batera insisted he stay at the hotel for a night. Meanwhile, Batera's medical team began thoroughly examining his girlfriend's condition.
"Here are the 50 billion. What was the other condition you mentioned?" The next day, despite looking somewhat haggard, Batera appeared invigorated.
"I am interested in the Greed Island game. My condition is to receive two of its consoles, and please keep my involvement in this matter confidential," Daniel stated plainly.
A doctor who could cure what countless experts couldn't would undoubtedly draw unwanted attention if news spread. Similar to Marvel's Doctor Strange, whose high surgical success rate made him highly sought after—even Stark had approached him once. While fame was beneficial to some, Daniel had no need for it. As for wealth, the 50 billion bounty, though not making him the richest in the world, was more than sufficient.
"Agreed," Batera replied without hesitation.
With his girlfriend cured, Batera no longer needed Angel's Breath. All he wanted now was to clear away all distractions and spend time with his newly awakened girlfriend.
"No need for so many. Since you don't need them anymore, I'll take three for some friends of mine." Seeing the thirty Greed Island consoles before him, Daniel marveled at Batera's extravagant measures once more.
Ging and his companions had released only a hundred Greed Island consoles. With thirty here, it was clear how much effort Batera had put into acquiring them over the years.
Even when the price per console was around 5 billion, thirty units represented an astronomical sum. Fortunately, with Batera's absence from future auctions, the price might stabilize around 10 billion per unit.
Carrying the three consoles, Daniel bid farewell to Batera and left the hotel.
"Recall Jez Jezra and the others," Batera instructed after Daniel left, directing his men to retrieve the hired hunters from Greed Island and announce the termination of the bounty.
Currently, about half of Greed Island's players were there because of Batera's bounty. Some had entered specifically for the reward, while others were merely playing the game and decided to attempt the bounty task for extra profit. After all, clearing the game would also earn them significant rewards.
"Reward canceled?" Jez Jezra was stunned upon hearing the news. His team had been working towards this goal for years, nearing the final stages with over ninety of the hundred limited cards collected, lacking only a few rare ones.
"Sorry, Mia woke up unexpectedly." Although abrupt awakenings from comas weren't unheard of, Jez Jezra could only lament his bad luck.
"I'll leave the rest to you and see to those compensations." Batera, ever meticulous, ensured fair treatment for those he had hired, providing substantial compensation. Jez Jezra's team received 5 billion, and other members got various amounts ranging from millions to a billion, depending on their involvement. Only those who were there solely for the bounty received nothing.
Despite the substantial compensation, Jez Jezra's team had regular salaries from Batera.
"What do you mean the bounty is canceled? What's going on?" The news caused an uproar among Greed Island's players. Even those who received compensation were displeased, as it paled compared to the 50 billion bounty.
This was especially frustrating for the Bomber trio, who had spent years pursuing the cards, only to have the bounty suddenly revoked. They had just planned to ambush a group of players holding a rare card, and now all their efforts seemed wasted.
Unlike others who received compensation, the Bomber trio got nothing.
"Let's see what's going on," they decided, exiting the game to investigate the situation.
Many players, however, chose to stay in the game, aiming to clear it and obtain three valuable cards, a reward still worth the effort.
The Bomber trio and Jez Jezra's bounty hunter team, having come so close to finishing, also chose to stay, unwilling to let their efforts go to waste.
After obtaining the consoles, Daniel quickly found a hotel in Yorknew City, booking a luxury suite. The presidential suites were mostly reserved or kept for high-status individuals, so a luxury suite was the best option available.
"Room."
In his hotel room, Daniel used the Surgery Fruit to examine the game consoles. Though protected by Nen, this only posed a minor challenge for Daniel.
Like Armament Haki, which could resist
the Surgery Fruit's cuts but not completely, Nen protection depended on relative strength. With his Nen now rivaling that of the Chimera Ant King, only a few in the Hunter world could match him.
In Hunter Association terms, Daniel's maximum aura capacity likely exceeded 100,000 units.
"Runes. So, the Hunter website's ability to connect users' minds must involve more than just Nen, likely including runes as well."
Inside the console, Daniel found runes on the casing and circuit boards, forming a cohesive structure that made the device exceptionally durable, even for a Nen master.
"Both the console and game cards have runes. I wonder if there's a way to trade for this knowledge with Ging." After recording the runes, Daniel reassembled the console.
In the Hunter world, trading knowledge and information followed a principle of equivalent exchange. The Zoldyck family's transaction system also adhered to this concept.
"I wonder if Gon and Killua have arrived yet. This time they won't need to buy the game consoles." One Greed Island console could accommodate several players. Daniel only needed one for himself but had requested extra units for disassembly and study.
The combination of Nen, runes, and circuitry was a rare and fascinating integration.
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