"This sword is quite good, but unfortunately, it's not suitable for me." Deep in the magma layer, Daniel took out the Sword of Truth, examined it, then broke it in half and threw it into the magma.
The Sword of Truth was indeed a sharp weapon, but its design was too unique, making it awkward for Daniel to wield. Moreover, it carried a curse. If an ordinary person obtained it, they would likely become a murderer in no time. Even a Nen user, if not strong-willed enough, could be influenced by it.
Daniel even suspected that Chrollo's disregard for life was partly due to the sword's influence. Although it didn't affect Daniel much, he preferred not to keep such a weapon.
"This is like throwing away a hundred billion Jenny. The old me would never have imagined doing something like this." Due to its reputation, the Sword of Truth was highly valued among collectors. Even counterfeit versions could fetch billions at auction, let alone the genuine article.
Of course, Daniel was now very wealthy. The money he got from Battera was more than enough for him, and the money from the Phantom Troupe was mostly donated, except for the half he left for Machi.
However, this donation wasn't to any charity. Daniel knew well how many charities actually operated, having donated a lot in the Marvel world. While some genuinely aimed to help, many were just scams.
In such a scenario, Daniel and Stark established a fund jointly managed by Pepper and Hand, ensuring it truly served charitable purposes.
In the Hunter world, lacking trusted personnel, Daniel utilized his wealth differently. He found a mercenary organization, the Norvell Foundation, created by mercenaries to protect their interests.
Mercenaries face high casualty rates, and the Norvell Foundation ensures their families are cared for in the event of their death or injury. Unlike other mercenaries who might flee or betray their employers, Norvell's mercenaries were trustworthy. Violating a contract would result in being hunted by the entire foundation, which included Nen users and those specialized in war-related abilities.
Conjurers and Emitters were the most common types among mercenaries, creating everything from automatic guns to mortars, rocket launchers, tanks, and even giant robots.
Daniel learned about collaborative Nen abilities through this foundation. Similar to the combined robots in "One Piece" played by Franky and others, these abilities allowed real fusion of Nen to form powerful entities.
Daniel employed Norvell's mercenaries to aid those oppressed by the Phantom Troupe, ensuring more effective use of his donations than giving to dubious charities.
Even if a charity delivered only ten percent of donations, it would be considered good. Daniel knew the story of the gemstone egg well.
The Phantom Troupe had amassed enormous wealth over the years. The fact that Chrollo could hire Illumi to assassinate the Ten Dons showed how rich they were. Even taking just half of their wealth was enough to significantly improve the lives of ordinary people.
As for the wealthy robbed by the Troupe, Daniel couldn't care less about them.
"Gather everyone. Did we secure the Jail card?" Reading the message, Daniel guessed what was about to happen. Though part of the organization, he hadn't been actively involved in missions, focusing instead on his research.
After obtaining the divine characters, Daniel set them aside for the time being, knowing they required extensive study. He then turned to the game's cards.
Not the hundred specified cards, but movement cards like Accompany, Magnetic Force, and Transport. Since Gon could use Accompany outside the game, Daniel knew these cards were essentially Nen abilities.
Spending time in the magical city of Masadora, Daniel purchased and repeatedly used these cards to understand their Nen mechanics. However, they seemed almost useless to him because they required a predetermined target and mark to work. For those unable to fly, these cards were incredibly powerful.
Gon and Killua had used Accompany to cross two continents and reach Kite. Considering the Hunter world map, they traveled from the westernmost island to the eastern shore, a distance and speed unmatched by conventional means.
Unfortunately, Daniel had the Arcane Gate and flight abilities. He could use the Arcane Gate for faster, shorter travel without experiencing the sensation of rapid flight.
Movement spell cards like Accompany resembled Kuma's ability to send people flying in "One Piece."
"Thank you all for your contributions. We finally obtained a Jail card. Now we can exchange it for the Archangel's Breath." In the same valley, the leader Nikens stood on a platform, excitedly holding the newly acquired Jail card, ready to exchange it for the Archangel's Breath.
In Greed Island, card existence couldn't be hidden. Players aiming to pass the game kept a close watch on rare cards. Thus, completing the task but not exchanging the card was the correct strategy.
Nikens and his team showed intelligence by using their numbers to gain an advantage. However, their strength was insufficient.
As the Archangel's Breath card materialized, everyone cheered. Even if they didn't pass the game, this card would help them negotiate.
For most, a few million Jenny was a significant sum. Daniel, Gon, and Killua were exceptions.
"Hello, everyone. I'm Ganshu. Many of you know me, but you probably don't know my other identity—Bomber. Yes, I'm the one. When I touched you, I planted something on you." Ganshu's revelation shocked everyone, followed by panic as strange devices with counters appeared on their bodies. Some tried using Nen to remove them, but failed.
Ganshu's Nen ability, Little Flower, was formidable but had strict conditions. It required touching the target and saying "Bomber" to plant the device. To activate it, he had to explain his Nen ability, and the target had to hear it, making it useless against the deaf. Quick thinkers could prevent activation by not listening fully. The device could only be removed by catching Ganshu and saying, "Caught the Bomber."
The countdown on the devices linked to heartbeats, accelerating with fear.
"You bastard!" Upon learning that catching Ganshu would deactivate the devices, Nikens and his aides attacked him.
But the ensuing explosion left everyone but Nikens dead, their bodies blown apart, the devices deactivating as their heartbeats stopped.
Nikens had to survive; his cards would reset upon death, nullifying Ganshu's efforts.
"Impressive ability, but it only bullies the weak." Ganshu's Nen abilities, Little Flower and Countdown, were effective but costly in a fight. The explosion's power required equal defense, doubling the Nen usage compared to the opponent's single defense.
In a prolonged battle, Ganshu would inevitably lose, as Nen, like Haki, was limited. Only the strong could afford to be wasteful. Even Chrollo and Hisoka calculated their Nen usage during their fights.
In their battle at Heaven's Arena, Hisoka was outsmarted by Chrollo.
"Hand over the cards, and I'll deactivate the devices. Otherwise, you'll all die." Ganshu grabbed Nikens' neck, smiling cruelly.
Nikens, far from a strong character, quickly yielded with his life at stake. Cards and rewards were important, but life was paramount. In such situations, few considered long-term consequences.
"Don't worry. I'm only after wealth, not killing you all." Ganshu reassured Nikens with a smile.
"Now, open your books and let me check. I'll deactivate the devices once we're done. If you think you're stronger, feel free to attack me." As Ganshu spoke, two accomplices entered, also part of his gang.
Bomber was a team, with Ganshu as the leader and the others as support.
"Didn't expect you to hide such good cards." Despite Nikens' assurances, those with rare specified cards didn't fully comply.
"Finally got it." Under threat, the players cooperated, allowing Ganshu's group to confiscate all the cards, including Nikens'.
In an instant, Ganshu's group held the most specified cards in the game, needing only four more to pass. Excluding card number zero, they needed just three: one monopolized by Razor, the dense forest on card one, and a card Gon and Killua obtained.
Many had attempted the task Gon and Killua completed, but none succeeded because it required surrendering all their possessions, including cards, to NPCs. Most players wouldn't comply, unwilling to give up hard-earned cards.
Gon and Killua, first-time players with a playful attitude, handed over everything without hesitation, earning the card.
Another card was from Razor's Fourteen Devils task, known but never triggered.
"Now I'll deactivate the devices." After securing the cards, Ganshu's group stood together, fingers touching, chanting the release command.
Boom!
The devices exploded, killing everyone, including the exorcist who had once helped Chrollo. He died without time to use his abilities.
This happened partly due to Daniel. Without Battera's reward, Ganshu couldn't negotiate with Razor.
Daniel hadn't joined the scene, hiding nearby. Such organizations lacked enforcement, so absentees faced no consequences.
"Now it's my turn."
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"Why the rush to leave?" Just as Bomber Ganshu took out an Accompany card and prepared to leave, Daniel, who was already prepared, acted swiftly. Using Nen threads he had hidden around the trio earlier, he immediately bound them.
Nen threads from Machi weren't just for healing; when infused with enough Nen, they were sharper than steel wire. While using Nen threads consumed more Nen than chains, they had an advantage chains lacked: those bound by Nen threads found it difficult to struggle.
If one used chains, the enemy would likely struggle immediately upon being bound, trying to break free. But with Nen threads, although the enemy would initially struggle, they'd quickly stop due to the pain. The threads were so fine that the more one struggled, the deeper they cut into the flesh, potentially severing limbs.
Daniel could, if he wished, dismember someone instantly with Nen threads, making them a potent tool for assassination.
As Daniel predicted, Ganshu and his companions initially struggled but stopped quickly upon feeling the pain. Despite their resistance, their bodies now bore numerous cuts from the threads biting into their flesh. Even though they could use Ten, the difference in power rendered their defenses useless.
As the trio stopped struggling, their eyes turned to Daniel, who walked out from the shadows. Ganshu's face turned pale upon recognizing him, realizing he was the one who had refused to let him get close earlier.
"It's you," Ganshu said with a mix of anger and fear, understanding he was utterly powerless against the Nen threads binding him.
"Yes, it's me. Now I see why no one has seen Bomber's true face—you kill everyone who sees it. It makes sense; your ability is dangerous once exposed."
Bomber Ganshu's ability, Little Flower, was easy to counter if known. People could avoid close contact or prevent him from saying the word "Bomber." Even if they were tagged with Little Flower, as long as they didn't hear his explanation, the bomb wouldn't activate.
Since it worked by monitoring heartbeats, it was ineffective against non-living objects or animals that couldn't understand him.
"I think you know what I want. Hand over all the cards." Daniel said as he picked up the dropped Accompany card.
"It's almost been a minute."
One of the game's rules was that if a card was taken out of the book and not used or returned within a minute, it would revert to its original form or disappear if it was a spell card.
In the original series, Gon used this rule against Ganshu by letting a rock revert to its natural state when he couldn't speak due to a throat injury.
The minute-long buffer allowed for transactions to be completed. Negotiations could be made while the card was still in the book, then taken out to finalize the deal.
Daniel had already analyzed card materialization and Accompany cards. Even if Ganshu used the card, Daniel could disrupt its activation or use his power to prevent their escape. Despite this, Daniel preferred not to reveal too much unnecessarily.
Entering the underground to study divine characters was within the game's rules. There was no explicit ban on accessing those areas, provided one had the strength to do so. However, breaking the game's balance might result in a forced disconnection and a ban.
For a game, the most intolerable action was tampering with its code.
In hindsight, Daniel regretted his haste in studying the geothermal energy capabilities of the divine characters. The optimal approach would have been to complete most of the game's objectives before delving into this research, minimizing the impact of a potential ban.
The Archangel's Breath was a key card Daniel couldn't afford to miss. If lost, acquiring it again would be immensely difficult.
Facing Daniel's demand, Ganshu and his companions exchanged glances before Ganshu spoke. "We can cooperate. You'll get a share of the rewards when we pass the game. But handing over the cards? Do you think I'm an idiot like those dead fools?"
Ganshu's term "fools" clearly referred to the deceased players. While they might hesitate to kill for fear of the cards resetting upon death, handing them over was a guarantee of death at the enemy's mercy.
Players' cards could only be removed by themselves. Upon death, all cards reset, especially ones like the Archangel's Breath, which required months of preliminary tasks to obtain.
"So, you're not cooperating?" Daniel said, flicking his left index finger. One of Ganshu's companions had their right hand sliced off by the Nen threads, which then constricted further, causing them to scream in agony.
"Cooperation isn't an option. Hand over all the cards, and I'll let you go. Refuse, and I'll kill you and let the cards reset." Daniel's cold expression bore into Ganshu.
Daniel had considered Ganshu's actions but wouldn't back down. Relenting now would show weakness.
As Ganshu hesitated, Daniel repeated the act, cutting off another companion's hand, maintaining eye contact with Ganshu.
"The next one won't just be a hand. Many items in this game can heal injuries, but death is irreversible." Daniel's fingers tightened the threads around the other two's necks, ready to decapitate them.
"Wait, I agree," Ganshu finally relented, his companions' lives more important to him than the cards. In the Hunter world, many organizations shared this flaw, valuing comrades deeply, like the Phantom Troupe.
The bond between Bomber's trio was genuine, stronger than that of the Phantom Troupe, evidenced by their collaborative Nen abilities. Developing such abilities required a deep emotional connection, impossible to fake.
"You can have the cards, but I have a condition. I have a Copy card. I want to use the Archangel's Breath to heal them," Ganshu offered as he summoned his book, his arm momentarily freed.
"Agreed, but I will use the card," Daniel responded. Others would hoard the Archangel's Breath, protecting it with Jail or similar cards. But Daniel intended to use it.
"Fine," Ganshu complied, quickly handing over the cards. Bomber's trio entrusted their cards to Ganshu as their leader.
"Copy." Daniel kept his word, using the Copy card to replicate the Archangel's Breath, which could heal one person at a time.
As the card activated, a golden-haired angel with white wings appeared before Daniel. Its radiant light covered the injured, healing them completely.
"Amazing," Daniel marveled at the Archangel's Breath, appreciating its unparalleled healing ability.
"Next." Before healing the second person, Daniel flicked his right index finger, reattaching the severed hand with Nen threads.
"Why the surprise? The Archangel's Breath can fully restore someone. This injury is nothing," Daniel explained, deploying the second Archangel's Breath.
"No wonder such abilities aren't public. If known, the user would be overwhelmed," Daniel thought, understanding why this healer remained anonymous. Revealing such power would attract endless requests and threats, even from the Hunter Association.
Hunters faced high risks, often left disabled. Restoring their abilities would be invaluable, and those like Chrollo, who could steal Nen abilities, would seek out such powers.
Daniel himself never showcased his Op-Op Fruit abilities in the One Piece world to avoid unnecessary trouble. He knew the saying "a thief for a thousand days cannot guard against a thief for a thousand days."
"Show me all your cards," Daniel ordered, even after taking Ganshu's cards. The other two complied, knowing resistance was futile.
They held some rare cards, but Daniel already had them. He took the Copy cards, planning to further analyze the Archangel's Breath.
"You've cooperated well. I'll keep my promise and let you go." As Daniel spoke, the Nen threads around the trio loosened. Just as they relaxed, the threads tightened again, slicing them into pieces.
"Don't blame me. You deceived them first." Daniel's swift action caught them off guard, killing them instantly.
Daniel wasn't like Gon, indifferent to the deep bond among Bomber's trio. Their fate was sealed before he intervened, just like his actions against the Phantom Troupe.
"Strange, the Archangel's Breath can fully heal players in the game, but the Witch's Youth Elixir has no effect. Is this a deliberate limitation?"
With Bomber's cards, Daniel became one of the closest players to completing the game. Only Razor's bounty hunters were on par with him, each holding exclusive cards and over ninety-five of the required ones.
"Leave." After a moment's thought, Daniel activated the Leave card, his body enveloped in a Nen glow as he flew to the game's starting prairie.
"The house looks the same, but the person isn't." Daniel lacked Gon's talent for recognizing individuals, especially magical beasts. He distinguished Elena and Ida by their hairstyles—one had a ponytail, the other short, loose hair.
"Leaving requires registration to disconnect the divine character ring from the game system. What happens if I use the Arcane Gate to leave directly?"
"I'll experiment later."
"Book." Back in his house, Daniel tested the game's commands, but nothing happened.
"The final registration is to sever the connection. Leaving directly might retain the connection, but without the game's server, the commands won't work."
"Let's discuss this with Ging later. Now, I need to focus on training." Daniel decided. Ging would likely cooperate under the right conditions.
Thinking this, Daniel picked up a stone and used the card materialization ability he had analyzed in the game. It worked, but required his Nen to maintain, with larger objects consuming more Nen.
"This will save time. Until I master the Archangel's Breath, everything else can wait."
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