บท 4: Chapter 3: Republic of Padokea!
Opening the wallet, Raymond discovered five pieces of paper labeled with 10,000.
He furrowed his brow, muttering, "...Is this supposed to be a lot or what?"
Shaking his head slightly, he contemplated that he had taken it from someone seemingly well-off.
It shouldn't be considered a small amount, right?
Raymond recognized that the middle-aged man likely wasn't absurdly rich, given his arrogance and foolish behavior, which seemed at odds with the typical demeanor of the wealthy.
However, he also considered the possibility that the man might be a second-generation rich individual, prone to flaunting their wealth.
With those thoughts in the rearview, Raymond headed towards the city outskirts, seeking places where the less affluent families procured their necessities—spots where someone resembling a beggar wouldn't attract undue attention from security.
Stumbling upon a boutique, Raymond entered, only to be met by a scrutinizing gaze from a lady who sized him up and down.
She hesitantly spoke, "...Hey there, sorry, but we're not running a free-food program."
"..."
A moment of silence ensued as their eyes locked, the lady growing uneasy under the intense scrutiny of Raymond's crimson eyes.
Just as she prepared to speak again, Raymond intervened, placing a stack of 10,000 notes on the counter.
He inquired, "What can I get with this? I practically sold my kidney for it..."
"..."
The unexpected revelation hung in the air, creating a moment of silence in the boutique.
"...Huh? Only 10,000 Jenny?"
The lady's complexion drained upon hearing the mention of a kidney from the little boy standing before her.
A wave of sadness crept into her expression as she regarded Raymond.
Observing her reaction, Raymond fell into silence once more, contemplating, "I guess 10,000 was too cheap for a kidney."
His intention had been to divert suspicion from the stolen money by sharing a bizarre story. While he did take the money, keeping the lady from suspecting him seemed more convenient.
"Maybe I rushed with the lies a bit..." he mumbled, shaking his head at his own tactics.
Still, Raymond's eyes sparked with interest upon hearing the currency name. He muttered, "Jenny? Sounds familiar..."
The lady sighed, kneeling down to meet Raymond at eye level.
She smiled kindly, "Why don't you clean up first? You can pick any clothes you want from this store, on the house..."
"..."
Perhaps, the unexpected lie had worked in his favor after all?
Raymond accepted the offer with an innocent smile, reminiscent of a child's, unknowingly evoking a deeper sense of sadness from the lady as she observed him.
"..."
Raymond paid no mind to her melancholy, seeing it as an advantage.
He made his way to the staff bathroom and washed away the grime clinging to him.
As the dirt washed away, he began to feel human once again, the simple act of cleansing breathing a fresh life into him.
Exiting the bathroom, towel in hand courtesy of the kind lady, Raymond discovered a set of clothes waiting for him.
He took them and couldn't help but display an awkward expression as he caught sight of the tag price.
"...Just 2,700 for a shirt," he muttered, a blend of surprise and realization crossing his features.
The realization dawned on him that 10,000 wasn't as much as he'd initially thought, considering the affordable clothes had such price tags.
No wonder the lady had regarded him with pity, assuming he was selling his kidney for a meager sum equivalent to about $100 in his previous world.
"Now, I kinda feel bad for lying..."
Raymond sighed before tearing off the tag and donning the clothes.
As the fabric draped over him, he shed the remnants of his beggar appearance, fully transforming into a regular human being once again.
Raymond encountered a mirror and couldn't resist stepping in front of it to inspect his new appearance.
In the reflection, he saw a slender twelve-year-old with dark hair.
Despite his past as a beggar, Raymond noticed that his face seemed to be crafted to perfection, showcasing his most striking feature – his crimson eyes.
"Hmm?"
Examining his own gaze, Raymond couldn't help but murmur, "My eyes stand out too much..."
Wary of drawing undue attention, he noted that most people in the city had more conventional eye colors, mainly brown or dark, much like the world he hailed from.
Raymond couldn't shake the feeling that his striking crimson eyes might bring unwanted scrutiny in this unfamiliar place.
"Oh, my? What a handsome little one you are..."
An exclamation echoed through the air as Raymond turned to see the kind lady looking at him with captivated eyes as if discovering a gem that emerged from the dirt.
"..."
Although feeling uncomfortable under her gaze, Raymond's expression shifted, and a realization dawned on him —
— he could use her to gather information!
With his plan in motion, Raymond lingered in the store throughout the day.
Surprisingly, he didn't spend a single penny.
Tatiana, the kind lady who introduced herself, even treated him to meals.
He eagerly devoured the food since his body craved the nourishment, and Tatiana, akin to a caring mother, happily provided more.
They engaged in conversation, Tatiana enjoying watching him relish the food.
However, as their talk concluded, Raymond couldn't resist blinking his eyes in surprise as he sought confirmation once more, "...Did you just mention the Republic of Padokea?"
"Yes, didn't you know your own country?"
Tatiana tilted her head in confusion, then her expression shifted to sadness as she embraced Raymond, murmuring, "Oh, poor kid, you must have been through a lot..."
Though the warmth of Tatiana's passionate hug made him uncomfortable, Raymond's mind was in motion.
Tatiana had mentioned the city being situated in the Republic of Padokea, and she spoke of a tower combat arena—
—an iconic place named Heaven's Arena.
It was described as the world's most popular battle site, where victorious fighters ascended to higher floors as part of its reward system, located at the city's center.
"...Heaven's Arena," he silently mumbled, his expression contorting in disbelief.
Raymond started to grasp the world he found himself in.
From the moment he arrived in this world, he understood the need to take charge of his destiny.
Raymond weighed his options in the world of HunterXHunter.
He contemplated two paths:
Becoming formidable enough to command followers willingly or amassing wealth so great that others would be drawn to him like magnets.
Yet, a greedy grin crept onto his face as he thought, "...Why not both?"
However, he also knew that acquiring the funds necessary for such a venture would take time.
And the thought of sharing ownership with investors didn't sit well with him; he preferred to maintain full control over his endeavors.
"...I had considered starting small and sharing the profits, but perhaps I can skip that step here," he mused.
A smirk tugged at the corners of his lips as he concluded, "...since I know just where to acquire the funds I need and to get stronger at the same time."
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