Chapter 598: Nimble Navigator—Scheming Opportunist

Alex excitedly opens the Purple Chest dropped by Hisoka, his mood undeniably positive after just obtaining a whole wave of great items he can, without a doubt, either use himself or sell for high prices.

You received Acrobatic Martial Arts Secrets

You received 30,000 FC

You received Joker of Death

[Skillbook: Acrobatic Martial Arts Secrets]

Quality: Purple

Effect: Teaches the skill: “Acrobatic Martial Arts Secrets”

Note: Dropped by Hisoka

[Acrobatic Martial Arts Secrets]

Requirements: 15 AGI +2 per level, 10 STR, 10 PHY +1 per level

Requirements: Basic Close Combat Prowess lvl 0, Basic Footwork lvl 0, Martial Arts Proficiency lvl 0 +1 per level

Leveling Requirements: 2000 Fantasy Coins + 1000 per level

Effects: Grants the user unique Martial arts moves, specialising in tricky and hard-to-predict melee attacks that are able to deal effective damage even from unorthodox angles and stances.

Effects: Increases the effects of Martial Arts Proficiency or any similar skill used to fulfill the requirements of this skill by 5% +1% per level.

Effects: Increases movement, stability, and attack speed by 5% + 1% per level and the ability to dodge all kinds of attacks by 10% +1% per level.

[Joker of Death]

World: Hunter x Hunter

Quality: Light Gold

Type: Special Item (Consumable)

Effect: Increases the user's chance to inflict critical hits by 50% and increases the damage of critical hits by 50% for 15 seconds.

Effect: Increases the user's chance to receive critical hits by 50% and increases the damage the user receives from critical hits by 50% for 15 seconds.

Note: Death is waiting... will it be you... or me? ❤️

Uff... that’s disgusting. When Jewel does that heart thingy, it’s kinda cute, but this is just... I want to throw up. Well, the skill is awesome... but it has high requirements. Two basic skills and an advanced skill. Still, the effects are nice... I believe some players would desperately want to buy this.

The Joker, on the other hand, is a consumable... a Light Gold one at that. It’s hella expensive and wasteful to use, and it can backfire... but a player like a sniper or someone who can use high-impact spells and is protected somehow could really abuse it. This is probably the worst Light Gold item as it only grants a buff for 15 seconds... but it can be used whenever. 

Hmmm... I believe truly powerful players with highly specialized builds could really use this. This is also the first item I’ve seen that increases the potency of crits. This item might be worth more than I can even comprehend at this point. I should keep it or use it when I have nothing left to lose.

With just a single chest left, one of a type that Alex hasn’t seen, much less opened, before, Alex swiftly continues with his looting spree.

You received Elite Supporter Weapon-Rank Upgrade

You received Elite Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade

You received Elite Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade

[Superior Supporter Armor-Rank Upgrade]

World: Fantasy Realm

Quality: Deep-Purple

Effect: Upgrades the Armor rank of a Supporter. This item only works on Supporters with an Armor Rank of Deep-Purple or below. The Armor Rank is limited by the Rarity of the Supporter.

Note: The best offense is a good defense?

[Superior Supporter Weapon-Rank Upgrade]

World: Fantasy Realm

Quality: Deep-Purple

Effect: Upgrades the Weapon rank of a Supporter. This item only works on Supporters with a Weapon Rank of Deep-Purple or below. The Weapon Rank is limited by the Rarity of the Supporter.

Note: The best defense is a good offense.

“...”

Really? Is the system reading my thoughts again? I’m not sure I like that. Did it check Menchi’s current Weapon and Armor rank? I mean, this is incredible... but these are pretty generic items... something truly special would have been better... I think? At least I don’t have to worry about decking her out now, since with those three items, she’ll be at the limits of Purple Quality, exactly like Benezia.

Overall satisfied, Alex quickly shares the results with Jewel, who’s still relaxing in the back of the car, but promptly becomes jealous upon hearing what items Alex received.

Princess Jewel is disappointed! Why always items for the Peasant Supporters? Princess Jewel demands more pet-related items!

But it was a Supporter Chest... don’t be unreasonable, Jewel.

Princess Jewel is not unreasonable! Soulmate just needs to pick up a pet chest next time.

“...”

Do pets even drop those?

Parking in front of the Troupe’s hideout, the four Troupe members, Gon, Killua, and Alex, exit the cars.

As Alex walks into the hideout, somehow resembling Mr. Game and Watch with his stiff, exaggerated movements, everyone inside immediately looks at him with suspicion.

“What’s wrong, Alex? You walk a little silly,” Shalnark notes with a grin.

“I like it,” Shizuku comments, her eyes sparkling at the sight of him.

“I pulled a bunch of muscles... I’ll be fine... I hope... I fear I won’t be able to get back to peak condition for a day or so,” Alex explains.

“You should consider doing that more often,” Shizuku says, approaching Alex. “It looks so interesting.”

“Are you a fucking sadist?” Alex asks her. “I’m suffering here!”

Alex, tired of the bickering, immediately walks toward a stone and lies down, moaning as his legs scream in pain.

Meanwhile, Gon and Killua spot Shizuku.

“Ah!” Gon blurts out, causing Killua’s face to darken in annoyance.

“Shizuku... you know them?” Phinks asks, looking at the female Troupe member.

“Never seen them before,” Shizuku states.

“... it’s that arm-wrestling kid,” Feitan notes.

“Who is that supposed to be?” she asks, seemingly not remembering.

“You lost to him at arm wrestling. You used your left hand,” Feitan clarifies.

“No, that’s a lie! I am right-handed; why would I ever use my left hand? I wouldn’t lose to a kid. Stupid Peasant.”

❤️

“Little spider... you are infecting the more impressionable of our members,” Feitan points out, now seemingly annoyed, glaring at Jewel.

“You beat Shizuku?” Nobunaga asks, seemingly interested.

What follows is a series of arm-wrestling matches between Gon and Nobunaga, each one absolutely hopeless for Gon, with Nobunaga easily defeating him every time.

Princess Jewel is impressed. The Samurai Peasant can mercilessly humiliate a child Peasant!

“Can’t you be nice or at least serious for once?” Phinks asks, glancing at her.

No.

“One more,” Nobunaga yells, easily defeating the young Hunter again.

“When it comes to arm wrestling, what’s my rank among the spiders?” Nobunaga asks the others.

“You’re not weak... but you’re not strong either,” Machi says. “Probably around seventh or eighth... when we’re talking about the members before this mission.”

“And the strongest was this guy called Uvogin...” Nobunaga says, a hint of sadness in his voice.

Princess Jewel is stronger!

Will they be angry at me for Jewel’s actions? I hope not....

“...”

Nobunaga continues to dwell on thoughts about his former comrade. Finally, he ends his little rant. “Uvo would never lose in a fight! He must’ve been caught in some dirty trap! I will make his killer pay. I’ll find him, no matter how many I have to kill. The chain user bears a strong grudge against us; the Mafia’s Nostrade Family hired him recently.”

“You might not know him directly, but you may have heard stories of him! Think hard... if you have any guesses, spill them!” Nobunaga asks, half pleading, half threatening, while starting another match of arm wrestling.

“I don’t know anything!” Gon yells. “And even if I did, I would never tell you!”

He then activates his Ren, and blood spills out of his hand, which is bleeding from the repeated losses, as it was slammed against the stone surface multiple times. “I thought you were a bunch of heartless monsters, but you’ll mourn the death of one of your own? Why couldn’t you spare a fraction of that grief for the people you’ve killed?”

He then slams Nobunaga’s hand down, and immediately, the other spiders all subdue Gon and Killua, except for Alex, who just lies nearby, laughing maniacally while stretching his legs.

Meanwhile, Jewel is playfully jumping around at the side, not taking the situation seriously at all.

As long as she’s having fun... I guess I’m happy. It looks like she’s really having the time of her life being able to communicate properly.

Zoning out, Nobunaga soon argues with Feitan, who’s pissed off and wants to hurt Gon and Killua, seemingly unconvinced that they know nothing.

Actually, he’s right... not like I’ll interfere here, though.

Feitan’s face twists in delight. “I’ll start off with a finger... then peel off a nail. Let’s see what they truly know.”

“Stop what you’re about to do,” Nobunaga cautions him.

“Why are you giving me orders? I have no reason to listen to you,” Feitan says, causing Nobunaga to press his foot onto the stone they used for their game in rage.

“Stop!” Machi yells. “Have you forgotten the rules?”

“Troupe members aren’t allowed to start serious fights,” Shizuku continues.

In the end, Nobunaga’s and Feitan’s conflict is settled by a simple flip of a coin. Alex acts calm, but sighs in relief when Nobunaga wins.

“Don’t touch them!” Nobunaga says after having won the coin flip.

“We can just let them go if they don’t know about the chain user,” Machi says.

Pakunoda steps forward. “I checked on the trip here; they really don’t know anything. They have no memories of a chain user... in fact, most of their thoughts are about Alex and Jewel over there... and how they killed Hisoka and Illumi Zoldyck.”

“They did what?!” Shalnark asks, and every other Troupe member who wasn’t present during the mission perks up.

“So that’s why you are crying around so much...” Shalnark mutters. “I was wondering why you suddenly turned into such a cute crybaby... well, this makes sense. Considering who you were up against, your state is almost miraculous.”

Feitan looks visibly stunned at the revelation, becoming eerily quiet.

“We can’t let them go yet,” Phinks says. “If the chain user typically conceals his chains, they could have been used as pawns. They would know him, but not as the chain user.”

The discussion continues, but in the end, under Shalnark’s lead, the Troupe decides to spare them and focus on the Nostrade Family instead.

“You kids are lucky,” Feitan says, causing Gon to stick out his tongue.

This Peasant is suicidal.

“No...!” Nobunaga suddenly yells, staring at Gon. “Kid... join the spider. Team up with me.”

“Never!” Gon replies with conviction.

“Hahahahhahahaha! Just like Uvo,” Nobunaga laughs, almost crazed.

“Take them upstairs and wait... let the boss decide,” Shalnark says. “You are wasting time, though. They are clearly not a fit for us. Especially when we already have two future members... there is no space left.”

I can’t let Nobunaga do it... they’ll escape anyway.

“Nobunaga...” Alex says, still lying down. “Are you out of your mind?”

“What?” Nobunaga perks up, looking at Alex.

“What the fuck do you think you are doing? I thought we wanted to catch the chain user. What was the speech earlier about killing as many people as it takes? Now that the trail grows cold and we’re about to lose the chain user, you want to play around with kids instead? What was that about revenge?” Alex asks, his voice serious for once.

“... What are you trying to say?” Nobunaga asks, glaring at Alex.

Soulmate is saying that Peasant Nobunaga needs to set his priorities straight. Instead of recruiting good-natured Peasant kids, who would never join the Troupe, Nobunaga should instead do what he proclaimed he would do and take revenge for Uvogin.

Nobunaga should catch them on his own if he wants to recruit them after we’ve caught the chain user.

“She is right... Nobunaga,” Shalnark mutters.

“Indeed... if you’d use your brain for a moment, you’d realize it as well,” Feitan adds.

“... Go... leave!” Nobunaga roars at Gon and Killua.

“...”

Gon’s and Killua’s eyes meet Alex’s and Jewel’s for a split second, and Alex briefly notices a hint of gratefulness before the kids quickly leave.

Shalnark holds a few printouts in his hand. “I made copies. We need to find the remaining Nostrade Family members. They’ll lead us straight to the chain user.”

“I killed that one,” Phinks says, pointing toward Dalzollene, the leader of the Nostrade Family bodyguards.

“That one is also dead,” Alex says, pointing toward Shachmono, the Conjurer capable of creating 11 Nen Beasts made out of balloons. “Shot to death and then sucked up by Blinky.”

“Three left, huh?” Phinks notes.

Suddenly, Alex’s phone rings, and he sees the caller.

Menchi?

“Alex?!” Menchi asks. “Benezia contacted me... you got a huge opportunity! You’ve been invited to join the bounty hunters hired by the Mafia community!”

Interesting...

Hearing Menchi’s offer, Alex’s eyes turn into a devious smile.