Leading Hunter x Hunter to the Top of the Anime Multiverse

"You mean he's fully aware of the true core of the mission, yet hasn't told the others?"

"Yup… Probably planning to sell the rest of the squad out."

Inside the room, Xiang Nan nodded.

"That so-called 'Druid Master' being able to analyze things so thoroughly shows that, whether in terms of intel at hand or knowledge of the original story, he's above the rest. As for how to hand over the mission item, yet avoid Kakin's assassination? It's actually not that hard. He could just push the rest of the squad to meet with the Kakin contact personally. This is a group mission and doesn't specify any one person. True, once the mission is handed in, the Kakin side will likely murder them, but as long as it isn't him, it's no problem."

Xiang Nan chuckled.

"So what do we do then?"

Manman asked.

"This mission's true essence concerns an individual player's 'hidden score' or performance rating. If my guess is right, as many teammates as possible surviving at the end—while also avoiding being killed by Kakin or the opposing-player faction—will net you, as the 'captain,' a huge hidden score. But now there's another smart person in the group who also gets it, so maybe it won't be so easy."

Xiang Nan gazed at the clouds floating past outside the window.

"Sooner or later, you should just give him the captaincy. Both of us only need to pass the mission."

"Understood."

Traveling from Kakin to the Mitene Union took a while.

That evening, when everyone gathered for dinner:

Following Xiang Nan's directions, Manman voluntarily brought up handing over her captaincy to Druid Master.

The latter made a show of pretending to decline, but couldn't resist everyone's enthusiasm, so in the end, he accepted.

"I have something to say."

What had been a minor interlude didn't bother the others. In fact, even if Manman hadn't stepped down on her own, they were already set on suggesting it.

But just then, Xiang Nan—who'd barely spoken a word since joining—suddenly raised his hand at the dinner table.

"What is it?"

"I and LikesIceCream plan to handle the mission ourselves. We won't take part in the squad's subsequent actions or decision-making."

Xiang Nan stated calmly.

"Huh?"

"Seventeen, what do you mean by that?!"

Several players looked annoyed.

They'd already noticed Xiang Nan and Manman seemed close in the real world; now that Druid Master had replaced Manman as captain, they assumed Xiang Nan was upset and speaking out of spite.

"It's exactly what it sounds like. The investigation is no big deal for us; the only worry is the other-player faction. So once we reach the Mitene Union, we'll just wander around wasting some time, then rely on our knowledge of the original plot to fake up a report, right?"

He said it all matter-of-factly.

"…"

Everyone glanced among themselves, then stared at their newly minted captain, Druid Master.

"Seventeen, if you're mad I became captain, I can let LikesIceCream keep the role… Honestly, it doesn't matter who's captain."

Druid Master tried to appease him with kindly words.

"Nah, I do think you're more suited to be captain."

"I just figure that she and I really aren't suited to group operations, and we won't be much help anyway. You can see what she's like. It's easier for us to work alone. Of course, if we get in trouble, that's on us, nothing to do with you lot."

Xiang Nan replied.

"Uh…"

Saying this, Xiang Nan stood up and walked away.

Manman followed right behind him.

Losing one of their two Nen users was definitely a blow to the team.

Druid Master watched their figures disappear, feigning regret, but a faint glint of malice flashed in his eyes.

Had he misjudged?

He hadn't realized how loyal the girl was to that man.

When they'd first met, Xiang Nan had barely said a thing, and his meager combat rating made Druid Master dismiss him. All of Druid's vigilance had gone toward Manman—suspecting her as a possible obstacle to his plans. Since she was from the Sky Arena's "Star" group, he was on guard in case she discovered his intentions.

But from what he had observed, LikesIceCream was naive, no threat at all.

Everything had seemed perfectly on track.

He never expected that man to show up now, interfering with his scheme.

"They're that close? Could they have known each other in the previous life?"

"No way, the chance is tiny. Probably Seventeen's just living off of LikesIceCream's help. I suspect she used Star's connections to get him through the last three rounds."

He paused in thought.

"Fine, let them go… They can't truly leave the team anyway. Once we land in the Mitene Union, we'll do a quick ten- or fifteen-day 'investigation,' then hurry back to Kakin."

"Sounds good."

The rest nodded.

…

A few more days passed, and the airship finally landed in the Republic of Rokario of the Mitene Union, in a city called Ininge.

This small country bordered the NGL..

Comparing it to richer continents, it was obviously less advanced, though not extremely backward.

Among the several small countries in the Union, Rokario was the most open, while the others were even poorer or more authoritarian.

At the airport, Xiang Nan parted ways with the squad.

He and Manman set off on their own, but unexpectedly, one more person stepped forward and asked to join them: a bespectacled woman who'd been quiet up till now.

Xiang Nan gave her a look; he didn't refuse.

Thus they became a trio. After leaving the airport, they rented a car and set out for the location indicated in the documents—the Miera mountain range, which boasted a wildlife-rich forest.

"You're from the Kakin Empire?"

in the car, Xiang Nan asked in surprise.

The woman with the in-game name "Silent Cloud" nodded.

"Then why follow us two? Going by surface logic, those eight in the main squad are safer."

He asked curiously.

"My talent is Sixth Sense… Basically, intuition."

She answered.

"Like Machi from the Phantom Troupe?"

Xiang Nan had a sudden thought.

"Yes, that's how I set my system talent. And in my previous life, I was a big fan of Hunter x Hunter, read both the old and new versions plus the manga."

"…"

Xiang Nan's eyes flickered.

He hadn't expected there to be multiple "smart players" in this modest ten-person squad.

Interesting…

"That Druid Master gives me a bad feeling. Also, I know that Kakin wouldn't actually need any investigation. If we want to talk plain: there's no reason for them to hire outside help to look into Chimera Ants."

She pushed up her thick-framed glasses politely.

"I never told the others I was from Kakin. I hid it well."

"So you've been quietly observing from the start?"

"Yes… That group all met for the first time, and they hardly realize how dark Kakin can be. But you and Druid Master obviously know the story. He intends to use the captain position to sell us out, eventually pushing someone else to hand over the mission files. That's lethal with Kakin. They won't let anyone leak info about the Chimera Ants or hush hush doings."

She said calmly.

"Then how do you know I won't betray you? If I refused to let you come, what then?"

"I'd have found my own chance to leave anyway. At least I wouldn't stay with them…"

"And about betrayal? I'll trust my sixth sense."

"Ha."

Xiang Nan gave a small laugh.

~~~

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