Hunter x hunter: I’m interested in Nen abilities

Chapter 41: What Whitebeard?

"The First king of kakin empty tomb, huh…"

Sloane rubbed his sparse hair as he reviewed the videos and photos submitted by Haru, Menchi, Shizuku, and Dago's group. After asking several follow-up questions, he turned to consult quietly with his advisors. Finally, he looked at the group and asked, "Are you certain there's no way to re-enter?"

"Well…" Dago and his team hesitated.

Haru chimed in, "Only hunters can get in."

If you say so, I can report it as such. Sloane stroked his head. This world was full of strange and unexplainable phenomena, many of which only professional hunters could access or comprehend.

"However, under these circumstances, I fear I can't justify awarding the maximum payout in the third tier," Sloane said apologetically. "That said, the findings seem genuine, so doubling the base pay to the second tier of 4 million Jenny shouldn't be an issue."

The final arrangement was as follows:

The base payment of 2 million Jenny could be disbursed immediately.

The doubled payout of 4 million Jenny would be awarded after official review by the Ochima authorities, which would take a couple of days.

The maximum payout of 10 million Jenny was still on the table but would require the hunters to accompany Sloane back to the authorities to argue their case. Those willing to wait might stand a chance.

Menchi asked, "How long would the second-tier review take?"

"If we're lucky, one to two days," Sloane replied. "There's a ship leaving the West Town port at 8 a.m. the day after tomorrow. Hopefully, the payment will be processed by then."

Dago's team huddled for a quick discussion. "We'll tag along. We're not expecting the maximum payout, but we might as well stay together and wait for the review to finish."

Sloane nodded. "I certainly don't mind your company, but rest assured, as soon as the review is complete, we'll transfer the payment directly to your accounts."

Accounts, huh…

That word reminded Haru of a small problem: he didn't have a bank account in this world.

Sure, the hunter world had online banking and a universal currency in Jenny, but without an account, it was a moot point. And it wasn't just about an account—strictly speaking, Haru didn't even have an official identity here.

Much like Shizuku, who came from Meteor City, Haru was essentially a ghost on paper.

"Can I get paid in cash?" Haru raised his hand.

Sloane chuckled. "Since the amount isn't too large, cash, unregistered cards, or online transfers are all options. But for everyone to be paid in cash might not be feasible."

"Then transfer my share to Shizuku's account," Haru said, glancing at her. "That okay?"

"Sure," Shizuku replied calmly.

Since when were they this close? Even Sloane looked surprised, as did Dago and his team.

Menchi, who knew that Shizuku now considered Haru her boss, simply shook her head. But internally, she thought, Why didn't he just use my account?

---

As Ochima's finance department worked on the payments, the group naturally returned to discussing the First king of kakin.

Everyone seemed to have different angles of interest. Dago's group, for instance, focused less on the King's ambitions and more on the rumored treasure he had supposedly left behind.

That's when Kanzai, who had been quietly standing by, suddenly spoke up. "What's the big deal? The so-called First king's treasure pops up every few years. It's just a recurring trend, and no one's ever found anything real."

Haru raised an eyebrow. "Kanzai, are you interested in the treasure too?"

Kanzai looked at him like he'd grown a second head. "I'm a treasure hunter—of course, I'm interested!"

"But this time," Sloane interjected, leaning back with a knowing smile, "the rumors about the First King's treasure are a bit different. Very different."

Dago's group nodded in agreement.

Kanzai frowned. "What's different about them?"

"You don't watch the news?" Menchi asked, astonished. "Even I've heard about this!"

I haven't heard a thing! Haru thought to himself, discreetly nudging Shizuku.

Shizuku, ever curious, asked, "What news?"

Sloane chuckled, opened his laptop, and after a flurry of typing, turned the screen to face the group.

Haru leaned in and was surprised by what he saw: a news article with bold keywords like Sky Arena, suicide, mental illness, and The First King of kakin. The accompanying photo showed the top of Sky Arena—a dizzying outdoor shot—featuring a bald, burly man holding a phone in what appeared to be a vlog selfie.

"This is a video he took at the time." Sloane clicked on a link to a popular video site, iTube, and opened the footage.

The video began like an amateur vlog, with wind roaring and the camera shaking. The bald man stared into the lens, his expression teetering between laughter and tears, and shouted:

"The First king's treasure is real!!!"

Immediately after, the camera captured a heart-stopping plummet, ending with a sickening thud. The screen flickered with static and bloodstains as the microphone picked up distant screams. The footage ended abruptly.

Sloane explained, "This is Alpha Edward, one of the Sky Arena's long-time Floor Masters."

Haru checked the upload date: March 3, 1991—four years ago.

Dago remarked, "That Garou guy we caught here probably got caught up in the hype caused by this. Unlike Garou, who was a minor Floor Master, Alpha Edward was a respected and skilled fighter. That's why his bizarre suicide and claims about the treasure caused such a frenzy."

How dull…

What had begun as a simple question had spiraled into a drawn-out explanation. Haru rolled his eyes, deciding to steer the conversation elsewhere. "Speaking of Garou, he was a skilled fighter. Aren't you worried about him breaking out?"

What he really wanted to know was how the authorities managed superpowered criminals without publicly acknowledging Nen users.

Sloane shrugged. "What's to worry about? Even if he's as ferocious as a beast, a little anesthesia, muscle relaxants, or nerve blockers, and he'll be as docile as a kitten."

Haru fell silent.

"What made you think of him?" Sloane asked.

"She's the one who caught him," Haru said, gesturing toward Menchi.

Menchi pointed right back at him. "Don't look at me. He and his crew of five were all taken down by Haru. I just cleaned up afterward."

Not surprising at all. Dago's group glanced at Haru, their expressions calm, as if they had expected nothing less.

"Oh, the money's in," Shizuku announced, checking her phone.

Sloane wrapped up, "Well then, the ship leaves from West Town at 8 a.m. the day after tomorrow. Safe travels."

Haru gave a casual salute before leaving with Shizuku and Menchi.

---

"Wait a moment!" Dago caught up to the trio at the door. "We really have to thank you. Without your help, we wouldn't have gotten double the pay. How about dinner tonight—on us?"

Haru shrugged. "I'm staying in East Town."

"East Town works too!" Dago said quickly.

Haru waved him off. "I appreciate the offer, but I've got things to do. If you really want to thank me, answer a question."

"Of course," Dago replied earnestly.

"Where are the Kakin folks?" Haru asked, looking around the area. "That cauliflower guy was still with us when we left the amusement park…"

(End of Chapter)