A/N: I released my new Fanfiction, Hunter x Hunter: Unleashed, today! Check it out! I'd be super grateful if you could leave a Collection or a Power Stone! :)
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Chapter Start:
Tereza gulps. "Are you really sure about this, Alex—letting us vote on your future?"
"Your votes didn't really count all that much. I mostly care about Jewel's thoughts. If she wants to go, I'll support her. Menchi would've been the tie-breaker," Alex admits honestly.
I'm sorry, Soulmate…
Don't be sorry! I want you to be more honest and proactive.
❤️
"Heh, he just likes his women more aggres—" Menchi starts, but Alex immediately shushes her.
"Stop it right there. Don't infect Jewel with that bullshit. I like her just the way she is! Anyway, the decision's made. I might as well tell Glimmerwhisk now. There are still some preparations I want to make. I've got a shit-ton of healing items, so there's no need for more. But I do need to designate you as a combat supporter… and if possible, I want to upgrade your shitty armor, Menchi!"
"My armor?" Menchi raises an eyebrow.
"Yeah, your so-called armor—which is basically just skimpy clothes focusing on movement. It offers zero protection!" Alex complains, staring at her, feeling like he's doing something wrong.
"Hah, I simply won't get hit! Also, admit it, you love to stare," she replies confidently, completely unfazed.
"I wish that were true… but remember, your level will be reduced from 12 to a pitiful 5. You'll lose a lot of strength. I just want to give you a tiny edge—anything to keep you alive," Alex explains, admitting his worry.
I can't risk her actually dying… the cost would be too high. One I'm not willing to pay—for Menchi's future!
"Anyway—Rishi, Tereza, thank you for your help. I'll still be around for a bit, but we better get going."
Tereza looks down, clearly torn, while Rishi simply smiles, seeming pleased with the result.
Tereza…
Alex walks over and kisses her cheek gently. "Don't worry about me. I worry about you."
"I… I'm beginning to get scared. That's why I didn't want to grow attached!" Tereza snaps, her voice rising. "It's all your fault!!"
She turns sharply. "Now leave—and then come back as fast as possible! I'll see you later," she says, walking out of Alex's Realm room.
"I for sure didn't think it'd turn into this when I gave you that contract," Rishi mutters, finding humor in the situation. "Seriously, I just wanted to get rid of her and handed it to you as a joke. Looks like you've captured her heart, it's almost like a cheap romance book."
"... could have done without that adjective there," Alex comments, slightly offended.
Rishi stands up as well and nods. "We'll talk later. If you need help, contact me immediately—phone or system call. Don't waste time writing."
"Thank you," Alex replies sincerely.
I really am lucky to have friends like this—even if they show it in their own weird ways.
As Rishi leaves, Alex turns toward his two remaining companions who'll be joining him on his mission.
"Let's do this, then!" he says, sharp and motivated.
Let's go, Soulmate!
"Let's pay that goblin a visit," Menchi says, getting excited about the situation, ready for a battle and to see Glimmerwhisk again, smirking at Alex.
"…A bit more support during conversations would be appreciated," Alex mutters.
"You're doing just fine," Menchi says. "She surprisingly likes you. She's dangerous, ruthless—probably ruined thousands of lives—but I do think she's genuinely interested in you… just don't disappoint her."
Alex chuckles. "I'm not intending to—disappointing her probably means dying to her brother's goon."
"True," Menchi snickers. "A little redundant to mention. Let's hurry up!"
The three of them head toward the Eternal Coffins.
Inside the bank, Glimmerwhisk is nowhere to be seen. Not in the mood to act like a lost puppy, Alex marches up to the nearest available clerk—a young female goblin.
"Excuse me, I need to meet with Glimmerwhisk. Please call her. Tell her it's important."
"You're a mere human. How dare you demand to speak with the Lady! Do you even know who you're talking about?" the goblin hisses, eyes narrowed, clearly offended.
Alex sighs. "I know. It's important business. She sorta hired me—it's in her interest that you tell her I'm here."
"Leave—or I'll have you thrown out by the guards!" she growls… before suddenly laughing. "Just kidding. She warned me you might show up. Sorry, I couldn't resist. Please, follow me."
"…"
"These goblins have a funny sense of humor," Menchi comments, wearing a half-confused grin. "Didn't see that one coming."
These goblins are silly… they confuse me, Soulmate.
As long as they stick to pranks and teasing instead of betrayal, I'm strangely fine with it. Worst case—they've just added a few new tricks and kept their old ones.
They're led back into Glimmerwhisk's private room—one Alex and Jewel now know well.
"Back so soon?" Glimmerwhisk asks, smirking. "Could it be?"
"We accept your offer," Alex replies firmly.
"This is a bit surprising… but quite welcome," she says, her teasing tone gone. Her eyes narrow, her face serious. "Just to be clear—you realize failure is not an option, or even a possibility?"
"I know your future's at stake," Alex nods. "But yes. We're sure."
He pauses. "However, we could use some help. Like a full HP restore potion… or maybe an elixir that boosts all stats by 30%? Something like that would guarantee the win."
Glimmerwhisk sighs. "Impossible. I told you—while we have a bit of leeway in the Realm, my father will ensure this mission stays fair. If I gave you something like that, the mission wouldn't even start. He might cancel it outright. Your items will be scanned before you enter."
She folds her arms. "Trust me, I thought about workarounds—but this one has to be fair. A competent head of the union needs good judgment, especially about people. That's what this test is about. Schemes are usually involved, but father was quite strict about the rules of this little contest."
Alex sighs, having expected this.
However, this leaves me with the thing I hope she can help me with, it's not even an item I'll be taking with me!
"Then I need something else. I'm willing to pay. This is Menchi's status," he says, pulling up her details and showing them to Glimmerwhisk. Menchi nods silently—she trusts him.
[Menchi]
Level: 12 (25%)
Rarity: Purple
Free Skill Slots 1/2
Skills: Potioneering (Advanced -)
Support Skills: Cooking (Advanced +), Dismantling (Advanced +), Synthesizing (Advanced)
Weapon rank: Purple
Armor rank: Light Green
"Fine specimen," Glimmerwhisk says, scanning Menchi's status. "Sadly, her level will be reduced, and most of these skills are support-based. However… she has Nen abilities—and a Hatsu that can be used for combat? I think she'll be very helpful."
Her expression shifts slightly as she looks closer at the status.
"I see, you're probably hinting at her pathetic Light-Green armor rank, huh? I can't interfere... but… you might want to talk to this player and mention my name. And you might also mention a certain favor," she adds with a grin, scribbling a name on a piece of paper and casually dropping it on the floor.
"Oh, oops, I dropped something. Please get rid of this trash for me, will you?" she says innocently. "And don't expect miracles… just a small favor," she adds, not bothering to hide her true intentions in the slightest.
Hehe… that's how I like to play.
Alex and Glimmerwhisk both chuckle.
"My, I think we have more in common than I thought. Perhaps this is fate after all?" she says with a smug smile, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Let's destroy your loser brother first, and then we'll see. Do you hand me the mission item right away, or do we wait?"
"Take it," she replies. "The countdown starts immediately. That's your time limit. I don't want to look desperate and wait for the deadline my father gave me to expire. Besides, this will make my useless brother panic."
You received C-Rank Mission Request
[C-Rank Mission Request]
Quality: Purple
Type: World Item / Quest Item
Effect: Allows the player to enter the World of Naruto during the Land of Waves arc.
Effect: Player will automatically enter this world exactly 48 hours after obtaining this time as long as a certain other condition is met.
Requirements: Level 5
Note: C-rank Missions are generally about bodyguard duty and hunting wild animals and are somewhat risky. However, generally, Ninjas don't encounter other Ninjas during C-Rank missions.
Note: This item cannot be traded, discarded, or sold. It will disappear after use.
[Conditions met, Mission starting automatically in 47 hours, 59 minutes, and 55 seconds.]
"I guess… it's time for preparations, then," Alex says as they leave the bank. He waves at Glimmerwhisk, who returns a satisfied smile and pulls out her own system interface to make a call.
Alex grins as he opens his own system.
Let's see if this contact actually works…
To his delight, the note is recognized by the system—and he easily connects to Glimmerwhisk's "debtor."
He quickly opens a live chat.
[1337312: Hello dear debtor. Glimmerwhisk demands you repay her debt—NOW.
I need items that upgrade the armor rank of a follower.]
Alex confidently writes his message, ditching his old habit of proofreading every message a couple times and just rolling with it, his confidence growing, if just by a little.
[Storm Rider: Impossible! Those items are rare. What's the current armor rank?
Also, your name is just silly. If you're a leader, you're the most juvenile one I've ever heard of.]
"Fuck you!" Alex angrily complains, offended that his name choice was mocked for no reason.
Menchi bursts out laughing. Her mouth curves into a smug grin. "Alex, calm down. This is your fault. Recognize when you're to blame. Don't make it complicated."
[1337312: Shut up, mind your own business! The armor–rank is just at Light-Green. No need to go all the way to Purple, but surely you have something? Or else I'll have to bitch about it to Glimmerwhisk and she is in a bad mood. It's your call, though.]
Alex smiles, knowing he got her.
[Storm Rider: Which pathetic follower has a Light-green armor rank? Such a trashy follower is not worth any kind of investment, I'd recommend you outright dismiss that follower, as it's not even worth selling, because of the transaction cost.]
"Fuck that guy!! Asshole," Menchi snaps. "I'll strangle that bastard."
Alex smirks. "Menchi, calm down. This is your fault. Recognize when you're to bla—"
Menchi shoots him a glare that could freeze the sun.
Hypocrite…
[1337312: Please don't insult my supporter, if this one is so trashy, you should have something available for me, right?]
[Storm Rider: 50,000 FC, special deal and I expect my debts from that damn trickster to be over. Deal?]
[1337312: Do you think I'm stupid? Show me what you got and if it's satisfying enough, you got yourself a deal!]
[Storm Rider: Player Tower, South-Eastern corner, I'm wearing a blue shirt! 30 Minutes, don't make me wait!]
[1337312: See you, bring EVERYTHING you got.]
Alex closes the chat and glances at Menchi. "Let's hope for the best, huh? First, let's pay the 25,000 FC to designate you as a combat supporter… then we'll go deal with this guy."
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