In HxH with Doraemon Pocket

Chapter 355 - 356

"This is unnecessary. I plan to search for more information about the Chimera Ants, to see if there's any intelligence or lifestyle characteristics I've missed about this isolated species."

While the two were chatting in the virtual network space, somewhere far north of the city housing the Heaven's Arena, in a remote and desolate village...

The houses were in ruins, with spider webs woven everywhere. A gust of wind sent yellow sand and dust swirling through the air, blinding to the eyes.

No one had lived here for who knows how long. Yet today, someone had ventured back into this place.

A group of people clad in deep black cloaks, completely obscuring their bodies, walked in unison down the village's main road.

"Olympia Martial Arts Tournament? Heaven's Arena?"

The leader, while walking and reading a newspaper in hand, spoke in a hoarse and parched voice.

"Netero has really found himself quite the burial ground. That old hag, number 344, isn't so easy to deal with. Have they arrived? Species from the Dark Continent?"

After finishing the contents of the newspaper, the leader chuckled softly, releasing the paper to drift away on the dusty wind.

As the newspaper fluttered away, one could faintly see the printed words: "Hunter Association Chairman, Isaac Netero, to once again grace this year's Olympia Martial Arts Tournament!" It was accompanied by a photo of Netero, exuding an air of sage-like wisdom.

"In front of the whole world, what a grand stage. When the time comes, let you and those scum from the V5 reveal the truth of the past and be utterly disgraced.

"Then, send you all to repent to our former companions!"

"Decades have passed, you should have forgotten completely, right? We have never forgotten what you did to us, not for a single day. We've waited too long for this day!"

The howling wind carried away the captivating dust and sand, gradually obscuring the figures of the group. Only the faint echo of deep-seated hatred lingered momentarily before being swept away.

On Greed Island.

"Attention to all players!"

Elena's official announcement, through the card collection book, echoed in every player's ear.

"According to the data, a player has just collected all ninety-nine specified pocket cards."

"To commemorate this achievement, a quiz competition will be held in ten minutes, requiring all players in the game to participate!"

"There will be a total of one hundred questions, all related to the specified pocket cards."

"The player with the highest correct answer rate will be awarded the NO.000 card, 'Blessing of the Ruler'."

"Please do not close your card collection books, and wait a moment!"

With Elena's final reminder, Greed Island erupted in excitement. After years of gameplay, has someone finally gathered all the cards?!

"Didn't expect the last card to be obtained through a quiz format?"

In the dense forest, Feitan glanced at his collection book, filled with ninety-nine cards, and remarked.

"It seems to be the game's mechanism. Only by truly playing the game, understanding the conditions for each card, and immersing oneself can one obtain the final card."

"Can anyone really immerse themselves and play the game seriously?"

Phinks nudged aside the bodies of Genthuru and his two companions, Shabu and Bara, with his foot. This so-called Bomber trio was no match for the two of them.

Feitan single-handedly dealt with all three, seizing their cards to complete the ninety-nine-card set.

"Who knows? Questions related to specified pocket cards will probably be designed so that players who only know how to snatch cards can't answer them."

"Like necessary conditions, related character quotes, and such."

Feitan didn't mind, "Even if we can't answer the questions, someone will."

"We'll just take it from them directly."

"Exactly!" Phinks grinned menacingly, "After all, we've been snatching cards all along."

"We'll snatch the last card too!"

"Right?"

The two decided to wait leisurely for the quiz to begin.

Other players on the island, initially eager to use 'Accompany' to reach the player with ninety-nine cards, hesitated upon realizing it was the infamous Feitan and Phinks. Their expressions changed, and they dared not speak further.

"Alright, at least we must get this card!" Gon, filled with determination, made a bet with Killua on who would answer more questions correctly.

Soon, Elena's quiz began:

"First question! What is the name of the elder who provides the hint for NO.001 'One Tsubo of Dense Forest'? A. Shira, B. Shida, C. Shiso, D. Shiyu, E. Shima."

The players: "..."

Right from the first question, many couldn't answer. And with five options, it was a one-in-five chance...

Many players shook their heads, ready to guess blindly.

Quickly, the quiz progressed from the first question to the last.

After asking, "What is the name of the NO.000 card?" all responses came to an end.

---

"End!" Elena crisply announced the conclusion of the quiz round. "Now, announcing the highest scorer!"

"The highest score is... 87 out of a possible 100!"

"The player's name is... Gon!"

As expected, the one who secured the card through the quiz was Gon. Just as the results were announced, an owl wobbled its way from the horizon, dropping a letter towards Gon.

When Gon caught the letter, it transformed into a card. This was the "Ruler's Invitation," a card that allowed entry into Rimel Castle, where the final card could be obtained.

However...

"We haven't collected all the other cards yet," Gon remarked, looking at his collection book, which still lacked several cards, feeling a bit conflicted. "Going to that city without completing the collection feels unsatisfying!"

While Gon was caught in his dilemma, over with Feitan...

"Oh dear, didn't expect it to turn out this way," Phinks said, rubbing his head. "Gon and his group actually got the last card."

"So, should we still snatch it?" Phinks sought Feitan's opinion.

"What do you think?" Feitan glanced back at him.

"After all, Gon and his group brought us into the game and helped us obtain the 'One Tsubo of Coastline.' Plus, they have a good relationship with Morin. They're almost like allies. Robbing them feels... wrong," Phinks implied, clearly reluctant to confront Gon and his friends.

Yet, if they didn't seize it, they wouldn't complete the collection, leaving him quite conflicted.

"I don't want to resort to snatching either," Feitan muttered, his reasoning straightforward: "Even if we try to take it by force, we might not succeed in getting the card from them." He squinted, "Especially with Morin's master by their side."

"That old woman isn't easy to deal with."

"She might even be trickier than Razor."

Feitan's reluctance to confront Gon was purely because Biscuit was a formidable opponent.

"That's reasonable," Phinks nodded repeatedly.

This added another reason not to make a move against Gon.

"So what should we do?"

"In our team, when there's a disagreement, how do we usually resolve it?"

"That's easy," Phinks said, pulling out a special spider coin from his pocket.

"So, since they're almost like allies..." Feitan took the spider coin, "We'll use this to settle it."

On the distant sea, a nearly dilapidated raft drifted along the water.

"Where are we going?" The Chimera Ant, tired and worn out, had long since run out of strength.

She could only keep herself conscious by continuously speaking.

The guide, a demi-human beast, paid her little attention.

Until—

A bright lighthouse beam shone upon them, marking their arrival at their intended destination. At that moment, the demi-human beast suddenly dissipated into mist, drifting away.

Left alone on the raft, the Chimera Ant slowly floated towards the Barusa Archipelago.

Upon entering the ocean boundary of the Sixth Continent, it immediately caught the attention of the continent's rulers.

"Has it arrived? The species from the Dark Continent?"

"As expected, it's a Chimera Ant, a creature with a danger ranking of only B on the Dark Continent."

"Let's proceed with the original plan and use it as a test subject."

"Deploy it in the NGL Autonomous Region?"

"Let's do it!"

In the night, the five leaders swiftly concluded their discussion, quietly awaiting the upcoming events that could impact the entire world.

"Deciding the card's fate with a coin toss? We really underestimated your ambitions!"

"You mean to decide the card's final ownership with a coin toss?" Gon was surprised to hear Phinks suggest this.

When Phinks and Feitan used "Accompany" to appear before Gon and Killua, the duo was on guard.

However, they quickly heard Feitan and Phinks propose this solution.

"How about it? A coin toss seems like a fair way to handle this for both sides, right?"