Larry chuckled softly. "Ging? He's... honestly kind of a mess. Pretty unreliable most of the time. I remember him pulling out fruit during a fight like it was nothing."
Gon blinked, confused. That wasn't the kind of answer he expected.
"But," Larry continued, "when it counts, he's the guy you can rely on the most."
Gon looked even more puzzled than before.
"Unreliable… but reliable at the same time?"
"That's spot on," Razor added with a small smile, recalling his own memories. "That's exactly who Ging is."
Meanwhile, in the digital space of the online world, a voice echoed through the emptiness.
"Still not going out to see him? Your son's right there."
Ickshonpe's tone was playful, teasing the man sitting silently next to him.
Ging, wearing a dark blue robe, was seated cross-legged on the ground, eyes fixed on a screen projecting the image of Gon and his friends.
"There's no need," he said calmly. "My son will come find me eventually. I'll just wait until that day comes."
Despite what he said, Ging had already gone out of his way to visit Ickshonpe and tap into the network, just to observe the current situation.
He wasn't worried about Larry. If anything, he was curious to see how much Gon had grown.
By the looks of it… that meeting might not be far off now.
Still, he figured it was better to let Gon grow a bit more.
"Oh? So when you said 'wait quietly,' you meant you're switching the 'Accompany' target from yourself to Kaito now?"
Ickshonpe smirked, not buying Ging's act. As someone who had spent so long around him, he knew exactly how Ging operated.
This guy could be bold with strangers, but when it came to his own kid? Total coward.
Ging didn't answer directly. He just coughed twice and looked away, trying to change the subject.
"Come on, don't play dumb," Ickshonpe laughed. "You think I don't know why you helped build Greed Island?"
When Gon was still a baby, Ging had brought him here in a cradle. That's why Gon's in-game address book still had an entry for 'Nigg', Ging's pseudonym.
In the end, Gon and Killua had to pull off a clever scheme just to get the spell card 'Accompany' to work. They thought it would take them straight to Ging.
Instead, when 'Accompany' was used, Ging had it set to redirect the spell to his apprentice, Kaito.
Typical Ging. Always dodging the people who matter most.
Ging glanced at the screen, watching Gon speak with such sincerity. Then his gaze shifted to Killua standing beside him, and for a brief moment, a soft, satisfied smile appeared on his face.
These two… he was sure they'd end up going to Kaito. That meant he could delay meeting Gon a little longer.
For a father, Ging was certainly one of a kind, more of a deadbeat dad than anything else. He treated his own son like an afterthought, avoiding him whenever possible and leaving him to fend for himself.
One moment, Ging was calmly observing the conversation unfold on-screen. The next, his expression changed completely. Like a sudden summer storm, his face darkened with a cold seriousness.
"If you really want to see Ging," Larry suddenly said with a strange, teasing tone, "I can help you out.I could let you meet him, right now. Right here."
His words hung in the air, almost like a challenge or temptation aimed directly at Gon.
Just a second ago, Porygon Z had passed a piece of data to Larry. It confirmed that Ickshonpe and Ging were currently in the digital realm, watching everything through a hidden monitor feed.
Which meant… if Larry had Porygon Z open a channel between the physical and digital worlds, Gon and Ging could meet face to face, on the spot.
Wouldn't that be more exciting than a game of dodgeball?
"Wait, I can actually see Ging right now?" Gon's voice dropped to a murmur, but his eyes were wide. The idea clearly shook him.
"Yup," Larry said, grinning. "He's watching us right now.
Then he turned deliberately toward the direction of the monitor and raised his voice.
"Hey Ging. You're looking this way, aren't you? Don't even bother denying it, I know you're there with Ickshonpe."
Larry's smile turned playful, almost wicked.
"What do you say? Want to see a reunion? Let Gon finally meet the father he's been chasing all this time?"
The others followed Larry's gaze, their attention drawn to the monitor.
'So Gon's dad is actually watching?' Killua narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. He was curious too, what kind of person was Gon's elusive father, really?
Inside the digital world, Ging's expression twisted.
"Damn it! How did Larry figure out I was here?"
He tugged at the scarf around his neck and immediately turned to Ickshonpe with a suspicious glare.
"Was it you? Did you tell him?"
Ickshonpe quickly raised both hands in mock surrender. "Hey, don't look at me. It wasn't me, it was probably Larry's nen beast."
He went on to explain, "That weird-looking creature of his is better at handling data than I am. It can move freely between the real world and the digital one."
Ging's brow furrowed, his eyes locking onto Larry's image with renewed intensity.
"A nen beast that can do that?" he muttered. "I've never even heard of something like that…"
Larry just kept throwing him curveballs.
"Wait… did you just say it can travel back and forth between reality and the Internet?" Ging's tone shifted from surprise to full-blown alarm.
"Exactly," Ickshonpe confirmed. "His nen beast can create a portal between the two. People and objects can pass through it."
Ging's heart skipped a beat. If what Ickshonpe said was true, then…
"If Larry opens that gate right now, I'll be dragged straight in front of Gon! Ickshonpe, send me back right now! I can't stay here anymore!"
Ging stood up in a panic, running his fingers through his hair as anxiety crept over him. "Coming here was a mistake!"
But Ickshonpe was having none of it. He stayed rooted in place, quietly amused. After all these years, watching Ging squirm was pretty satisfying. He figured the guy had it coming.
Back on the field, the mood shifted again. Gon finally spoke.
"Thanks, Larry," he said, voice steady. "But… I think I'll wait. I want to meet Ging through my own efforts."
Larry's offer had been tempting, and Gon clearly struggled with the choice. But in the end, he chose to hold back.
Somewhere, in the digital shadows, Ging let out a quiet sigh of relief. Only Gon had that kind of effect on him, otherwise, someone like Ging would never wear such an expression.
Even when faced with the terrifying power of the Disaster from dark continent, Ging stayed calm, so calm, in fact, that he looked like he was ready to go up and try a few tricks himself.
Larry couldn't help but suspect something: if Ging really had to choose, he'd probably rather face a walking disaster than run into his own son, Gon.
"…Is that so? Then forget it," Larry said casually as he waved his hand and recalled all the Pokémon he had summoned.
He hadn't come here to show off anyway. This trip was all because Biscuit had asked him to lend a hand with the challenge. Now that it was done, he was ready to leave with Menchi.
With Larry's overwhelming support, Gon and the others had managed to beat the legendary challenge of "Razor and the Fourteen Demons." In the process, they obtained the ultra-rare SS-level card, [Plot of Beach], a card that had never been acquired by anyone before.
What lay ahead for Gon and his team was the looming threat of the Bomber and his group. Even though Bartra, the wealthy sponsor behind the Greed Island game, had withdrawn the 50-billion jenny reward, the Bomber trio hadn't backed down.
They were still determined to get their hands on the final reward, something far more important than money: the right to choose a card to take out of the game.
For someone like Larry, those cards weren't all that valuable. But for players like them, they meant everything.
As for the Bomber's strength? Larry honestly didn't care, compared to him, they were nothing.
And so, just like in the original story, things progressed along a familiar path. Gon and the others eventually collected all the specified cards and passed the final quiz. At last, they were rewarded with the 0th card, [Ruler's Blessing].
From the moment Greed Island was released, it had witnessed countless battles, rivalries, and struggles. Now, after all that time, the game had finally been cleared.
Players across the island felt a mix of emotions. Some were relieved. Others couldn't hide their regret. But in the end, all of them had to accept the reality, it was over.