Hello everyone, this is Gon Freecss, who successfully obtained "Plot of Beach" despite it clearly being more difficult than in the original. Though it feels like just a moment, our half-year stay on Greed Island is nearly over.
While Leorio and Kurapika treated Killua and Goreinu, and Tsezguerra calmed the panicked fill-in members, Gon was learning more about Jin from Razor.
"When you meet that idiot, punch him for me. And tell him to show his face once in a while—that'd help."
Razor's reminiscing and story of meeting Jin, which began with those words, overflowed with gratitude for being able to enjoy his present life despite being confined to Greed Island.
He didn't know what Jin was doing now, and they might never meet again in the worst case, but he was happy to have met his son, Gon.
"He's got a rotten personality but a frighteningly sharp mind. You being here, you fighting and beating me—it's probably all within his expectations. Though he definitely misjudged your strength."
Lightly punching Gon's chest as he admitted he'd genuinely prepared for death, Razor's bitter smile transformed into a gentle one as he concluded.
"I've given it everything. Now I can use the rest of my life for myself without any regrets. Come visit sometime, Gon. I'll be waiting."
Then, after Razor formally declared the event cleared to the challenger team, a female NPC appeared from nowhere to guide the players.
Razor continued watching with a refreshed feeling until they disappeared from sight—the first and likely last clearers of the final remaining main event on Greed Island.
Having finished the final scenario and successfully obtained "Plot of Beach," Gon's team paid the fill-in members their reward and immediately set about duplicating the card.
The spell card they used was Clone—a powerful card capable of completely copying a specified card, including its effects. Using it, they obtained the limit of three copies of Plot of Beach.
"I'm fine with a Clone for my Plot of Beach. I want you all to keep the remaining two. Rather, I question whether I did enough work to deserve even a Clone."
"No, we could only draw Razor out because you were all here. Accept that card with pride."
"...Alright, I'll do that."
Initially hesitant, Tsezguerra accepted the card firmly after Goreinu persuaded him.
Though internally unsettled by the gap between himself and Goreinu, not showing it was befitting of an experienced Single-Star Hunter.
"I'm sorry I tore the clothes you lent me. Thank you for everything, Mr. Tsezguerra."
"No, I'll say it again—my contribution was nothing special. Besides, we're both Single-Star Hunters, so I'd appreciate it if you'd treat me as an equal from now on... I'd appreciate it."
Tsezguerra painfully realized that not only had he been unable to keep up in dodgeball, but Goreinu and Killua's abilities surpassed his own, and Gon's raw power was beyond his comprehension.
While he maintained his usual demeanor, the tension remained unavoidable since he'd be utterly unable to resist if they came to steal cards by force.
He felt genuinely relieved from the bottom of his heart that Gon's group possessed such upstanding character.
"Now then, this creates a three-way standoff between my group, yours, and Genthru's team..."
The moment Tsezguerra was about to make a certain proposal, communication from another player came in with perfect timing.
The caller was none other than Genthru, who had just become the topic of conversation. Tsezguerra made eye contact with Gon's group before accepting the call.
『Well, well, Mr. Tsezguerra! First things first—congratulations on getting Plot of Beach. Now all the specified slot cards have been exposed to the light of day.』
"So you were checking binders after all. And? What do you want, calling us like this? Hoping for a trade?"
『Whoa, whoa, whoa! You've got some nerve acting so high and mighty when you've been running from us. I called out of concern since you might be injured. I was even thinking I might use Breath of the Archangel on you if it's bad!』
Tsezguerra grimaced at the vulgar laughter he heard, unable to deny that he'd responded somewhat defensively in their previous skirmishes, and fell silent.
After laughing his fill over the communication, Genthru dropped his frivolous attitude and made a declaration to Tsezguerra.
『I know you have all the specified cards we need. Let's have a final battle. If we steal the cards from you, we win.』
"...Very well. I haven't come this far to hold anything back. I'll give you everything I've got."
『That's more like it! Is that Goreinu's group there with you? If Tsezguerra runs, you're next. Better wait trembling in fear.』
After the communication ended, Tsezguerra remained on guard for a while, and after confirming they wouldn't attack immediately, he took a breath and turned back to Gon's group.
"The situation isn't good, as expected. I have a proposal for you all."
It was a compromise derived from Tsezguerra's pride as a Single-Star Hunter and his wariness of Genthru.
"I want to transfer the specified slot cards we monopolize. In exchange, include us in the distribution of the clear completion rewards."
Tsezguerra believed that situationally, Genthru would be targeting him, and while he didn't intend to lose, he honestly thought the odds were against him.
On top of that, considering evacuation outside the game in the worst case, all the cards they'd collected would be wasted and Genthru would get even closer to clearing—which wasn't amusing.
"Since there's virtually no chance of you losing to Genthru's team, a clear is decided once you engage them. If we beat them, we get favorable distribution; if you beat them, you get favorable distribution—how about that for reward allocation?"
"That's awfully convenient for you, isn't it? At worst, we could just beat you up and steal the cards."
"I'm well aware of that, but I'm confident this isn't a bad deal for you either. I'm still a Single-Star Hunter—I believe I can outmaneuver you. And I assure you, collecting the remaining cards on your own would take years."
Tsezguerra continued negotiating with outward confidence, though his back was drenched in cold sweat, changing the color of his shirt.
It was a gamble that bet on the opponent's benevolent nature not to resort to force, with the resolve to let only his companions escape while he fought to the death in the worst case.
Challenging an opponent he could never match in strength—that too was one of the true callings of a Hunter.
"I think it's fine. As long as we can add a few more conditions."
Just as a somewhat suspicious atmosphere began spreading, Gon, who had been silent, casually accepted Tsezguerra's proposal.
Killua and Goreinu, who had been threatening to obtain concessions, were somewhat taken aback, but the other members also relaxed, deciding to at least hear Gon's conditions.
"First, guarantee us the right to take home one card that Mr. Battera has permitted. The reward distribution is 3:2, but only if Tsezguerra loses. We both keep the possibility of taking everything."
Gon's proposal meant that if Tsezguerra's team beat Genthru's team, Tsezguerra's team would take everything. If Gon's team beat Genthru's team before Tsezguerra's team lost, Gon's team would take everything.
"I see. We buy insurance for when we lose with the card selection right, and the 500 billion reward is first-come, first-served."
Since Gon's team had no contact with Genthru's team, engagement was uncertain, and with the target being Tsezguerra's team, their chances were extremely limited.
In contrast, while Tsezguerra's team had questionable odds of victory, the other side would come to them, and they could certainly initiate combat themselves.
In the worst case, they could evacuate outside the game as originally planned, essentially only losing the card selection right—arguably better conditions overall.
"By the way, can I ask what card you want so badly?"
"It's why Biscuit came to Greed Island—she wants Blue Planet. All of us have given our selection rights to Biscuit."
When Tsezguerra looked at Biscuit, the cunning glimpsed during the match had vanished, replaced by a bubbly Biscuit gazing back with moist eyes.
Seeing the other members also didn't appear to be lying, Tsezguerra confirmed with his companions via eye contact before turning back to Gon.
"I'll accept those conditions. No hard feelings, whoever wins."
"Understood. Then I'll hold onto the cards."
Though they should properly formalize this with official documents, they exchanged cards on a verbal promise, trusting each other as Single-Star Hunters.
Gon's group divided and received a fairly large number of cards from Tsezguerra's team, while Tsezguerra's group used Fake cards to maintain the appearance of unchanged card possession.
"Will you also use transformation to disguise your card possession... What are you doing?"
Tsezguerra found it suspicious that Gon and Biscuit had started exchanging cards between themselves, and moreover, Gon was wearing the "Paladin's Necklace" that cancels card effects around his neck.
Seeing Killua and the others also tilting their heads in confusion amplified his bad feeling, but it was fatally too late to act.
"Sorry, Mr. Tsezguerra."
The moment Gon inserted the card he received from Biscuit into his binder, audio suddenly flowed from everyone's binders.
『Player Gon has set all specified slot cards into his binder! As of this moment, Greed Island enters its final event!!』
"...Huh?"
Tsezguerra's thoughts stopped at the unexpected turn of events, and he stared at Gon dumbfounded.
While everyone except Gon and Biscuit was taken aback, Tsezguerra's companion Doble frantically raised his voice.
"Tsezguerra! Genthru's team is heading this way!!"
"So that's it—these guys were with the Bombers!"
"We're pulling out, Tsezguerra!!"
Unlike the three who hastily distanced themselves from Gon's group, Tsezguerra regained his composure and remained in place, holding his head.
"Kuh, kukuku, HAHAHA!!"
Then, looking up at the sky and suddenly bursting into laughter, he waved his hand to calm his companions who had taken defensive positions.
"So I've been completely had. May I ask since when?"
"We received the card a few days ago, but we moved as soon as Team Hame was wiped out."
"I see. No wonder their offensive was weak. I thought it was strange even for reconnaissance, but that explains it."
While the surroundings were confused by the calm exchange between Tsezguerra and Gon, four figures arrived at this location using Accompany cards.
Emerging from the dust cloud of landing was a magician accompanied by three unexploded bombs.
"Looks like it went well, Gon ♥ I'm happy I could help, but what's with that aura!? Your body's not just back to normal but evolved even further!? Ah, ahh, it's too wonderful ♥"
The mask of coolness instantly peeled away from the clown, and Genthru's team, dragged along connected by Bungee Gum, scraped across the ground while pleading.
"Isn't this enough!? The game's cleared, so release us already!"
"Do whatever you want with me and Bara—just please let Genthru go!"
"Don't say stupid things, Sub!! We did what we were told, so we should be dismissed now!"
Their desperate protests didn't reach the clown absorbed with Gon, and the three—Genthru, Sub, and Bara—continued being dragged around by Hisoka circling around Gon.
Doble and the others, speechless at the utterly abnormal scene, were finally brought back to reality by Tsezguerra, who bowed his head with a wry smile.
"I apologize. While it was a collective decision, the final judgment error was mine. I didn't expect such thorough preparation."
The fact that Gon possessed more specified slot cards than anticipated, including "Breath of the Archangel," and the reason for Genthru's team's pathetic state traced back to immediately after Team Hame's annihilation.
At the "Siso Tree," where those who enter Greed Island first appear, Team Hame's members gathered with dark expressions across the surrounding grassland.
Having witnessed Executive Genthru's betrayal and their comrades' corpses, the weaklings who relied on numerical advantage had already lost the spirit to resist.
Aside from the dead members, Abengane wasn't present, but no one even noticed this fact.
"Well, well, what a gloomy bunch of small fry all lined up. It's getting depressing over here too."
Following Team Hame's leader who emerged first, Genthru arrived with Sub and Bara while hurling insults.
They immediately pulled out their binders to check their card possession, and broke into excited grins at the impressive quantity.
"This should be enough. Release the ability quickly. Some members are close to their time limit."
"You're impatient. Let me savor this a bit. Sub, Bara, let's do it."
Genthru's team brought their fists together with thumbs raised, touched all their thumbs, and spoke in unison.
『Release!!』
Countdown detonated all at once in that instant.
The simultaneous detonation, which was release in name only, killed all Team Hame members instantly without fanfare.
"As if we'd keep promises to small fry like you! Enjoy yourselves in the afterlife!"
The three laughed hysterically before the dozens of exploded corpses, feeling no guilt whatsoever, turned their backs on the tragic scene, and left while talking about killing Tsezguerra next.
"Thanks for your pointless effort ♣ I'll take all your cards ♦"
"What!?"
The one who called out to their backs just before they left was Hisoka, standing among the gruesome corpses without a single spatter of blood.
While the three wondered why they hadn't noticed him, Genthru felt especially strong suspicion and pressed him.
"I remember you—you're the newbie who joined recently. I should have set Countdown on your shoulder. Are you a Nen remover?"
From the unnaturally clean state, Genthru thought Hisoka had removed Countdown rather than endured it, but even so, something felt off.
Genthru's instincts as a strong fighter rang loud alarm bells at the atmosphere Hisoka exuded.
"I cut away that vulgar bomb ♠ Since I was able to rise to a new stage too, I'll overlook you attaching that filthy thing ♦"
Hisoka's Nen ability, Panic Card, changed characteristics based on the suit.
♥ amplified aura and had good compatibility with Bungee Gum.
♦ gained compensation when released and excelled in durability.
♣ was easy to make invisible with In and well-balanced.
And ♠ specialized in slashing attacks.
After entering Greed Island, Hisoka had devoted himself solely to improving his Hatsu abilities, elevating Panic Card's ♠ to even greater heights.
The severing of aura and Nen abilities.
Types that penetrate the body like Kurapika's Judgment Chain or types where the applied Nen doesn't materialize couldn't be removed, but that wasn't the issue.
What mattered was obtaining a means to cut through the compensation of Gon's muscle-brained "Muscle Is Justice, Power Is Everything."
For that purpose alone, Hisoka left Countdown—which would endanger him if it exploded—unremoved, and with resolve and risk just before detonation, he used and evolved Panic Card.
"If I kill you, the cards are lost, right? Since I want to surprise Gon, I'll beat you until you can't resist, then let you live normally afterward ♣"
"Gen, let's finish this guy with all three of us."
"Better to have fewer people who know about the ability."
Though Genthru assumed a combat stance, influenced by Sub and Bara entering battle readiness, cold sweat and trembling wouldn't stop.
"I've swiped plenty of teleportation spell cards. I won't let you escape anywhere ♠"
The Bombers, who should have taken their first step toward glory, had unknowingly taken their first step down the path to ruin following the clown.