Chapter 101: The Truth of Greed Island
List looked up at Mord and said, "This game was created by Ging and eleven of us partners. Greed Island is a game played in the real world."
Mord already knew this; it wasn't what he wanted to ask.
"Was everything on Greed Island created by you?" Mord inquired.
At his question, not only List but even Dwun, who was still searching, froze momentarily.
"Why would you think that?" List asked, studying Mord.
"!"
Instead of answering directly, Mord summoned his collection book.
"I can understand that the buildings and NPCs on the island were created by you, but I don't believe some of the items in the designated slots could have been made with your abilities."
"This isn't meant to belittle you. On the contrary, precisely because I know all eleven of you are top-tier Nen users in this world, I find it even more impossible."
Mord spoke while casually taking out several cards from inside.
Number 003, Pitcher of Eternal Water.
A pot that can gush clear water, producing 1,440 liters per day.
Number 007, Pregnancy Stones.
Carry this 3kg stone with you at all times for one month. One week after success, pregnancy is guaranteed regardless of gender. There are two types: male stone and female stone. Simply carry the stone corresponding to the desired gender of the child.
Number 065, Witch's Rejuvenation Potion.
A medicine that reduces age by one year per pill taken, with effects being purely physical. Knowledge and memories remain intact. Caution: Taking more pills than one's current age will result in death. One bottle contains 100 pills.
...
Wait.
There are still many absurd cards. If Ging and his group could truly accomplish these things, their abilities would be enough to overturn the world.
Corresponding to the Pitcher of Eternal Water, there are also the Tree of Plenty and the Mystery Pond. These few items alone could perfectly solve the problems of food and water.
There are also other cards that involve life, souls, and even rules.
Mord didn't believe these were created by Ging and his group using Hatsu.
He had another answer in mind. He came to Greed Island precisely to verify this matter.
"If these things weren't created by us, then where did they come from?" List stared intently into Mord's eyes and retorted.
In the room, the atmosphere suddenly grew tense.
Because the question Mord was about to ask had already touched upon the core of Greed Island.
"I have a guess. I'll share it with you. If it's wrong, just treat it as a joke."
Mord smiled and continued, "Ging is the world's greatest ruins hunter. In the decades since his debut, he has explored countless ancient ruins, both large and small, across the world."
"I was wondering if it's possible that these peculiar things on Greed Island were discovered by Ging during his explorations of these ruins."
Silence.
A long silence.
The only sound left in the entire room was that of Dwun rummaging through things.
List looked at Mord with a complicated expression and said, "I never thought there really existed someone like the kind Ging described. With just these faint clues, you were able to make such an inference. There are no more than three people in the world whom I admire—you are one of them."
"Back then, before Ging left, he told us that if the person who cleared the game was his son, we should share some stories about how we created this game."
"But if someone could uncover the island's true secret, then we should tell them the truth."
"Finally found it!"
Beside them, Dwun lifted his head from the mountain of junk, holding a box in his hand. The box was engraved with mysterious runes.
Mord reached out to take it and opened it. Inside the box were three slots, perfectly sized to hold three cards.
"You can place three cards into this box. Cards placed inside can be used outside of Greed Island. However, you cannot place more than two cards of the same number, and you can only choose three cards from the hundred types in your designated card book slots," Dwun explained.
This was the clearance reward.
Mord casually stored it away, then looked up at List, waiting for his unfinished answer.
"Your guess is correct."
"Among these cards, only the spell cards are our Hatsu."
List then dropped another bombshell.
"In fact, this Greed Island itself is an ancient ruin."
"Beneath the island, there is an unknown crystal ore that provides the energy needed for the island's daily operations."
"Back then, after Ging and a few companions explored this ruin and discovered the things left behind by that ancient civilization, they came up with the idea of creating this game."
Mord digested the information, then asked the second crucial question: "Among the spell cards, there's one called 'Mimic.' Does someone among your group possess that ability?"
List shook his head.
"That isn't a copying ability but rather a form of guidance. The items players collect aren't the actual objects—they're projections that allow users to borrow the items' abilities."
"Do you understand what I mean?"
When Ging had explained this issue before, it took List and the others a long time to grasp it, even with Ging's repeated explanations.
To his surprise, Mord immediately indicated he understood.
This was the advantage of having lived two lives—in his previous existence, he had been immersed in web novels for over a decade. There was nothing he hadn't encountered.
"Follow me," List said as he walked to the wall and pressed one of the stone bricks.
Suddenly, a section of the floor in the room slid open, revealing a passage leading underground.
List picked up a lantern and descended the stone steps.
Mord and Dwun followed behind.
The passage was long and clearly man-made.
The entire underground space was utterly silent.
Only the echo of their footsteps continuously reverberated.
After walking in silence for a long while, Mord spoke: "This should be your ultimate secret. Are you really sure there's no problem sharing it with me like this?"
List, walking ahead, didn't turn back.
"Ging discovered this ruin. Since it's his decision, there's naturally no problem."
"In fact, this ruin still hasn't been fully deciphered even now."
As they spoke.
Mord and the others finally reached the bottom.
It was an expansive area. The pure white crystals embedded in the rock walls were likely what List had mentioned earlier. Scattered points of crystalline light twinkled like stars in the night sky, creating a hazy atmosphere that made everything appear slightly blurred, as if viewed through a layer of gauze.
Mord hadn't expected the underground of Greed Island to present such a scene.
Then Mord spotted a treasure vault beneath the starlight, filled with various items whose appearances and models corresponded exactly to the designated slot cards in the collection book.
This was getting more and more interesting.
'Could Ging's journey to the Dark Continent be related to this?'
The thought flashed through Mord's mind...