Chapter 120: Ging's Analysis
In the main island's game world, players were matched for battle.
Ging sat cross-legged atop a hill near a river, observing the vast surroundings below.
At that moment, he and several members of his party had teamed up for a five-on-five match against an opposing squad.
His appearance had changed he had chosen the jungle hero Graves through a card.
He wielded a rugged shotgun, his outfit completely out of place, yet it was merely a change in appearance. The player's experience didn't feel uncomfortable or strange; it didn't interfere with his limbs or movements in any way.
However, upon entering the game, Ging discovered that his Nen abilities had been completely suppressed virtually sealed off. It was part of the game's rules. This applied to all players, both on the red and blue sides. They needed to grow stronger through gameplay:
earning experience, buying equipment, and destroying the enemy's base crystal.
This game mechanic was fascinating.
Most notably, the five teammates could communicate telepathically regardless of distance.
Above each player's head floated their ID and level; Ging's was currently Level 3.
Far away, a broad road was filled with soldiers from both armies clashing in waves. One of Ging's teammates was fighting an enemy soldier, but his clumsy movements unfamiliar with his hero's abilities looked almost comical to Ging.
He began to move toward the mid-lane, according to the map.
The enemy jungler had appeared in the top lane, creating a 2-vs-1 situation.
The outlook wasn't good.
Ging's mind filled with the constant stream of curses from his top-lane ally, though he wasn't sure what the man was planning.
"Ah…" Ging sighed softly, deliberately ignoring his teammates' chatter. Gang members tended to have short tempers… He had promised to help these four win the match before they agreed to team up.
From Ging's point of view, the enemy jungler's strategy was completely flawed. Clearly, resources in this match were limited and the word "jungle" itself gave away its importance. Based on the leveling system, leveling up quickly depended on smart resource management, minimizing wasted time while maximizing advantage.
The jungler's role should be to clear these Warcraft-style mountain areas filled with monsters.
That made the terrain design logical otherwise, there would be no reason for these zones to exist.
"These Nen-using gangsters… are just playing around, huh? How interesting," Ging mused shortly after entering the match.
This gameplay system, though simple, was incredibly fun testing intelligence, planning, and teamwork, challenging every facet of one's strategic thinking.
Moreover, the heroes and the terrifying wild creatures… each were unique.
It was something most people wouldn't expect.
All of it was born from Haze's creativity.
He truly deserved respect.
Even many of Greed Island's gameplay elements hadn't been designed solely by Ging several other players had collaborated and provided feedback. In this sense, Haze had surpassed him slightly.
"But…"
Ging dashed down from the mountain peak, raised his shotgun, and aimed at several raptors perched at the base. He pulled the trigger, causing the massive birds of prey to shriek and dive toward him.
Ging turned and ran, maintaining his distance, firing skillfully and even then, his mind managed to wander to other thoughts.
Haze…
He had been on Whale Island years ago meaning he'd known about Ging for a long time.
Back then, Haze probably hadn't even joined the Guild yet.
So how did he know about me? Ging wondered.
Other than the old man and a few others, could Haze's purpose in joining the Guild have included him as well?
Ging doubted that Haze had visited Whale Island by mere coincidence.
The Chairman. Biscuit. Pariston…
Ging sidestepped a diving shadow and narrowed his eyes.
Timing it perfectly, he unleashed his hero ability End of the Line, Graves's Q. A blast of glowing energy erupted from his shotgun, detonating into a fiery explosion that left scorch marks along the ground. The shell casings rebounded rapidly, inflicting secondary damage.
"Huh? It has a slow effect…"
Ging noticed that the struck bird a sharp-beaked raptor screamed as its movements stiffened. He couldn't help but grin in excitement.
"I'm impressed… The level of detail in this game is outstanding. Every skill has a secondary effect. I need to study it thoroughly."
Then he continued his analysis.
Netero had hinted that Haze had caught Pariston's attention, but the old man never said which of them was stronger.
As for the Chairman, he preferred to observe from afar to sit back and enjoy the show.
At least, judging by the years since Haze joined the Association, Pariston hadn't succeeded in anything.
Haze chose the same approach Ging did: ignore him and keep his distance.
It was a wise decision and Ging did the same.
He always ignored Pariston.
To Ging, Pariston was bothersome… while Haze, he thought, simply found him contemptible.
If the two ever fought, the old man usually wouldn't intervene unless things escalated dangerously.
Because of Netero's interference, neither side could truly "fight to the end." So it was better not to get involved from the start and certainly not to fall for Pariston's provocations.
That man only wanted someone to clash with. The more others hated him, the happier he became.
Pariston delighted in destroying anything he found beautiful.
And what did "beautiful" mean to him?
Peace within the Association. Talented individuals with bright futures. Good looks. Noble personalities.
Pariston sought to destroy everything he considered good.
Furthermore, the Guild President once mentioned that even Biscuit couldn't handle Haze and often ended up sulking because of it.
Taking all of this into account, Ging concluded that Haze… knew them.
His appearance on Hero Island and his eventual agreement to trade with Haze were all well within his calculations.
Because he understood Haze perfectly.
"Perhaps… he's been aware of key figures within the Association for a very long time far longer than anyone suspects. And one thing is certain: simply relying on the mafia wouldn't have been enough to achieve this. Moreover, his mastery of Nen was evident from his first encounter with Biscuit in Heavens Arena a level of skill unmatched by most."
After finishing off a flock of raptors, a warm golden light enveloped Ging.
He had reached Level 4.
Watching the cascade of gold coins spilling across the player interface, a single thought crossed his mind:
Omniscient and omnipotent.
Ging remained calm not at all surprised by the results of his reasoning.
Though they seemed far-fetched, they weren't impossible.
Another detail that could be explained was Haze's knowledge of the Dark Continent. He surely had never been there himself.
Some of its secrets only became known years after he'd joined the Association.
"The plan began long ago, with every step foreseen… This game is no different. The Player Agreement is a contract every part of it born from your own will. There's no hidden force behind it. So where does your omniscience and omnipotence come from?"
"From that piece of land…?" Ging murmured to himself, gazing at the sky.
(End of Chapter)