After saving a lone bear cub, Gon came to understand the value of life. Then, from Mito obaa-san, he and Killua learned new information about Gon's father, Ging Freecss.
All signs pointed toward an extremely dangerous game: Greed Island.
After looking it up online and discovering that the game's price was outrageously high, Gon and Killua calculated all the money they had and found that it still was not enough. Then they learned that a copy of the game would be auctioned off at the Yorknew Auction, so they immediately set out for Yorknew City.
During that time, Killua also exchanged information about Greed Island with his chubby second older brother, Milluki Zoldyck.
As an otaku, how could his chubby second older brother possibly have no interest in a game with such high-level appeal?
So Milluki also secured a fund of 15 billion Jenny from his father and the others in exchange for carrying out killings, then headed for Yorknew City as well.
By now, it was already early August.
From the date of the Hunter Exam on January 7 until now, a full seven months had passed.
During those seven months, Roy had completed the Hunter Exam, the trip to Heavens Arena, the journey to Kukuroo Mountain, the separation of darkness, the signing of adaptation contracts, self-destructive training, and the creation of three new manga series.
During that same period, the Dragon Ball anime and game had also been completed and released onto the market.
The results they achieved were unprecedentedly powerful.
Whenever broadcast time came around, entire families, young and old alike, sat down in front of the television to watch the Dragon Ball anime.
Every gaming café was filled with competitive young players all logging into the Dragon Ball online game.
The moment Dragon Ball toys and figures hit the market, they were instantly bought out in a frenzy.
Some specialty shops even had reservation lines packed solid day after day.
Dragon Ball had already influenced more than two generations. In families spanning three generations, from elderly people in their sixties and seventies to children only four or five years old, there was no one who did not know the name Dragon Ball.
And because the Dragon Ball anime, game, and merchandise had become such explosive hits, thanks to Roy's sixth skill, World's Projection and Derivation, the number of adaptation projects and the popularity of the manga's adapted works would also be counted toward his third ability, the judgment of a "popular manga."
So naturally, the quality of the things Roy obtained also rose along with it.
He gained powerful techniques such as Vegeta's Galick Gun, Final Flash, Frieza's Destructo Disc-like cutting attack, Flame Bullet, Death Beam, and, most surprisingly of all to Roy, Cell's Four Bodies Technique Without Loss of Strength.
Cell's Four Bodies Technique Without Loss of Strength was an upgraded version of the Four Bodies Technique that Cell developed after collecting Tien Shinhan's cells and skills and evolving into his Perfect Form.
Unlike Tien Shinhan's Four Bodies Technique, Cell's upgraded version did not split the user's power into four after creating three extra bodies. Each duplicate possessed the exact same strength as the original body.
That was truly incredible.
It was basically the same as Roy gaining three helpers with power equal to his own. His combat power instantly tripled.
While Roy was delighting in his gains and training to master them, elsewhere—
"All right, your spider tattoo is finished. That'll be fifty million Jenny."
A petite and delicate-looking purple-haired beauty bit off the thread as she spoke in a calm, indifferent tone.
She was the same purple-haired beauty Android 18 had once encountered at the casino near Heavens Arena.
"Oh my, oh my. We're comrades now, and you still want to charge a comrade? Machi~" Ilo said as he put his clothes back on, his face full of teasing amusement.
"The Troupe's rules never said you can't charge your comrades money. Besides, whether you even count as one of us yet will only be decided after you meet the boss."
The purple-haired beauty, Machi, replied without the slightest politeness.
"That's true. There are only two rules in the Troupe that absolutely must not be broken. The first is that the survival of the Troupe takes priority over the boss's life. If the boss dies, someone else will inherit the leader's position.
"The second is that when members disagree, the decision is made using the designated coin."
It was as if Ilo had only just remembered. He smacked his left hand into his right palm and put on an exaggerated look of sudden realization.
Machi did not even bother lifting her eyelids. "Drop the fake acting. No matter how much you pretend, you still owe me fifty million Jenny."
Ilo put on an expression of painful reluctance and took out a card, which Machi accepted directly.
"Don't forget the gathering time."
"Mm, August 31. I still remember. There are still half a month left. I'll definitely make it in time. For now, I'll go deal with my own business first. Goodbye, beautiful lady. I hope next time we meet, I can treat you to coffee. Oh, right—say hello to Franklin and Shizuku for me~~~"
Ilo turned and left with a remarkably carefree and dashing back.
Machi simply watched him in silence, then casually threw away the card he had handed her.
…
"So this is Yorknew City? What a prosperous and decadent city."
After getting off the airship, Killua looked around at the surroundings before curling his lip.
"The game made by Ging is in this city…"
Gon muttered under his breath.
"All right, since we're already here, Kurapika and Leorio probably haven't arrived yet. Let's think about how we're going to earn that huge sum of money first. After all, a single copy of that game costs more than ten billion Jenny."
Killua put both hands behind his head and made the suggestion.
"Yeah! But if Roy and Leorio were here, they'd probably come up with a fast way to make money, right?"
Gon thought of Roy and Leorio.
"Yeah, that's true… Hm?! Gon, I remember Roy is a famous manga artist, right?!"
"Yeah. What about it?"
"A famous manga artist! Then he must be rich, right? We can borrow the money from him first, then pay him back later!" Killua said excitedly.
"Uh… Roy would probably be fine with it, but are you sure Android 18 would lend us money normally?"
"…That…"
Killua froze. He had not considered that issue.
The two of them recalled the deal on Battleship Island during the Hunter Exam, the transaction that happened again during the final exam when Android 18 fought Killua's eldest brother, and the rumors they had later overheard in Heavens Arena about Android 18 choosing to throw a match for an enormous amount of Jenny.
At that thought, the two exchanged a glance and then let out a sigh.
They could definitely borrow it, but…
"Let's figure it out ourselves instead."
"Okay…"
(End of Chapter)
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