Chapter 5: Beri
Three days passed in a flash of training. Kyle's ability was ready again, and the three of them returned to the Pirate World.
It was impossible to train Haki in the Hunter world; they had to be physically present in this one. This meant that every time they wanted to strengthen their Haki, they would have to make this trip.
"So this is the other world..." Killua took a deep breath of the clean, exhaust-free air, his eyes wide with excitement as he scanned the endless blue ocean and the rough, nautical-style architecture.
"Yep. But first things first, we need to get some of this world's currency," Kyle said, pulling several ordinary-looking, antique-style porcelain vases from his backpack.
"How much can these things sell for?" Killua picked one up and flicked it with a fingernail, producing a clear ting. "The craftsmanship is okay, I guess. But back in our world, this is flea-market junk."
"Scarcity creates value." Kyle smiled confidently. "Look at this glaze, smooth as a mirror. And the art style—such bold colors, such free-flowing abstract lines. It's like a dream splashed onto porcelain. In a world that's dominated by sailing ships and cannons, this is absolutely unique."
The three walked toward the Shells Town harbor. It was bustling, with workers busy unloading all kinds of goods from cargo ships.
Kyle's gaze scanned the crowd and quickly locked onto a target: a middle-aged man with a handlebar mustache, lounging in a rocking chair with his eyes closed. He was well-dressed, and while a young attendant next to him negotiated with a ship's merchant, the man himself looked completely at ease, as if he couldn't care less.
"That's our guy," Kyle said in a low voice.
"Tch. He looks like a real shark," Killua muttered.
"The smarter they are, the harder they fall for an 'information gap'." Kyle gave a crafty smile and whispered to Gon and Killua, laying out the "script" for what was to come.
With the plan set, Kyle led the way, putting on a slightly timid, hopeful expression. "M-Mister... we have something really good. Would you like to see?"
The man with the mustache lazily cracked an eyelid. Seeing three kids, he waved his hand impatiently. "Scram, scram. What kind of 'good thing' could a bunch of brats have? Don't bother me."
Kyle didn't flinch. He slowly and deliberately took a vase from his bag.
The noon sun was high, and as it hit the vase, the flowing, cobalt-blue glaze and modern, abstract patterns instantly refracted a strange and beautiful light.
A nearby merchant who was inspecting his own cargo glanced over. His hand twitched, nearly dropping his expensive cigar. "This... what kind of craftsmanship is this?! Which kingdom's porcelain is that?!"
That single cry, like a stone dropped in a calm pond, immediately drew the eyes of several other merchants.
The mustached man's eyes snapped wide open. The moment his gaze landed on the vase, his pupils contracted, and he instinctively sat up straight in his rocking chair. But he was, after all, a seasoned merchant. He quickly suppressed his shock, his face shifting to a critical, almost charitable expression.
"Hmm... the vase's quality is so-so. But the painting... it's a little interesting. Like a child's random doodle. Unique, I suppose." He stroked his chin, pretending to think. "Fine, fine. I see it's not easy for you kids. I'll give you 300 Beri for it. We'll call it a good deed."
A few suppressed snickers and whispers came from the crowd. Everyone knew that price was pure robbery.
Gon didn't know the first thing about business, but his fledgling Observation Haki could clearly feel the complex emotions roiling off the crowd: "greed," "contempt," and "anticipation." From that alone, he knew this item was definitely not what the mustached man claimed it was.
He watched with wide eyes, as if he were auditing a real-life class on social studies.
Killua just shoved his hands in his pockets, a cold, knowing smirk on his face as he waited for the show to begin.
"Three hundred Beri?" Kyle blinked his "innocent" eyes and began to clumsily count on his fingers. "Wow, that can buy so many popsicles! Thank you, Mister!" He made a show of handing the vase over.
"WAIT!" A portly merchant could no longer contain himself. He pushed through the crowd, shouting, "Don't be so hasty, kid! He's scamming you! That thing is worth way more! I'll pay 2,000 Beri!"
Kyle's hand snapped back as if startled, his eyes going wide. "T-Two... two thousand? How many popsicles is that?" He deliberately looked confused, as if he couldn't do the math.
That lit the fuse. The entire harbor section exploded.
"I'll bid 2,500!"
"3,000! Sell it to me!"
"Everyone, stop! I'll pay 5,000 Beri, and I'll throw in a high-detail map of the East Blue!"
The price shot up like a rocket. The merchants crowded in, their faces red as they shouted over each other.
The mustached man was so angry his mustache was twitching. His face went from red to purple. He leaped from his rocking chair, pointing at the "interferers" and roaring, "You bastards! I was the first to make a deal! Have you no decency?! I'll pay 10,000 Beri!"
Kyle watched the chaotic auction he had personally directed, inwardly delighted, but on his face, he wore an even more "lost" and "overwhelmed" expression, glancing around as if to ask if there were any higher bids.
Killua finally couldn't hold it in and let out a psh of laughter, while Gon just focused intently, watching the fascinating play of emotions on everyone's faces.
The bids kept climbing, and soon, the price hit one million Beri.
Gon's eyes were huge. He never would have imagined that the flea-market junk Kyle had bought for 100 Jenny on the street could sell for a million Beri in another world.
If they could make money like this, couldn't they also bring things from this world back to their world and sell them for a fortune?
Killua, naturally, had the exact same thought. If that was true, they'd have more money than they could ever spend. Thinking of all the rare chocolates he could buy, he practically started to drool.
Finally, after the mustached man yelled a bid of 1,100,000 Beri, no other merchant was willing to compete. What he could have bought for 300 Beri ended up costing him over a million. As he handed the money to Kyle, he felt a physical pain, as if he'd just given up a pound of his own flesh.
Several nearby pirates, all wearing swords, had been watching. Seeing that Kyle's group was just three kids, they exchanged glances, and excited, predatory grins spread across their faces.
Kyle and the others took the massive bag of cash and left the harbor, heading for the town. The moment they were clear, Killua sensed them.
"We're being followed," he said with a smile.
"Just a few small-time thugs. But they might be useful. Gon, take some of this money, go to the market, and buy as many supplies and food as you can. We'll meet you in the highlands outside of town."
Kyle pulled 10,000 Beri from the bag and handed it to Gon.
Gon took the money, nodded, and headed for the market district.
Kyle and Killua turned right and headed directly for the highlands.
The pirates trailing them saw the group split. They ignored Gon and, as one, began to follow Kyle and Killua.