Chapter 190 The Kakin Incident × Greed Island
"Alright, I understand."
The next day, Haze hung up the phone.
He had received news that Gon and Killua had gone to the Kakin Empire to meet Kurapika.
Another reason, of course, was the Greed Island auction.
"Interesting."
Haze's lips curved slightly, his eyes filled with intrigue.
In the original story, the plot involving Greed Island and the magnate Battera took place in Yorknew City
but now it had been relocated to the Kakin Empire.
This was partly because of Kurapika, and partly because Haze couldn't help thinking of Ging Freecss.
With Ging's abilities, he could easily chart Gon's growth, deduce what Gon and Killua had learned from Mito after returning to Whale Island, and take appropriate action.
"Marilyn Corporation,"
Haze murmured.
As expected, in the original story, this company commissioned the Yorknew auction…
but now it had shifted to the capital of Kakin.
Every year around this time August and September Yorknew's auction houses hosted a massive event attended not only by the Ten Dons.
Even now, with the Field's Family controlling the global underworld, they still allowed the newly appointed Ten Dons to auction part of their collections in Yorknew.
It was a way to bolster the new Dons' status and reputation.
But… the Greed Island team did not appear this time.
"Are they hiding from me? Or…?"
His battle with Beyonde in Kakin was unlikely to be concealed from the Ging Freecss, who probably also knew about his connection with Gon.
Ging Freecss had deliberately altered the growth trajectory of Gon and several others.
"It might also be… because of Beyonde."
Haze twirled his phone.
Currently, the one who understood Haze's strength best was none other than Beyonde.
After their recent battle, the Ging Freecss surely wanted to analyze Haze's abilities more deeply and Beyonde was the best gateway to that.
In other words…
the Ging Freecss might be in the Kakin Empire right now.
As for Kurapika, the Field's Family had been monitoring him.
He had joined a mid-sized mafia group in Kakin, and within just a few months had earned the patriarch's trust with his impressive performance.
He had not yet reached out to the royal family, but judging from the situation, he would soon.
This was because the royal auction held in Kakin was sponsored by Marilyn Corporation, developer of Greed Island.
Marilyn was a business partner of Ging Freecss, and to attract attention, they provided a massive selection of rare, high-quality items.
It was said that many world-famous billionaires were attending.
The publicity surrounding this auction completely eclipsed this year's Yorknew event.
And the mastermind behind it all…
was Ging.
Moreover, this auction was also an opportunity for the princes to network with powerful figures around the world and strengthen their factions.
Therefore, all of them would be present.
Notably, the strongest prince, Benjamin, was currently in critical condition
a situation the other princes viewed as a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to rise.
The auction could also be used to connect with the royal family and investigate the truth behind the recent failure of the Field's Family in Kakin.
And… Ging might be deliberately creating an environment that would push Gon to grow stronger.
"You wouldn't team up with Beyonde, would you? If you would… you'd be better off teaming up with me," Haze chuckled.
The Ging Freecss would never partner with someone like Beyonde not even if Beyonde approached him.
His real goal was likely to understand Haze's abilities.
Infernal Training
"I can't take it, Captain! I can't anymore…!"
Anthony's ragged voice echoed from the side.
He collapsed on the ground, drenched in sweat, terror in his eyes as he stared at the ghosts swirling around him while failing to maintain his Nen.
"With this level of skill… you think you can go to the Dark Continent?"
Haze chuckled, regaining his composure.
He was giving his team special training.
"It's too much…"
Anthony glanced at his three teammates aside from Machi, who was already on the ground, gasping for breath.
Only Machi was still struggling to maintain her Nen training.
The woman was surrounded by numerous ghostly figures whose wails and screams endlessly echoed in her ears, violently disturbing her mental state.
Maintaining a stable Nen flow under such conditions was incredibly difficult.
"Keep going… we don't have much time."
Haze slowly stood and approached.
"Stop complaining. At least the crisis I conjured is predictable.
On the Dark Continent, the dangers you'll face will be far more sinister… and far harder to detect."
Haze decided to stop paying attention to the situation in Kakin.
Let the Ging Freecss and Beyande stir up trouble…
He was now simply waiting for the Chimera Ant arc to begin.
King Naspi Grayloo had not contacted the Field's Family as expected; Haze had underestimated his resolve.
He never imagined the king would abandon even the eldest prince.
The Hunter Exam
Time passed, and soon… the new Hunter Exam arrived.
Candidates from all over the world gathered once again.
The Association's management called Haze, asking whether he would serve as an examiner again.
Haze refused.
Without his intervention, it would likely follow the original storyline
only Killua would obtain the license.
Gon and Killua had already entered the game: Greed Island.
Bisky was there too.
Regardless of whether the Greed Island auction was held in Yorknew or Kakin, Bisky would always be involved, because the old woman was after gemstones, not the protagonists.
Thus, their meeting was inevitable.
Chaos at the Auction
Interestingly, during the auction, a conflict erupted between:
Chenidonesh, the Fourth PrinceLucerne, the Seventh Prince
Their respective crime syndicates clashed violently in the capital, a conflict threatening to spark war.
Neither prince intervened personally, but their supporting organizations fought viciously:
The Ai Family (Fourth Prince)The Gasha Family (Seventh Prince)
Gon, Killua, and Leorio were dragged into the conflict.
This was because Kurapika's mafia group was actually a subsidiary of the Gasha Family.
Earlier, the Field's Family's reorganization of the global underworld had subtly influenced Kakin's criminal structure.
After the Field's Family failed to seize the throne, the Kakin Empire swiftly eradicated all criminal organizations connected to them.
This allowed many local groups to rise in power, creating new opportunities.
Among them, three families with ties to the royal house became especially prominent.
Currently, the three largest syndicates in the Kakin Empire are:
The Ai FamilyThe Xiu FamilyThe Gasha Family
They represent the Fourth, Third, and Seventh Princes, respectively.
It seems Kurapika intends to use these syndicates as stepping stones
to gain the Gasha Family's trust, side with the Seventh Prince, and oppose the Fourth Prince,
thus retrieving the Scarlet Eyes of his clan.
This likely means he will not become the bodyguard of the Fourteenth Prince, as in the original story.
Of course, Haze wasn't too concerned.
Ging had achieved his objective.
Gon had progressed just as expected…
The turmoil within the royal family, although eventually subdued, had laid the groundwork for the Succession War.
Gray Nasubi had likely already informed the princes about the Egg in the Jar Ritual,
and Ging Freecss had successfully met the First Prince, Benjamin.
Through their spiritual connection, Haze clearly sensed that Ging, under the pretext of treating Benjamin, had visited his room.
In the end… he failed.
But understanding Benjamin's condition meant that Ging had learned something about Haze's abilities.
The soul.
"Your soul, though fractured, isn't fatal… but it's slowly draining your life force.
The only way to recover quickly is to find the culprit!"
That was what Ging told Benjamin.
Then he added:
"I do have a way to keep you alive. But even if you survive, your physical condition will never be the same…
The soul life energy is part of your existence. Your essence remains and can slowly repair itself.
The problem is… time. Reconstructing a soul is unimaginably difficult and will take a very long time."
At that moment, the prince was skin and bones, surviving only with the help of multiple IV lines, too weak to speak.
His eyes responded for him.
Benjamin knew about the Succession War…
By the time he healed, the war might be over, and even the throne may have changed hands.
What good would it do to live?
Others might already be dead…
Thus, in the end, Ging Freecss left.
Yet among all the experts consulted by the Kakin royal family, he was the only one claiming to have a way to save Benjamin.
"Soul…"
Haze still remembered the look on Ging's face before leaving the room.
Ging had already figured it out
This soul ability came from the Isle of Heroes, and it resembled a certain game character far too much:
Thresh.
Haze even knew that Ging had sensed the presence of his hidden consciousness.
He appeared to be speaking to Benjamin, but he was actually conveying something else beneath the surface.
The Ging Freecss realized Haze was deeply developing Thresh's powers and concept…
After all, Ging was also an old player of the Isle of Heroes.
But even if Ging discovered it, Haze didn't really mind
Thresh's lore was hidden, and Ging could only make partial deductions.
Besides… it was only Thresh.
Some things were already too late.
Haze only kept a general understanding of events in the Kakin Empire, never focusing too deeply.
His main concern remained his team
putting Machi and the others through hellish training.
It was already January.
By early April, the threat of the Chimera Ants would surface.
And that would be…
a feast for him.
(End of Chapter)
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