"Only when everyone benefits can a relationship be sustained over the long term."
Luke chuckled softly. Even the strange-looking monsters staring warily at him, he found them somewhat pleasing and lovely.
"Especially Ging Freecss. He's truly lucky to have met a unique, omnipotent inventor like me."
"And that guy even tried to test me with the Ironwood Mountain."
Ironwood Mountain was no stranger to Luke.
Although it only appeared briefly in the anime and even as an anime-original addition, it still left some impression.
It was after the second round of the hunter exam, and the airship was heading for the third round.
At night, an applicant who had failed the second round sneaked up.
Her name was Anita, and the reason she risked breaking the rules to sneak in was purely for revenge.
Anita's father had been assassinated by members of the Zoldyck Family.
She had heard that there might be members of the Zoldyck Family participating in this hunter exam.
So she resolutely signed up for the exam and followed along!!
What was a little frustrating was that, despite having such good opportunities before, whether in that dark tunnel or in the Swindlers' Swamps at Milsy Wetlands, she didn't act.
Even during the hunt for a wild pig in the Visca Forest Preserve, she made no move.
Only after being eliminated did she make up her mind to take action...
It's truly incomprehensible.
And the main reason her father was assassinated by the Zoldyck Family was...
"It's still because of that Ironwood Mountain."
Luke stood on a cliff at the edge of the forest while gazing at the distant.
A city built beside the tall mountains shimmer under the sun's reflection.
The reason it shimmered was primarily because of a crystal-clear, bright white ore atop the nearby mountain.
"The ore from Ironwood Mountain..."
The city's reflection appeared in his eyes as Luke's expression grew calm.
Ironwood Mountain is a thriving city with a glamorous exterior and flourishing tourism and commerce.
But beneath the surface of this bustling city lies a sea of sin and countless bones.
"Come, take a look! These are exquisite pieces of jewelry, fresh from the furnace and crafted with truly high-precision instruments!"
"Take a look at this one! This is a top-notch necklace crafted using ancient techniques, expertly carved by master craftsmen!"
"You won't be cheated if you buy it, so come and see!"
"If jewelry isn't your thing, we have other ore-based items."
On the street, a small vendor wearing a white towel on his head wore a servile smile across his face while rubbing his hands as he looked at Luke, who stood in front of his stall.
"Are these products made from the ores of the Ironwood Mountain?"
Luke surveyed the gleaming, exquisite-looking merchandise on the stall.
Each item seemed to possess an inexplicable allure, drawing one involuntarily.
From the outside, they were indeed exquisite works of art, drawing one's affection.
For this reason, the handicrafts of Ironwood Mountain are extremely popular.
Both the jewelry and other goods are renowned worldwide.
And most people are immediately drawn to them, often subconsciously believing they are well-made works of art.
Or perhaps it simply suits their own aesthetic, and they become captivated by it.
In reality, they are deceived by these perceptions.
"The ore from Ironwood Mountain, after being refined, exudes an alluring, addictive aroma."
"Once you try it, you'll be hooked, craving it like crazy, willing to spend everything you have on it."
Recalling the information about Ironwood Mountain, Luke knew the true dangers of this small, shiny white substance.
From their mechanism and the severe addiction they caused, if one thought carefully, it became clear what they were comparable to.
"Anyone who sells this stuff in this place..."
Luke finally glanced calmly at the shop owner before him.
"Not a single one of them is innocent. Even if they were all lined up and shot, there would be no injustice. In fact, death wouldn't be too much to ask."
Those who set up stalls here to sell such things were hardly worth mourning. It should be known that once someone tries the ore from Ironwood Mountain, even a little, they immediately become infatuated.
Thus, every vendor selling here undoubtedly knows the nature and harmful properties of this ore.
Otherwise, they wouldn't be so clear-headed while selling it here. Yet they all tacitly concealed this fact and instead enthusiastically greeted unsuspecting outsiders.
"Uh, this customer..."
The vendor wanted to say something, but just as he opened his mouth, Luke turned and walked away.
This left him somewhat bewildered.
But in an instant, he forgot about it.
Never mind, for someone like this who suddenly arrived in this city, whose identity was unclear.
Naturally, there would be corresponding plans and measures.
This was not something he needed to worry about.
Immediately, he patted his face and turned to greet the new outsider who had followed him in.
"Sir, take a look at these products. They are all made by top-notch craftsmen..."
The vendor was about to enthusiastically introduce them, but before he could finish, the newcomer interrupted him: "Are these all made from ore mined from Ironwood Mountain?"
The newcomer's voice was deep, yet permeated with a magnetic quality.
"Huh?!"
The vendor was slightly startled, his mind suddenly wary.
"Sir, what do you mean..."
He narrowed his eyes while scrutinizing the man.
The man before him had a very serious expression, was tall, and stood straight. Especially striking was his clothing, only black and white, very neat and crisp, and the overall aura he gave off made it clear he was not someone to be trifled with.
"Let me guess, you must be some big shot from the mafia?!!"
The vendor's eyes rolled as his plentiful experience kicked in and matched the impression he had in memory. He immediately posed the question with certainty. Well, he asked as if it were a statement, his tone overflowing with confidence.
The serious man in black and white clothes who had arrived: "..."
"Ahem, yes."
He coughed slightly, a little uncomfortably. "You guessed it right."
"Sure enough!"
The vendor, with a look of, I knew it would be like that, couldn't help but become even more enthusiastic.
"Yes, these are all ores from Ironwood Mountain..."
Knowing that some things couldn't be said openly, the vendor lowered his voice: "I know that distinguished guests like you from the mafia family always come to us for large quantities of goods."
"If you place an order with me, I can't guarantee the discount, but..."
The vendor smiled and quietly gestured to the man in front of him: "I can give you a rebate of this amount!"
Well, he gestured so skillfully to a buyer, clearly not the first time he'd done this.
The serious man in black and white clothes: "..."
His eye twitched slightly, and then, as if suppressing some emotion, he asked in a deep voice: "Can you guarantee that these ores are genuine?"
"It's absolutely genuine!!"
The vendor patted his chest and swore: "The goods I offer are definitely more genuine than silver and gold!"
"If you only want the raw materials, I can guarantee that the goods you receive will be freshly excavated from the mine!"
"Oh?!"
The man in black and white clothes raised an eyebrow at this: "You have such a channel?!"
"Look who's talking!!"
The vendor saw the skepticism and disbelief on the man in black and white clothes' face and immediately became displeased. "I can responsibly say that others in our line of work might not be able to achieve the same level and extent as I."
"But if it were me…"
The vendor's face lit up with a smug expression: "My brother-in-law is the largest shareholder in the Ironwood mineral industry!!"
"If I wanted to, I could secretly take some raw materials from him."
The man in black and white clothes, upon hearing this, looked at the vendor in front of him with a hint of surprise and astonishment.
"I didn't expect you to have such a status…"
The man in black and white clothes's tone softened a bit: "So you secretly took the goods from him, and he agreed, right?"
"How is that possible?!"
The vendor waved his hand, his face unconcerned: "My brother-in-law is very cautious. Of course, he wouldn't agree to my actions. That's why I took the goods secretly."
"He obviously has such a large business, yet his style of doing things is so timid..."
The vendor said this while sneering, as if somewhat annoyed by his brother-in-law's timidity.
"He had such a great opportunity to make money, but he just let it slip away. He really doesn't know how to utilize resources."
He sighed sadly, looking deeply regretful.
Then, he straightened his back and said proudly: "So, I need to help him expand his sales channels and boost sales!!"
"In that case…"
The serious man in black and white clothes remained silent. "You did all this secretly, and your brother-in-law didn't even know?"
"Of course!"
The vendor said casually: "My brother-in-law is home with my little niece all day now."
"If it weren't for necessary business or unavoidable work that required him to go out, he would probably be eager to be by my little niece's side 24/7."
"That's why my brother-in-law is either out on business or at home with my little niece."
The vendor winked at the man in black and white clothes. "So, aren't these opportunities for me now?"
"I really have to thank my sister for giving birth to such a lovely little niece for my brother-in-law a few years ago."
"Oh, you don't know, my little niece, Anita, is only three years old now, but she's so adorable!!"
"As an uncle, my heart melts when I see her!"
He acted understandingly: "I understand my brother-in-law's feelings perfectly."
"Of course."
The vendor immediately dropped his expression, transforming into his cunning and calculating self: "Understanding is one thing, but business is another."
He gave a rather greedy smile: "I also need to work hard to earn money to buy gifts for my adorable niece!"
The man in black and white clothes: "..."
'All this money you're earning... Is nothing but other people's blood and sweat.'
He whispered in his heart, and the blood and sweat were meant quite literally.
"Okay, I'll place my order with you."
The man in black and white clothes looked persuaded. "But I need a large quantity. If you're exposed, it'll be inconvenient..."
"Don't worry, boss. That's impossible!"
The vendor was overjoyed upon hearing that the deal was in reach. He patted his chest and promised: "I can even bring the goods to you now for inspection."
"But..."
The vendor grinned. "Let me be frank. If you're sure, I can pick up the goods for you right away. But if, by the time I get the goods, you don't want them..."
"I understand the rules."
The man in black and white clothes nodded and pulled out a bank card.
"This is my deposit, and it's my token of my sincerity."
Facing the vendor's greedy, fiery gaze, the man in black and white clothes whispered: "Once I've inspected the goods and found no problems, I'll make the remaining payment."
Then he handed the bank card to the vendor.
"Boss, you're so generous!"
The vendor gave a thumbs-up with one hand and quickly took the bank card with the other, then hid it in his pocket in the blink of an eye.
"Just wait and see, boss. Come here at the same time tomorrow to my shop, and I'll take you to inspect the goods."
"Then it's settled."
After the two agreed, the vendor hurried off to prepare the goods.
The man in black and white clothes turned and headed deeper into the street.
"That vendor just revealed a lot of information. On the one hand, he was trying to show me his background, his skills, and his connections to secure such a large order."
"On the other hand..."
Out of the corner of his eye, the man in black and white clothes caught a glimpse of a group of people gradually approaching from all around him.
Some of them were well hidden, while others didn't bother to hide at all.
They were so straightforward that they were either leaning against the wall or sitting on the ground.
When the man in black and white clothes looked over, they sneered and met his gaze fearlessly.
Some even flashed a fierce look.
"Has someone already come here to follow me and monitor my movements?"
"That's right. After all, these guys here know exactly what the ore from Ironwood Mountain is."
"If the buyer is really here to purchase orders, that's fine. But if they are not, they're afraid they're here to cause trouble."
"For example, some outside forces that covet the wealth here, or hunters who want to destroy this den of evil..."
He tightened his grip on the hunter's license hidden in his chest.