Terror Infinity Side B

Chapter 9, HxH Greed Island

Greed Island: Day 2/90.

Team Japan woke up from the inn they were staying at in the early morning. There were few people out, only NPCs setting up their various stores. One couldn't buy spell cards in Prize City Antokiba, but without a doubt each store held a purpose.

Excluding where monster cards could be exchange for Jenny Cards, the NPCs of Greed Island were the background setting of the quest. A quest to finds a little girl’s lost dog. A quest to help out at a shop for a day. A quest to solve a man's business problems. Even if such quests wouldn't give out Designated Pocket Cards towards completing the game Greed Island, they would give out the needed items, clues, or the funds to start certain quest for Designated Pocket Cards. The NPC of Greed Island were both the setting and its heart for those playing the game even in times of conflict between clans.

Shin: "Though this has nothing to do with us who aren't planning to properly play Greed Island."

I was watching the others of my team preparing to leave Prize City Antokiba with no intention of seriously playing Greed Island.

Aqua, Hikari, Misaki, Kampa, Shuai, Connor, Jin, Renji, and Kisara were ready to depart. Our goal was to go to the rocky area of Greed Island to make money, or Jenny as it was called. In the original plot this location was filled with monsters generated by the G.I Game Masters that could be turned into Cards to be sold, and was also where Gon and Killua met their second Nen Master Biscuit Krueger and trained hard for three months. Everyone on Team Japan always had on hand gold or platinum, but normal universal currently like those held no value of Greed Island.

Just Jenny Cards.

Jenny Cards could be obtained from quests, but the far more effective method was for the player of Greed Island to defeat the Nen created monsters scattered across the island. Similar to most RPG games, defeating a monster rewards a player with dropped loot. The monsters on Greed Island would be turned into Cards when defeated and those Cards could be exchanged for other Cards through quests, or at a shop for Greed Islands Jenny Cards.

Shin: "Monster hunting for items actually sounds pretty fun, but... to collect these Cards for just our livelihood fells like a distraction for us who are on a mission from God, but we had no choice. We needed a place to sleep and who wants to camp out when there are towns and cities."

There was also an additional reason. It was to keep the eight newbies in line who couldn't and chose not to become trial members like Kisara and Renji. We needed to keep our side of the promise to feed and provide shelter so they would not interfere with us. Yesterday, the incident with the Bomber had an effect of rattling the Newbies badly. A person who only needed one touch to kill you. Who knew if they were actually ready to bolt and make a run for the hills even if they knew it was pointless.

My team couldn't afford to watch them 24/7 and they hadn't committed any offense worth cutting their arms and legs off. Still, if a member of Team Germany were to catch a newbie and kill them, putting Team Japan at Negative 1 points... we would have no choice but to strike back even if it meant half the team wiping out. That is why in this dire time we need enough money to keep the Newbies’ minds at ease. Better housing in good neighborhoods with security to calm their hearts.

Also, as long as we fit the image of the providers they will instinctively listen to us in emergencies without any back talk. They need to believe that we can protect them from any threat. From starvation or the sword of a Nen User.

The only ways to make a large sum of money in Greed Island, enough for eighteenth people, which includes 10 dead weight mouths to feed was either to sell a rare card, or defeat monsters. My Team Japan held only one Designated Pocket Card, but we all weren't so desperate to sell off a valuable card for game money.

Jin: "It can't be helped."

Shin: "Jin..."

Shin was lost in his thoughts as he watched his comrades get ready to leave. It was then that Jin appeared by his side. A person he both relied on, yet didn't want to interact with. Jin had his usual fake smile plastered on his face, but Shin didn't immediately turn him away. Jin was annoying at times, but he hardly ever said pointless things. Like Shin himself, Jin held a unique view of the Mission Worlds that others lacked.

Jin: "To properly play Greed Island... Even without players no longer hesitating to kill others for cards would take much longer than three months, 90 day to complete the game. We were probably given a short 90 days because God is telling us to kill other players to gain Cards. Think about it. Even a powerful Nen User like Bomber choose to hide his existence and wait five years for others to collect the cards for him. Gon, Killua, and Biscuit only beat the game in less than six months only because they were the winner in a series of battles over the last 90-100 Designated Pocket Cards."

Shin: "Well, I wouldn't want to spend even a year on this Island (lie) though I wish we could play this game like in the Manga. The game looked fun, yet probably even more so for the players. Kirito even said to the Game Master of SAO, RPGs are just boring to watch and better to play the game. Well, let's plays are fun and all, but without decent commentary some games would be boring."

Jin: "I feel the same, but Shin, what you did was probably the correct method of completing Greed Island. At first glance God is telling us to steal the cards we need for the mission, but that is extremely difficult battle. Moderate Clan, Savage Clan, and all the other smaller clans will be gunning for us if we attacked their members or hold any rare Cards. Your method with Nickes was the correct one."

Shin: "Convincing Nickes that we are only here to kill the Bomber? I did gain his trust and if we do happen to defeat Bomber and report the news, or include them in the plan his trust in us will be set in stone. It would be the perfect moment for us to steal his cards... but how do you figure this is the right choice?"

Jin: "We weren't given a side quest for defeating regular Nen Users. We received points for defeating monsters in Apocalypse Alice. Why not Nen Users? Even if monsters have more brute strength at their disposal, Nen Users are humans with brains to think up plans. Shin, if our Team Japan were surrounded by 1000 monsters of the last mission I believe that we could escape without losing a single official member's life. If we were to face the coordinated strike of 1000 Nen Users who has a leader to advise them from the back... only you or Aqua could hope to escape alive. Maybe one of you would be near fatally injured as well."

Shin: "...You're probably right. So God didn't give us a Side Quest to defeat Nen Users, just collect Cards because it doesn't want us to only consider killing other for Cards? Making pacts with the clans on the island is the key to completing the mission?"

Jin: "It's the most efficient method, but not obvious. A normal person wouldn't risk meeting the powerful leader of a big clan alone and accepting the spoiler penalties as proof of hunting down the bomber. Maybe we should go meet the Savage Clan next."

Shin: "Why?"

Jin: "We could play them as well. What if Nickes' base of operation in the Manga is now the HQ's of the Moderate Clan? That cave that they so desperately tried to hide. Relaying this kind of information to the biggest enemy of Moderate Clan, Savage Clan, could win them over. We let the two sides fight and wear each other down. Then we strike and take all the Cards!"

Shin: "As always you come up with insane plans that makes me want to apologies to my mother in heaven for making a bad friend like you Jin."

Jin: "Hahaha! I feel that it's worth considering. It's my gut feeling that the two biggest clans, Moderate Clan and Savage Clan, along with the Bomber are the key to gaining all of the Cards! Moderate Clan that has the largest force on Greed Island. Savage Clan that ruthlessly murders others for Cards. The Bomber who's been active for five years killing players and maybe taking their cards. I'm certain that defeating those three will allow us to gain 98 out the 100 Designated Pocket Cards!"

Shin: "I see.., our highest priority is still the Bomber, but if we play our cards right... Control the timing when all the Cards are together... It's possible to have 98 of the Designated Pocket Cards as Team Germany arrives! Then long as we swiftly win the quiz for the final card just as they arrive and make it to Limeiro we can win!"

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An hour later.

After telling the Newbies that they would be back by sundown, the core members of Team Japan and the trial members Renji and Kisara left Antokiba after buying a complete "Island Map". The more expensive complete map of Greed Island used up most of Team Japan's funds, so they absolutely had to acquire Monster Cards and exchange them for Jenny Cards if they wanted to provide for eighteen people.

There was only one location Shin and the others knew where monster where so they went in the direction of the Magic City of Masedora. From where they were currently staying, Antokiba, there was a mountain to the north. Then pass the mountain rumored to be occupied by bandits (A Greed Island Quest) begin the entry into a vast rocky area. It was there that Gon and Killua completed their Nen training with Biscuit, but also where they hunted for Monster Cards before moving on to actively search for the Designated Pocket Cards.

Shin: "The rocky area. We’re finally here and past the mountain now and we've avoid that annoying quest of shameless bandits who would have taken all of our money and the very clothes on our back."

Kampa: "That was actually a good thing that they were there. That forest was excellent for setting up an ambush for others. This is also the fastest route to Masadora where Spell Cards can be bought. If the interference from the bandits wasn't an issue then clans like Savage Clan would set up shop here. That's what I would do in their position."

Connor: "Don't let down your guard. This area's rock formation are excellent for launching sneak attacks as well. The rocks are as large as building and wide. Without keeping a constant watch from the high ground, an army of Nen Users could be on us before we knew what happened."

Shin: "True, but we don't even need to take such precautions with Hikari and Shuai here. Hikari! Scan the area with your Persona. Locate all hostile enemies. While you’re at it find a space where we can hunt for monsters without running into any other players."

Hikari: "Okay!"

Happy to finally be of use, Hikari took out her SEES Evoker and went to work. Pulling the trigger and aiming at her head, blue flames surround her and the Persona Adrasteia materialized into existence from the flames. Hikari then ordered her Persona to scan the entire area and came back with a full report of confirmed enemy Nen Users, monsters, and areas that didn't seem to be the hunting grounds of any clan.

Shin was very impressed. Hikari's skill with her support type Persona had increased. Summoning a Persona still burdened Hikari's mind, but she didn't need it to stay as active for long to get a complete scan of her surroundings.

Shin: "Good! Hikari please send me the Game Map to my head so that I can know what is happening in real time. I'll lead us to a safe hunting ground. Everyone stay on guard. Connor stand on top of the rocks from high up and guard us with your rifle. Don't transform with your Trigger as it drains Trion. You're still at the entry level, so it'll run out in no time. The priority is to stay hidden. Don't attack any human if possible, but if they spot us or look to suspect we are nearby... put a bullet into their heads!"

Connor: "Acknowledged."

Shin: "Shuai prepare to set up a barrier around our hunting ground. It just needs to warn us if anyone enters. We can't keep burdening Hikari to continue summoning her Persona to update the Map App, so you'll be in charge of security along with Connor."

Shuai: "Alright"

Shin: "Now everyone. We’ll be here till it gets dark and then head back to Antokiba. Well exchange Monsters Cards for money and then call it a day. Lastly... Aqua."

Aqua: "Yes? If it isn't serious, or say something like you want to hold hands I'll hit you."

Shin: "That... that's not all that I wanted to talk to you about."

Aqua: "So you were going to ask?"

Shin: "Never mind about that! This is important."

Aqua: "Fine. What do you want to talk about?"

I looked at Aqua straight in the eye to confirm my idea. I had an ideal about how to strengthen the team and increase survivability rate as well, but it wouldn't work if she didn't cooperate with me or thought that it wasn't possible.

Shin: "I want to conduct a small experiment with you and the two trial members."

Kisara: "Experiment?"

Renji: "Us?"

Aqua: "What kind of experiment, Shin?"

Shin: "Nen Training!"

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Proofread by Hoebagger