The sky outside was filled with fluffy, continuous white clouds.
Mols loved riding airships the most, as they were the fastest mode of transportation in this world. Time had different values for different people; for the wealthy, time was far more important than money. One shouldn't waste precious time on the journey.
As everyone knows, large open-world games generally have features for fast-traveling players to specific locations. However, fast-travel functions are products of advanced eras and technologies. Early online games did not have such features. Players had to travel long distances and use various means of transportation within the game according to realistic rules to reach their destinations.
To enhance immersion, game companies would create separate maps within the transportation vehicles. When players boarded these vehicles, the system would send them to the interior map of the vehicle. Players sharing the same vehicle could chat to pass the time, which would typically last at least ten minutes.
…That was gaming experience from a long, long time ago.
The pace of the era was getting faster and faster. Idly waiting or passing time was a great sin. After becoming accustomed to reaching destinations instantly between teleportation points, the realism of arduous journeys in this world made one feel unmotivated.
It was like the unskippable infant stage; every second of restricted movement and inability to care for oneself was as long as "real life." Compared to the torment back then, arduous journeys were only slightly better.
And only slightly better at that, considering it was something one had to experience from time to time.
In the Scarlet Eyes state, the game prompt "Skill 1 Unlocked" indicated the possibility of unlocking more skills.
"Nen" was something that reflected a person's essence. Although the Specialty category was the most mysterious and unpredictable Nen category, it was still bound by this rule.
Just as Kuroro tried to master stolen Nen abilities by delving into the inner world of the original ability users, thereby using the stolen Nen abilities more skillfully—understanding the human heart meant understanding that person's Nen abilities, and vice versa.
It wasn't impossible to cultivate Nen abilities that went against one's nature, but one shouldn't forget the famous negative example in the Heaven's Arena, Uvogin, who forcefully cultivated Nen abilities unsuitable for his Nen category. The result was working twice as hard for half the results, wasting his talent.
Do not go against the heavens. Mols reminded herself countless times: I am an ordinary person.
Although it was regrettable, she had long given up on copying Killua's Nen abilities from the original work. How long had it been since she last performed electroshock training on herself? She couldn't remember, only feeling that her past stubbornness was very foolish.
Realizing her past foolishness was also a form of progress.
Focus more on yourself. Your aptitudes, personality, and upbringing have already etched the answers in your heart. The important thing is to discover them and then accept them.
What else could you do but accept? Non-acceptance would bring you no benefit. You are not the chosen one, not the protagonist at the center of the world; you are just an ordinary person.
Before the Scarlet Eyes state ended, Mols found an answer.
[Skill 2 Unlocked: Instant Teleportation]
[Skill Description: In the Scarlet Eyes state, consume "Sparkling Cabbage x3" and "Basic Ore x1" to synthesize an anchor point. An anchor point can be placed anywhere, regardless of distance. As long as the anchor point exists, you can instantly return to its placed location.]
[Notes 1: Anchor points cannot be seen by others, meaning they cannot be used by others.]
[Notes 2: Only one anchor point can be placed. If more than one anchor point is placed, the old anchor point will disappear.]
[Notes 3: After placing an anchor point, cash stored in the "Game Inventory" will be consumed. Ten thousand Jenny will be deducted daily at midnight. If there is insufficient cash at that time, the anchor point will disappear.]
Mols had accumulated many materials for synthesizing anchor points from her usual hoarding. Players who loved collecting could finally show off. Before the Scarlet Eyes state ended, she decisively [Synthesized] 3 anchor points in one go (only 3 [Synthesize] functions could be used per day). One anchor point was placed in a secluded, deserted corner before boarding the airship, and the remaining 2 were kept in her "Game Inventory" as spares.
When playing games in the "real world," as a F2P player, "if you can't win, run" was Mols's common tactic. As long as "teleportation" was fast enough, even the most powerful bosses couldn't kill you.
However, in some works, there were special maps where "teleportation" could not be used. For example, in "Sword Art Online," the boss level on the 74th floor prevented escape via "teleportation," leading to a party wipe. She hoped this world didn't have special maps that hindered "teleportation."
No, don't rely on luck. This world might have Nen abilities that interfere with "instant teleportation." Nen ability users of the Space category are not limited to Mols alone; one must not let their guard down.
"Instant Teleportation" was a life-saving trump card for Mols, her hidden ace. Unless it was absolutely necessary, she would not use it in front of anyone. The location for placing anchor points also needed careful selection; she couldn't be seen appearing instantly.
"…" I hope it goes smoothly.
Thinking about facing off against Kuroro, known in the fan community as "wise and cunning as a demon," Mols felt very limited security from the existence of anchor points.
How had the spider's web been woven?
After briefly contacting Kuroro by phone to request a private meeting, Mols also checked her other phones. She had a missed call from her private chef.
Mols had told him to only send messages and not call. If there was an emergency, he could send anything; any character would do.
He must be in trouble. An accident? It seemed a bit too coincidental, happening during a tense period between Mols and the Phantom Troupe.
Regardless, the priority was to deal with the Troupe, this ticking time bomb.
[Taking out] a mirror from her "Game Inventory," Mols checked the spider tattoo on her tongue again. Based on Kuroro's friendly tone on the phone, it seemed he still considered her a member. Then, before Kuroro officially turned against her, she had to avoid revealing any flaws and pretend to be their comrade (spider).
Kuroro claimed that this hunt would be a free-for-all for the members, with no restrictions on methods or the requirement for real-time information sharing, and everyone would rely on their own abilities. Therefore, he could agree to Mols's request for a private meeting without notifying other members.
While the loose organizational discipline was a characteristic of the Phantom Troupe, Kuroro's prompt agreement to meet alone, besides him being a confident character, couldn't help but make Mols suspect the truthfulness of his statement.
"I'm not worried," Kuroro said with a laugh on the phone in response to Mols's probing. "Because it's clearly you who's more worried. You don't want to hurt me, you just want to escape before I hurt you, right?"
"…"
"However, the most important thing is that you are my member," Kuroro said. "So, I am willing to listen to your explanation, nothing more."
It sounded good, but if Mols's explanation didn't suit him, whether Mols was a "member" or not would still be up to the "leader."
To show sincerity, Kuroro allowed Mols to choose the time and place. The final decision was a forest on the outskirts of a city, with ample cover to ensure a retreat path. Being targeted by the Troupe was troublesome. It would be best if this "misunderstanding" could be resolved. Otherwise, for her own sake, she might have to eliminate the Troupe to prevent future trouble.
How to eliminate the Troupe?
Nonsense, the surname "Zoldyck" wasn't just for show. She could shamelessly seek help from her family.
As for how her family would handle the trouble she caused, that was beyond her control. She might even be punished for "inappropriate handling of affairs." Since she was asking for a favor, she would have to accept whatever punishment came her way. The thought of the Zoldyck family's rules made her decide not to involve the family unless absolutely necessary.
The weather was beautiful today. Golden light filtered through the gaps in the leaves in the forest, creating a classic example of the Tyndall effect if photographed.
Kuroro stood amidst those light beams, tilting his face slightly towards the morning sunlight. His jawline was clear and smooth, and he seemed to blend into the environment like a painting, harmonious and beautiful.
The reason the scene was beautiful had a lot to do with Kuroro not wearing his slicked-back hair and fur coat.
Although Kuroro's leader-like appearance with his slicked-back hair was not flattering to many admiring eyes, Kuroro's taste was not beyond redemption. He knew what normal attire meant, which was important to him as it helped him approach his target and lower their guard.
A clean white shirt, simple black trousers, ordinary short black hair—apart from the equal-armed cross tattoo on his forehead, there was nothing ostentatious. Just like high-quality ingredients often require the simplest cooking methods, when one has high颜值, simple pairings can yield very good results.
This is not good, very not good.
"You're here," Kuroro smiled gently and harmlessly at Mols, like a poetic and romantic encounter between protagonists in an art film.
This predatory stance towards an unsuspecting girl immediately reminded Mols of Neon, the famous victim in the original work. That completely unguarded girl never realized Kuroro's ulterior motive, which was to steal her Nen ability.
But Kuroro really looked good when he dressed normally. Otherwise, how could he be rated as one of the "Three Beauties" in the fan community?
It would be a shame to ruin such a pleasant sight. Maintaining vigilance should be enough, right?
Mols stopped about ten meters away from Kuroro.
She began to [take out] glass jars of Scarlet Eyes from her "Game Inventory." One glass jar appeared in her hand, and she placed it on the ground. Then another glass jar appeared in her hand, and she repeated this process until she had [taken out] 4 pairs of Scarlet Eyes, then she stopped.
"That's all," Mols said, looking directly into Kuroro's black eyes. The smarter people were, the better they were at pretending. Although those black eyes were not as inorganic and emotionless as Illumi's, they were still difficult to fathom. "Two pairs of Scarlet Eyes were used for my experiments, and that Kurta clan child is alive somewhere. Which part would you like to hear the details of first, Leader?"
Kuroro recalled the intelligence Shalnark had publicly shared with the Troupe members before the hunt began.
Shalnark had said that Mols was very cautious but disliked beating around the bush.
…A very accurate assessment. The nickname "Spider Brain" was not for nothing.
"How am I different from Shalnark?" Kuroro's question completely caught Mols off guard. "How am I different from the other members?"
"…?" How could Mols, who couldn't even understand the other person's question, possibly answer?
Kuroro raised his hand to cover his mouth, lowered his gaze, and thought for a moment before rephrasing his words. "Unlike the other members, you are particularly wary of me. Especially now. No, the current situation has clear reasons, so it should be taken as a reference for the usual times."
"You saw 'something' in me," Kuroro countered, looking into Mols's blue eyes. "Just as you saw 'something' in that child, didn't you?"
Kuroro was indeed perceptive, but no matter how perceptive he was, he couldn't imagine the truth of the world, couldn't imagine he was a paper person. The dimensional gap of the world was there; he couldn't imagine things beyond his cognition.
Deceiving a high-intelligence character was not easy. As is well known, the most brilliant lies are composed entirely of truths. In the original work, Kuroro misled and almost killed Hisoka, who lied as naturally as breathing, by withholding the most crucial information and presenting incomplete truths.
"We are different," Mols replied. "You are the leader of the Troupe, the most dangerous spider, so I revere you."
Kuroro showed no particular reaction to this, neither agreeing nor disagreeing. Mols continued, "As for that child. Because he's cute, I always treat people who look good with great favor. Also, I like classic tropes where the sole survivor grows up for revenge. Would you mind having a small avenger, Leader?"
"I don't mind," Kuroro replied concisely.
The Phantom Troupe had been causing trouble… no, acting recklessly for many years. There were plenty of people who wanted revenge on the Troupe or to hunt them for bounties. With so many enemies, Kuroro had long forgotten how many avengers had died under the spiders' feet.
A small avenger from a minority group was nothing to fear. As long as they didn't casually provoke world-class organizations, Kuroro was confident that the Phantom Troupe he founded would stand strong, and the spiders' march would never stop.
"I'm more interested in the experiment you conducted," Kuroro stated his doubt. "Aren't living children more suitable for experiments than inanimate heads?"
"The experiment was successful," Mols said, tapping below her eyes with her finger. "Can you tell?"
"Your eyes." Kuroro's eyes widened slightly unconsciously. "You… changed your eyes?"
As expected of Kuroro, his comprehension and thinking speed were extremely fast.
"I was lucky," Mols nodded. "The original color of these eyes was also blue."
Besides the Scarlet Eyes in Mols's eye sockets, there should have been one pair of Scarlet Eyes left that Mols took with her. Kuroro didn't inquire about the whereabouts of the last pair, perhaps because he was no longer as interested.
Kuroro had found a new interest.
Not as specimens, but Scarlet Eyes transplanted into a living person—this was an unprecedented and novel approach. Moreover, Mols's success was not just about being able to see, but also retaining the characteristic of switching pupil colors—it should be understood that way, otherwise it wouldn't be called "successful experimentation."
"The Kurta clan members' eyes turn scarlet when they are emotionally agitated," Kuroro quickly asked his most curious question. "I heard from Shalnark that you underwent brain surgery to block emotions and cannot mobilize your emotions. So how do you change your pupil color?"
"Ultimately, Scarlet Eyes are an organ, a part of the body, and the body has emotions. To put it more scientifically, it's similar to nerve signals or hormones. Like when you're thirsty, you want to drink water; when you're low on energy, you want to eat… something like that." Mols paused for a moment and chose a more tactful way of speaking. "My body can feel pleasure, which is why I have a boyfriend."
"By satisfying physiological needs?" Kuroro seemed to accept Mols's explanation well. He nodded. "Then, if I want to see your Scarlet Eyes, do I need to call Shalnark over? Or, would you do it yourself? If I'm not mistaken, you did the experiment yourself, right?"
It was a blunt choice between two options, as if casually asking to see a certain animal at the zoo. He even "thoughtfully" avoided the possibility of "Mols and Shalnark conducting the experiment together."
"No, that was something that appeared midway, and it was very brief. I couldn't 'invest' with someone watching," Mols said truthfully. "This trick was also something I painstakingly figured out. I still need some time to practice. I'm not sure how long it will take. Since the experiment has yielded preliminary results, I think I can explain my sudden departure—if you are willing to accept it."
"What if I don't accept?"
"What else could it be but irreconcilable enemies?"
"That's right," Kuroro offered a truly pure smile. "Shalnark's evaluation of you was accurate; you are indeed very straightforward. I believe what you say."
But I don't really believe that you believe what I say, Mols thought.
"I have an ability that might help you," Kuroro said, raising his hand. A book with a bloody handprint on its cover appeared out of thin air in his hand. This was different from Mols taking things out of her "Game Inventory"; this was Kuroro directly materializing the book, which was a manifestation of his Nen ability.
"Don't be nervous. Let me introduce myself formally." Kuroro looked up at Mols, who immediately increased the distance between them. Although Kuroro appeared friendly enough, the other party's alertness had clearly not diminished at all, so a detailed explanation was necessary. "This is my ability, 'Skill Hunter.' Like you, I also like to collect things. You collect concrete objects, while I collect Nen abilities."
"…" The other party moved even further away.
This excessive caution could almost be called "cowardice." The other party was indeed the type to run away halfway during intimacy.
"I have no need to collect the Nen abilities of my members. If I put all my eggs in one basket, the Troupe will eventually perish because of me alone—that's not what I want," Kuroro said. "The Troupe is the most important. If you can't agree with this, I'm afraid you're not suitable to be my member."
"A threat?"
"No, just heartfelt words."
Isn't that a threat?! Mols muttered inwardly, taking a step closer towards Kuroro, then another, and stopped.
"You can come a little closer," Kuroro's lowered voice had a persuasive tone. Coupled with his completely restrained, harmless demeanor, it sounded as if it were right next to her ear, making it easy to fall for. "I want to show you the details of that ability. After all, seeing is believing."
Mols wondered if Kuroro had seen "Tom and Jerry." In one episode, the method of catching mice was to exploit the mouse's curiosity and lure it closer, then capture it. At that time, the cat lay beside the mouse hole, pretending to read a very interesting book and laughing from time to time, arousing the mouse's curiosity to see the contents of the book. When the mouse finally got its wish and crawled to the middle of the page to read the contents carefully, the cat would seize the opportunity to "snap" shut the book, crushing the mouse into a "pancake."
Kuroro likely wouldn't crush Mols into a "pancake" with his book, but don't forget that one of the conditions for Kuroro to steal Nen abilities was "placing the target's hand on the bloody handprint on the cover of Skill Hunter." The other three conditions were "personally witnessing the target's Nen ability," "asking questions related to the target's Nen ability and receiving a response," and "all conditions must be completed within one hour."
When Mols [took out] the glass jars containing the Scarlet Eyes, Kuroro had already fulfilled the condition of "personally witnessing the target's Nen ability." Next, as long as he could grab Mols when she approached, he would be able to complete all the conditions for stealing Nen abilities.
If the original owner of the Nen ability dies, the stolen Nen ability will disappear, so Mols didn't need to worry about her life… not at all. Even becoming a vegetative state is considered "not dead" and does not affect Kuroro's use of the stolen Nen ability. This was demonstrated by Owl, one of the Shadow Beasts, in the original work.
Mols took two more steps towards Kuroro, then stopped. She [took out] a pair of binoculars from her "Game Inventory." "I can see from here. Please turn the book over, Leader."
Kuroro smiled and, as requested, turned the book in his hand over. The white pages were printed with photos of the original Nen ability users, accompanied by images and explanations of the Nen abilities, all neatly organized and clearly presented, like an ordinary encyclopedia. However, the content on each page was actually a footnote to the spoils Kuroro had seized through various means.
It was a Nen ability that could find "lost things."
The original owner of the Nen ability believed in the moon's magic, so it could only be used on moonlit nights.
Drawing a magic circle with blood, placing the target person or object in the center of the circle, and chanting a string of unintelligible spells were the conditions for activating the Nen ability. The original owner had always believed this was a form of witchcraft, but according to the mainstream view in this world, it should be called "Nen ability."
What to do with the time until evening?
Kuroro asked Mols to continue keeping the glass jars containing the Scarlet Eyes safe, as it was inconvenient for him to carry them… This was likely only part of the reason. The way he looked at Mols's newly changed eyes with keen interest made Mols feel creeped out, so Mols bid him farewell and left. She returned to the same spot only in the evening.
Mols didn't know if Kuroro had practiced that extremely convoluted incantation, but he recited it fluently and solemnly.
As the magic circle began to glow, Mols vaguely felt like she was witnessing a scene of summoning spirits from the "Fate" series.
When the parts of her brain that had been severed by surgery were recovered, there was no pain, heat, or any other special sensation as she had expected.
It was as if a thin film wrapped around her entire body was suddenly torn away, and fresh air rushed in. All things in the world pressed in on her with exceptionally clear presences, surrounding her.
Her mind swayed, but in reality, Mols's body remained motionless.
An indescribable emotion twisted into a rope, binding her thoughts. She opened her eyes wide, not with sadness, not with joy; she couldn't tell which emotion was at play, as large drops of tears continuously rolled down her cheeks.
A torrent of emotions flooded her eyes, wildly dyeing her pupils red.
Even the most beautiful raw gem needs careful sculpting by a craftsman, and Scarlet Eyes also require the right fuel and container to unleash their charm fully, even to elevate them.
Kuroro held "Skill Hunter" in his hands, his black eyes deepening as if they were an abyss that devoured everything.
The wait was not in vain; he saw… something he wanted more.
He reached out towards the mesmerizing scarlet hue.
The frozen scene in her field of vision suddenly began to flow. Mols increased the "Chi" enveloping her body, entered the "Gyo" state, and started running in another direction.
Kuroro pursued her, quickly realizing she had no aim, like a vehicle with its brakes failed. She didn't dodge the branches along the way, charging headlong. Initially, "Nen" could protect her body, but as it was consumed, her defenses weakened, and bloodstains and fragments of clothing appeared on fallen leaves and broken branches.
After the brain surgery, the emotions accumulated over a year coalesced into countless spirals, and Mols could no longer think clearly.
Not knowing how to vent, she ran, she squandered.
She couldn't feel pain.
The surrounding scenery blurred into blocks of color.
She ran.
The world also ran towards her.
As if running into an endless tunnel.
The forms of all things were lost.
The world finally collided with her.
She opened her arms, crashing into the light and heat, the cold and wind, crashing into that colorful expanse.
When Kuroro traced her path and caught up, she was lying face down in the stream, covered in blood, no longer moving.
The stream was shallow, barely covering her ankles, yet it was enough to drown her.
As it concerned the safety of his member, as the leader, of course, he could not stand idly by.
Kuroro bent down, reached out, and moved her to the bank. Then he took out his phone. Before pressing the call button, he paused.
Why would he call Shalnark?
A sudden doubt surfaced.
Ah, just out of habit, perhaps? Something like muscle memory. Kuroro realized at this moment that he was more reliant on Shalnark than he had imagined.
There was nothing strange about it. Shalnark was the "Spider Brain," and the Troupe's many affairs were always handled by Shalnark. Kuroro was mainly responsible for the final decisions.
I see.
Having figured out the principle, Kuroro put away his phone with a relaxed expression, picked Mols up in his arms, and didn't mind the blood staining his clean white shirt.
As it concerned personal desires, as Kuroro, of course, he couldn't let it go.
He hadn't seen enough; he wanted to see more.
Why would he call Shalnark?
Shalnark being her boyfriend didn't mean she could only have one boyfriend, nor did it mean she couldn't have other interactions. She could also have a fiancé, a lover, a fuck buddy, a bed warmer, a servant, a pet, a slave, a collection, and so on.
Don't ask why. Just ask because her strength is greater than Shalnark's.
Rules are decided by the strong.
This was true in Meteor City.
And for the entire world.