Chapter 570: Biased Promotion—A Suitable Mascot
Alex, now trembling a little, is utterly unable to interfere in the process before his eyes.
What is going on?! Am I fucked?!
[Values established do not match official grading standards. Overwriting access granted by Special System W0001...
proceeding...
...
Close... but it looks like... everything is under control.
...
...
finished]
[Recalculating Player Alex Kerber's backstory and achievements.]
[Counting Nen Students that mastered the Basics of Nen: 3 (Menchi Error, Ha**y Error Po**e* Error, He*mio*e Error Gr****r Error)
Counting Single-Star Nen Students: 1 (Menchi Error)
The fuck? These are the wrong characters... they do not even belong to this world, also Menchi may be my supporter, but she taught me Nen.
I am her student, not the other way around. I mean... technically she is now under me... but lore-wise it doesn't make sense? If the student surpasses the master, can he claim the master's achievements for himself? I'd like to say no, but I'm not here to argue. What's with all the Errors... I feel like a cheater.
Well, let's just read.
Counting achievements... ErrorGrading values are exceeding limits set by lvl 8 World:
Hunter: Became a Hunter two years ago by passing the Hunter Exam
Floor Master: Became a Floor Master just weeks after becoming a Hunter, achieving a reputation as a Top Nen User.
Weapon Hunter: Made significant progress in rare weapons and item research, studying Aura and foreign substances. Revealed unknown materials in a report that has now been classified by the V5.
Beast Hunter: Rendered incredible achievements as a Beast Hunter by not only taming a rare spider pet on a special expedition taking place behind the known borders of the world, but also taught it Nen, creating a sensation inside the Hunter Association.
Single-Star Hunter: Promotion to Single-Star Hunter because of his achievements with rare weapon research, urgently requested by the V5, in exchange for a complete agreement on silence regarding potential unknown land masses. Attained the Position of V5-sanctioned explorer in charge of exploring nearby islands outside the V5's influence.
Double-Star Hunter: Promotion due to successfully raising a Single-Star Hunter (Menchi Error), teaching others to a level where they could potentially pass the Hunter Exam, fulfilling the first five articles of the Hunter Bylaws, holding a prestigious official position and taming an exotic beast with immense potential, capable of using Nen, the biggest Achievement in the field of beast Hunters that has been recorded.]
[[Hunter License] has been upgraded to [Double-Star Hunter License]]
[Double-Star Hunter License]
World: Hunter x Hunter
Quality: Deep Gold
Type: Special-Trinket (Card)
Required Stats: NEN - 15
Effect: Increases AURA regeneration by 30%
Effect: Increases Nen by 5 (Flat boost, not increased by skills)
Effect: Prestige-Item: This item does not have to be equipped to contribute its effects.
Warning: Player may only equip one Prestige Item per 5 levels
Note: You are officially a Hunter! Don't be tempted to sell this license; you'll regret it.
Note: Only handed to successful Hunters who fulfill the first five articles of the Hunter bylaws, hold an official position, and have mentored at least one junior student who has received one star.
Note: Can be upgraded
What the fuck... how... did Via do this?! I was hoping for a promotion to Single Hunter because of my screwing around with the system last time I was here... but Double-Star Hunter? That's insane.
[Please choose Starting Location and lore implication:
Error: additional information provided to the player. Not intended. Error.
Hunter Association (Yorknew Branch): Offered because of [Bushidora's card] that has been merged into [VIP Invitation]. Will lead to Missions offered by Hunter Bushidora. Will lead to Special Mission Chain: "A Dangerous Target."
Risk: B+
Reward: C-
Abandoned building in the outskirts of Yorknew: Offered because of [Shalnark's Card] that has been merged into [VIP Invitation]. Will lead to Missions offered by the Phantom Troupe.
Will lead to Special Mission Chain: "Taking it all!"
Risk: A-
Reward: A
Southern Piece Auction House: Offered because of [Julius Card], which has been merged into [VIP Invitation]. Will lead to Missions offered by Heaven's Arena Owner and business Conglomerate Julius.
Will lead to Special Mission Chain: "Light and Dark."
Risk: D-
Reward: B+
Please choose within 1 Minute and 51 seconds.
In case of inaction, the default random starting location, York New Central Station, will be chosen. Won't lead to any Special Mission Chain. Player must acquire missions on their own.
Risk: E
Reward: E]
Jewel? Jewel, can you hear me?! Doesn't look that way... I've got to decide this by myself.
I have almost two minutes left... think this through calmly, Alex. I'm working with a lot more information than usual. This shouldn't be a hard decision.
Risk should mainly refer to the quantity and quality of enemies... also, it's only talking about one specific scenario. Apart from that, everything else inside this world remains the same.
A high degree of Risk just means a lot of strong enemies... so it's not even that bad. Reward should be referring only to the mission reward and nothing else.
More important are the lore implications. If I don't ally with a faction now, the chance is probably gone for good. I could still do it later, but I would miss the unique opportunity to start that unique quest... that's essentially my entire advantage for activating that mission item. Now that's an interesting thought... did other players also have these missions? In Harry Potter, that seemed to be the case for the one traitor team, at least.
Anyway, no time to screw around; what do I choose? Allying myself with the Troupe... that sounds dangerous... but honestly, if I can avoid it, I don't want to fight them. I have things to do, and I want to focus on Jason and his borrowed goon. Actually, allying myself with them sounds safe to me; at least that way, I probably won't have to deal with them. Despite my progress, I'm not sure I can take them on... their Hatsus have the potential to one-shot me.
Obviously, the default location is out. That would be throwing my Mission item's advantage away.
Allying with the Hunters... would be interesting if I were aiming for a promotion, which I'm not. I'm already a Double-Star Hunter. Forget becoming a Triple-Star Hunter—that's impossible. I'd have to literally save the world to get that promotion... maybe if I kill the Ant-King, but it's simply unfeasible to accomplish something like that here. Without Via, I'd be a Single-Star Hunter at best. Also, this faction isn't backed up by the canon lore... I don't have any information advantage. Meaning the whole scenario would be completely new. It's out.
Same with Julius and his damn corporations. Another faction and character that don't exist in the original. Interacting with the extended Realm lore is a bad decision, at least if I can avoid it.
Shalnark's Card had the highest rank... and that mission offers the highest rewards. I need to take that one.
[Please choose within 0 Minutes and 11 seconds...]
I choose the abandoned building in the outskirts of Yorknew!!
[Acknowledged]
Suddenly, the black void with the single screen in front of Alex's eyes shifts.
Everything around him spins and rushes forward until his vision suddenly returns.
Immediately, Alex finds himself standing in front of a tall building, surrounded by many more exactly like it. The structures loom over the empty streets, silent and lifeless. He notices that he's holding a phone in his left hand.
Soulmate!
Jewel?
To Alex's surprise, he feels a familiar weight on his head as he realizes that Jewel is perched right on top of it.
Standing right beside him are two familiar women, both staring at him.
"It looks like... we entered together this time," Alex notes, smiling weakly.
"Yorknew... I always loathed this shithole of a city. It reeks of corruption," Menchi says, her face showing clear disgust. "Where are we? This should be the south... not even the slums... an abandoned industrial zone."
"You didn't see the decisions I just made?" Alex asks while inspecting his body carefully.
"Damn, I'm wearing clothes, but my entire gear is worn over them... I look a little... special..." he comments, taking out an oversized mantle that he throws over himself, mostly covering everything, including his weapons.
Now properly covered, he suddenly hears a firm, flat response.
"No. Tell us."
Looking to the side at Benezia, Alex can't help but smile. "Although I am covered now... someone else stands out a little more, hehe."
"While Asari culture frowns upon using physical force for any kind of verbal affront, my time in the Realm has changed me, and the urge to smack your cheeks is becoming quite strong," Benezia comments while scanning their surroundings.
"Just make sure it's the cheeks up there, and not... down there... or he might enjoy it," Menchi says with a smirk, pointing at his face before slowly lowering her finger.
"Hahahaha," Alex fake laughs, clearly annoyed. "How about I send you straight to the Supporter coal mines instead? A decade should do it."
Soulmate can? He should! Princess Jewel supports it fully!
"There are none, you silly spider... also, you are such a traitor. No more chicken for you," Menchi replies.
No! How cruel!
"Cease this stupidity; we need to move on," Benezia says firmly. "Explain the situation."
"You started it..." Alex mutters while quickly explaining what had just happened.
"... That's about it," Alex says, quickly explaining the situation with Via.
"Am I supposed to believe you somehow managed to befriend the System responsible for world transfer?" Benezia asks, stepping in front of Alex.
"Yes... I mean, I even have proof," Alex says, holding up his brand-new [Double-Star Hunter License]. "Why the fuck would I get this awesome item out of nowhere? There's no way in hell I deserve it. Anyway, the system seemed lonely and is actually a pretty nice guy... no, gal... no... system. Whatever. Let's move. I think there's only one thing we need to do. Seeing as I have a phone in my hand..."
Alex quickly activates the old phone. To his absolute delight, it turns out to be a beetle phone, its design mimicking a thick beetle, with the antenna acting as its horn.
However, before he can dial, the phone suddenly begins ringing.
He's receiving a call.
"Are you there?" a male, youthful, and friendly voice asks.
"I guess... so," Alex replies.
This... is Shalnark. I remember his voice.
"Can you come out and pick me... no, us up...?" he quickly adds.
"I'm seeing you out of the window. Your... companions are as exciting as I've heard... please tell them to be kind, I don't like aggressive women like you do."
"Shut the fuck u—" Alex tries to reply, but Shalnark ends the call.
"That's what happens if you leave a bad first impression people. The last Hunter exam... he saw my performance. This is all your fault, Menchi!" Alex complains, while Menchi just whistles innocently and looks away.
"..."
"I don't like this mission already, let's head home..." Alex complains.
Princess Jewel agrees! The next mission is the one that truly matters.
Just as he said, it doesn't take long before Shalnark appears, casually walking out of the large building in front of them, his clothes consisting of his familiar sleeveless Purple suit, his arms completely free.
Guy sure likes to dress like a Martial artist... despite not acting like the fighter type.
Alex confidently approaches him and shakes his hand.
"It's nice to see you again," Alex says, feeling slightly more confident while facing him.
"Yes indeed," Shalnark replies. "It looks as though you have improved tremendously."
"Hehe," Alex snickers. "When I left you, I was but the learner. Now I am the master."
"Huh? Is that a famous quote?" Shalnark wonders with a smile. "Sorry, I'm not much into movies these days. Your famous pet is also looking gorgeous... you know me and my... acquaintances have a certain fascination with spiders. I believe you will be most welcome. It looks as though it could even become our mascot."
❤️ Princess Jewel deserves to be worshipped.
Alex sighs.
Jewel... I don't believe you know what mascot means.
"It's nice to meet you as well," Shalnark says toward Menchi and Benezia, who are standing next to Alex. He politely shakes their hands as well before turning around again. "Please follow me. I'll introduce you to the rest. After that, let's talk about business... we have quite a lot to discuss."
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