Chapter 142: Spell Cards
Without an [Accompany] card in their possession, the group's immediate
destination remained Antokiba.
With Zachary leading the way, the journey was significantly smoother.
Zachary's presence also acted as a deterrent. Many players who spotted them from
the tall grass recoiled slightly upon seeing him. Zachary was a known entity
among the "bottom-feeders," and seeing him with Ronin and Neon made people
cautious.
However, where some saw danger, others saw opportunity. To a certain class of
player, Zachary was just a shepherd leading two fat sheep.
Ronin didn't mind. In fact, he was hoping for an ambush. It would save him the
trouble of tracking people down to harvest their cards.
"Actually, the fact that I possess a few Restricted Slot cards proves I'm not a
weakling," Zachary said, trying to regain some dignity. "It's just that you two
are... well, you're not normal."
Ronin and Neon weren't bad people, Zachary had realized. They were just
terrifyingly efficient.
Neon nodded in agreement. "True. Most people aren't as fast as Ronin."
Snatching a card out of an opponent's hand before they could even finish the
verbal trigger was a standard high-level tactic, but it required a tier-gap in
speed. Ronin, even without his Lightning Mode active, moved with a fluidity that
made Zachary's eyes ache.
Zachary beamed at Neon's acknowledgement.
Ronin ignored the chatter. His Sharingan was scanning the perimeter, trying to
identify which of the stalkers in the brush was most likely to be holding an
[Accompany] card.
He had one shot.
The moment he used force, the other hidden players would panic and use their own
movement cards to flee.
"Any tips?" Ronin asked Zachary.
Zachary understood immediately. He began scanning the regular hideouts.
But as they approached the outskirts of Antokiba, the "hunters" kept their
distance. They were cautious. If Ronin made even a twitch toward them, they
would likely vanish into a streak of light, retreating to a different city.
The closer they got to the City of Prizes, the more "Wanted" posters they saw.
The posters were everywhere, fluttering in the wind or pasted to crumbling stone
walls. They covered every aspect of life: "Bring me 10 rare herbs," "Slay the
beast of the north," "Find my lost wedding ring."
If one was diligent, simply completing these bounty missions could lead to a
life of luxury within the game. The sheer volume of content was staggering.
Ronin didn't take any missions.
As they entered the town, the number of eyes on them increased, but no one made
a move.
The stalemate lasted until Ronin deliberately led the group into a narrow, dark
alley.
In the world of Greed Island, robbery is the most direct form of currency
exchange.
When Ronin emerged from the other end of the alley, his and Neon's Free Slots
were packed with utility spells. Behind them, a dozen players lay unconscious in
the shadows.
Zachary followed them, still on his Chakra Thread leash. He was joined by two
new "teammates"—a tall man and a gaunt one—both now puppetized by Ronin's
threads.
The team of five was complete. Ronin just needed to get the three "contractors"
to the port. Once they obtained a [Ticket] or the rare [Leave] card, he could
send them back to reality, freeing up their slots for Kurapika, Shizuku, and
Abaki.
Ronin hadn't prioritized hunting for [Leave] cards. There were only thirty in
the entire game.
However, a [Ticket] could be purchased at the port after defeating the Harbor
Master. There were 150 of those in circulation.
The difficulty lay in the Harbor Master himself. He was a gatekeeper designed to
keep the weak inside the game.
But to Ronin, the Harbor Master was a joke. If Gon and Killua could beat him
during their first run, he would be a speed bump.
With a stolen [Accompany] card now in hand, Ronin had Zachary activate it.
Ronin watched him closely. Zachary knew he was being processed for removal, but
with Ronin's threads attached to his spine, he had zero room for betrayal.
I just hope the Harbor Master is as tough as the rumors say, Zachary thought
desperately. Maybe he can kill this devil for me.
VROOOM!
They materialized at the Port.
Before Zachary could even look around, Ronin had already dispatched a handful of
stones. Every guard in the harbor office, including the Harbor Master, was
knocked out and converted into cards instantly.
Zachary's hope died.
Ronin didn't use the first [Ticket] immediately. He planned to "farm" the harbor
for a few hours.
Leaving via a ticket didn't teleport you back to the castle; it placed you on
the physical docks of the real-world island. To ensure the slots were truly
freed, the departed players had to stay out of the game for ten consecutive
days. Kurapika would have to manage their detention at Battera's estate to
ensure they didn't try to log back in.
Ronin needed at least four tickets—one for his own return trip to ferry the
team, and three for the "waste" players.
Neon decided to stay behind. She was confident in her strength and didn't want
to miss out on the game's content. She wanted to explore and collect while Ronin
handled the logistics.
"I'll be fine. I'll just stick to the port area. I won't go near Masadora," Neon
promised.
"No. Don't stay here or in Masadora," Ronin corrected. "Those are too
high-profile. Go to Duliary, Aiai, or Sofurabi. They're safer for a solo
explorer."
Neon gave him an 'OK' sign.
She understood the logic. If the Phantom Troupe was in the game, they would be
centered around Masadora—the city where spells were traded. And the port was the
only other exit point they'd monitor.
The Harbor Master's respawn rate was about six hours.
Ronin spent the day in the harbor office. Every time the NPC respawned and
strutted back into the room, Ronin would flick a coin through his head before he
could say a word.
By the following afternoon, Ronin had gathered enough [Tickets].
After giving Neon a few last warnings, he gathered the three dejected
contractors and used the cards to depart the digital world.
☆☆☆
-> 30 Advanced chapters Now Available on Patreon!!
-> https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Inkshaper
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to access patreon normally)
If you like this novel please consider leaving a review that's help the story a lot Thank you