[159]: Stubborn

"But..." Gon opened his mouth, wanting to say something.

—But those players only lost their chance to remove the ability because you killed the Bomber.

"I know what you're going to say," Cyr cut him off. "But even if I hadn't interfered, do you really think they could've captured the Bomber and removed the ability themselves?"

"It just means this was their fate." He sneered, his tone dismissive.

It didn't matter who died.

Gon, Killua, Hisoka, Maro—anyone could die.

To him, there was no one who couldn't die.

"But—" Gon tried again.

Cyr had already lost patience.

"Don't test my patience," he said coolly.

His voice was calm, emotionless—devoid of anger or killing intent. His lips were even curved into a slight smile.

Yet, somehow, this was more terrifying than when he was killing.

"…Hey, Gon. Stop talking." Killua grabbed Gon's hand, his body instinctively tense.

This guy was dangerous right now.

Every instinct in him screamed to step back, to run, to get out of his sight.

Even Goreinu, sensing the shift, had moved behind Gon, subtly taking a defensive stance.

But Cyr ignored them entirely.

"Now then, what are the conditions for obtaining the final card?"

He summoned his Book of Cards and glanced through the pages, deep in thought.

A familiar female voice—the same one that explained the rules when they first entered the game—spoke:

"A player has collected 99 specified cards. A quiz tournament will now be held, open to all players. One hundred questions about the specified cards will be asked. The player with the highest score will receive Card #0: [Ruler's Blessing]."

"The quiz tournament will begin shortly."

Cyr's expression instantly darkened.

The final challenge was… a quiz?!

One hundred questions about specified cards?

Tch.

Almost all of his cards were stolen—he had never done the tasks himself.

He knew nothing about their backgrounds.

If he managed a passing score, that would already be impressive.

He was one card away from clearing the game… and now this?

Annoying.

Just then, multiple white flashes lit up the area.

A group of players had used [Accompany] to teleport near them.

One after another, more than a dozen players appeared.

Ah…

A bunch of walking corpses had just shown up?

Perfect. He was in a bad mood anyway—might as well kill them.

"Wait, don't attack!" One of the newly arrived players spoke quickly, nervously. "We're here to make a deal. If we win the final card, we'll sell it to you for 2.5 billion Jenny."

They were rushing their words, afraid that even a second's hesitation might get them killed.

Not that they were good people themselves.

But hey—was it really wrong to want to make money?!

"Fine." Cyr agreed instantly.

He had to be the first to clear the game.

There were no other acceptable outcomes.

Gon stared at Cyr, his expression thoughtful, before glancing over at Killua.

"Now, the quiz will begin."

"Question 1: What is the name of the elder who provides the clue for the [Patch of Forest] card?"

Cyr stared at the question and the multiple-choice answers that popped up in his Book of Cards.

[Patch of Forest]?

Stolen.

What elder?

Never met him.

Besides, even if he had met the elder—who the hell would bother remembering the name of a quest NPC?!

Especially an elder—just hearing the word, you already knew it was some old man.

Who would remember that?!

Ha. Whatever.

A full hundred questions. The players who actually had to think through them were scratching their heads, racking their brains.

"Ninety points..." Cyr leaned back, staring at the sky, lost in thought.

By his calculations, he'd probably scored ninety.

First time in his life not getting a perfect score. Tch.

Sure, stealing cards was the fastest way to collect them.

But when you got to the final stage, you were screwed.

This was specifically designed to counter shortcut-taking players like him.

Annoying.

No matter the game, cheaters always got targeted in the end.

The only reason he even got ninety points was because he teleported around, physically checking the card locations for answers.

And even then, he only got a ninety.

The quiz ended. The winner was announced.

"The highest score in this round—Cyr. Ninety points.

…Ah, as expected.

Wait. Huh?

"Ninety points… was first place?!"

Cyr shot upright, eyes scanning the crowd in disbelief.

No way.

He won with just that?!

How to put it…

Not something to be proud of.

A bird swooped down, clutching a card in its beak. It dropped the card over Cyr's head before flapping its wings and flying away.

It wasn't the [Blessing of the Ruler].

It was the [Ruler's Invitation].

As expected, this was probably a precondition for obtaining the final card.

Meaning, he'd have to take the Invitation to the castle, meet the so-called Ruler, and then get the last card.

—

"Gon..." Killua glanced at him, concerned.

"...No choice. We lost after all." Gon sighed deeply, lowering his head. His tone was filled with frustration.

If he wasn't the first to clear the game…

He wouldn't be able to get Ging's location.

"I have to try. Even if I might die, I still want to try."

Suddenly, Gon stepped forward, standing directly in front of Cyr.

"Oh? You planning to take my card?" Cyr looked at him in surprise.

…Things were getting interesting.

"Let's have a match. If I win, you hand over the final card." Gon took a deep breath, eyes burning with determination.

Cyr's expression immediately darkened.

"I don't have time for your childish games." His face fell into an impatient scowl, waving Gon off dismissively.

Probably that same old 'whoever gives up first loses' game.

He'd seen Gon do it before, against the Bomber.

Whoever admitted defeat first had to hand over their Book.

Like some kind of cockroach, refusing to give up, stopping at nothing until he got what he wanted.

Annoying.

It was fun to watch as a spectator.

But when you were the one dealing with it?

Just imagining it was exhausting.

At that moment, two streaks of white light shot down from the sky.

Two new players landed, grinning wickedly, eyes gleaming with greed as they locked onto the Invitation in Cyr's hand.

"Hand over your Book, or—"

Before they could finish speaking—

They were shredded to pieces.

By an invisible force, as if sliced apart by the very laws of existence itself.

They didn't even have time to scream.

Blood sprayed across the ground.

For a moment, the entire field fell silent.

No one dared to breathe.

Terrified.

"Idiots."

Cyr didn't even glance at them.

Nor did he acknowledge Gon's outstretched hand, reaching out as if to stop him.

His figure vanished.

Sora grabbed Maro and followed after him.

Gon clutched his Book of Cards, determination written all over his face.

If he used [Accompany], he could appear right beside him.

"...That guy will kill you."

Killua saw what Gon was thinking and couldn't help but speak up.

"The difference in power between you two—"

"It's not like the Bomber."

"Even ten Bombers wouldn't be enough to take him down."

Biscuit's face was equally serious.

She knew Gon's personality.

If he set his mind on something, he wouldn't back down.

Thinking of this, Biscuit suddenly struck him.

Completely unguarded, caught off-guard, Gon collapsed unconscious to the ground.

"Hey, you—" Killua glared at Biscuit, annoyed.

"Were you planning to send him to his death?"

Biscuit's only response was a single question.

"Would you rather let him go and die?"

Killua fell silent.

If Gon had been awake, he would have followed him.

He would have stood beside him.

And if it came to that—

He'd just die together with the stubborn idiot.

But Gon had been knocked out.

"He's gonna be a pain when he wakes up."

Killua sighed, pressing his fingers against his temple.

Hopefully, that guy would be gone from the game before Gon woke up.

Otherwise—

Things would get messy.

°°°

If you want to read ahead and access 20 advanced chapters, check the patreon

Link: Patreon/Moziel