Chapter 12: Kukuru Mountain
"What do you stand to gain?"
Maha Zaoldyeck let out a dry laugh.
"For now, I can't guess what you're after... but I only brought this up because you asked."
Maha Zaoldyeck began to show his cunning side.
"I can help you with this, but as a bargaining chip, the Zaoldyeck family must provide me with this."
Su Xiao took a large Soul Crystal from his storage space. He had no interest in the Zaoldyeck family's combat techniques, and Nen ability knowledge was useless to him unless it came in the form of a skill scroll. Therefore, the bargaining chip he proposed was a large Soul Crystal.
During his last entry into the Hunter world, Su Xiao had noticed that the number of Soul Crystals in this derivative world was terrifyingly high.
Even a low-martial underworld organization like the Ten Dons could acquire dozens of medium Soul Crystals. As a high-end martial force in the Hunter world, the Zaoldyeck family could definitely produce large Soul Crystals.
According to intelligence Su Xiao had obtained in Reincarnation Paradise, the Hunter world, the One Piece world, and a certain war world were high-yield areas for Soul Crystals. Of course, this information might not be entirely accurate; there were likely other worlds with high Soul Crystal yields.
For this reason, the Hunter world and the One Piece world were very popular among major adventure groups. Opportunities to enter the One Piece world were more frequent, while the Hunter world was relatively rare. This was also the main reason Su Xiao chose to enter the Hunter world.
To raise his Blade Mastery to the next qualitative change, he needed at least 100 large Soul Crystals. Thinking about that number, Su Xiao even felt that reaching Lv.50 was hopeless.
Entering the Hunter world this time, obtaining 100 large Soul Crystals was a pipe dream, but getting more than 5 was very possible. Besides, the main quest would reward him with 3 more.
"So you want Eternal Crystals. A large Eternal Crystal this size is rare, but not impossible to obtain."
What Maha called "Eternal Crystals" was the Hunter world's term for Soul Crystals.
"Twenty pieces."
Su Xiao named his price. Maha chuckled.
"I can get you at most two. A large Eternal Crystal this size is too rare. Most are kept as treasures with significant appreciation potential."
Hearing Maha mention appreciation potential, Su Xiao didn't know how to respond. Indeed, in different contexts, the value of items differed. In Reincarnation Paradise, Soul Crystals were strategic resources, while in the Hunter world, they were very rare collectibles, among the most expensive gemstones.
"Eighteen pieces."
"Five pieces."
"Sixteen pieces."
"Eight pieces."
"Deal."
"...?"
After a round of "pleasant" haggling, the preliminary deal was struck. Of course, this still depended on what Maha actually wanted to do.
"Tell me, what do you need me to do?"
"Go with me... deep into Kukuru Mountain. Before that, we need to bring two more people. The specifics are like this..."
After listening to Maha's description, Su Xiao understood the situation. So-called Kukuru Mountain was right in front of them. The area where the Zaoldyeck family castle was located was halfway up Kukuru Mountain.
The entire Kukuru Mountain resembled a volcano, like a cylindrical chimney. The mountaintop was perpetually shrouded in volcanic ash, with the upper zone barren of life. From the middle of the mountain down to the base, it was relatively gentler, covered in dense trees and suitable for habitation.
Kukuru Mountain was originally an active volcano. Later, for unknown reasons, it stopped erupting. The crater at the top began to constantly emit volcanic ash, forming a massive gray-black cloud over the summit.
The Zaoldyeck family's original location wasn't here but near Meteor City. The decision to move here was Maha's, and only he knew the specific reason.
"That's the general situation. This trip is very dangerous. That's why I'm willing to offer eight Eternal Crystals this large. It's almost the wealth I've accumulated in my lifetime."
Maha was going all out. The reason he chose to cooperate with Su Xiao was that he couldn't find anyone else. Moreover, certain obstacles inside Kukuru Mountain required extremely powerful attack capabilities to break through. Coincidentally, Su Xiao, who was skilled with a long blade, had such an ability.
Even now, Maha didn't fully trust Su Xiao, but he had no choice. This concerned the average lifespan of his clan. More importantly, Maha surviving in his current state was far from fortunate. On the contrary, he suffered every day. Normal Nen represented life energy, while his black Nen represented death. He was eroded by death daily. Not going mad only showed the old man's strong willpower.
"I have other matters in nine days, so I can spare at most seven days."
Seven days for eight large Soul Crystals—this deal was definitely a sure profit. As for the danger, Su Xiao was long accustomed to it.
"No need for seven days. It should be resolved in about five days at most. Before we set out, we need to have someone return. Let me explain: this trip into Kukuru Mountain will involve four people including you and me. We'll discuss the details later."
"Alright. If there aren't too many deviations, I can go deep into Kukuru Mountain with you."
Su Xiao didn't agree outright, but Maha smiled because this was the result he most wanted to hear. Agreeing too readily sometimes meant unreliability.
"Good. Then we'll officially set out in two days."
As Maha finished speaking, Su Xiao received a notification from Reincarnation Paradise.
[Notification: The Hunter has actively triggered the hidden quest: The Curse of the Zaoldyeck Family.]
[Hidden Quest: The Curse of the Zaoldyeck Family (First Ring)]
Difficulty Level: Lv.?? Quest Introduction: Venture deep into Kukuru Mountain with Maha Zaoldyeck.
Quest Information: Entering the interior of Kukuru Mountain will complete the first ring of the hidden quest and activate the second ring.
Quest Time Limit: 3 natural days.
Quest Reward: Light Gold Set Treasure Chest ×1 (Upon opening, there is a 100% chance of obtaining a random Light Gold set item. This is the first ring reward.)
Quest Penalty: Maha Zaoldyeck's Favorability -80, forced into hostile state. The Hunter will be unable to negotiate with any member of the Zaoldyeck family.
...
The hidden quest was successfully triggered. Or rather, Su Xiao had found the hidden quest himself through initiative, not by luck. This was the benefit of having strong combat power.
If Su Xiao didn't have his current combat strength, he wouldn't have been able to probe Maha Zaoldyeck as he had done earlier, or it would have brought deadly consequences.
Under normal circumstances, to activate this hidden quest, one first needed high favorability with Zeno, then through Zeno gain Silva's high trust, meet the Zaoldyeck family's fourth child, Alluka Zaoldyeck, and finally through Alluka contact Maha Zaoldyeck. After gaining Maha Zaoldyeck's trust, one could trigger this hidden quest with high rewards and low penalties.
Su Xiao's method was simple and crude. Both Maha Zaoldyeck and Alluka Zaoldyeck were definitely related to the hidden quest—something all Contractors could think of.
Therefore, Su Xiao directly asked Maha why he was still alive. This would likely involve Alluka Zaoldyeck.