Chapter 23: East Gorteau
The saying goes, "Don't hit a smiling face," especially when faced with such a respectful attitude.
"Mahā, that old fox."
Su Xiao knew exactly what was happening. When he called Mahā an old fox, Zeno and Silva both pretended not to hear.
Zeno led Su Xiao into the Zoldyck family castle and headed straight underground. After opening over a dozen extremely secret mechanisms, Zeno took out a carbon box from a high-strength alloy safe.
This carbon box was about the size of a briefcase, completely sealed. Its pitch-black exterior alone conveyed the item's sturdiness.
Zeno placed his hand on the carbon box, and Nen energy surged forth.
With a click, several protrusions popped out from the sides of the carbon box, and a crack appeared in the middle. Zeno let out a long breath and handed the carbon box to Su Xiao.
Su Xiao took the carbon box. It was extremely heavy—small in size, but weighing at least 500 jin.
Opening the carbon box, there were seven compartments inside. Five of them contained five large Soul Crystals, while the other two held a very thin notebook and a card.
[You have obtained Soul Crystal (Large) x5.]
[You have obtained Melee Combat Specialization Scroll.]
[You have obtained Hunter License (Two-Star).]
...
These three items were the gifts Mahā had left behind.
"Even his final affairs were prepared."
Su Xiao put away the Soul Crystals and the specialization scroll. This was the alternative choice for not killing Killua. This reward was in no way inferior to killing Killua. Killua was the Child of Fate, yes, but he was not in his complete form.
"..."
Zeno remained silent. When Mahā was alive, Su Xiao was a collaborator. Now that Mahā was gone, if Su Xiao harbored malicious intent, the Zoldyck family would essentially be finished. They couldn't stop this god of death.
From the very beginning, the Zoldyck family knew that Su Xiao was no mercenary or hired thug, but a "plague god" who could help them.
This "plague god" could solve their family's biggest problems, but he could also annihilate their entire family. The "plague god" had come uninvited, and if they wanted to send him off, it was best to be polite.
Su Xiao tossed the Hunter License in his hand. With this item, moving around in the Hunter world would be much more convenient.
A Hunter License was a very special document. To obtain one, you had to pass the Hunter Association's exam. As for advancing to Two-Star, you also needed to accomplish significant feats.
With a Hunter License, you could enter 90% of countries that were off-limits to ordinary civilians. Over 95% of public facilities worldwide could be used for free, and you could enter some explicitly forbidden ruins, dangerous areas, and so on.
A Hunter License wasn't bound to a specific identity. Anyone who got their hands on it could use it, though that would be illegal use. This was also one of the Hunter Association's tests for its Hunters—if you couldn't even keep your license, you weren't qualified to remain a Hunter.
Su Xiao tossed the Hunter License in his hand, turned, and walked out of the castle. His goal was achieved; it was time to leave Kukuroo Mountain.
Upon learning that Su Xiao was leaving, Zeno and Silva, though they didn't throw a farewell party, escorted him all the way to the Testing Gate.
"Mr. White Night, feel free to visit the Zoldyck family anytime you have time."
Zeno was just being polite. Compared to the safety of the family's younger generation, he certainly didn't want Su Xiao to visit often. Su Xiao had a good relationship with Mahā, but that didn't mean he had a good relationship with the Zoldyck family. If they somehow offended this plague god, things would get troublesome.
"Oh, I'll come visit when I have time."
Su Xiao's answer made Zeno's old face stiffen.
This was how villains cooperated with villains. Su Xiao wasn't exactly a good person, and neither was Mahā. As for the Zoldyck family—an assassin family—did they expect heartfelt sincerity? Don't be ridiculous.
Compared to previous collaborations that ended in complete betrayal at the final moment, this cooperation was already quite harmonious.
Driving a black sedan gifted by the Zoldyck family, Su Xiao headed straight for the nearest airship station.
Compared to the situation at Kukuroo Mountain, the main quest's unfolding location, East Gorteau, was exceptionally lively.
East Gorteau was a small country located in the lower part of the Hunter world map. It was an autonomous state. An autonomous state meant that even the V5 organization couldn't interfere in its internal affairs.
Did East Gorteau have some secret weapon? Or was there something special about it that made the V5 wary?
Not at all. It was because East Gorteau was too damn poor—so poor that the V5 didn't even bother with it. In the V5's view, a country this poor had only one use: dragging down the 'GDP' of all nations. Besides, East Gorteau was located on the edge of the map, neither a strategic location nor rich in resources.
According to the V5's financial department budget, if the V5 incorporated East Gorteau into the United Nations' sphere of influence, not only would it bring no profit, but they would also have to spend money every year on aid. It simply wasn't worth it.
Therefore, the V5 organization cast East Gorteau aside and even granted it autonomy, essentially saying, "Don't come asking us for money. You're an autonomous state."
This delighted the East Gorteau royal family to no end. The royal family didn't care at all about the suffering of the common people; they just wanted to enjoy themselves.
One could imagine what a country ruled by a pleasure-seeking royal family would be like. In East Gorteau, all modern items were banned. Even for farming, they had to use livestock or manual labor.
The ban on modern items made the living conditions of East Gorteau's common people even worse. They lived a life of men farming and women weaving. Strangely enough, the happiness index of East Gorteau's citizens wasn't low. Their desires were so simple—just enough food to eat and enough clothes to wear.
The hereditary royal family drank and partied every day, but they weren't bound by the rule banning modern items.
After taking a 12-hour airship ride, Su Xiao arrived in a small country near East Gorteau. As for why he didn't go directly to East Gorteau, the reason was simple: there was no airship station there, and airships were forbidden from flying over its airspace.
Su Xiao stepped off the airship. He had slept the whole way. The past few days at Kukuroo Mountain had really worn him out.
Entering East Gorteau's territory wasn't difficult for Su Xiao. With a Two-Star Hunter License in hand, getting in and out was a piece of cake. Su Xiao suspected that this Two-Star Hunter License wasn't obtained by Mahā through the Hunter Association exam, but rather by killing a Hunter and taking it.
There were no vehicles in East Gorteau, so Su Xiao had to travel on foot. While walking, Su Xiao opened the Derived World Contact Platform. The platform was unusually lively.
Old Gun (Qingyou Adventure Group): "Recruiting third-rank melee contractors, main tank preferred."
White Giant (Xiongfeng Guild): "Urgently recruiting third-rank main tanks, support types, mages. Main tanks and mages prioritized, generous compensation."
Blood Agate (Rogue): "Scum of the Qingyou Adventure Group, still recruiting cannon fodder? As long as I'm alive, you won't be hunting Chimera Ants in peace."
...
The small and medium-sized adventure groups in the Hunter world were all becoming active. They had discovered that there were very few strong individuals in this Hunter world iteration. Only a few dangerous contractors were present, and their targets were the Ant King or the three Royal Guards. More importantly, none of those people were in the East Gorteau region. They were waiting for the Ant King's birth and were currently gathering benefits in other areas.
As for squadron leader-level Chimera Ants, not many people were hunting them. So these small and medium-sized adventure groups set their sights on those.
However, these small and medium-sized adventurers didn't yet know that the dangerous lone wolves were gradually arriving in East Gorteau. Their fun time was about to end.
"Unexpectedly lively."
Su Xiao closed the Derived World Contact Platform. He had already reached the border region of East Gorteau.