Chapter 41: What Whitebeard
"The empty tomb of the True Martial King..."
Sloan rubbed his thinning hair, reviewing the videos and photos submitted by Arthur, Menchi, Shizuku, and Diego, then asked them some questions.
After consulting with his advisors, Sloan finally asked Arthur and the others, "Is there really no way to go back in?"
"Well..." Diego and his group hesitated.
Arthur said, "Only hunters can enter."
With that, Sloan felt relieved. In this world, strange tales abound, and there are always things only professionals like hunters can access.
"However, given the situation, I'm afraid I can't set the final reward at the highest third tier," Sloan apologized. "Of course, the results seem genuine, so doubling the reward to the second tier of 4 million Jenny shouldn't be a problem..."
The final result was a basic reward of 2 million Jenny, payable immediately; the second-tier doubled reward required Oakhaven's official review before payment; and the highest reward of 10 million Jenny wasn't impossible to strive for, but it would require the hunters to accompany Sloan back, and if they had the patience to wait for the result, there might be one.
Menchi asked, "How long will the second-tier review take?"
"Quickly, one or two days," Sloan smiled. "The ship leaves the port at 8 a.m. the day after tomorrow. With luck, we'll have the result before then and can transfer the additional 2 million Jenny to you."
Diego and his group discussed and replied, "We'll go with you. We don't expect the highest reward, but we can wait for the review result."
Sloan kindly reminded, "With hunters accompanying me, I won't refuse. But once the review result is out, we'll immediately transfer the funds to your accounts."
Speaking of accounts...
Arthur realized he didn't have a bank account in the Hunter World!
Though the Hunter World seemed to have online banking, allowing transactions anywhere with a phone, currency was unified as Jenny!, but without an account, he had nothing.
Not just an account, technically, Arthur didn't even have a real identity.
He and his only subordinate, Shizuku from Meteor City, seemed to share a similar status, both being undocumented...
"Can I get cash?" Arthur raised his hand.
Sloan smiled, "Since the amount isn't large, cash, anonymous cards, and online transfers are all possible. But with cash, not everyone can be paid in cash."
Arthur nodded, "Then transfer my share to Shizuku's account. Shizuku?"
"Okay," Shizuku agreed.
Are you two that close? Even Sloan was surprised, and Diego and the others were stunned.
Menchi knew Shizuku already saw Arthur as her boss... But I have an account too?
...
While Oakhaven's finance team was busy, the group naturally started discussing the True Martial King.
Different people focused on different aspects of the same topic. Diego and his group seemed more interested in the legendary treasure of the True Martial King than his historical ambitions.
At this point, Kanzai, who had been quietly acting as a bodyguard, spoke up, "What's the big deal? The True Martial King's treasure rumors pop up every few years, but no one's ever found anything real."
Arthur looked at him curiously, "Kanzai, are you interested in the True Martial King's treasure?"
Kanzai looked at him even more curiously, "I'm a treasure hunter, of course I'm interested!"
"But, Kanzai, this time the rumors about the True Martial King's treasure are different," Sloan leaned back in his chair, smiling. "Very different."
Diego and the others nodded in agreement.
Kanzai was puzzled, "How is it different?"
"Don't you watch the news?" Menchi was surprised, "Even I've heard about it!"
I haven't heard about it either! Arthur thought, and this was when the amazing Shizuku came in...
Shizuku asked curiously, "What news?"
Sloan chuckled, opened his laptop, typed for a while, and turned the screen to the group.
Arthur was surprised by what he saw.
The news headline featured "Heaven's Arena," "suicide," "mental illness," and "True Martial King," with a photo of a bald man on the Heaven's Arena's rooftop, outdoors! The man looked dazed, holding a phone as if filming himself.
"This is the video he took at the time," Sloan opened iTube, found a video, and played it. The video thumbnail matched the news photo.
The video began, resembling a vlog with a selfie perspective.
The wind howled, the camera shook, and the bald man, seemingly crying and laughing, shouted at the camera, "The True Martial King's treasure is real!!!"
After that, the camera shook more violently, accompanied by the rapid descent of the camera, ending with a dull thud, the camera rolling a few times before stopping on the ground. The screen showed several glitches, soon followed by blood appearing at the bottom of the frame... Amidst the surrounding screams and shouts, the video ended.
Sloan said, "Alpha Edward, one of the Heaven's Arena's floor masters."
Arthur checked the video's upload date, March 3, 1991, four years ago.
Diego said, "Gallo, who was caught here half a month ago, was probably influenced by this. Unlike him, who was a floor master for only a few days, Alpha was a true master who held the position for a long time. That's why people are so drawn to his mysterious suicide and his last words about the True Martial King's treasure..."
Damn, how boring...
I just asked casually, didn't expect such a long story...
Arthur rolled his eyes, changing the subject, "Speaking of Gallo, he's a master of sorts. Won't he break out after being caught as a poacher?"
He was curious about how official institutions handled "superpowered criminals" without publicly disclosing Nen Ability information.
Sloan replied casually, "What's so hard about that? Even if he's as fierce as a beast, tranquilizers, muscle relaxants, nerve agents, a little of each, and he'll be as docile as a kitten..."
Arthur was speechless.
"Why bring him up?" Sloan asked.
"Gallo was caught by her," Arthur pointed to the innocent Menchi.
Menchi pointed back at him, "Don't look at me, Gallo and his group of five were all defeated by him. I just picked up the leftovers."
Well, that's not surprising! Diego and the others looked at Arthur, their emotions stable.
"Ah, the money's here," Shizuku checked her phone.
Sloan concluded, "Then, 8 a.m. the day after tomorrow, at the west town port."
Arthur gave an OK gesture and left with Shizuku and Menchi.
...
"Please wait," Diego caught up with Arthur and the others at the door. "How should I say this, without you guys, we wouldn't have gotten the double reward. It's a bit embarrassing. How about dinner tonight at a restaurant in the west town..."
Arthur said, "I live in the east town."
"East town works too, east town works," Diego quickly said.
"Appreciate the thought, but let's skip dinner. I have things to do," Arthur smiled. "If you really want to thank me, let me ask you a question."
"Please ask," Diego said seriously.
"Where are the Kakin people?" Arthur looked around the door. "That cauliflower guy was with us when we left the amusement park..."
(End of Chapter)