What Whitebeard?

"The True Martial King's empty tomb..."

Slooe rubbed his balding head as he reviewed the videos and photos submitted by Jing Yang, Menchi, Shizuku, Dago, and the others, then carefully asked them a few questions.

After quietly conferring with several accompanying advisers, Slooe finally asked Jing Yang and the others, "Is there really no way to get back in?"

"Well..." Dago and the others hesitated.

Jing Yang said, "Only Hunters can enter."

If you put it that way, it'll be easy for me to write my report. Slooe touched his hair. There were countless strange tales and odd phenomena in this world; things that had always existed and could only be approached by professionals like Hunters.

"Still, with things at this stage, I'm afraid I can't set the final reward at the highest, third tier." Slooe said apologetically, "Of course, the results appear genuine. Doubling the payment and receiving the second-tier reward of four million Jenie shouldn't be a problem..."

In the end, the basic reward of two million Jenie could be paid on the spot. The doubled second-tier reward would only be delivered after the materials had been sent back for official review by Ochima. As for the highest reward of ten million Jenie, it was not impossible to fight for it, but that would require these Hunters to return with Slooe. If they had the patience to wait for the outcome, there might really be a result.

Menchi asked, "How long will the second-tier review take?"

"If things go quickly, there'll be an answer in a day or two." Slooe smiled. "A ship leaves the harbor at eight in the morning the day after tomorrow. If you're lucky, the remaining two million Jenie can be transferred to you before then."

After discussing it among themselves, Dago and the others replied, "Then we'll leave together with you. We aren't counting on the highest reward, but we can wait for the review results along the way."

Slooe kindly reminded them, "With all of you Hunters traveling with us, of course I won't refuse. But once the review results come in, we'll naturally transfer the money to your accounts immediately."

Speaking of accounts...

Jing Yang suddenly remembered that he didn't have a bank account in the Hunter World!

Although the Hunter World seemed to have online banking, letting people transfer money anywhere with just a phone and travel the world without issue—after all, the currency was universally standardized as Jenie! But no account meant no account.

Forget an account. Strictly speaking, Jing Yang didn't even have a real identity right now.

His status and that of Shizuku, his only current subordinate from Meteor City, seemed rather similar in practice. They were both undocumented...

"Can I get cash?" Jing Yang raised his hand.

Slooe smiled. "Since it isn't a large amount, cash, anonymous cards, or online transfers are all fine. But if you choose cash, we may not be able to pay everyone in cash."

Jing Yang nodded. "Then transfer my share to Shizuku's account. Shizuku?"

"Okay," Shizuku answered.

You two are already that close? Not just Slooe—even Dago and the others could not help staring in a daze.

Menchi knew that Shizuku had already begun treating Jing Yang as her boss... But I have an account too, don't I?

While Ochima's finance department was busy, the group naturally began discussing the True Martial King.

The same topic drew different points of focus from different people. What Dago and the others discussed was clearly not the same thing as Allantrail. They did not care much about the ambitions of the True Martial King from history. Instead, they seemed more concerned with the legend of the True Martial King's secret treasure.

Kang Jae, who had been quietly acting as a bodyguard, spoke up then. "What's so surprising about that? The True Martial King's treasure becomes popular every few years or so, but after all these years, no one's ever found even a scrap of the real thing."

Jing Yang gave him a strange look and asked, "Mr. Kang Jae, are you interested in the True Martial King's treasure too?"

Kang Jae gave him an even stranger look. "I'm a Treasure Hunter. Of course I'm interested!"

"But, Mr. Kang Jae, the rumors circulating this time about the True Martial King Treasure are somewhat different." Leaning back in his chair, Slooe smiled comfortably. "Very different."

Dago and the others nodded with looks of agreement.

Kang Jae's face was full of question marks. "How is it different?"

"You don't watch TV news?" Menchi asked in surprise. "Even I've heard about it!"

I haven't heard about it either! Jing Yang thought. This was when the magical Shizuku had to be deployed...

Shizuku asked curiously, "What news is it exactly?"

Slooe chuckled, opened the Laptop on the table, tapped away at it for a while, then turned the screen toward them.

Jing Yang focused on it and was somewhat surprised.

The news headline featured eye-catching words like "Heaven's Arena," "suicide victim," "mental illness," and "True Martial King." The accompanying photo was even more startling. It showed the top of Heaven's Arena—outside. A bald, muscular man with a vacant expression held up a phone, apparently filming himself.

"This is the video he recorded at the time." Slooe opened iTube, found a video, and played it. Its cover image was the same as the news photo from earlier.

The video began playing, and it truly was a selfie perspective, like a vlog.

The wind howled, and the camera shook. The bald, muscular man stared into the lens, then shouted with an expression somewhere between laughter and tears, "The True Martial King's treasure really exists!!!"

After saying that, the camera shook even more violently. The footage plunged rapidly downward, and at last, with a dull, heavy impact, the camera rolled a few times and came to rest on the ground. Several lines of static appeared across the image, and blood soon crept into the bottom edge of the frame... Amid screams and cries of alarm from all around, the video ended.

Slooe said, "Alpha Edward, one of Heaven's Arena's Floor Masters."

Jing Yang glanced at the video's upload date. March 3, 1991. That had already been four years ago.

Dago said, "Galo, who was captured here half a month ago, was probably influenced by this incident as well. Unlike someone like him, who had only been a Floor Master for a few days, the suicidal Alpha was a true expert who had held the position for a long time. That was precisely why people flocked so eagerly to his bizarre suicide and the True Martial King's treasure he mentioned before his death..."

Damn, this is boring...

I only asked casually, and it somehow led to so much buildup...

Jing Yang widened his Dead Fish Eyes and changed the subject. "Speaking of Galo, he's an expert no matter how you look at it. Won't he break out of prison after being arrested as a Poacher?"

What he really wanted to ask was how official institutions dealt with "superpowered criminals" like this when information about Nen Users was not public.

Slooe replied casually, "What's so difficult about that? Even if he's as fierce as a wild beast, anesthetics, muscle relaxants, neurological drugs—give him any of those, and he'll be as obedient as a kitten..."

Jing Yang fell silent.

"Why did you suddenly bring him up?" Slooe asked.

"She caught Galo." Jing Yang casually pointed at the innocent Menchi.

Menchi pointed at him as well. "Don't look at me. He defeated all five members of Galo's group. I just picked up the finished dish."

Well, that was not quite as surprising as it should have been! Dago and the others looked at Jing Yang, their emotions steady.

"Ah, the money's arrived." Shizuku took out her phone and checked it.

Slooe said at last, "Then, the ship at West Town Harbor at eight in the morning the day after tomorrow—"

Jing Yang made an OK gesture, then left with Shizuku and Menchi.

"Please wait." Dago caught up with the three of them at the door. "How should I put this... Without you three, we wouldn't have received the doubled reward either. We really feel ashamed. How about dinner tonight at a restaurant in West Town..."

"I'm staying in East Town," Jing Yang said.

"East Town is fine too, East Town is fine," Dago hurriedly said.

"I appreciate the thought, but let's skip dinner. I have things to do." Jing Yang smiled. "If you really want to thank me, answer a question for me."

"Please ask." Dago grew serious.

"Where are those Kakin people?" Jing Yang looked around outside the entrance. "That cauliflower guy was still leaving the amusement park with us earlier..."