Isn't This Common Sense?

Genbul's ability—

was to materialize a slot machine, then use his own "potential aura" as gambling capital to activate it.

With each spin, Genbul could freely choose the amount he bet, and could even increase the bet by "pre-gambling his capital."

The larger the bet, the higher the probability of hitting the jackpot.

Aside from that, the hit rates for other prizes were unaffected by the bet amount.

Once Genbul finished placing his bet, the slot machine would start spinning.

If he didn't win, the gambling capital was not returned.

If he won, the prize was paid out according to the tier.

If he hit the jackpot, Genbul had two ways to cash out.

1. Cash out the prize, choosing either "Manifestation Aura" or "Potential Aura" that could break through the upper limit in one go. However, since it was a prize, an accidental income tax had to be deducted before use. Under that condition, he had the freedom to gift the remainder to someone else.

2. Cash out for something he wanted—any reasonable request could be fulfilled.

Thus, the very purpose of this ability was to aim for the jackpot.

That was also what every gambler pursued.

"I feel like I'm still a little short..."

Genbul spun many times, winning and losing, but never hitting the jackpot.

Theoretically, if his luck was too bad tonight, the time and aura he spent in the "preparation phase" would all be wasted.

In contrast, Cole's "Harvest Planting" beside him required waiting a fixed time, but was reliably stable.

"The advantage is on our side, Genbul."

Cole, who had been waiting for "Harvest Time," seemed to sense Genbul's shift in mindset and offered a reminder.

From an outsider's perspective, combined with the analysis results Ken had given, Cole could see the battlefield situation clearly.

That woman's ability to evade attacks was troublesome, but she clearly lacked a powerful means to take down enemies head-on.

She was probably stalling for time, trading small amounts of consumption for large expenditures from Ken and Sivir.

But unfortunately.

Whether it was his ability or Genbul's "Gambler's Rhapsody," once the preparation was complete, they could grant Ken and Sivir stronger, faster, and more ferocious power.

At that point, the battle would end.

"Cole, I'm not impatient. On the contrary..."

Genbul caught the implication in Cole's reminder but didn't mind at all, saying confidently, "My gut tells me the jackpot is coming!"

"A gambler's gut, huh..."

Cole glanced at the confident Genbul and made no comment.

Anyway, his "Harvest Time" was almost here. As soon as the plants on the corpse bore fruit, he could reap a huge return in one go, then team up to take down this Zodiac member in front of them.

Ending this fight basically meant the mission was complete.

After all, the other enemy to eliminate was just an injured rat guarding the rear.

If that woman had brought that rat out from the start, maybe their advantage wouldn't have been so clear.

"Taking her down is just a matter of time."

Cole muttered to himself.

Not far away, Genbul heard Cole's muttering and realized Cole must be close to "harvest time."

Suddenly, Genbul steeled himself, directly took out 50% of his "Potential Aura" as gambling capital, fed it into the slot machine, and pulled the lever.

Sh-sh-sh-sh...

The three panels on the slot machine spun rapidly.

Genbul stared fixedly at the machine.

After more than ten seconds, the panels slowly stopped, finally landing on the third prize.

"Almost there, just a little more."

Genbul let out a breath.

As the slot machine began paying out, the 50% Potential Aura he had bet, after deducting 20% accidental income tax, was still returned to Genbul in full.

"One more time."

This time, Genbul planned to bet 60% of his Potential Aura. He felt that one of the next two spins would definitely hit the jackpot.

This feeling was a vague, indescribable premonition.

Whenever he had this feeling, he always hit the jackpot within three spins.

Just as Genbul was about to feed the "gambling capital" into the slot machine, a Nen bullet the size of an adult's fist flew out from the woods, shooting toward him.

"Genbul!"

Cole was the first to sense the incoming Nen bullet, reflexively calling out a warning.

"Hm?"

Genbul halted his impulse to feed chips into the Slot Machine.

In that split-second crisis, he didn't withdraw the Slot Machine to reclaim some of his Nen. Instead, he decisively swung the machine around to shield himself.

A decision made in an instant—he simply used the Slot Machine as a barrier.

The flying Nen bullet slammed into the machine.

"Boom!"

The Nen bullet detonated, its contained power easily destroying the Slot Machine.

At the same time, the blast's shockwave sent Genbul flying backward, though he seemed largely unharmed.

After steadying himself, Genbul and Cole both looked toward the direction the Nen bullet had come from.

There, emerging slowly from the dark forest, was a figure—Hawk, who had rushed to reinforce Cheadle.

He arrived on the scene, saw Cheadle locked in combat with two Nen users, spotted Genbul using his ability outside the battle circle, and noticed Cole, who appeared to be merely spectating from the sidelines.

After assessing the situation, he didn't hesitate for a moment before ambushing Genbul, aiming to interrupt whatever unknown Nen ability Genbul was activating.

His ambush succeeded.

"Hawk!"

Cheadle's peripheral vision quickly caught sight of Hawk arriving as backup.

Seeing that Hawk had already returned to normal, a surge of joy rose in her heart.

Not because Hawk had arrived in time to assist, but because the "Post-Mortem Nen" on Hawk had been removed by Mr. Arieser...

That meant Moyu was safe.

"Got enough attention to spare for other places?!"

Sivir's furious roar rang out from the side as her wildly aggressive attack came crashing toward Cheadle.

Cheadle calmly and composedly sidestepped, evading Sivir's berserk strike, then pushed off the ground with her foot, leaping backward at low altitude, causing Ken's slash to miss its mark.

After dodging their combined assault once more, Cheadle said flatly, "As things stand, I do indeed have enough attention to spare for other places."

"!!!"

Sivir's eyes bulged with rage at the words.

Ken, on the other hand, wore a slightly gloomy expression.

He too had noticed that Genbul's ability had been interrupted.

But the newcomer was just that rat who had been severely injured a few days ago. As long as Genbul kept that rat occupied, Cole's activated ability wouldn't be affected.

In other words, while this rat's arrival had shifted the situation slightly, it wouldn't change the outcome of their victory in this fight.

Ken could figure that out, and so could Genbul.

He merely glanced at Cole before heading straight for Hawk.

Cole stood rooted in place, expressionlessly watching Genbul tangle with the meddlesome rat.

"Couldn't hold back and showed up, huh, you stinking rat... Fine, I'll take care of both of you right here."

A gleam of Nen light flickered in Cole's eyes.

Almost there, almost there—

His Harvest Time!

Inside the battle circle.

Cheadle was locked in combat with Ken and Sivir.

Hawk was locked in combat with Genbul.

Time trickled by slowly.

Neither side could settle the fight quickly.

Only—

Waiting for the sand in the hourglass to run out.

A gleeful smile gradually spread across Cole's face.

His ability would be the key to this battle.

And next, it would be his moment to shine!

"Come on, it's Harvest Time!!!"

Cole couldn't hold back his excited laughter.

The words he spoke were also a signal to his comrades...

High noon had arrived!

Cheadle and Hawk, unaware of Cole's background, tensed inwardly.

Meanwhile, Genbul, Ken, and Sivir revealed expressions of delight in unison.

Cole raised his hands high in excitement, a glow of Nen radiating from his body.

"Let me see how much fruit has been borne!"

Above his palm, a small energy mass the size of an apple core condensed.

The Nen returning from outside gathered on his palm at a visible speed.

It was like an Emitter recalling the Nen they had released, except the Nen Cole had sent out to plant would take root, sprout, bloom, bear fruit, and then repay him with multiplied Nen.

"Hm?!"

Cole, who had been preparing to welcome a bountiful harvest, suddenly sensed something amiss.

He noticed that the Nen he was reaping was pitifully scarce.

"How can this be?!"

Cole's expression jolted.

He was certain that the seeds planted on the corpses had fully completed the process of taking root, sprouting, blooming, and bearing fruit...

So why was the "yield" so dismal?

The corpses used as "soil nutrients" were members of an armed group whose physical fitness far surpassed ordinary people.

"What the hell is going on?!"

Cole couldn't understand.

All he knew was that his moment of glory was gone!

Meanwhile, Genbul, Sivir, and Ken noticed that something seemed off with Cole's situation, and their brows furrowed.

"The nutrients are imbalanced, so the yield has become dismal."

From the dim light within the forest, a voice suddenly came.

At the same time, from where the voice originated, the silhouette of a dark figure slowly emerged.

"Isn't that common sense?"

It was Moyu's voice.

Suddenly hearing that matter-of-fact tone, Cole whipped his head toward the dark figure, as if realizing something, and his face changed drastically.

"You..."

The excitement on Cole's face had long vanished, replaced by disbelief.

"Who the hell are you!?"

By chapter length, this should have been cut off earlier, but after thinking it over, I decided to finish writing this moment of glory. Yeah, a big chapter, proud!