This Isn't Common Sense?

Genbul's ability—

Was to conjure a Slot Machine, then use his own "Latent Aura" as gambling capital to activate it.

With every spin, Genbul could freely choose the amount he wagered, and he could even increase the wager by "advancing gambling capital."

The larger the wager, the higher the chance of hitting the jackpot.

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Aside from that, the odds of hitting the other prizes were unaffected by the amount wagered.

Once Genbul had placed his bet, the Slot Machine would begin spinning.

If he did not win, the gambling capital would not be returned.

If he won, the payout would be returned according to the prize.

If he hit the jackpot, Genbul had two ways to claim it.

1. Cash out the prize and choose either "Manifestation Aura" or "Latent Aura," enough to break through his limit in one go. However, since it was prize money, an unexpected income tax had to be deducted before use. Under that premise, he was free to gift the prize to someone else.

2. Cash out whatever he wanted. Any request within reasonable bounds could be fulfilled.

Therefore, the very purpose of this ability was to go for the jackpot.

That was also what every gambler pursued.

It still feels like I'm just a little short...

Genbul had spun the reels many times, winning some and losing some, but he had yet to hit the jackpot.

Theoretically, if his luck was too poor tonight, then all the time and aura he had spent during the "preparation phase" would be wasted.

By comparison, Cole's "Harvest Planting" required a fixed waiting period, but it was reliable.

"The advantage is ours, Genbul."

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

From an observer's perspective, coupled with Ken's analysis, Cole could clearly see the state of the battle.

That woman's ability to evade attacks was certainly troublesome, but she clearly lacked any powerful means of dealing with enemies head-on.

She was likely trying to stall for time, using minimal expenditure to force Ken and Sivir into heavy consumption.

But unfortunately.

Whether it was his ability or Genbul's Gambler's Rhapsody, the moment their preparations were complete, they could grant Ken and Sivir greater, faster, fiercer power.

When that happened, the battle would be over.

"Cole, I'm not in a hurry. On the contrary..."

Genbul understood the implication behind Cole's reminder, but he did not care in the slightest. Confidently, he said, "My intuition is telling me the jackpot is coming soon!"

"A gambler's intuition..."

Cole glanced at the confident Genbul and offered no comment.

In any case, his "Harvest Time" was approaching. As long as the plants on the corpses bore fruit, he could reclaim an enormous return in one go, then work with his companions to take down this Zodiac member before them.

Ending this battle would basically mean the mission was complete.

After all, the other enemy they needed to deal with was only an injured rat assigned to guard the rear.

If that woman had brought that rat out from the start, their advantage might not have been so obvious.

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

Cole muttered to himself.

Genbul, not far away, heard Cole's muttering and realized that Cole was probably close to harvest time.

At once, Genbul steeled himself and directly took out 50% of his "Latent Aura" as gambling capital, fed it into the Slot Machine, and pulled the lever.

Swish, swish, swish...

The three windows on the Slot Machine spun rapidly.

Genbul stared fixedly at the Slot Machine.

More than ten seconds passed before the images slowly came to a stop, finally freezing on third prize.

"Just a little more. Just a little more."

Genbul let out a breath.

As the Slot Machine began paying out, the "50% Latent Aura" he had wagered was returned in full after the 20% unexpected income tax had been deducted.

"One more time."

This time, Genbul planned to put in "60% Latent Aura." He felt certain that one of the next two spins would hit the jackpot.

That feeling was an indescribable, vague premonition.

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

Just as Genbul was about to stuff his "gambling capital" into the Slot Machine, a Nen Bullet the size of an adult's fist shot out from the woods toward him.

"Genbul!"

Cole was the first to notice the Nen Bullet and reflexively called out a warning.

"Hm?"

Genbul stopped himself from feeding gambling capital into the Slot Machine.

At that critical moment, rather than dismissing the Slot Machine to reclaim some aura, he decisively turned it sideways in front of himself.

In that instant, he had directly used the Slot Machine as a shield.

The incoming Nen Bullet slammed into the Slot Machine.

Boom!

The Nen Bullet exploded, its power effortlessly destroying the Slot Machine.

At the same time, the shockwave sent Genbul flying, though he appeared to be unharmed.

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

A figure slowly emerged from the dark woods. It was Hawk, who had come to support Cheadle.

Upon arriving, he saw Cheadle locked in battle with two Nen Ability users. He also saw Genbul using his ability outside the battle zone, as well as Cole, who appeared to be merely watching from the side.

After assessing the situation, he had not hesitated to ambush Genbul, intending to interrupt Genbul's Nen Ability, whatever its effect might have been.

His ambush had succeeded.

"Hawk!"

Cheadle swiftly glanced at Hawk, who had come to reinforce her, from the corner of her eye.

Seeing that Hawk had returned to normal, she could not help feeling relieved.

It was not because Hawk had arrived in time to support her, but because the "Post-Mortem Nen" on Hawk had been removed by Mr. Arieser...

That meant Moyu was safe.

"You still have the energy to pay attention elsewhere?!!!"

Sivir's enraged voice rang out from the side as her attack, overflowing with violent force, came crashing toward Cheadle.

Cheadle calmly and smoothly shifted sideways, evading Sivir's furious blow. Then she kicked off the ground and leaped backward at low altitude, causing Ken's slash to miss.

After evading their combined attack once more, Cheadle said evenly, "Given the current situation, I do indeed still have the energy to pay attention elsewhere."

"!!!"

Sivir's eyes instantly widened in fury.

Ken, on the other hand, looked somewhat grim.

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

However, the newcomer was merely that rat who had been seriously injured a few days ago. As long as Genbul kept the rat occupied, Cole's ability would not be affected.

In other words, although this rat's arrival had caused a slight change in the situation, it would not affect the outcome of their victory.

If Ken could think of that, then Genbul naturally could as well.

He merely glanced at Cole before heading straight toward Hawk.

Cole stood where he was, expressionlessly watching Genbul clash with the rat that had come to cause trouble.

"So you couldn't resist showing yourself, filthy rat... Then I'll deal with both of you here."

Nen light flickered in Cole's eyes.

Soon, very soon—

His Harvest Time!

Within the battle zone.

Cheadle was fighting Ken and Sivir.

Hawk was fighting Genbul.

Time slowly passed.

Neither side could determine the victor in a short time.

There was only—

The wait for the sand in the hourglass to run out.

An excited smile gradually appeared on Cole's face.

His ability would be the key to this battle.

And what came next would be his shining moment!

"Come on, Harvest Time is here!!!"

Cole could not contain his excitement and burst into laughter.

His words were also a reminder to his companions...

The hour had come!

Cheadle and Hawk did not know Cole's abilities, and their hearts tightened.

Genbul, Ken, and Sivir, however, all revealed delighted expressions.

Cole excitedly raised both hands, Nen light glowing around his body.

"Let me see how many fruits have grown!"

A small ball of aura, no larger than an apple core, gathered in his palm.

The aura returning from outside gathered in his palm at a speed visible to the naked eye.

It was like an Emitter recalling the aura he had released, except the aura Cole had released for planting would take root, sprout, bloom, bear fruit, and then return several times the aura to him.

"Hm?!"

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

He noticed that the aura being harvested back was pitifully little.

"How could this be?!"

Cole's expression shook.

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

So why was the "harvest" so meager?

The corpses used as "soil nutrients" had belonged to armed members whose physical capabilities far surpassed ordinary people.

"What exactly is going on?!"

Cole could not understand it.

He only knew that his shining moment was gone!

Genbul, Sivir, and Ken also noticed that something seemed wrong on Cole's side, and their brows could not help furrowing.

"The nutrients were unbalanced, so the harvest became meager."

A voice suddenly came from a dimly lit area within the woods.

At the same time, a shadowy silhouette slowly emerged where the voice had originated.

"Isn't that common sense?"

It was Moyu's voice.

Hearing that matter-of-fact tone so suddenly, Cole abruptly looked toward the shadow, as though he understood something. His expression changed dramatically.

"You..."

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

"Who are you?!"

By chapter-length standards, it should have ended earlier, but after thinking about it, I decided to finish this shining moment. Yep, a big chapter. Proud!