Trade X Payment

Ding.

[Temporary Weighting Task completed!]

[Restriction - Forced Equivalence: obtained Advent Emulation attempts x2 (1 purple, 1 green)!]

[Note: by providing advice and guidance, only half of Killua's problem was solved. The highest-weight restriction's forced equivalence was not triggered...]

Hmm?

What a shame...

Baishi was a little disappointed that he hadn't obtained a [gold]-level Advent Emulation attempt. After all, this was the only weighting task involving [gold] he had encountered so far.

But the problem was that he really wasn't capable of solving the problem of the Nen Needle in Killua's head right now. Given his understanding of [Needle-Person Control], he knew exactly how incredible the Nen Needle's Manipulation instructions had to be to affect Killua over the long term without causing the slightest damage to his brain.

At his current proficiency level, at least, he couldn't do it!

Secondly, there was the issue of Manipulation priority. Considering how close Illumi was, if he really tampered with the Nen Needle, the man would notice immediately. Judging by the strength Illumi had displayed in the original story, Baishi reckoned he couldn't withstand even one Nen Needle fired straight at him in a head-on confrontation.

Expecting Hisoka and the examiners, whom he didn't know at all, to protect him was nothing but wishful thinking. He had never considered entrusting his own safety to anyone else.

In fact, the best time to deal with the Nen Needle in Killua's head should have been at [Trick Tower] in the original story. Its complex environment would have been enough to conceal anything he and Killua did, and even if Illumi noticed, he wouldn't suspect Baishi.

Moreover, given the priority restriction on Manipulation, using his own Nen Needle to influence Killua in advance would surely have helped Killua evade Illumi's subsequent control.

But if he did that, there was no telling how violently Illumi would erupt. Putting himself in the pervert's shoes for a moment was enough to understand a little.

If only I had the ability to exorcise Nen...

Baishi muttered to himself and looked down at the disappointing wheel.

If his Advent Emulation attempts hadn't been subject to the restriction's selection, he wouldn't have had to squander an opportunity to potentially obtain a [gold] Advent Emulation attempt!

There were simply too many opportunities to analyze things at this stage. Wasting time meant wasting opportunities to grow stronger quickly!

Swish, tap!

Having figured everything out, Killua calmly jumped down from the tree trunk. After landing, he saw that Baishi was still lost in thought on the branch and couldn't help pursing his lips.

"The test is almost over. Aren't you coming back?"

"All right! I'll definitely remember about your payment. Once I have some Jenny..."

Tap!

"I don't need Jenny..."

Snapping out of it, Baishi waved a hand at his words and leaped down, his body straight and graceful. After landing, he unfastened the black cane from his waist and said with a faint smile, "Compared to Jenny, I'm more interested in Nen items. If you get a chance to obtain an item imbued with [Nen] in the future, you can bring it to me..."

"As for now... if possible, could you give me a few strands of hair?"

"Hair?" Killua's expression shifted, and he looked at Baishi with some suspicion. "Didn't you already ask Gon for his hair? Why do you want mine too? Could it be..."

"Does it have something to do with your Nen Ability?"

"Hmm~~"

"You could understand it that way." The direct question didn't change Baishi's expression at all. Instead, he smiled faintly and said without concealment, "It does have something to do with a Nen Ability I want to develop!"

"Don't worry. We've talked for so long that you should have some idea of what I'm like by now. If I really wanted to harm you, I wouldn't have told you so much."

"The matter of my Nen Ability involves specific details of its development, so I can't tell you for now. After all, battles between Nen users are often battles of information. The more details of an ability are revealed, the easier it is for an enemy to figure out how to counter it..."

"Speaking of which, I just thought of a suitable way for you to pay me..."

Pausing briefly, Baishi saw Killua pull several strands of hair from his head and broke into a smile. "If possible, could you collect more hair for me in the future? Of course, the most important thing is that the hair has to come from people who look reasonably strong or exceptionally talented!"

"Ordinary people's hair isn't much use to me."

The reason he had suddenly revealed this to Killua was, of course, the Zoldyck Family!

Judging by the original story, the Zoldyck Family had many powerful members, and they were very strong. Given Baishi's position, any attempt to approach them would certainly arouse their suspicion. Rather than do that, he might as well find a way to have Killua collect their hair for him.

He might unexpectedly obtain a powerful talent or Nen Ability!

This was laying the groundwork for dealing with the Zoldyck Family in advance. Whether or not Killua managed to collect the hair, he wouldn't lose much.

"Collecting hair? That's a weird hobby." Handing the hair to Baishi, Killua muttered, still looking suspicious, "I rarely trust people this much. Are you sure you won't secretly do anything bad?"

"Of course."

Baishi accepted the strands and nodded with a smile.

"In return, I can give you an important piece of information that isn't exactly confidential."

"What information?" Killua was slightly taken aback.

"Naturally, it's about your family." Baishi set off on a roundabout route toward the warehouse outside the forest and said without looking back, "You don't think Illumi is the only Nen user in your family, do you?"

Tap!

"You mean..."

Killua, who had been wondering what this could have to do with his family, immediately grew solemn and hurried after Baishi, his face expressionless.

"Everyone in my family knows about [Nen], and they just kept me in the dark?"

"Didn't I say so just now?"

Baishi chuckled and said teasingly, "Nen is an amplifier of will. If someone who isn't mentally mature awakens [Nen] and survives, there's a good chance they'll go astray!"

"As the saying goes, a weapon in hand gives rise to the urge to kill! To those at the top, rather than letting the consequences run their course, it's better to take a hard line and keep extraordinary matters related to [Nen] hidden within a small circle..."

"Perhaps your family has its own reasons for not telling you about [Nen], like your mental maturity, or the possibility that awakening it early could affect your future potential..."

"You don't have to make excuses for them!"

After saying that irritably, Killua fell silent for a while. He turned to look at Baishi, whose expression was perfectly calm, and asked as though he couldn't hold it in, "Why are you telling me all this?"

"Naturally, it's for the hair of the powerful people in your family!" Baishi smiled faintly and said frankly, "To me, the hair of powerful people is just as useful as the hair of the exceptionally talented."

"According to the information I have, those people in your family are strong, exceptionally strong! If I could get their hair, perhaps it would greatly enhance the development of my Nen Ability..."

"..."

Killua started to speak but stopped.

"Of course, it's not mandatory!" Catching sight of that, Baishi changed tack and said with a grin, "It's up to you. If you trust me, find some for me. If you don't, that's fine too..."

"The world is a big place, and there are countless exceptionally talented people and powerful Nen users. I don't absolutely need your family's hair..."

"Oh, and remember to keep it a secret for me!"

Tap! Upon reaching the edge of the forest, Baishi patted the somewhat dazed Killua on the shoulder and motioned for him to leave first. After watching Killua's retreating figure disappear, he headed in another direction to find another secluded spot.

Heh~ next... it's time to reap the delicious fruit!