"Please excuse us for interrupting your conversation, but we have business to discuss with Mr. Kai. My name is Battera, the multi-billionaire, and the man accompanying me is a Hunter named Tsezguerra. We have come to Heavens Arena in person today to discuss the job offer you requested through Teradein Neutral." Battera states, his tone respectful yet urgent.
At this revelation, Zushi and Wing swift their gaze to Kai in shock, Ponzu, Nicholas and Killua remain calm and composed, and Gon appears to be confused.
"Kai, can you explain to me how a rookie Hunter like you managed to contact a Hunter of so high standing in the Hunter Association as Teradein Neutral?" Wing asks with an expression of disbelief.
"A few days ago, he contacted me, drawn by my performances on the 200th floor, and I asked him to contact Mr. Battera to hire me as a Hunter. From what I can see, he handled my request fairly quickly." I say, shifting my gaze to Wing, then to the newcomers, and then to the group.
"Guys, would you mind if we postponed the celebration for later? This is an important business conversation, and I don't want to keep them waiting after they went to all the trouble of coming all the way here."
"Yes, I know it very well, boss. Guys, do you mind waiting?" Nicholas asks mostly at the kids.
"Yeah, that's fine. I wanted to celebrate now, but I understand if you have important matters to discuss as a Hunter." Gon responds scratching the back of his neck with some resignation.
"No problem for me either. We'll take advantage of the opportunity to grab something to eat at one of the tower's restaurants and then we´ll meet up at Wing's hotel. Anyway, we had to go there to assess our progress with the Hatsu." Killua says with a more indifferent attitude.
"Great. Enjoy the meal then and I'll see you there." I say closing the distance with Battera and Tsezguerra as the group leaves the lobby.
"Hey Nicholas, can you tell me who that man who calls himself Battera is? If Kai has sought out contact with him as a professional Hunter, he must be someone very important." Gon whispers to Nicholas as they walk away.
"Of course it is. Battera is a major business magnate and consistently ranks in the top 10 of the world's richest people on the annual list. Normally, even a professional Hunter couldn't get an audience with him just like that." Nicholas responds.
"Wow. Kai must really be impressive. Don't you think so, Killua?" Gon asks Killua showing some innocent admiration for Kai.
"Yeah, I guess it must be something really important. Although my family is probably on that list top too, so I can't really appreciate it." Killua says with a certain touch of haughtiness.
Even with that comment, both he and Wing wonder in their heads how a newcomer to the Hunter profession like Kai has established relationships with people of Battera's caliber so easily.
Meanwhile, Kai invites Battera and Tsezguerra to his room on the 200th floor so they can discuss the job offer without interruptions from the tower's people, and once they arrive and sit down at the table, they finally get ready to begin the negotiation.
"Well, I guess you must be willing to accept my job offer if you've come all the way here to discuss it in person, right?" Kai says, laying the conversation groundwork straight away.
"Honestly, when Teradein came to me with this sudden proposal, I was quite reluctant to consider it, but I've watched your matches, and I must say your skills are extraordinary. And it's not just my opinion as an amateur; Tsezguerra, who is a Single-Star Hunter, has also recognized your skills." Battera says swifting his gaze at Tsezguerra.
"You certainly possess great skills in hand-to-hand combat, and your use of Nen also struck me as outstanding, especially in this last fight for the title of Floor Master. The intensity and smoothness of your Ren truly left me speechless. Based on my experience with the game, I believe you would be perfectly capable of handling yourself in it." Tsezguerra adds.
"Based on his professional testimony, I have decided to accept to contract you as a player to enter the game before conducting official recruitments, as you requested." Battera states.
"I'm glad to hear that. But while I appreciate your consideration, I must confirm your position on also hiring Nicholas Van Rossum and Biscuit Krueger?" I ask.
Battera and Tsezguerra share a look before Battera responds. "As for Biscuit Krueger, her abilities have been more than recognized by Tsezguerra and Teradein, and she herself expressed her acceptance of the offer when my staff contacted her by phone, so we've already arranged the arrangements to offer her an early spot as a player, just like you. The problem is Nicholas."
"You're not convinced to hire him just like you're with me and Biscuit. Am I wrong?" I say, expressing out loud what Battera is trying to convey.
"You possess great skill and have risen to the position of Floor Master with a nearly flawless career, and Biscuit Krueger is one of the most powerful and renowned Hunters in the Hunter Association. Nicholas, however, doesn't possess the same merits as you two." Tsezguerra starts explaining.
"We've also vetted on him, and while he's also performed well in the Heavens Arena, his power and skill aren't up to par with yours, showing clear difficulty on several occasions against enemies that weren't as outstanding. He could undergo official recruitment alongside other applicants, but I don't think he's the qualities to deserve the same preferential treatment as you two."
"Even so, he's still growing as a Nen user, and you probably have enough slots to allow him to participate as well. Looking at the long term, it might be beneficial to accept him now rather than later." I argue trying to convince them to hire him.
"Mr. Kai, we know that Mr. Nicholas is your valued martial arts disciple, as well as your partner in your so-called mercenary agency, so we understand your desire to include him on this occasion out of loyalty to your friendship. However, my situation is not so pleasant." Battera says, taking a deep breath and wih his expression turning somber.
"Over the years, I've personally hired both professional and amateur Hunters to complete Greed Island, and more than half have resigned themselves to living out the rest of their lives inside the game without completing it or returning to the real world."
"Unless a player dies or leaves the game, new players can't join, and while it's true that some slots are available due to the occasional death of a few players, sending someone who isn't good enough would only prolong the current problem."
"That's why I have to be so thorough and can't give up free slots to people who don't meet my or Tsezguerra's expectations. I don't need future potential, but actual skill in the present to complete the game as quickly as possible. Do you understand?"
Despite the logic and seriousness of Battera's words, I can sense the tone of irritation and desperation in his voice. It's obvious he's impatient to cure his lover, but even with all his money and the people he's hired, he's unable to do so, vaguely able to keep her alive even though he knows it won't last. Anyone would be frustrated by such helplessness, so I can't blame him for refusing to accept Nicholas in the deal as well. Well, I was already prepared for this outcome anyway.
"I'm a little disappointed not to get him on board, but you can't have everything. Anyway, it's not like he won't get a chance to try out, right?"I ask shaking my head in resignation.
Tsezguerra nods. "That's right. We have tryouts in the coming months. If your friend impresses us, he'll be able to join you on Greed Island. But for now, the offer is for you alone."
"That's fine for me. I know Nicholas is good enough to make it if you give him a fair shot at the tryouts. With that out of the way, we can start discussing the terms of the job now." I say entering into negotiating mode.
This was followed by an hour and a half of discussions about the job. Initially, Battera offered me a contract with the same standard points as all new signings:
1. No claim can be made for injury or death.
2. Any item I take from the game will belong to Mr. Battera.
3. If I win the game I'll receive 50 billion jennies.
However, based on my knowledge of the game's features, as well as the future events that will unfold in its flagship arc, I prepared my own terms in advance, which I insisted on implementing until Battera and Tsezguerra had to relent.
The first and most urgent issue was that I had to have the right to contact Mr. Battera to discuss future changes to the contract. Battera became hysterical at this statement and was on the verge of walking away and resigning from my services, but I managed to calm him down and convince him to accept it under the understanding that he would make the final decision, and that if he decided so, I wouldn't bring the subject up for discussion again after speaking with him.
The second condition was that the contract be given to me as a mercenary hired through my agency, not as a normal player, and that if they decided to hire Nicholas in the future, they would hire him as such as well. While this wouldn't make any difference to Battera, it would bring me great benefits once I cleared the game, so he easily agreed.
The third and final point wasn't something I had to discuss with Battera, but with his companion and employee, Tsezguerra. In exchange for offering him 70% of the monetary reward, he would help me win the game by working as allies when I saw fit, and offering me the credit for its completion to the public, under penalty of losing all earnings if he secured the triumph of victory for himself, and becoming a target of me and other Blacklist Hunters if he attempted to escape without handing over the money.
Contrary to my expectations, Tsezguerra, who had just been quietly observing the negotiation, suddenly stands up and bangs his hands on the table.
"Who do you think you are, moron?! We've been trying to complete this game for years! We've invested a huge amount of time and effort, even suffering losses along the way, to fulfill our contract! And now you want us to give up the credit for being the ones who complete it just for your convenience?! Don't think you're so important just because you win a few fights in this tower, brat! Realize where you stand!" Tsezguerra shouts quite infuriated.
Both Battera and I are quite surprised by this sudden outburst of anger from the Jackpot Hunter, as his type is primarily focused on earning money. Still, with a confident smile, I prepare to reply, completely unfazed by this outburst.
"You are the only one who doesn't understand where you stand." I say starting to exert my Ren with all my strength, much to Tsezguerra concern. "Look. You sound so cocky and confident, but one snippet of this brat's Ren is enough to make you cower. It's obvious to both of us that even with your experience and your little star of the association, I'm more powerful than you."
"And I'll tell you something else: I'm still a long way from reaching my full potential. I still have plenty of room to develop my skills and powers, and I assure you I plan to continue training diligently to reach new heights. So I think you should reconsider start training again before you get all cocky and arrogant with others."
Watching Tsezguerra sweating cold and with trembling eyes, I decide to turn off my Ren and stop pressing him with the intensity of my aura before continuing to speak.
"And of course, a high level of combat ability isn't the only thing I can contribute with. I also have extensive knowledge of the workings and features of the Greed Island game." Unlike with my Ren, these words make Battera as well as Tsezguerra flinch.
"That's obviously a lie! I invested a huge amount of effort and money into ensuring that information about the game remained hidden from the public! There's no way a rookie Hunter who's never played the game could know about its features!" Battera says upset and in disbelief.
At his statement, I flash a mischievous smile before starting to speak again. "To start a game, you need a memory card and a special ring. Once you have them and apply your aura to the console, you'll be transported into the game. The ring allows you to use two spells: Book and Gain. The requirement to win the game is to collect the magic items in the game and fill the 100 restricted slots in your book. Is that enough or do you want me to continue?"
Faced with my elaborate description of the game mechanics, Battera is left shocked and nervous. "But how? It should be impossible to know all that. Who told you about the game?!"
"I'm afraid I can't share that. My contacts are absolutely confidential, no matter the offer or the circumstances, I won't reveal anything about my sources. But I can assure you that the information is completely reliable. And there's even more." I say creating a certain atmosphere of expectation with Battera and Tsezguerra.
"I know the acquisitions conditions of a card that no one else has been able to obtain so far."
Battera and Tsezguerra share a look before they turn back to me and Tsezguerra cautiously prepares to ask. "And what card is it?"
"The card number 2, Plot of Beach." I answer, leaving Tsezguerra stupefied with my revelation.
"Is what he say true, Tseguerra?" Battera asks.
"Yes, it's true. On my last dive in the game, no one possessed that card, nor had the mechanics of obtaining it been discovered. The only thing we've been able to discover is its location." Tsezguerra confirms, quite stunned by this revelation.
"If that's true, how about you tell us the conditions for obtaining it? I can pay you a good amount for that information. How about 1 billion jennies? Or maybe 2 billion?" Battera asks, trying to look professional but with me noticing a slight hint of desperation.
"Mr. Battera... I understand you're in a difficult situation and trying to use any advantage you can find in the game. But let me make one thing very clear: we mercenaries don't like it when others try to persuade us with money. Do you understand?" I say still smiling but with my eyes showing clear hostility.
"Y-You're right, Mr. Kai. I got carried away and was rude. Please forget what I said." Battera says, feeling forced to retract.
"Okay, I'll let it go for once. And for your information, even if I told you the conditions for obtaining that card, you still wouldn't be able to get it, I can assure you." I say to Tsezguerra, returning to my professional mode.
"You don't have the skills to get it on your own, and truth be told, I don't have them at the moment either. That's why we must work together in the future to get that and other cards and thus win the game once and for all. Ok?"
Tsezguerra ponders my words for a few seconds before sitting back in his chair and giving his answer. "From the beginning of this negotiation, I got the impression that you were just a very self-centered individual, overconfident in your own abilities despite being a novice Hunter just because you've won a few fights in this tower."
"However, you've shown us that in addition to skill, you also have cunning and resources at your disposal, and that while you're confident in your abilities, you're not exactly arrogant enough to believe you can do everything on your own."
"Certainly, we could both benefit greatly from mutual collaboration. Alright, I accept your proposal to work together in the near future to complete the game. And I won't try to negotiate the terms you've demanded. What you've proposed seems reasonable to me, and I don't want to be rude by harping on the subject of money."
With Tsezguerra's acceptance of my offer, the agreement is made between both parties, and given the new terms Battera and Tsezguerra have accepted for my hiring, we agree on a fixed date to head towards Battera Castle so they can prepare a new, rewritten contract for me that meets all my requirements during their stay in this city, and so I can address all the preparations and pending issues I need to deal with at Heavens Arena before I leave.
The departure date to Battera Castle is set for July 16th, giving me enough time to get ready and secure Nicholas's position as Floor Master before we part ways to meet again on the Yorbian continent after the two-week trip (Battera and Tsezguerra don't know this last bit).
Having settled all the necessary matters regarding the job offer, Battera and Tsezguerra bid me a cordial farewell before wishing me good luck for the future and leaving the room, and seeing the time it is, I decide to call the Heavens Arena delivery service and order several plates of meals to fill my stomach before leaving Heavens Arena and heading to see Wing and the others to celebrate my promotion to Floor Master.