Central Yorbian Continent, within the United States of Saherta, inside a casino in a small town…
"Seven. All in."
The previously quiet casino erupted like a bomb had gone off, shouts and chaos spread like wildfire.
"I'm all in too!"
"Who bumped into me? Move! I'm going all in!"
Unlike the flushed and excited faces of the gamblers around him, Link stared calmly at the dice cup on the table.
To others, this was a game of probability. But for him, the outcome was already determined.
The pretty dealer gripped the dice cup tightly. Despite its lightweight, it now felt like a thousand pounds in her hands, she couldn't lift it.
More and more chips piled up on the "Seven" space on the table, forming a small mountain.
The dealer knew her career was over.
No, maybe it was worse than that. After all, this casino was owned by the mafia. With losses this big, her life might not be spared…
Staring at Link's serene face, her eyes turned red. She couldn't understand, how was this happening?
The handsome young man before her had won eight rounds in a row, always betting on the exact number, not just high or low.
She couldn't even calculate the odds. And with her skills, she couldn't tell if Link was cheating or not…
Link didn't mind the delay and let the dealer stall as long as she wanted.
But not everyone had his patience.
"What the hell are you waiting for? Open it already! I want my money!"
As the dealer hesitated, the surrounding gamblers began shouting and cursing, pressing her to reveal the result.
Some even rolled up their sleeves, ready to use force.
Then, a voice came from the back of the crowd: "Casino's closed for today. Time to leave."
Turning toward the voice, they saw a pot-bellied middle-aged man flanked by burly men in suits.
Unshaven, with a cigar between his teeth, he looked like Capone Bege straight out of One Piece.
This was none other than Pierce, the infamous mob boss who ran the town.
Seeing the owner himself appear, some gamblers took the hint and decided to cut their losses. But most were too blinded by greed to leave.
They thought this was a once-in-a-lifetime chance… until the bodyguards pulled out their guns.
In an instant, the snarling gamblers turned into meek lambs. Not a single one dared complain as they slipped away, tails between their legs.
The once noisy casino fell silent, with only Link and the dealer left.
With her boss here, the dealer finally relaxed. Still hesitant, she swallowed hard and slowly lifted the dice cup.
One, three, three—Seven!
At that moment, Pierce and his guards stepped up to Link, the boss cracking his knuckles ominously with a sneer.
"You've got guts, kid. Causing trouble in my casino?"
He motioned for the dealer to leave.
"So… you're saying you're not paying me?" Link raised an eyebrow and pointed at the mountain of chips on the table.
"Hah! You still think you're walking out with money? You're not just losing your winnings today, you're leaving your head behind too!"
On cue, the guards surrounded Link, guns aimed at him from every direction.
But instead of fear, all Pierce saw on Link's face was a smirk.
"You little punk! What the hell are you smiling at?"
Link looked at him, his sharply defined features curled into a mocking grin.
"Me? I'm laughing at how small your vision is. All this over a measly million Jenny? Can't even handle that?"
"If you're breaking the rules, then I don't need to hold back either. Gardevoir, now."
Garde… what?
Pierce blinked, confused. His tiny eyes looked even more ridiculous against his pudgy face.
Then—boom.
Waves of invisible pink psychic energy erupted from Link, slamming into the guards.
In an instant, they collapsed—lifeless.
Blood trickled from their eyes, ears, nose, and mouth. Their jaws hung open, eyes rolled back. Bodies as strong as oxen now lay limp, as if their spines had been removed. The ground trembled under the impact.
"M-monster!"
Pierce stumbled backward, mumbling incoherently as he scrambled away.
But his bloated body lost balance, and he fell flat, his rolls of fat jiggling from the impact.
That fall seemed to bring him back to his senses.
He was no fool, he'd heard rumors. He realized he'd provoked someone he should never have messed with.
"Now, can I take my winnings?" Link's voice was casual, almost playful, like a devil whispering into Pierce's ear.
"Y-yes…"
"Sir, you can take anything you want. Just… please spare me…" Pierce dropped to his knees, snot and tears flowing as he begged for his life.
He didn't want to die, not yet. He hadn't enjoyed enough of his riches!
The wealthier they are, the more afraid they are of dying...
"Oh? Anything I want, huh? Then give me everything in this place."
Pierce's face froze, and he started calculating frantically.
"Oh, and just so you know, if a single Jenny is missing, you won't leave here alive. Don't even think about testing whether I can tell."
Link's gaze bored into the man's soul.
There was something deeply satisfying about flipping the script, hunter becomes hunted. No wonder so many people liked playing the underdog card.
A few minutes later, Pierce returned with two large suitcases full of money, looking like a man who had just lost his will to live.
"One more thing," Link said. "I need an ID, how fast can you get one?"
In the Hunter x Hunter world, having identification is crucial. You need it for airships, transportation, and even to register for the Hunter Exam.
Might as well use this tool to get it done.
"A-a week… maybe…"
Link looked at the sweating, trembling man and finally smiled.
"Alright. I'll give you one week. I'll be staying at the hotel next door. Notify me when it's ready."