After witnessing Feitan and Phinks unexpectedly cross paths with Gon and Killua, chasing the duo away, Ronnel glanced at the peculiar auction catalog in his hands.
Dragon dung fossils, the scales of the rare big-horned bear, and the severed tusks of the notorious porcupine boar...
But the item that truly stood out was the Greedy Island game. It was rumored that the world's wealthiest man, Battera, was determined to acquire it, with the auction seemingly tailored to his interests.
In 1988, Battera had publicly declared he was willing to pay 17 billion Jenny for the game and an additional 50 billion Jenny for a complete save card. Despite this, no one acted on the offer. Over time, Greedy Island became a legend in the gaming world—a masterpiece shrouded in mystery.
The game, designed with Nen as a medium, blended surreal mechanics with a card-collection format. It was described as a "dream video game," set on an uncharted island. Upon its release, 20,000 eager buyers rushed to pre-order, and the entire stock vanished almost instantly. Only scattered details and rumors remained on the internet.
While some hailed it as groundbreaking, others dismissed it. During its initial public auction, its difficulty rating for discovery was classified as "H," marking it as relatively easy to find compared to rarer artifacts. After all, 100 copies had been produced—an unusually high number for such an exclusive item.
This particular copy of Greedy Island was put up for auction by Jeitsari, a professional Hunter who had played the game himself. His participation raised Ronnel's suspicions. Could Jeitsari be connected to Ging? The timing was too coincidental. Gon had discovered Greedy Island in early August, and by September, it was on the auction list.
Ronnel smirked. "If this isn't part of Ging's scheme, I'd eat my hat."
The starting bid for Greedy Island was set at 8.9 billion Jenny. Considering the original price of 5.8 billion per copy, the auction house's pricing was fairly reasonable.
However, the wealthy bidders surrounding Ronnel buzzed with interest, and Battera's determination to secure the game meant the final price could soar into tens of billions.
Reflecting on the numbers, Ronnel's thoughts drifted. Marilyn Inc. had produced 100 copies, each sold for 5.8 billion Jenny. That totaled an astonishing 580 billion Jenny in revenue.
And yet, Jeitsari was auctioning only seven of these copies.
Battera had already paid staggering amounts for Greedy Island units in the past—30.5 billion, 27.8 billion, and even 60.2 billion Jenny each. Averaging 39.5 billion per copy, Battera's seven-game collection had cost him a jaw-dropping 276.5 billion Jenny.
"Nearly half of his assets," Ronnel murmured. "That puts Battera's wealth at around 600 billion Jenny. And Ging... Ging created this game as a training tool for Gon. He made 100 copies and raked in revenue equal to Battera's entire fortune."
The thought left Ronnel reeling. The sheer scale of Ging's resources and influence far surpassed the imagination of most. Even Netero might not command such clout.
And Greedy Island was likely just the tip of the iceberg. What about Ging's other ventures—his explorations, discoveries, and relics? The man had renovated the Ruins Hunter, earning a place in history books.
"If Ging's inviting me to explore ruins, they must be incredibly valuable," Ronnel thought, his mind racing.
As time passed, the seats in the Class B auction area filled with collectors eager for the peculiar items up for bid. Ronnel noticed Feitan and Phinks return after their brief encounter with Gon and Killua. Meanwhile, Gon, Killua, and Zushi had seated themselves far from the Phantom Troupe members.
Ronnel, seated in a discreet corner, observed the crowd. Among them, he spotted Battera sitting alongside Tsezguerra and his bodyguard.
Before long, the auction organizers introduced three stunning presenters, each with curvaceous figures and radiant smiles. Their graceful presence captivated the audience, and the subtle gleam in their eyes hinted at unspoken motives.
Ronnel glanced at the auction catalog again, his lips curling into a wry smile. At the end of the list, a "special service" was vaguely mentioned.
The service in question? These very auctioneers.
For the affluent and elite, it was framed as a charming indulgence—nothing more than a sophisticated pastime akin to sampling an exotic delicacy.
To the auctioneers, however, it was an opportunity. With enough skill and poise, they could secure the patronage of influential bidders, potentially altering the course of their lives.
Ronnel chuckled inwardly, his mind wandering to his allies.
"I've seen Machi's precision, Shizuku's focus, and even Bisky's loli form. These women have nothing on them."
Still, he had no interest in distractions. Ging and Milluki were waiting on him, and he had work to do.
With the opening speeches concluded, the auction in Class B officially began. The first item—a unit of Greedy Island—was introduced.
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