Pulling out a couple of cooking utensils I'd picked up in Masadora, I spend the next several minutes preparing a pair of the well-marbled steaks I'd brought, searing them in a hot pan and serving them alongside creamy mashed potatoes.
Once everything is ready...
"Delicious!" Biscuit exclaims, her eyes sparkling as she takes her very first bite. "The seasoning is perfect, and the marbling makes the meat incredibly juicy without being too heavy! Even the mashed potatoes complement it perfectly! Tell me... what's that subtle flavor I can taste but can't quite identify?"
"A pinch of freshly grated nutmeg." I answer.
After savoring the meat for a few moments, Biscuit swallows and speaks again.
"... Alright. I forgive you making me wait."
"That quickly?" I laugh. "I thought you'd hold it against me a little longer."
Unable to resist, Biscuit cuts herself another piece of steak before answering.
"It's hard to stay upset with someone who cooks this well." She smiles faintly. "You certainly know how to apologize."
"I see learning to cook really does pay off in the end." I reply with a hint of smugness before cutting and tasting a piece myself. 'My goodness. It's actually pretty good.'
With the atmosphere now noticeably lighter, it isn't me who breaks the silence first, but Biscuit.
"So..." She sets down her fork. "Did you finish everything you needed to take care of out there on this last trip?"
Meeting her eyes, I find an unreadable expression on her face. Unable to tell where she's going with the question, I simply answer honestly.
"I've already spoken with my partner and arranged for him to handle the organization while I'm away." I pause briefly. "Unfortunately... this won't be the last time I have to leave Greed Island. And next time, I'll be away even longer."
"So you're planning to leave me here alone again?" Biscuit asks, still not showing any emotion.
"I know it isn't exactly considerate or committed." I rub the back of my neck apologetically. "Sorry about that. But I don't think you'll have much trouble while I'm gone."
For the first time since the conversation began, Biscuit's mask of stoicism falters, and a trace of disappointment flickers across her eyes.
Not wanting to leave things like that, I quickly add:
"Of course, every time I come back I'll make sure to bring you more souvenirs from the real world. And if you ever really get tired of staying here... I can even take you outside with me." I smile apologetically. "Although I should warn you that the places I can take you are rather limited."
Faced with my words, Biscuit's gaze and shoulders gradually relax.
"It's not necessary." She lets out a quiet sigh while helping herself to another spoonful of mashed potatoes. "I'd rather stay here."
"You've already made sure other players can't bother me anymore. If I ever need to leave the game, I can always use one of our copies of 'Leave'."
"And besides..." She reaches for one of the fashion magazines I'd brought and casually flips through its pages, a small smile gradually forming on her lips. "If you're going to keep bringing me gifts this good, then I'd rather be in here than out there."
"If that's enough for you, then I'm relieved." I chuckle. "Although, to be honest... I don't know the first thing about fashion."
"Then maybe you should start learning." She doesn't even look up from the magazine.
"People with influence pay attention to these things. Fashion, luxury brands, exclusive designers... they're all connected to powerful circles. If you know where to look, they can become valuable sources of information."
She casually turns another page.
"For example, the company that designed these clothes was secretly contracted through a shell corporation linked to the International Permit Agency to produce specialized containment suits."
Another page.
"And see this Sauchi dress?" She asks, pointing to one of the models. "Only three designers in the world use that stitching pattern. Details like that make it much easier to trace a company's clients. That's how I eventually discovered the company had been commissioned to design the uniforms of a group of Hunters known as the Zodiacs."
I blink. Her words leave me completely speechless.
Not only has she casually revealed information I had no idea existed... she's also given me a glimpse of just how she gathers information.
'...I never would've looked at clothing that way. To me, it was nothing more than expensive fabric.' I think, looking up from the magazine.
'But to Biscuit... it's another source of intelligence.'
"...How do you know all that?" I ask, trying to feign complete ignorance.
Biscuit finally raises her eyes from the magazine and gives me a knowing smile.
"A professional Hunter has her little secrets."
"...Anyway." I shake my head and try to steer the conversation back on track. "Can we put that subject on hold and discuss our next steps?"
"Sure." Biscuit closes the magazine without hesitation and takes another bite of steak."Let's hear your plan."
"The most important thing right now is learning how we work together and getting used to each other's pace. If we're going to function as a team, we need to understand each other's habits first." I reply. "That's why, over the next three days before I have to leave again, we'll travel around the island gathering information, letters... and meeting other players."
Biscuit tilts her head.
"Meeting other players?" She repeats. "That almost sounds like you've been avoiding them until now."
"I have." I nod. "To my surprise, I drew far more attention than I expected as soon as I started my playthrough. I managed to turn the situation to my advantage and obtain a few specific cards, but taking a more aggressive approach would've only painted an even bigger target on my back."
"That can't be true!" Biscuit blurts out, sitting bolt upright. "I saw what you did in Aiai! With your physical abilities and that ridiculous Nen ability of yours, there's no way the other players on this island could give you any real trouble."
She isn't wrong. In a world like this, almost anyone would see that as the obvious course of action. Precisely because of that, I take a moment to consider my answer before responding.
"Maybe not." I admit. "It's true that with my abilities, I could probably dispatch almost every player on this island if I wanted to. But that's not the kind of game I want to play."
"I refuse to become another Bomber—someone who solves every problem through fear and violence. If another player attacks me, I'll defend myself without hesitation. But if they don't, I see no reason to resort to violence against them either." I reply.
'I could've used the Barrier Orb to travel in complete safety and comfort. And before obtaining the Paladin's Necklace, I could even escape dangerous situations by returning to the real world with the Wormhole Orb.'
'But relying on those powers—or simply overwhelming other players with brute force—to collect cards would be crossing a line.'
'Greed Island was never meant to be conquered that way.'
'When I finally clear this game, I want to know I did it by working within the rules the creators built... not by exploiting powers that were never intended to trivialize them.'
'Otherwise, the victory would feel hollow. Victories and achievements made easily through shortcuts are not worthwhile.'
Upon hearing my answer, Biscuit studies me in silence for several moments.
"...That's a rather idealistic way of looking at it."
"Maybe. But it's the way I've chosen to play." I emphasize, taking another bite.
She lets out a quiet sigh before relaxing back into her chair.
"Fair enough." She cuts another piece of steak. "So... if you're not planning to intimidate people into handing over their cards, how exactly do you intend to get them?"
"Simple." A faint smile crosses my lips. "By playing the game the way it was meant to be played."
Point of View Switch: Biscuit
As we continue enjoying lunch, Kai lays out the strategy he has in mind for collecting cards.
First, we'll visit every location we've identified with "Guidepost" and gather as much information as possible before attempting to obtain the cards there. That means talking to NPCs, exploring the cities, inspecting anything that might hide clues, and, if necessary, contacting other players to trade information.
From there, the conversation shifts to acquiring cards directly from other players. To my surprise, Kai's strategy is remarkably straightforward:
Using "List," he'll identify the cards he wants, then use "Contact" to reach the players who own them. Depending on the situation, he'll either negotiate a trade... or mark them as future targets and take the cards later—all using spell cards.
"Trying that before would've been reckless." He starts explaining. "They could've lured me into an ambush or handed me a worthless forgery using "Fake". But now that we have the "Paladin's Necklace", fooling us won't be nearly as easy anymore. Even so, we should never let our guard down and keep an eye on our surroundings."
He also proposes visiting the Gambling City of Dorias—not only to try winning cards from its games, but also to take advantage of the city's entertainment every now and then.
When I ask why we don't simply make Dorias our top priority to fill the binder, he immediately shakes his head.
"Without Risky Dice, consistently winning there is incredibly difficult." He lets out a helpless smile. "The last time I tried, I lost two hundred thousand jenny before I gave up."
"Pfft."
I can't stop myself from laughing when I hear that.
'So Kai Ikeda isn't as flawless as he sometimes appears after all. He has weaknesses too.'
Once that minor embarrassment is behind him, Kai continues explaining the rest of the plan.
According to him, we won't spend every day hunting cards. We'll also explore the island, participate in tomorrow's Antokiba tournament, and make frequent trips to that city whenever we need to make purchases.
Oddly enough, he places particular emphasis on that last point.
"Why do we have to buy everything from that Trade Shop specifically?" I ask.
"Because after making 50 purchases at the same Trade Shop, you earn the 'Best Customer' merit. Once you have it, you can purchase every Rank B spell card whenever you want, instead of waiting for the seasonal offers." Kai answers matter-of-factly.
That sounds awfully specific... especially for someone who claims to be a rookie player. It only makes me more suspicious.
"Where did you learn that?" I press.
"From a more experienced player I know."
It's the second time since we met that Kai has answered one of my questions without revealing the whole truth.
Naturally... I decide to dig a little deeper.
"Who?"
To my surprise...
"I can't tell you that," Kai says, shaking his head. "Because of my profession, and as a fellow Greed Island player, I value anonymity, so I don't think it's my place to reveal their identity. But I can assure you the information is 100% reliable."
And now he's openly admitting that he's keeping secrets from me.
He told me he'd always try to be as honest and transparent as possible, and to his credit, he usually is. He shares his plans, explains his reasoning, and even talks about his personal affairs with surprising openness.
But whenever the source of his information comes up...
He becomes evasive. Every single time.
Which means whatever he's hiding is something he absolutely refuses to reveal.
'And that makes me want to know even more!' A spark of excitement runs through me at the thought. 'But this isn't the right moment. Pushing any further would only make me look intrusive, and damaging our partnership over simple curiosity would be foolish.'
'For now, I'll just have to resign myself and wait.'
After that, Kai moves on to the final part of his routine.
He goes on to explain that he intends to dedicate roughly six hours every afternoon to training his Nen and experimenting with new Hatsu ideas. During that time, he says I'm free to do whatever I want—watch his training, join him, continue exploring the island on my own, or simply spend the time however I see fit.
Having heard his entire plan, I have to admit it's well thought out. Perhaps a little ambitious, but given his abilities, it's certainly feasible. Even someone far less experienced than I am would probably make it through most situations simply by following his lead.
Furthermore, it perfectly matches everything I've seen and heard of him so far. Both the stories other players told me and Kai's own actions point to the same conclusion: he genuinely tries to play Greed Island as it was intended, resorting to force only when someone attacks him first.
Still... one thing continues to bother me.
His plans are always incredibly detailed. Every possibility, every risk, every variable... he seems determined to account for every one of them. It's impressive... but it also makes me wonder whether he's placing too much faith in his own foresight.
That kind of meticulousness can easily breed arrogance, and arrogance is what gets Hunters killed. Even after all my years of experience, I know there will always be variables beyond anyone's control.
"You always seem to have a plan for everything." I casually drop this into the conversation, intending to offer some advice.
"No."
...
"I prepare because I know I can't prepare for everything."
For a brief moment, the unease I'd been feeling quietly fades away.
'So that's it.'
'He isn't making plans because he believes he's infallible. He's making plans because he knows he isn't.'
'...Good. I'd been worried that his intelligence had made him overconfident, but it seems that isn't the case.'
When we finally finish the main course, Kai returns with the ice cream for dessert. As we enjoy it, we summon our binders and begin redistributing the spell cards I'd been safeguarding during his absence.
A few minutes later, we've finished sorting everything between us.
Me:
Specified Slots:
- Pregnancy Stones
- X-Ray Goggles
- Hypothetical T.V.
- Gold Dust Girl
- Witch's Rejuvenation Potion
Free Slots:
- 6 List
- 1 Mug
- 2 Leave
- 2 Fakes
- 1 Dispel
- 3 Accompany
- 2 Recycle
- 2 Contact
- 1 Relegate
- 3 Peek
- 1 Magnetic Force
- 2 Cling
- 1 Trace
- 2 Fluoroscopy
- 2 Thief
- 3 Return
- 3 Bullet
- Several food and amenities cards
Kai's:
Specified Slots:
- Pregnancy Stones
- Golden Scales
- X-Ray Goggles
- Hypothetical T.V.
- Book of V.I.P Passes
- Hormone Cookies
- Gold Dust Girl
- Miniature Dino
- King White Stag Beetle
- Hideout Realtor
- Long Lost Delivery
- Witch's Rejuvenation Potion
- Staff of Judgment
- Paladin's Necklace
- Memory Helmet
Free Slots:
- 7 List
- 1 Mug
- 1 Holy Water
- 2 Recycle
- 1 Levy
- 1 Clairvoyance
- 4 Accompany
- 2 Defensive Wall
- 2 Contact
- 1 Relegate
- 1 Cling
- 1 Magnetic Force
- 2 Peek
- 1 Trace
- 2 Fluoroscopy
- 1 Return
- 1 Bullet
- Several food and amenities cards
"Well, everything's ready." Kai says, recycling the cooking utensils into cards with the "Recycle" spell card. "I'd say it's finally time for the two of us to start playing Greed Island together."
"I think we'll first stop in Dorias, and from there we'll head to Calisia. I think we'll arrive around 8 or 9 pm by walking."
"That sounds like quite a long walk. Couldn't you get us there faster using one of your Nen abilities?" I ask, adopting my role as a sweet and innocent girl after a while.
"I could do that, but that would spoil the fun and excitement of exploring an unknown landscape. Besides..." He turns toward me with a faintly amused smile. "I don't think someone like you would get tired from a walk that short."
That statement immediately puts me on alert, because I can feel that he's looking deep inside me.
"But if by any chance you get too tired, we can always rent a room in the city or return here by using "Return" to Masadora and then my Barrier Orb." He adds this to try to downplay his implicit accusation.
"Okay. Let's go."
Upon hearing his eager cheer, I approach him while thinking cautiously.
'That comment carried a message. It was clearly an implicit reference to my abilities. He hasn't seen me fight yet, and still he spoke as though he already knows what I am capable of.'
'Is it because I told him I'm a Hunter?'
'...No. That alone wouldn't justify such certainty.'
'The only explanation that makes sense is that he somehow already knew I was strong.'
'That makes it even more likely he was the one who arranged for me to enter Greed Island. But how did he know about my identity? And how much else is he hiding?'
'...Interesting.'
The more I learn about Kai, the more contradictions I find, and the more enthralling he becomes. I can see he's a kind person with good principles, but he's still hiding a lot.
He's honest... except when it comes to certain things.
He's cautious... yet somehow always one step ahead.
He's open enough to explain every detail of his plans... but the moment I get close to the source of his knowledge, he quietly draws a line I can't cross.
'He's becoming easier to read... and somehow even harder to understand.'
'Traveling with you is going to be far more interesting than I expected. Let's see how long you can keep all those secrets, Kai.' With this last thought, a twisted smile forms on my face.