Fantasy Realm – Infinite Worlds Adventure

Staring at the sky, the airship now long gone, the Troupe, including Alex, looks outright defeated.

Nobunaga, who has always been quite close to Uvogin, roars in anger, his Aura surging violently, an uncharacteristic sight for the usually level-headed swordsman.

Can’t hang around with these losers and keep wasting my time... I need to look for Jewel!

Alex rushes back toward the hundreds of abandoned Mafia members’ cars, the Troupe deciding to follow him, acting on instinct.

“Where are you going?” Shalnark asks, his face glum.

“I need to look out for Jewel; she might be in danger,” Alex explains. “I sent her out to ambush the Mafia members from behind.”

Sprinting past the cars and running along the highway, Alex narrows his eyes, using Gyo to enhance his vision. In the distance, he sees a vague movement.

“A fight,” Feitan comments, his voice cold. “No more holding back.”

The Troupe rushes forward, their faces twisted, a sense of bloodlust and a thirst for revenge spreading among the group.

In the distance, Alex sees a green-haired woman holding two knives, fighting against various animal-like Nen users, with a couple of them already lying on the ground.

“Menchi!” Alex yells, more than surprised. “Kill these fucking Shadow Beasts!”

She came to back me up?

As the Troupe rushes forward, the Shadow Beasts notice them, and their faces instantly go pale.

Feeling the bloodthirst of the wounded, defeated, and humiliated Troupe, they can’t help but pause helplessly.

A flying Shadow Beast called Bat grows so panicked that he tries to fly away, only for a giant web to appear above him, dragging him back down toward the ground. A small purple beast with red eyes and teeth, illuminated by the moonlight, approaches at high speed, its mouth wide open, its red teeth resembling a guillotine.

Jewel has dealt 181 x 3 = 543 damage to Bat

Jewel has killed Bat

Meanwhile, Menchi cuts open the throat of the Shadow Beast, resembling a frog.

Alex rushes forward, almost as frustrated as the Troupe itself, performing a brutal overhead strike on the same target, using his [Executioner’s Blade R2]. The man, still fighting for his life, vaguely spots Alex before the sword cleaves him in two.

You have dealt 231 x 3 = 693 damage to Frog

You have killed Frog

Meanwhile, the Troupe quickly annihilates the remaining Shadow Beasts, viciously killing them within mere seconds, with Feitan and Nobunaga taking the lead, each instantly killing an enemy.

With all of them dead, Jewel obediently, and with a creepy smile, drags two Green Chests toward Alex.

❤️

“Thanks, Jewel... but keep them; they are yours. It’s time you build up your own stash.” Alex mutters, his expression turning serious as he tries to find the right words, not forgetting to play the part of the clueless bystander. “Menchi, Jewel, there is probably a Shadow Beast with an ability to carry lots of items.”

Thank you, Soulmate. As for the Peasant with the cape... Princess Jewel has caught him. The others called the Peasant Owl.

“Where?!” Alex asks, looking around, only to see a large webbed cocoon tied to a rock.

“Bring him to the Boss...” Nobunaga says in an icy, cold voice. “Whoever those fuckers in the airship are, they must be connected with those Mafia members... we’ll get them... save Uvogin... and avenge Franklin!”

Dragging the struggling Shadow Beast toward Nobunaga, Alex knows that Jewel senses the tension in the air. She avoids speaking too much and does not put on a show or make any jokes.

Alex briefly explains to her what happened, and Jewel accurately relays the information to Menchi.

“... I’m gonna enjoy this,” Feitan says, cackling slowly, as he stares at the man still struggling inside the cocoon.

I think this was a colossal failure... however... thanks to Jewel, we caught Owl, so technically we fulfilled the mission. We got all the items back. Just why... and how? What are these players thinking? Their decisions are not making any sense. It’s not like I care about the Troupe... maybe this actually worked out in my favor... I need to act smart. This is not a bad situation at all. Mission cleared, and I got a lot of loot.

Why am I still feeling defeated? Those two were just crazy mass murderers... still, somehow it feels wrong to lose them like that. Man, sometimes I’m really a pussy... I shouldn’t care... but somehow I still do.

Back at the Troupe’s hideout, the remaining Troupe members are astonished by today’s events. Alex is briefly distracted by the system displaying the message he had hoped to see.

[Secret Quest Completed:

Mission: Join the Troupe and rob the underground auction.

Reward: ???, ???]

So what about the reward?!

“We listened to the radio and almost couldn’t believe what happened...” Phinks says, juggling a small radio in his hand. “Wait... where is Uvogin?”

“And Franklin,” Pakunoda adds, looking shocked.

“Explain... all details...” Chrollo says in an icy, cold voice.

Shalnark then explains what happened. At the point where Alex ran away before the explosion, Phinks loses it and crushes the radio in his hand. “You ran?”

“Let him finish the explanation,” Chrollo says calmly. “I already got a summary of these events earlier, but I still want to hear them again. Leave out no details.”

Shalnark then proceeds with the fight against the Pure Paladin Squad, but Chrollo stops him early. “Machi... you weren’t initially part of the fight?”

“I...” Machi says coldly, her eyes dark. She takes a breath and explains her side of the story, accurately mentioning Alex’s deeds.

“Impressive,” Chrollo praises him. “Your judgment to flee was also commendable, and despite being right, you did not abandon the mission and the others.”

“Truth to be told,” Alex says, “I was already close to fleeing, but I noticed a Hatsu in the sky, some kind of scouting parrot. In the end, we took care of that Pure Paladin Squad... aside from a few nobodies... and the people behind them, who aren’t strong fighters. I think they’re done.”

Shalnark continues summarizing everything up until Jewel and Menchi fought the Shadow Beasts.

“That’s it?” Chrollo asks, not revealing his own thoughts as he stares at the cocoon on the ground, blood oozing out of it.

“I haven’t started yet,” Feitan clarifies the situation. “Nobunaga got a little rough, and he smacked him into the ground.”

“These fuckers all need to die,” Nobunaga whispers, his eyes filled with rage. “Especially that fucker with that chain!”

“Indeed... this was... a pitiful performance,” Shalnark admits. “I am sorry, boss... you left me in charge, but I failed.”

“Alex,” Chrollo says, staring at him. “Your behavior makes no sense. I have questions for you.”

The fuck? Did I mess up?

“Boss... he really saved us... without him...” Shalnark reasons, defending Alex.

“I agree,” Menchi instantly adds.

“It pains me to say it, but he was the one who was the most prepared and calm. He made rational decisions, even if he didn’t foresee the airship,” Nobunaga says. “Why are you suspecting him, boss? I trust him.”

“I am not suspecting him of anything,” Chrollo states. “I want to know... why did you throw yourself in front of Machi when the chain user targeted her? Shalnark paid attention and accurately described your actions. You could have died.”

“Because I am fairly confident that I can counter whatever Hatsu it was,” Alex says calmly, his SPR and INT allowing him not only to remain calm, but also to think quickly.

“Can you say that even after witnessing what happened to Franklin and Uvo?” Chrollo asks.

“Yes, of course,” Alex replies, shrugging.

“...” The Troupe falls silent upon hearing Alex’s confidence.

“Don’t think I need your recognition,” Alex mutters. “There are people and places that are far above you. I’ve survived a trip to the edge of the Dark Continent... that’s where I caught Jewel. I’ve survived and paid a price for my power, one you people couldn’t even imagine. Don’t think I am someone who’s inferior to you. I think by now you should have learned not to underestimate me.”

Alex's eyes turn serious as he glares at the Troupe, noticing Hisoka briefly shaking, creating a deep feeling of disgust inside of him.

I hate creepy Yandere clowns... if it were a woman, however... well, forget about it.

“Dark... Continent?” Shizuku wonders, seemingly interested in the topic.

The other Troupe members are also confused, with the exception of a shocked Shalnark and Chrollo, who seems to perk up as well upon hearing the two words.

“...”

“Boss... what do we do now?” Nobunaga interrupts the silence. “As much as I want to know what that place is, we need to act fast. Uvo... could still be alive. We need to save him from the Mafia.”

Alex sighs. “Why do you say Mafia? Obviously, these fuckers on the airship are not allied with the Mafia, and they have no deep connection to the Pure Paladin Squad either.”

“I agree,” Menchi adds, joining the conversation. “I’ve seen it all, and while corrupt, the Pure Paladin Squad would never outright cooperate with people like that. They are somewhat allied with the Mafia, it seems, but they also abandoned them, causing the entire Shadow Beasts to get wiped out. Hundreds and hundreds of Mafia members died as well. They didn’t help them at all. They might be connected somehow, but they are obviously after different goals.”

Because these fuckers are players.

Princess Jewel thinks the loot takes precedence! Princess Jewel and Soulmate were hired to do a job. She and Soulmate fulfilled the job; now, payment is due! If Chrollo wants to hire Soulmate and Princess Jewel for more tasks... a new price must be negotiated.

“❤️” Hisoka snickers from the back, having listened patiently. “The spider... is quite correct, isn’t she?”

“She is,” Chrollo replies. “You have earned yourself whatever you want from their loot. I’m also extending an offer to join the Troupe... not only to you, Alex, but to your pet... no... to you, Jewel, as well. Not as a pet, but as a full member with equal rights.”

“What?!” a few of the members yell.

“She is as capable as the rest, she can communicate on the same level as speech, she is highly intelligent,” Chrollo states. “There is no difference whether she is a human... or a spider.”

❤️

Really? Chrollo wants to invite Princess Jewel as well? Princess Jewel will think about it and give an answer once this situation is completely resolved.

“For now...” Chrollo whispers. “You can pick out your reward as soon as we get them... Feitan....”

“I’m on it,” Feitan snickers, his face changing into one of twisted delight, already anticipating what’s about to happen.

Princess Jewel is excited about the loot.

Soulmate... Princess Jewel is going to try something.

The celebrating Jewel jumps from Alex’s head onto a piece of rubble, seemingly dancing.

“While you work,” Chrollo states. “Shalnark, Machi, Shizuku. You are fairly calm despite having been through these events. Nobunaga... you are out, you are too emotional. Phinks, switch in for him. You go out and look for Uvo. Follow the remaining mafia members and get new disguises. Do not look for a fight with the people on the airship. The smoke and the chain user are too dangerous to approach without any information.”

“In fact...” Chrollo continues, only to suddenly stop as Hisoka makes a hasty movement, jerking forward with his cellphone in his hand.

“Little spider... ♦️” Hisoka’s now twisted voice echoes through the abandoned building. “It’s quite rude to read other people’s text messages. ♣️ Your Zetsu is flawless, but I still feel your web moving in the wind as you descend like a ruthless killer.”

Does the Jester have things to hide? Princess Jewel just wanted to look at the phone since it’s a new design. Let her play a game.

“Is that so... ❤️” Hisoka replies, acting calm.

We’ve changed a lot of things... Hisoka is under strict surveillance.... how will this play out? Jewel is more sinister than I thought.

“Hisoka...” Chrollo says in an eerily calm voice.

!