After taking a bath, Qin Lun felt refreshed. Wearing hotel pajamas, he lay back on the sofa. Out of habit, he held a wine glass, slowly swirling its contents. Though the TV was on, the young man paid no attention to the local news from Yorknew City.
The auction was still about thirty hours away. He needed to complete the first step of the Main Quest before it officially began. With this in mind, Qin Lun once again read through the task details in the Death Notice word by word.
“Carnage Feast (Lieutenant – Lieutenant Colonel-level): Yorknew City is about to host the world’s largest Phantom Auction. During this event, an important Historical Plot point for the Hunter World unfolds. At this juncture, two sides will beco opposing factions. Both sides possess many historical figures of imnse impact on the Hunter World.”
“Precondition: Join one faction! According to current Quest intel: Hunter Side – Kurapika (others unknown). Rogue Side – Phantom Troupe (specific mbers unknown).”
“Task Hint: Joining the Rogue Side: Quest difficulty is Lieutenant-level (target unknown). Joining the Hunter Side: Quest difficulty is Lieutenant Colonel-level (target unknown). Upon selecting a faction, the Apostle will formally enter this historical node and receive the reward details.”
“Hint: The Apostle must choose a side before the September 1st auction starts. Failure to choose constitutes Quest failure, deducting 30 points of Soul Lifespan and lowering the Soul Life Limit by 15 points. After the allotted ti expires, no Quest evaluation will be given.”
“Warning One: Once a faction is joined, combat actions will be constrained by this World Law. Example: If joining the Phantom Troupe faction, World Law will treat the Apostle as a Phantom Troupe’s Peripheral mber.”
“Warning Two: If a Class Change Apostle returns without a Quest evaluation, Shattered Starry Sky will forcibly deduct 50 points of Soul Lifespan and lower the Soul Life Limit by 20 points.”
Even though the Main Quest itself lacked a specific objective at this stage, the hints provided so far had already piqued Qin Lun’s interest intensely. The Hunter Association classified all Phantom Troupe mbers as S-class criminals, which clearly implied they possessed power nearing the pinnacle of strength attainable within this world.
For soone as keenly curious as Qin Lun, witnessing S-class criminals and top-tier power in an alternate world was an enormous temptation.
Joining the Hunter Side would let him confront these so-called S-class criminals directly. However, the two faction choices presented a daunting three-level gap in Quest difficulty, forcing him to harbor serious doubts.
The Lieutenant-level difficulty was manageable, while the Lieutenant Colonel-level seed absolutely unreasonable. Based on task levels from the World War II World, Colonel-level signified capabilities equivalent to a third-tier Apostle. Lieutenant Colonel-level ant Troupe mbers held the combat strength of established High-Rank Apostles.
After converting his bloodlust into an incomplete Nen Ability, Qin Lun’s close combat and defensive capabilities had vastly improved, patching up the weaknesses of his original Hunter Profession. His current combat strength approached the Second-Order Apostle level, though he still lacked enough skills and a completely coherent attack-defense system.
The difference in power between Apostle levels was astronomical, as starkly proven during events like the tropolis Domination War. Trying to challenge opponents beyond one’s rank was practically suicidal recklessness.
Becoming a Class Change Apostle had shown Qin Lun the cruel reality hidden behind Quest evaluations. Shattered Starry Sky and Apostles operated on a rcenary basis; no Quest evaluation ant the Apostle held no value to the Star Void. The penalties, deducting both Soul Lifespan and lowering the Soul Life Limit, were unbearable.
Although skipping this Main Quest wouldn’t endanger Qin Lun’s life, the total cost of 80 Soul Lifespan points and a 35-point reduction in his Soul Life Limit was utterly unacceptable to him. In a sense, he had no choice but to select a faction and accept this Main Quest during this historical node.
This Main Quest offered many hints, but two aspects perplexed Qin Lun, demanding deeper analysis. The first was the Quest difficulty linked to faction choice; the second was the warning regarding the first point.
Joining the Hunter Side ant Lieutenant Colonel-level difficulty, joining the Rogue Side ant Lieutenant-level. This implicitly signaled the Phantom Troupe’s combat power far surpassed the Hunter Side, including Kurapika.
However, the task information also stressed this plot was a crucial historical node, featuring many impactful figures on both sides. The wording “nurous” specifically indicated more than one. This implied that, in the original history before Apostle intervention, these figures survived—the Phantom Troupe hadn’t achieved total domination.
Given such a vast power imbalance without crushing victory, only two possibilities remained. One: the Hunter Side leveraged external forces. Two: during the plot, the Hunter Side experienced a sudden, massive surge in their own strength.
Yet, due to extre scarcity of intel, Qin Lun found unresolved holes in both his hypotheses.
Neon’s Divination Poem showed the Troupe’s target was the Auction, which fit their usual M.O. This naturally made the Shadow Beasts and the Nen users hired by various Mafia/Syndicates forces the Hunter Side could potentially rely on as external power.
Perhaps Kurapika’s Hunter Side clashed violently precisely because of their opposing stance to the Troupe. However, this foreseeable confrontation should have been factored into Shattered Starry Sky’s difficulty calculation. In other words, the combined forces of the Shadow Beasts and syndicate guards posed little significant threat to the Troupe.
The Lieutenant-level difficulty itself argued that the inherent strength gap in the original history ruled out any substantial external aid for the Hunter Side beyond Apostles.
Hence, no external aid ant change ca from within the Hunter Side. Either the Troupe walked into a ticulously prepared trap, or the Hunter Side possessed a force uniquely suited to counter them. Or possibly both!
Qin Lun never underestimated fellow Serial Killers or hardened criminals. Troupe mbers, being S-Class criminals, likely possessed considerable intellect and numbered thirteen individuals at the very least.
He believed that even if they fell into a trap, they’d likely find a way out and retaliate. Moreover, the Auction being a known target and the Troupe operating from the shadows ant luring them into a trap wouldn’t be easy.
This situation almost guaranteed the Hunter Side would suffer major early losses, while the Troupe probably couldn’t escape unscathed either.
The more Qin Lun pondered, the worse the odds seed for the Hunter Side. Joining them risked becoming cannon fodder.
Logically, joining the Troupe was a superior choice. First, his background as a teor Street thug ant that as long as he didn’t provoke the Troupe or obstruct them, a safe exit seed feasible.
Neither the Mafia/Syndicates nor the Hunter Side would likely prioritize him as a primary target. By avoiding the initial bloody conflict between factions, maneuvering through the chaos afterward offered a chance to complete the task.
The drawback was this ant joining the fight only near the plot’s end, after major events had unfolded, limiting his potential gains.
These were Qin Lun’s thoughts on the task difficulty. While so logic erged, the first warning left him utterly baffled.
He couldn’t fathom the warning’s aning: “After joining the Troupe faction, combat actions will be constrained by this World Law.” Choosing a faction was part of his Apostle Quest; it wouldn’t expose hostile intentions nor formally integrate him under the Troupe’s command. The warning struck him as bizarre and impenetrable.
Knock knock knock! Just as Qin Lun was deeply engrossed, knocking sounded at the door.
A black-and-red ring-shaped target briefly flickered in the pupil of the young man’s left eye. An undulating ripple instantly penetrated the wooden door, outlining the figure outside before reflecting back into his mind, forming a clear image.
What does she want? Qin Lun raised an eyebrow, muttering in surprise.
“Mr. Qin Lun, won’t you invite
in?” Baise stood there in a low-cut tank dress, flip-flops on her feet. Her left hand held a bottle, her right clutched a wine glass. Her gaze was slightly unfocused on Qin Lun, her expression lazy; clearly, she’d already had a fair amount to drink.
Observing alluring posture of this sophisticated older woman and recalling the sweet, delicious kiss from that afternoon, warmth surged involuntarily from the youth’s lower belly. Smiling, he moved aside the doorway. “Co in, lovely Miss Baise.”
Baise swayed slightly with every step before collapsing onto the sofa in the living room. Kicking off her flip-flops, she shook the bottle lightly with a soft laugh. “I brought so fine wine. Care to share a glass?”
“I am honored to drink with you!” Qin Lun smiled, bringing his own glass towards hers.
Baise leaned sideways to pour for him, her ample bosom pressed together creating a deep cleavage. Despite his inwardly calm deanor, Qin Lun found the expanse of pale skin dazzlingly overwhelming. He struggled slightly to avert his gaze.
That afternoon kiss from Baise had stirred mories of Katharine, making him increasingly sensitive to such physical reactions.
“Hee hee, Mr. Qin Lun… you don’t seem like a very nice character either, huh?” Baise, tipsy but perceptive, noticed his montary focus. Setting down the bottle, her fair, slender arms wrapped around his neck as she murmured aningfully, “You find
attractive. Any man would. But please, don’t use that… i ability on
again like this afternoon. Making a fool of myself once is quite enough.”
“Hahaha, forget about that! I was the one who ended up looking silly this afternoon, not you,” Baise laughed heartily, rocking back and forth. Cutely, she drew close to Qin Lun’s ear, whispering softly, “This ti I promise not to use my Nen Ability. In exchange… I want you.”
“Miss Baise…” Qin Lun had barely started when Baise’s lips sealed his mouth. A warm, fragrant, and flexible little tongue invaded.
Thump! They rolled off the sofa onto the floor. Qin Lun suddenly felt the pressing weight on his chest – two surprisingly firm and soft mounds. The pent-up tide of warmth surged uncontrollably upwards from his lower belly.
Can’t help it now, Katharine… Qin Lun’s arms encircled Baise’s shapely buttocks. He flipped her over with a sharp roll, pinning her beneath him…
Soon after, low, muffled moans from Baise, held back with effort, filled the room. The atmosphere instantly beca filled with passion.
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