Miss Cookie materialized beside the bed, her fair hands exuding a faint, peach-scented mist. The air around them filled with a warm, soothing aroma that felt like stepping into a luxurious hot spring. All at once, every trace of fatigue melted away.
It was one of Miss Cookie's most useful powers, Piano Massage.
At the same time, Biscuit added another effect to the ability: a aura-infused lotion that gently whitened and refreshed the skin.
A cool sensation spread from Menchi's cheeks across her whole body as the soft cream was applied. Her already delicate, fair skin seemed to glow afterward, becoming even smoother and more flawless.
The next morning, Larry and Menchi said their goodbyes. "We'll head out first. If anything comes up, just contact us through [Contact]," Larry said with a wave.
With a flash, his Arcanine appeared in front of him. He and Menchi climbed on with practiced ease. "Safe travels," Biscuit called after them, waving without a trace of reluctance.
Though Larry was the only familiar face she had on the island, meeting again wasn't difficult. Greed Island had [Magnetic Force ] cards, after all, if you'd met someone before, one card was all it took to teleport straight to them. Whenever she wanted to see him again, it was just one card away.
As the two and their dog disappeared into the horizon, Biscuit stood still for a moment and let out a small sigh. 'I'm already a few steps behind...No use thinking about it now. I need to stay focused on finding that gem.'
What Biscuit didn't know, however, was that at that very moment, her close friend Pyon was already doing something involving Larry.
Elsewhere, in a large meeting room inside the Hunter Association's headquarters, the biggest assembly in recent memory was about to begin. The topic? A promotion to the elusive and prestigious three-star hunter rank.
Across all six continents, only a handful held such a title, this was a big deal. Naturally, it required the presence of the Association's highest authority, Chairman Netero, along with the Twelve Zodiacs, the organization's elite executives.
Around a long rectangular conference table, most of the chairs were already filled. "Seriously?! Ging's not coming again?!"
Kanzai, the Tiger of the Zodiacs, stood up and shouted, clearly annoyed. His wild yellow-black hair matched his fiery temper. He was the type to yell first and ask questions later, especially when it came to people like Ging.
On the far side of the room sat an empty chair with a small panda plush placed neatly on it. A note was pinned to its chest, simply reading, "Ging."
It was the same every time. Nine out of ten meetings, Ging would skip, sending the doll in his place.
And not just Hunter Association meetings, Ging avoided any formal event he found boring or pointless. He was notoriously hard to pin down, always preferring to go his own way.
The only time he ever really showed up was out of genuine respect for someone, like when Chairman Netero called him in for the presidential election talks.
"Calm down, Kanzai. You know how Ging is."
The one speaking was Cheadle Yorkshire, calm and composed as always. Her warm voice clashed with the tension in the room.
She was the kind-hearted Dog of the Zodiacs, someone who felt deeply, especially about Chairman Netero. At the election meeting after his death, she had openly wept.
"Still... this feels really sudden. Why call a meeting like this without any warning?" This time it was the Rooster, Cluck, who spoke. Her voice was edged with irritation.
With feathers covering her outfit and an appearance that was part showgirl, part tribal dancer, Cluck wasn't shy about her eccentric style, or her opinions.
The room buzzed with half-buried tension. No one yet knew exactly who the candidate for three-star promotion was. But deep down, several of them had already guessed.
Among the Zodiac, most of them shared that typical Kansai-style intensity, fiery tempers, quick reactions, and no patience for nonsense. "It seems like this is related to Larry, the one who's been making waves lately."
The one speaking was Botobai, a presence impossible to ignore. His face was adorned with bold kabuki-style paint, and his towering, unconventional hairstyle only added to his striking appearance.
Even among the elite, he stood out. Just being near him felt like standing before a stern judge, and his cold, unflinching gaze made the sensation all the more real.
He was one of the rare Three-Star Hunters in the entire world. Not just any hunter, he was a terrorist hunter, and even among those who had earned three stars, his reputation stood near the top. Some even called him the man closest in strength and influence to Chairman Netero himself.
As he mentioned Larry's name, his eyes flicked briefly to Pyonn the Rabbit, who was lounging nearby, tapping away at her phone like she had nothing better to do. But Botobai knew better.
He had been following Larry's actions closely ever since the incident at the Solvren Ruins. Unlike others, Botobai already had a decent understanding of Larry.
Every movement, every event Larry was involved in, Botobai made it a point to keep tabs on all of it. That's why his interest in the young man wasn't just casual curiosity.
Larry was becoming a legend, just like the Sky Arena where he once made a name for himself. The powers he displayed, the impossible feats he pulled off... Any one of those would've been enough to catapult someone into fame. Yet Larry had accomplished all of them, and more.
As Botobai sat in silent thought, next to him, Pyonn continued playing with her phone. But even she was thinking about Larry. She had always been on his side, but one supporter wasn't enough, she'd have to figure out how to sway the rest.
Just then, a sharp creak echoed from the door.
"Squeak~"
Everyone instinctively looked up, and saw someone they'd all rather not deal with.
"Morning, everyone. Sorry I'm late," said the man with a bright smile as he walked in, completely at ease.
Pariston Hill, blond, handsome, and radiating the kind of charm that won fans instantly, had arrived.
As the Vice Chairman of the Hunter Association, he carried himself like a celebrity. He even had his own personal bodyguards. On the surface, he was polite, upbeat, and friendly.
But no one in the room liked him. That's because everyone knew the truth, behind the cheery smile was a manipulative, twisted man who took joy in pushing others to their limits.
Pariston had once even said, "It's more fun when people hate me."
It was partly because of that dark personality that Chairman Netero had put him in his current position, just to keep things interesting. Pariston, of course, enjoyed every moment of it. They were oddly similar in that regard.
But ever since Netero's death, Pariston had clearly lost all interest in the Hunter Association itself.
Still, like Botobai, Pariston was one of the extremely rare Three-Star Hunters. That was something no one could deny.
"Why are you even apologizing?" snapped Kanzai, the hot-tempered one. "We'd be better off if you didn't show up at all."