Chapter 4: Always Beware Machi's Intuition
Tattoos aren't made so easily not without even the most basic ink.
And yet, Machi had done it.
That could only mean one thing: it was her Nen ability Transmutation: Mental Threads.
Through sheer force of will, she transmuted her aura into threads capable of stitching nerves, blood vessels, and flesh. A simple tattoo was child's play for her.
Germain watched closely as Machi worked.
Soon, he began to discern her movements, seeing faint mental threads weaving around the needle.
This was because Germain had condensed the nen within his eyes an advanced Nen technique known in the world of Hunter x Hunter as In (Concealment), Gyo (Focus), and Shu (Enforcement).
The four basic Nen techniques are Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu.
The advanced techniques include En, Gyo, and In.
And the combined techniques Ko, Ken, Ryu, and Shu.
By using Gyo, Germain not only perceived Machi's hands, but also activated his own Nen ability: Materialization Hunter's Emblem.
This advanced form of the Hunter's Emblem had only awakened after his arrival.
Before his eyes, faint Chinese characters appeared, visible only to him under the projection of the Emblem:
Vital Constitution: 10
(Affects vitality and endurance; average Hunter apprentice: 1)
Resistance Energy: 12
(Affects physical strength, potential energy, and manifested aura; average Hunter apprentice: 1)
Spiritual Vision Pressure: 1
(Affects mental willpower)
Gifts of Resentment: Butcher's Saw, Fire Musket, 2 Lanterns
The term Hunter apprentice referred to those who had just opened their Essence of Energy and mastered only the four fundamentals of aura training.
Germain blinked thoughtfully, gaining a clearer grasp of his situation.
Alright.
Machi pulled her hands away, breaking his concentration.
A twelve-legged spider tattoo with the number 8 on its abdomen suddenly appeared on Germain's thigh.
She stood, eyes cold.
My intuition tells me you were just thinking something rude… and dangerous.
I wasn't, Germain denied firmly.
In truth, he had briefly considered attacking Machi with his butcher's saw or musket to test his Nen, but quickly dismissed the thought.
The Phantom Troupe was still nearby.
And even though Machi's role in the Troupe was mostly support, she was by no means weak.
In direct combat, Germain's strength was average among the Troupe in an arm-wrestle, he'd probably be even with Machi, who ranked sixth.
Still, she had sensed his intent before he even decided.
What terrifying intuition.
I don't actually like you, Machi said coldly, ignoring his silence as she rummaged through her pocket. But we don't need to.
For the record, I recommended you to Chrollo because we're both from Meteor City and because you're strong. That doesn't make us friends.
She pulled out a pink smartphone, eyes meeting his.
From now on, I'll relay the Captain's orders to you. Let's exchange numbers.
Germain found his phone and entered her contact.
Machi tucked hers away, then grabbed a small cloth pouch from the corner.
She slung it over her shoulder, frowned, and looked back at him.
I feel like… something's different about you.
Germain blinked, uncertain whether she truly sensed something or was bluffing. He chose silence.
Fortunately, Machi didn't press further.
Then, until new orders…
She turned toward the stone stairs. Oh, and if you ever need urgent points, contact me. I'll give you a discount since we're teammates.
Her voice echoed through the bell tower as she descended, cold and distant.
Germain waited until her footsteps vanished before glancing at his still-lit phone screen.
Machi's number shone there.
He typed quickly.
He had a habit of giving his contacts nicknames instead of real names.
Machi's contact name: Bad Woman.
Then, sitting cross-legged on the cold floor, Germain waited fifteen minutes.
Once certain the Phantom Troupe had retreated far enough, he used his noesis to materialize the Hunter's Emblem again.
He extended his right hand, letting the Emblem cracked and chained dangle and swing like a pendulum.
Germain placed it around his neck.
He wanted to test how his telekinesis differed from that of a Bloodborne Hunter.
Soon, he left the bell tower and stepped under a pale moon, moving toward the forest beyond.
If his memory was correct, there was a beast dwelling there.
He didn't conceal his aura with Zetsu or In.
Instead, he let it leak casting it like a fishing line, bait for the hunt.
Within ten minutes, the forest's silence broke.
Two crimson eyes glowed between the underbrush.
The sound of cracking branches echoed in the moonlight.
Germain calmly materialized his weapons using the Emblem:
A butcher's saw, a rusted, serrated blade shaped like a cruel oval ring.
And a musket, delicate yet deadly, fueled entirely by his aura.
With saw in his right hand and musket in his left, Germain crouched, waiting.
As expected, the beast struck first.
It burst from the darkness a wolf-like creature with six legs and burning black fur.
Drool dripped from its fanged mouth as it lunged.
Its growl rumbled like thunder before it leaped into Germain's range.
He calmly raised the musket, aimed, and pulled the trigger.
Bang!
The blast shredded through the night multiple aura bullets struck, tearing through the creature's flesh.
It howled, collapsing and convulsing on the grass.
Its abdomen lay open, smoking and ruined.
Perfect.
Germain stepped closer, driving the butcher's saw deep into its exposed gut, twisting until the internal organs burst.
The body twitched once then fell still.
(End of Chapter)