Chapter 7 : Childlike in Appearance, Older Than Most
Hunter x Hunter had countless characters, and while Germain couldn't remember all of them, a few of the most vivid faces remained in his mind.
There was a clear difference between a two-dimensional and a three-dimensional world; after meeting the members of the Phantom Troupe, he realized they weren't as larger-than-life as he'd imagined like comparing a sketch to a living person.
If he wasn't mistaken, the girl who had just feigned shyness with that innocent gaze could only be the Gem Hunter, Biscuit.
Germain didn't look back. He simply kept eating his noodles. Once finished, he set down his chopsticks, took a sip of the broth, and stood up to pay.
He walked toward the restaurant's owner, naturally passing by the table where the blonde twin-tailed girl sat.
A quick sideways glance comparing her to his memory was enough to make him almost certain: it was Biscuit .
He paid the bill and, under the resentful stares of the restaurant staff, stepped out into the bustling street.
First, let's get some money.
His former identity had been that of a renowned assassin one who'd kept a generous sum in a secret bank account.
Germain withdrew a modest amount of cash, and as he exited the bank, he saw Biscuit again.
She was rubbing her eyes, tears streaming down her face. Her body trembled dramatically with each sob a pitiful sight that could easily stir a man's protective instincts. A few worried passersby were already glancing his way.
Germain looked at the onlookers but said nothing.
If he hadn't known that Biscuit was actually a woman in her fifties, he might have been flustered by her appearance.
Biscuit was, by nature, a good person.
However, his current identity was anything but good. Unable to predict her intentions, he simply turned away and walked off.
Better not provoke her now.
He had barely gone a few steps before hearing a faint tsk and the sound of Biscuit's short legs hurrying to follow him.
Caught? Angry that I saw through her? What exactly does Biscuit want?
Isn't she a gem hunter? Maybe she saw me and decided to play bounty hunter instead...
Wait gem hunter... gems...
Germain suddenly recalled the Promised Rubies his original self had stolen and handed over to Chrollo. It began to make sense why Biscuit had set her sights on him.
She loved gemstones and those rubies had always been her obsession.
As a member of the Hunter Association, Biscuit normally couldn't touch black-market jewelers, much less the pair of rubies she had sought for years.
But now that the rubies were in Germain's hands, things were different.
Her moral code was... flexible. Stealing from a thief or a murderer didn't quite count as theft.
If she could retrieve the rubies from Germain, they'd be hers.
Germain stroked his chin.
How do I tell her politely that the rubies aren't with me anymore? And more importantly... would she even believe me?
Lost in thought, he kept walking and bumped into a thin man.
Hmm?
Even distracted, Germain avoided him smoothly.
But the thin man deliberately stepped closer, pretending to bump into him again.
A moment later, Germain felt the man's hand it was unpleasantly light. He realized the man had just picked his pocket.
He couldn't help but whistle softly. Acting on instinct, he extended his right hand, then retracted it in an instant. Startled by the whistle, the pickpocket froze for a second apparently thinking Germain hadn't noticed.
The man mumbled an apology and hurried off.
Germain turned into a dark alley and reached into his pocket pulling out not just his own wallet, but two others he had deftly taken back from the thief.
Opening them, he counted the cash. Over 6,000 yen in total.
Given that this world's yen had about the same value as Japan's, the thief's haul wasn't bad but now it was all Germain's.
He tossed the two empty wallets onto the ground and tucked the money into his own.
From a nearby corner, Biscuit who had been quietly observing suddenly turned toward the alley. Her earlier teary look was gone, replaced by bright, lively energy.
She pointed at Germain with exaggerated surprise.
Ah… big brother, you stole someone's wallet! That's not good it's a crime. I'll have to tell the police!
Germain looked at her and immediately understood.
It was a setup.
Biscuit was acting like a mischievous imp pretending to be weak, luring him into dropping his guard, waiting for a slip-up… and then sounding the alarm.
Only this time, she wasn't calling the police. She was calling herself.
He decided to explain before things escalated.
I don't have the Promised Rubies anymore, he said calmly. I already gave them to the real estate broker they should've been sold by now. You're too late.
It was half true, and believable enough it was the kind of thing his old self would do.
Realizing he had seen through her, Biscuit stopped pretending. Her expression softened with mild disappointment before she placed her hands on her hips, studying him with interest.
When did you figure out who I was and what I wanted? No wonder neither of my two beautiful forms could fool you... Hmm, let me guess back at the restaurant?
Germain, unwilling to prolong the conversation, turned and walked away.
But Biscuit was relentless.
Her short legs moved quickly as she followed, gripping her frilly dress like a stubborn princess.
I don't get it... Where did I slip up? I hid my presence perfectly and didn't say anything strange. Come on, Mr. Hat Guy tell me.
Of course, Germain couldn't say the real reason that he'd known from the start she looked childlike but older than most, because that would probably trigger something far worse.
So he changed his story.
A pretty twelve-year-old girl eating noodles alone in a restaurant with no supervision? That's suspicious enough. Then there's the stalking that came after.
Biscuit froze, wide-eyed.
Then, delighted, she resumed following him her twin tails swaying, a bright grin spreading across her face.
Oh? I see... I guess I was being a little too bold. A young beauty like me, all alone yeah, that would stand out. Beauty... those kinds of things…
Suddenly, she reached out and grabbed Germain's arm before he could react.
Startled, he tried to pull free but couldn't.
Biscuit held his wrist with her left hand, the other resting on her hip, striking a pose worthy of an idol.
Anyway, aside from being gorgeous, I have another question.
Germain your so-called 'broker.' You mean the Phantom Troupe, right?
Germain glanced at her lovely yet knowing face. A sly smile crept across his lips she'd done her homework.
He looked down at the petite Biscuit .
How do you know about my connection to the Troupe?
Believing she had hooked him, Biscuit released his arm and wagged her finger playfully.
Have you forgotten? After stealing the Promised Ruby, you drew the twelve-legged spider of the Phantom Troupe on the most visible wall near the entrance and signed it with your assassin's mark.
Germain froze.
Right. His former self had indeed done that.
A sign of loyalty to the Phantom Troupe...
But now, it had come back to bite him.
(End of Chapter)