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'…' Thought
"…" speech
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By the time Ging and Insert left the scarred forests of the Havenridge Expanse, they were bruised, tired, and unusually quiet..
Greedi Island..
They arrived at the island via a concealed teleportation gate, once buried beneath a fallen ruin gings had accidentally exploded during a sparring match with something he swears looked like Biscuit. While Insert worked on stabilizing the core systems of the VR-enhanced island using his upgraded Bo staff as an energy conduit, Ging dove deep into the one thing he never grew tired of: breaking Nen rules and rewriting them.
That's when the idea hit.
"What if," Ging said one night over grilled meat skewers, "we took the fundamental idea of Hatsu—the core of one's individuality—and didn't just manifest it as a single ability…"
Insert raised a brow. "But codified it?"
Ging grinned. "Exactly. Turn skills into cards. Nen-embedded artifacts."
Insert's eyes lit up. "Then train the island to read them."
Together, they began designing a system where Nen signature could be scanned, dissected, and reconstructed into cards. Each card would act as a physical container for an aspect of Nen ,a move, an enhancement, a technique, a curse. The user could then equip these cards to access specific abilities within the Greedi Island system.
"What about limitations?" Insert asked.
"We build them in," Ging said, tossing a burnt skewer over his shoulder. "Rules make things fun."
But Ging didn't stop there.
He developed a method to harvest latent Nen use from players across the island—voluntarily. Well not invented he basically did the invert sun stones where you take nen from humains than make it environmental nen E-nen , A soft tether would scan the Nen outputs of users during missions, battles, even while they trained or slept. Instead of letting all that effort fade , it would be captured, filtered, and recycled into the system.
Insert refined the architecture so that recycled Nen could be used to generate the energy for the new cards, refine existing ones, or even fuel temporary world-bending events within the island—like terrain shifts, time dilation zones, or special NPC boss raids.
"You're literally mining Nen now," Insert chuckled as he watched the charts light up.
"It's called efficient world design," Ging replied, half-smirking.
New players arriving on Greedi Island would be scanned instantly. Their natural affinities, learned techniques, and fighting styles were condensed into a starter deck
Some cards were personal.
Some universal.
Some… unstable.
Each card came with risk and rules: some could be destroyed upon use, some amplified others evolved based on how much a user understood their own power.
With the core systems functional and the card mechanics working, Greedi Island would open its gates quietly to a select few beta testers—former students, trusted Hunters, and the occasional weirdo who stumbled in through .Each began discovering new ways to play the game—to grow in strength, in understanding of their Nen.
It was just past midnight on Greedi Island when Insert's communicator lit up, buzzing with a familiar aura signature. He glanced at it, eyes narrowing.
"It's Netero," he said to Ging, who was halfway through fine-tuning the card inscription system with a screwdriver in his mouth and a notebook in his lap.
Ging rolled his eyes. "The old man only calls this late if it's either really important or really inconvenient."
Insert answered, and Netero's voice crackled through the line, warm and teasing as always.
"Boys, congratulations. You're both now officially eligible for a Three-Star Hunter license."
Insert blinked. "Wait, what? Us?"
"Yes, yes. You kind of meet the three criteria now," Netero said. "First, you founded and successfully ran an educational institution—your little Nova Island thing. Very impressive, got you a lot of points by the way. Second, you neutralized the Yellow Vipers incident, which saved countless civilians. And third..." He chuckled. "Because of your influence forty new hunters were accepted into the Association this year. That's a record."
Ging scratched his head. "Huh. Didn't think they'd count all that. I mean, sure, we did a few things."
Insert smirked. "I'm not complaining, but are we sure this isn't a trap to make us sit through some boring Hunter Association ceremony? wait you said 40"
"Oh, you will be sitting through it," Netero replied, amused. "But it's a small price to. Not many earn a Three-Star badge while they're still alive.and yeah some of your "students" decided to become hunters and they basically took control of the whole exam ."
Ging leaned back, hands behind his head. "Sweet So, do we get matching pins or...?"
"You get a whole speech. And I'm gonna make it awkward. Especially for you, Ging."
Insert laughed. "Deal. But make sure the refreshments don't suck this time."
As the call ended, Ging looked at the stars above the island, then down at the cards laid out before them.
"Three-Star Hunters, huh? Not bad for two guys who basically cheated their way through everything."
Insert just grinned. "I didn't cheat. I innovated."
...
The grand, echoing halls of the Hunter Association headquarters were supposed to command respect—polished marble floors, looming statues of legendary hunters, the works of great men.
But as Ging stepped into the main atrium, Insert trailing just behind him, what greeted them wasn't awe.
It was chaos.
"HEADMASTERRR!!"
"Hey! Monkey Guy!"
"Sensei Ging! Do the eyebrow raise thing!"
"Yo! Thanks for the bomb crafting seminar!"
A swarm of about twenty newly inducted Hunters—most of whom were former Nova Island students—charged toward Ging like overexcited fans at a concert. Some were saluting. Others were waving homemade signs. One had even brought a stuffed plushie of Ging wearing a ridiculous banana-print suit.
Insert burst out laughing on the spot, nearly doubling over.
"M-Monkey guy!?" he wheezed, grabbing his stomach. "I can't—I'm gonna cry—!"
Ging stood frozen for a beat, one brow twitching violently.
"I leave for one year and this is what happens?" he muttered under his breath.
A particularly enthusiastic former student pointed at him, eyes shining. "You're the reason I passed the Hunter Exam! You taught me 'if it moves, it's probably trying to kill you!'"
Insert, wiping tears from his eyes: "Classic Nova motto. Right up there with 'please don't explode near the canteen again.'"
Ging turned slowly toward Insert. "You did this."
Insert grinned. "Nooo. You did this, I'm just the Headmaster." He waggled his eyebrows.
Just then, a veteran Hunter strolled past, raising an eyebrow at the noise.
"What's going on here? Who's causing the commotion?"
One of the new Hunters turned with pride. "That's our old principal! And Ging! The monkey guy!"
Insert had to sit down, his laughter echoing through the hall like a banshee.
Ging sighed, dragging a hand down his face. "I swear, one more 'monkey guy' and I'm teleporting back to the greedi island."
But despite the embarrassment, Ging couldn't help the faint smirk tugging at the corner of his mouth. For all the noise, all the nonsense, and all the teasing—he'd made a difference.
Even if it meant he'd never escape that damn nickname.(it was mainly the reason why ging went on expedition but insert didn't know)
What followed was something between a celebration and an official induction—Hunter Association style. Not the kind with fireworks and champagne, but the kind where respected legends stand in a quiet room, hand you a medal, and try not to smirk at your messy past.
In a polished but modest hall at the Association's inner sanctum, Ging and Insert stood side by side, hands casually stuffed in their pockets as Biscuit Krueger—looking positively radiant and only slightly annoyed—stood before them in her "serious ceremony" attire. Beside her was none other than Mr. Bean, the eccentric but highly regarded scribe of the Association, fidgeting with the parchment and badges like a man assembling IKEA furniture with no instructions.
"Alright, you brats," Biscuit began, folding her arms. "I may not look it, but I got my second star before you were even teenagers. But it took something special—something real—to earn this third one. And guess what? You two pulled it off in under 20."
Insert grinned, elbowing Ging. "Guess saving kids and beating rogue Hunters counts for something."
Mr. Bean cleared his throat. "Ahem. By the authority of the Hunter Association, and under the validation of Chairman Netero and the newly authority of the Twelve Zodiacs, we hereby award Ging Freecss and Ins Nova (that his new name by the way) the rank of Triple Star Hunters—the youngest in Association history."
He placed two shining emblems—each with three stars engraved upon their surface—into their hands. For a second, even Ging looked surprised.
"Three-star... huh," Ging muttered, weighing the badge in his palm. "Thought I'd have to be older. Or more dead."
Insert flicked his badge in the light, eyes gleaming. "Now I can brag properly."
Biscuit continued, her tone softening. "It's not just a title. Three-Star Hunters are considered trusted agents of the Hunter Association. You can make high-level decisions, open your own branches, lead expeditions into forbidden zones, and you're given priority access to ancient sites and relic-class missions."
Mr. Bean nodded along. "You can also recommend candidates for direct induction. You're legally allowed to mobilize a Hunter task force. And—"
"—and you get an upgraded coffee card in the lounge," Biscuit added, deadpan.(looking at bean to not let these two find out the whole authority perks)
Insert blinked. "Wait, what?"
"You think I was joking?" she replied. "Unlimited espresso, sweetheart. That's real also some other things."
Ging smirked. "So... when do we get to abuse these privileges?"
"Technically? Right now," Mr. Bean said, sealing their names into the ledger of Triple Star Hunters with a Nen-infused stamp that shimmered gold. "Try not to start a war or anything...Pls"
Biscuit leaned in with a warning grin. "Just remember—you're not just powerful now. You're visible. People will watch your next moves a lot more closely. Especially the ones hoping you'll trip."
Ging and Insert exchanged a look.
"Guess we better give them a good show then," Insert said with a wink.
The shiny badges had barely settled into their new pockets when Biscuit clapped both of them on the back—hard.
"No time to gloat, come on. Chairman's office. Now."
"We just got promoted—can we at least get a nap?" Insert groaned, mock limping.
"You'll sleep when you're weak and irrelevant," Biscuit snapped, heels clicking like gunfire as she led the way.
They entered the Chairman's Office, an ornate chamber lined with relics from every corner of the world: ancient weapons, masks carved from unknown materials, even what looked suspiciously like a severed Chimera Ant mandible in a glass case. At the center was a massive holographic projector currently warming up.
The screen flickered—then stabilized into a clear image of Chairman Netero, still wearing that eternal grin, sipping tea while surrounded by five holographic silhouettes.
"Ging, Insert! Congratulations, you little monsters." Netero's voice echoed across the room. "You've caused just the right amount of trouble to make it here."
Insert gave a two-finger salute. "Glad to know international chaos still counts for something."
Behind Netero sat the V5 Representatives, each appearing in a separate pane: a cold-eyed general from the Saharta, a sharply dressed politician from the Federation of Ochima, a woman in a lab coat representing the Eurasian Alliance, and two others whose identities were shrouded in digital distortion.
One of the clearer voices spoke up.
"Your mission in Havenridge was... efficient," said the Federation representative, expression unreadable. "Your methods were unorthodox. Your results were satisfactory."
"The incident with the Yellow Vipers alone stopped a geopolitical collapse in Sector 13," the Saharta general added. "Your contribution has not gone unnoticed."
Ging yawned. "You're welcome, I guess."
"Don't play humble," Netero laughed. "These V5 guys usually argue for a month over parking space. The fact they're all praising you at once means something's about to get real messy."
Insert raised an eyebrow. "Messy how?"
Biscuit leaned against the desk, arms folded. "They're not just praising you—they're offering you clearance.their solution was to use the rose , you made a more efficient call"
The V5 panels flickered with confirmation codes and official-looking seals.
"Triple Star clearance means you're now eligible for deeper operations," said the scientist from Eurasia. "Including restricted zones tied to Dark Continent threats, Havenridge expansions, and certain 'projects' still classified even to some Zodiacs."
Ging tilted his head. "Sounds like we're going to regret saying yes."
"Undoubtedly," Netero chuckled. "But you're also the only ones insane and capable enough to actually survive them."
The call interrupted by a soft ping—a message from Netero flashing in the upper right corner of the hologram:
"P.S. You're now official candidates for the Predators Trial... but don't tell Cheadle or anyone else by the way."
Insert let out a loud laugh.
"Oh, I'm framing that message."
The Predators are the hunters that can get approval to manage threats to humanity ,Netero was one of them at some point, the first one was Don freecs , they basically get an in and out of any DC related event,
Netero: "Ah, good, Before we get to the celebrations, I'd like you to meet some very important people."
He stepped aside, and five individuals came into view, each in front of a flag representing their nation.
….
United States of Saherta – Representative Senator Doraline Vega
A woman in a sharp navy suit, platinum blonde hair tied in a no-nonsense bun, glaring down at them as if they'd just set her budget on fire.
Vega: "So… Headmaster Insert. Mister Monkey-Man. Care to explain why 40 of our finest dropped everything to chase Pokémons?"
Insert snorted, elbowing Gings.
Insert (whispering): "She said monkey-man… oh this is going in the yearbook."
...
Federation of Ochima – Representative General Boru Takkar
An enormous man in military regalia, muscles pushing the seams of his uniform. He looked like he hadn't smiled in a decade.
Takkar: "You shut down the Yellow Vipers. That earned you something. But raising an island full of nen master, are you trying to V6 or something."
Gings raised an eyebrow.
Gings: "You think we would care enough for that."
…..
Mimbo Republic – Representative Professor Halji Urna
An elderly scholar with dozens of rings, speaking with a soft voice and sharp wit.
Urna: "Your educational system has already reshaped the entire Nen curriculum. We can't keep pretending it's just a sideshow. The Mimbo Scientific Council wants cooperation—or supervision."
....
Kukan'yu Kingdom – Representative Queen Imala VI
Draped in crimson and jade robes, her voice was elegant and cold.
Queen Imala: "You gave my cousin's son a Larvitar. Do you know how many diplomatic troubles he caused, he was just a sweet kid and you made him a madman wielding katana with a larvitar ,I want you either in exile… or on payroll."
....
Begerossé Union – Representative Prime Officer Raul Hesten
A tech magnate turned diplomat. He seemed far too relaxed, sipping espresso.
Hesten: "Honestly, I think what you've done is genius. But my advisors want your energy regulated. We want sun stones , and health pearls (basically biscuit and cheadle teamed up with happinies to make a portable healing pearls , that will get them both to the 3rd star hunters in about 2 months or so, couldn't sell them though because they don't own the materiels used , so they are waiting for insert to give them a cut and a green light )."
....
Netero raised a hand, smiling like a man enjoying every moment.
Netero: "So… to sum up. They're all a little pissed off… but they also want to recruit you and trade with Both of you."
He leaned toward the camera.
Netero: "Or maybe they just want to keep you close enough to watch. Either way… Congratulations. You've caught the eye of the five most powerful nations in the world. Try not to cause an international incident ,okay?"
Insert turned to Gings, grinning.
Insert: "Think we should just go there now ?"
Gings "OH ,Let me do it , ACCOMPANY ON NETERO."