Once Xiang Nan formalized their "employment" arrangement, he briefly spruced Manman up—bought her some new clothes and made sure she was cleaned up. After all, as the "boss," he should at least show some care and provide for his staff. But the expense would, of course, go on Manman's tab, increasing the total she owed.

She'd have to pay it off little by little. As for when she'd finish paying it all back, that depended on whether her debt continued to grow…

In truth, Xiang Nan was simply using a free-form "teaming up" strategy to keep Manman at his side—for now. From his perspective, she was a player who posed no threat, someone quite simple-minded. If used correctly, she could be an asset. Among the typically jaded and ruthless two-lives' worth of sins in the player base, finding such a "gem" was quite rare. He intended to secure her first.

After all, as fellow system players, their growth and potential went far beyond ordinary Hunter x Hunter inhabitants. Manman possessed huge potential if cultivated properly—and was easy to tie to him. With enough experience, as she cleared the system's exams, her ceiling would dwarf someone like Garo or Sigma, who were merely native "military elites." By definition, players and the system belonged to a higher "species."

Moreover, in a game sense, two players together beat a lone one—especially if that partner was so docile and easy to direct.

…

A few days later, on the airship back to Kotaki City:

Xiang Nan glanced to the seat beside him, watching Manman gingerly enjoying an ice-cream cone, savoring each lick. Even the drips sliding down her fingers, she carefully lapped up, not wanting to waste a single drop. From the blissful look on her face, one might think she was in heaven.

Gone was her filthy school uniform; her hair, now combed into a single ponytail, and she wore a modest white dress suited to her age. Xiang Nan had also bought a small red hairclip as an accent. If you didn't know her story or her identity as a player, you'd think she was just a bright, innocent teen, somewhat cute, radiating a fresh charm.

Over the past few days, Manman had slightly opened up to this "boss." Xiang Nan learned the nature of her "crime." In her previous life on Earth, due to her other personality, she'd been taken to a psychiatric hospital as a child, one that was extremely abusive.

According to her, her condition initially wasn't dangerous; she remembered everything that happened under personality shifts. But once incarcerated in that place, subjected to daily mistreatment, her disorder intensified.

She lost all control of her "alter," frequently waking to find she'd hurt people—progressing from minor injuries to severe, even killing. Ultimately, the hospital staff "handled" her.

She wouldn't detail exactly how many were hurt or killed, but Xiang Nan could imagine. Her soul's apparent age was roughly the same as her current body's, so at least she hadn't suffered any mismatch between body and spirit.

As for how she cleared the first two rounds of the Extinction Game, she herself had no idea. Every time her other self acted, she'd black out like she was asleep, then come to with the stage already over. She'd always feel guilt-ridden, but had no memory of the event.

Xiang Nan found it intriguing—and upon using his military credentials to search her records in Hunter x Hunter, discovered some…interesting results: truancy, robbery, homicide. She was already on the Republic of Padokea's wanted list.

"You're the only person I've not hurt after waking up,"

Manman had whispered, one reason why she'd chosen to follow Xiang Nan. She disliked harming others, yet couldn't control her attacks during episodes, so she avoided people altogether. That explained her shy and introverted manner.

"Yeah, you've had it rough," Xiang Nan said sympathetically, "but hey, money doesn't fall from the sky; you still gotta repay me."

"Oh."

"Also, wiping your criminal record clean costs money, too."

"Yes… Thanks, boss."

…

Some hours later, as the airship landed in Kotaki City, Garo and the others awaited them with the military jeep. Seeing Xiang Nan step off with a new girl in tow, they were all perplexed.

"His girlfriend?"

"Doesn't look it—she's too young, plus the Captain never mentioned going home."

"He used to be single and divorced, right? That crazy personality—he just kills women if it suits him. Yikes… maybe she's his daughter?"

"She looks at most, what, mid-teens? Captain's only thirty. That'd mean having a child at sixteen or so. Pretty hardcore!"

As they whispered among themselves, Xiang Nan approached with Manman.

"Captain."

Garo greeted him. Their "hunting Nen users" squad had an informal rule: in private, they called Xiang Nan "Captain." Back in the base, he was their superior by rank.

"Let's head back to base."

Xiang Nan opened the passenger door and got in.

"Uh, Captain, who's… this?"

One teammate cleared his throat, curious.

"An employee,"

Xiang Nan replied offhandedly.

"?? …???"

No one followed that explanation. They stared blankly. They'd assumed the newcomer might be Xiang Nan's sister, but "employee"…?

Yet since Xiang Nan wasn't elaborating, they didn't pry. Soon the car was rolling toward the military district. Along the way, Sigma and the others tried making friendly conversation with Manman—introducing themselves—but she was too shy. So they backed off, not wanting to spook her.

"How's that recruitment coming?" Xiang Nan asked.

"It's nearly set," Garo, in the driver's seat, answered. "We've found some fresh picks eager to be part of your team. They can't wait."

"We told them about the danger, the death rate?"

"Yes, sir."

"Fine. No need for me to check, I'll leave it to you guys."

Xiang Nan nodded, then closed his eyes to rest. Though they'd paused their "hunt for Nen users," Xiang Nan still intended to build a personal elite squad in the army, slowly expanding. If some eventually awakened Nen, all the better.

This latest "3rd Round Extinction Game" had exposed him to more system intel. From its rules, leaning on external forces was crucial. Besides Manman—a system player easy to handle—there were Garo and others from this world. Such combined forces would help him stand firmer in Hunter x Hunter.

Once they returned to the base, Xiang Nan planned for Manman to start work immediately. And her first task?—Forced Nen Awakening!

~~~

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