Xiang Nan slowly began sharing some information about the "Multiverse."
He explained how battles in the "Reincarnation Dimension" take shape, what kind of intruders appear, the positions and motives they usually hold, and what damage they could do to the main world. He also mentioned that it's possible to obtain resources from other worlds to strengthen oneself.
But all of this, he said, was just the framework of the Reincarnation Dimension. Even if Netero or V5 knew it, it wasn't the truly important part. The real key was understanding the intel, power systems, and underlying rules of those other worlds. Without that, even knowing what the "battlefield" was wouldn't help.
Xiang Nan's goal here was simply to give the Hunter World some basic awareness and preparation. The real core secrets—like the true nature of the power systems, details about story characters, and player mechanics—would only come if V5 showed real sincerity. Those were the things that gave him leverage over V5, and he had no intention of revealing them this early.
"I've got a question," Ging Freecss cut in once Xiang Nan finished.
"Go ahead."
"Your Nameless Town group—your stance is to always match the world you show up in, right?"
"Heh… of course. We're part of that world. But in certain times and situations, we can choose to betray it—if the outside environment threatens our own survival," Xiang Nan replied. He knew Ging was fishing indirectly, trying to piece together intel through careful wording, and he didn't mind answering this one honestly.
Ging rubbed his chin. "Another thing… I've personally spoken to a few Nameless Town players. They were cagey like you, but I could tell there are secrets you're not allowed to share—or maybe some kind of force keeping you in check. That force is probably the reason you can even know and understand the 'Multiverse.' It's also what gives you your purpose."
"Secrets we can't tell… from your perspective, they're not really important. All you need is to understand how the game works," Xiang Nan said evenly.
"No." Ging smiled faintly. "It matters—because your secrets… they involve part of our fate."
Xiang Nan held his gaze, but didn't answer. Ging was right—players knowing the future path of the world meant they could touch the fate lines of story characters like him. If it touched the plot, Xiang Nan couldn't talk about it. Even if he did, the system would likely censor it. Silence was the better answer.
"I get it," Ging said, nodding. He already had his answer.
"Let's set the Multiverse aside for now. One last question—will the Chairman die soon?"
At that, Netero didn't flinch. His expression and mood didn't shift at all.
"Everyone dies," Xiang Nan shrugged.
"As a 'Doctor'… could you change that?" Ging asked with a sly grin. The double meaning was obvious. A doctor could also mean the one person capable of opening the gate to the Multiverse—a savior figure. If they worked together, could Xiang Nan use resources from the Multiverse to reverse Netero's fate? Or even push human society forward and prevent certain disasters?
"That depends… on my skill as a doctor," Xiang Nan replied.
"And I'm guessing you have a way to take us to other worlds, like you did with those spirits cursed?" Ging asked.
"That's right," Xiang Nan confirmed.
He couldn't help but respect Ging's mind. From this single encounter, Ging had already been watching the Nameless Town—players—for a long time, digging into their mysteries. He'd noticed things Netero hadn't, and pieced together key points just by observing from the outside during the fight.
But unlike Pariston, Ging's sharpness and skill didn't make him an enemy. As long as someone wasn't his enemy, Xiang Nan didn't care. That was why he was willing to share some intel here—both Ging and Netero posed no real threat to him.
"What about me—can I?" Ging tapped a finger at himself, clearly intrigued.
"You? I'd be fine with that. But at this stage, it's not a matter between me and the Association anymore—it's about higher-level approval. The Association still answers to V5. You've got the strength, but whether you can team up with me depends on whether V5 says yes… and before that, they have to satisfy me. Understand?" Xiang Nan smiled.
"Power, huh…" Ging ruffled his messy hair. For the first time in his life, he felt a twinge of interest in it—because to join Xiang Nan's "game," strength alone wasn't enough. Power mattered more.
The three of them kept talking until morning.
By the next day, Netero, Ging, and the others had all left. Yorknew City's month-long auction finally closed, and the media began reporting on the massive destruction that had hit the city overnight. Once that news spread, it would be obvious to players in the Hunter World that invaders were behind it.
Xiang Nan returned to the Republic of Padokea and briefed Beishi on exactly what happened and how he'd killed Jogo and the rest.
"Besides the dimensional coins, you got strategy points too?"
"Yeah. I figure it's because it was a first-kill squad. Teaming up players and story characters boosts squad power, but it's risky—if you die in another world, you're handing those strategy points over. I only got 5% this time, so it's not huge. Even with the first-kill badge, players teaming with story characters need to be careful."
"That's enough. Once we hit 20%, we can launch a counter-invasion."
"Didn't expect to run into another first-kill squad so soon… and from the mission difficulty they faced, it's insane. If we were in their spot, we might not have made it back alive. The system's strength scaling is brutal. If we only hit that around round nine or ten…"
"We'll worry about it later. There's still the growth from round eight's space expansion."
In the private quarters of Ten Dons member Mia, Xiang Nan set down his phone. He was now in the new Zoldyck family base—formerly Ten Don Edi's turf. Thanks to him and the Spiders, Mia had taken control and become one of the new Ten Dons. Even though the underworld was in chaos, with gangs clashing with the military in many regions, Padokea's territories were the first to stabilize.
"They still haven't contacted me?" Xiang Nan frowned. He'd expected V5 to reach out right after his talk with Netero. But… nothing.
"Heh." That reaction made him smile faintly. Clearly, agreeing to work with him would put V5 on the back foot, and they knew it. So… they didn't want to bow their heads.
"Looks like the next stretch is going to be interesting."
If he was right, V5 would start approaching other Nameless Town players to see if they could replace him in the Multiverse. Compare options. Test the waters. Pick an easier target.
From their perspective, working with him was too dangerous—not just because of Padokea and Kakin. His methods and track record alone made V5 feel that partnering with him was like "making a deal with a devil."
At the core, it was just that V5 was used to being on top, controlling others—not being controlled. Simple as that.
"A bunch of idiots… even now, still clinging to their little bit of power. Fine, waste your time. But when you come back to negotiate, the price won't be what it is now."
With a quiet, mocking remark, Xiang Nan stood and walked out the door.