Germain couldn't possibly remember every character from Hunter x Hunter, but he did remember a few with distinctive traits.
The 2D world and the 3D world are quite different, but after meeting the members of the Phantom Troupe, he realized the gap wasn't as wide as he thought. It was like comparing a sketch to a live person.
He had a hunch that the girl pretending to be shy at him earlier was "the Stone Hunter," Biscuit.
Germain kept eating his noodles without turning around. After finishing his bowl, he put down his chopsticks, took a sip of soup, and then got up to pay.
He walked towards the cash register, passing by the table where the blonde, twin-tailed girl was sitting. He took a quick glance, comparing her to his memory. This time, Germain felt 70-80% sure that it was Biscuit.
After paying the bill, he left the restaurant under the disgruntled gaze of the owner and went out onto the busy street.
First, he needed to withdraw some cash.
He was a notorious assassin with a lot of money in his bank account.
Germain took out some cash from the ATM, and as he stepped outside, he spotted Biscuit again.
Biscuit was pretending to cry, rubbing her eyes with both hands, her body shivering every time she sobbed, with tears pooling in her eyes. She looked pitiful, and her exaggerated reactions quickly drew the attention of several concerned bystanders.
Germain noticed the curious glances but kept quiet.
If he didn't already know that Biscuit was actually a woman in her fifties, her act might have fooled him too.
Biscuit was a good person at heart.
However, Germain's current role didn't afford him the luxury of being compassionate. He had no idea what Biscuit's intentions were, so he decided to simply turn and leave without engaging.
It's better not to get involved right now.
He had barely walked a few steps when he heard Biscuit let out a sharp "tsk," and then, despite her short legs, she was right behind him.
Was Biscuit just passing by, or did she have a reason for finding him? What's her motive?
Isn't she supposed to be a Stone hunter? Or did she suddenly decide to moonlight as a bounty hunter after spotting me?
Hold on... Stone hunter... Gem...
Germain remembered the "Promised Ruby," the one that was stolen by someone else and then given to Chrollo. Now he had a good idea why Biscuit might be after him.
She loved gemstones, and that particular ruby was definitely on her wish list.
Biscuit was part of the Hunter Association, which generally meant she couldn't just attack a gem merchant or outright steal a gem she fancied.
But if that ruby was now in Germain's possession, then the rules of the game changed.
Biscuit's sense of morality could be quite flexible. Taking a gem from a known thief and murderer wasn't "stealing" to her.
If she could manage to get the ruby from Germain, she would consider it hers by right.
Germain rubbed his chin. How could he delicately explain to Biscuit that he no longer had the ruby? And more importantly, would she even believe him?
Deep in thought, Germain continued walking forward when he collided with a thin man.
Huh? Germain never bumped into people, even when he was distracted. He was always alert enough to avoid them. So why had this skinny guy seemingly run into him?
It quickly became clear. The man's hands were less than honest—he'd stolen Germain's wallet in the brief contact.
Pickpocket? Really?
Germain couldn't help but let out a low whistle. He already had an idea brewing in his mind. With a swift motion, he reached out with his right hand and then pulled it back with the speed of lightning.
The thin man flinched at the sound of Germain's whistle, realizing that Germain didn't seem to notice his little bump-in. After a quick apology, the thin man hurried away.
Germain then turned into a dark alley, reached into his jacket, and pulled out not just his own wallet but also two others he had lifted from the thin man.
He opened the two stolen wallets, took out the cash and banknotes inside, and quickly counted them. The total was over 6,000 Jenny.
The value of the Jenny was roughly equivalent to the yen, so today's haul from the thin man wasn't bad—except now it was all Germain's.
He tossed the two empty wallets onto the ground and slipped the 6,000 Jenny into his own wallet.
Just then, Biscuit, who had been silently watching, stepped into the alley. She no longer looked meek and vulnerable; instead, she exuded confidence.
Feigning surprise, she pointed at Germain and said, "Oh no, you've stolen someone's wallet. That's not right; that's a crime. I should report you to the authorities."
Germain glanced at her and knew what was happening.
This was a setup.
Biscuit was playing the role of a defenseless girl, trying to lure Germain into attacking her so she could catch him off guard. The "alarm" wasn't for the police—it was for herself.
Germain realized he needed to clear things up to avoid wasting time. He said, "The 'Promised Rubies' aren't with me anymore. I already handed them over to an intermediary, and they've likely been sold by now. You're wasting your time."
He mixed in some truth with his words to make them more convincing. This was standard practice in his line of work.
Biscuit, recognizing that Germain saw through her disguise, dropped the act. With a hint of disappointment, she placed her hands on her hips and looked at Germain with curiosity.
"When did you figure out who I was and why I was here? Was it in the restaurant, where my two different 'cute girl' personas didn't faze you? You're a tough nut to crack, aren't you?"
Germain didn't want to keep talking to her, so he turned and walked away again.
But Biscuit, stubborn as always, quickly shuffled after him, holding up her frilly skirt as she did.
"I don't understand... How did you find out? I hid my aura so well, and I didn't say anything suspicious. Come on, tell me!" she said, her voice earnest and pleading.
Of course, Germain wasn't about to reveal his secrets. He had known from the start that she looked like a child, but her behavior and age seemed off. There was a high chance she'd turn out to be a major threat if he wasn't careful.
Not wise to provoke her.
So, he changed his story.
"Well, it's kind of suspicious for a twelve- or thirteen-year-old girl to be eating noodles alone in a restaurant with no guardian around. And then you started following me around. Not exactly subtle, huh?"
Biscuit paused for a moment, her expression turning thoughtful.
Then, with a burst of energy, she caught up with him again, her twin ponytails bouncing as she smiled.
"Is that it? I guess I wasn't being very inconspicuous. It's not every day you see someone as pretty as me wandering around alone. I do tend to draw attention, huh?"
She suddenly reached out and grabbed Germain's arm before he could react. He tried to pull away, but her grip was surprisingly strong.
With her left hand gripping his wrist and her right hand on her hip, Biscuit struck a pose that was more pop idol than hunter.
"Okay, let's forget about how pretty I am for a second. I've got another question for you."
Germain looked at her, feeling a little uneasy about where this was going. "What's your question?"
Biscuit's eyes sparkled with mischief. "Does your so-called agent have anything to do with the Phantom Troupe?"
Germain's eyes narrowed. How did she know? He looked down at the petite Biscuit, her confident smile showing she knew more than she was letting on.
"Why do you know about my connection with the Phantom Troupe?"
Biscuit let go of his arm and wagged her finger at him, a playful smirk on her lips.
"Remember when you stole the 'Promised Ruby'? You drew the Phantom Troupe's twelve-legged spider symbol on the most visible wall by the entrance and left your personal mark in the world of assassins. That's a dead giveaway."
Germain recalled that the previous owner of his body had indeed done that. What was meant to be a sign of allegiance to the Phantom Troupe had become a trap that now snared him.
He grimaced, realizing that this wasn't going to be as easy as he had hoped.