Three days later.
The spaceship that Biscuit was on landed in Vandy City.
As soon as she left the airport, she hurriedly go to Stone Tavern without stopping.
In less than half an hour, Biscuit arrived at the tavern.
Guided by the photo Moses had sent, she quickly found Moses, Menchi, and Shizuku sitting in a corner booth.
Ignoring Shizuku and Menchi, Biscuit sat next to Moses, skipped the greetings, and asked directly: "How much money do you have?"
"About a billion, probably."
Moses picked up a bottle and poured Biscuit a drink.
"Only 1 billion?"
Biscuit leaned back on the sofa in disappointment and sighed, "That's too little. It feels completely insufficient."
"Not necessarily."
Moses pushed the drink to Biscuit with a smile.
Biscuit suddenly glanced at Moses's profile and keenly asked, "Are you hiding something from me?"
"Not exactly hiding, just hadn't mentioned it before."
"Then tell me now."
Biscuit didn't mind such small matters. She just wanted to know what Moses meant by what he said just now.
Moses didn't answer right away. Instead, he placed a plate of snacks in front of Biscuit.
"Have a drink and some food first. Then we'll move to a different place, and I'll tell you. It's good news, anyway."
"…"
Biscuit rolled her eyes at him but didn't press further.
More than an hour later.
In the hotel suite.
Biscuit sat on the sofa, deep in thought.
"So, you also have the End of Monka Expeditionary Force in your hands, and it's a genuine one, but it's now stored with the Chairman?"
"Yes."
Moses nodded.
Biscuit glanced up at him and said with a straight face:
"That is indeed good news for me. If nothing unexpected happens, it will allow me to save a lot of money. But why didn't you tell me earlier? Do you know what I've been going through lately?"
"I don't know, and I don't want to know."
Moses decisively cut off Biscuit's impending complaints.
In fact, he could guess what Biscuit had been up to during this time.
Most likely, she is working like crazy just to save money.
Biscuit glared at Moses, and then said, "There is still a week before the Museum Exchange Conference begins. If I start preparing now, I should make it in time. But as for the Chairman... you need to inform him."
"No problem."
Moses smiled.
Biscuit raised a hand to her chin, smiling as well.
"Moses, then I won't be polite."
"It's mutually beneficial."
Moses said seriously.
Beside them, Menchi and Shizuku couldn't help but have question marks popping up over their heads.
They looked at Moses and Biscuit who were talking, feeling like they were witnessing a conversation between a sly old fox and a cunning young fox.
The so-called saving money—
Was essentially about using some method to prove that 'The End of the Monka Expeditionary Force' at the Museum Exchange Conference is a fake.
At that time, Biscuit will be able to buy 'The End of the Monka Expeditionary Force' which has been proven to be a fake at a 'halved' price.
That's how they save money.
As for how this proof would be carried out, it depended on Biscuit's skills.
However, once they obtained the genuine End of the Monka Expeditionary Force from Netero, the operation shouldn't be too difficult.
In any case—
If the plan goes well, Biscuit could obtain the gems she wanted at a low price, and Moses could auction the genuine article for a sky-high price.
This is mutual benefit.
"This 'Museum Exchange Conference' is going to be very interesting."
Biscuit said with a smile.
She had decided to 'expose the fake'. However, the timing would be after the "Artifact Exchange Conference" ended.
So.
Biscuit still planned to attend this Museum Exchange Conference, but she no longer has to worry about how to secure 'The End of the Monka Expeditionary Force' in advance.
.....
The Snow Palace.
This is the venue for the Museum Exchange Conference and also the private estate of the Hex Family.
The architectural tone of the entire Snow Palace is mainly white, with a European style. It is located in the center of a vast courtyard like a palace.
In this vast courtyard, where sightseeing buses are required for transportation, a very high level of security arrangements were always in place.
The courtyard is surrounded by towering walls, and various alarm devices are installed throughout, forming an impenetrable barrier.
Near the base of the walls, guard dogs roamed freely.
Additionally, there are over a hundred security personnel patrolling the courtyard, creating a constant security line.
This is the usual level of security.
Then, on the day of the 'Museum Exchange Conference', the security level at the Snow Palace would be further heightened.
The number of on-site security personnel would at least triple.
Inside the Snow Palace, in a luxurious study.
Koko is in a good mood.
On one hand, her subordinates had finally found the Nen Exorcist she had been longing for, and on the other hand, she had received a guarantee from the Zoldyck Family.
Fiona stood behind Koko.
Even if she couldn't see Koko's expression at the moment, she could easily sense Koko's joyful mood.
"It is to exorcise the Nen of that sword that you went to such great lengths to invite a Nen Exorcist..."
Fiona turned her gaze to look at the murderous blood-patterned long sword lying horizontally on the desk, which was exuding a fierce Post-Mortem Nen.
From the existence of this Post-Mortem Nen. it was clear that the sword had become an unsuitable item for sale.
Therefore, she could only invite a Nen Exorcist to remove the Post-Mortem Nen that could easily affect ordinary people.
It was only after Fiona came here that she realized that Koko had been troubled with finding a Nen Exorcist.
She initially wanted to suggest inviting Moses, but upon discovering that Koko had already secured a Nen Exorcist, she decided against it.
After a while…
The Nen Exorcist who accepted the commission came into the study.
This Nen Exorcist was emaciated, giving off an impression of malnutrition.
Fiona looked at the person and was slightly taken aback.
'Eriselle?
She vaguely remembered this person's name.
The Nen Exorcist invited by Koko is Eriselle, who possessed the Nen Exorcism Ability called [Appetite of Anorexic].
…
Somewhere in the world.
A junkyard piled with numerous abandoned cars.
Many cars were stacked like scrap metal, forming small hills.
It was dusk.
The orange glow of the setting sun bathed the abandoned cars and thirteen figures either sitting or standing among them.
Among them, there was a slender figure standing on the flat ground, surrounded by the gazes of those present.
This figure was none other than Chrollo Lucilfer, the leader of the Phantom Troupe.
The other twelve people present were also the members of the Phantom Troupe.
The Spiders were all gathered.
Shalnark, who had been teleported away in the ruins, was naturally there, though he was missing a large part of his left arm and his right palm.
Sharing his misfortune was Franklin, who had lost his right arm.
"I heard from Machi that you almost died in the Hunter Exam."
Franklin looked at Shalnark, who was sitting atop a pile of scrap cars.
"Ah, yes."
Shalnark smiled bitterly and said, "If it weren't for Sheila, I would most likely be dead."
Recalling Sheila's sudden call for help...
It turns out that the reason why she got lost was to 'find' him who was about to fall into trouble.
So, when he was teleported away, he ended up falling not far from where Sheila was.
"Then Sheila..."
"Don't ask me, I don't know where she is now either."
Shalnark seemed to know what Franklin wanted to ask and answered preemptively.