"Ding! Hunter Exam completed."
A familiar system voice echoed in Jon's mind.
Inside his game system inventory, two new Stand Cards lay quietly. The system's protection period was nearing its end—back when Jon had fewer than five Stands, he was allowed to directly purchase Stand cards. It was a built-in safety net, designed so that unlucky players wouldn't rage-quit the game in its early stages.
But now that he had more than five Stands, the system had locked the direct purchase function. From here on out, his only option was Universal Cards—and that meant rolling the gacha wheel of fate.
Universal Cards could grant anything from the JoJo's Bizarre Adventure universe—Stands, items, abilities, or even character traits. But that also meant sifting through a mountain of absurd nonsense like "Pucci's Favorite Coffee-Flavored Gum" or "Tequila Girl's Lipstick."
Still, with enough luck, you could draw something extraordinary: the Requiem Arrow, the Red Stone of Aja, Beyond Heaven's Notebook, or even the Saint's Corpse. Of course, the chances of pulling one of those were about as good as winning the lottery—twice.
Standing on the deck of the ship taking them back to port, Jon had bought two sardines from the crew at a discount and released them into the sea. Originally, he'd wanted to release a koi—more spiritual resonance—but this wasn't a Japanese pond, and koi didn't exactly hang around saltwater. Everything else was either too rare or too expensive.
He'd also managed to haggle his way into three off-brand cigarettes from a crewman.
"Koi, bless me to pull Wonder of U," Jon muttered as he bowed three times toward the sardines, hands clasped solemnly.
After all, sardines were still fish. Maybe they had some connections in the afterlife. Perhaps they could put in a good word for him with their koi cousins.
"Look at that kid... you can tell he failed the exam and snapped. Poor guy."
"Yeah... must've been rough." The crew looked at Jon with visible pity. Some even offered a sympathetic nod.
But Jon ignored them all. His heart was racing.
He calmed his breath and activated the first card.
A flicker of light burst from the card—and a black silhouette began to take shape.
Its purple body was lined with white mesh stripes of varying intensity. It wore metal rings on its wrists and ankles. Columnar ears jutted out from its head, and a zipper-like chin gave it a pharaoh-like beard. It stood proud and sleek.
[Highway Star].
Originally owned by Yuya Fungami from Diamond is Unbreakable. Yuya had started as an enemy before being moved—literally and emotionally—by Josuke and joining the good guys.
[Highway Star] – Stats: Destructive Power: C
Speed: B
Range: A
Precision: E
Persistence: A
Growth Potential: C
A solid pull. Highway Star could run at 60 km/h, track targets via scent, and share its five senses with Jon. Its hunting form—discs shaped like footprints—was perfect for pursuit.
More importantly, it could drain nutrients from enemies and transfer them to Jon, instantly weakening his foes and healing him. It was even immune to being shredded, making it the natural enemy of close-range swordsmen like Nobunaga.
Jon cracked a grin. "Okay… not bad. Not Star Platinum-level, but still a serious weapon."
He tapped the second card.
A second shimmer of light.
Then—a red, rotund figure with a grotesque face slowly emerged from the glow.
"F*ck me..." Jon muttered. "Really? This one?"
The Stand looked more like a tomato with attitude than a weapon. But it was unmistakable.
[Pearl Jam].
Destructive Power: E
Precision: E
Attack Power: Zero
Fighting Capability: Nonexistent
Even Hermit Purple could choke someone. Pearl Jam? Not even that.
Still, it had its uses. With Pearl Jam, Jon's horrific cooking no longer mattered. As long as the ingredients were edible, Pearl Jam could make any dish taste divine. Hell, even inedible ingredients could be transformed into world-class cuisine.
It had healing properties, too. The medical benefits of its cooking were miraculous. A powerful gimmick—and one that could be monetized.
Jon chuckled darkly. "Well then… if nothing else, I've got a future as a chef."
He looked down at his two new companions—one for combat, one for commerce.
Jon dialed again. The phone clicked, then connected.
"Hello? Robson? It's Jon... Who was that person you mentioned earlier?"
Robson had tried to recruit Jon into his Hunter Studio ever since learning he'd awakened Nen—hoping to use Jon's potential to track down dangerous fugitives.
Robson chuckled on the other end. "Oh, that person? You'd never guess. Let me keep you in suspense for now—you'll know when the time comes. But I do have a lead: your Nen tutor is currently at Heavens Arena. I don't know much about them personally, but one thing's for sure—they're strong. Very strong."
Heavens Arena.The place where Gon and Killua had first learned Nen.Where Gon had returned Hisoka's number plate.Where legends were made and battles became stories whispered across continents.
Fighters flocked there from every corner of the world, lured by massive prize money. Floor Masters like Chairman Netero and Hisoka once ruled its towers.
It was a sacred ground for combat—equal parts battleground and proving ground.
But Jon wasn't too worried. With the Epitaph of King Crimson and the defensive versatility of Stone Free, as long as he didn't get reckless and provoke the monsters at the top, he'd be fine.
Still, reaching Heavens Arena wouldn't be quick.
Jon bought a train ticket from the port city. The trip would take two days and one night to reach the city housing the tower. Planes were faster, but he couldn't afford the luxury. Not with how low his funds were running.
Sure, with his powers he could make quick cash through some "creative theft"... but did it really come to that?
It's just a train ride.
Jon wasn't naive. He would never sell his Hunter License—its long-term value far outweighed any short-term gain. So for now, he'd live frugally.
He slung his small backpack over one shoulder and boarded the crowded train. After stowing his bag in the overhead rack, he found a window seat, sat down, and leaned back, resting his head against the glass as the countryside began to blur by.
The train was slow. This world's rail development hadn't caught up yet. The cheap ticket got him a regular seat—tight, stuffy, packed with noise.
Somewhere in the back of the carriage, a group of shady men were whispering.
"Boss, I think that kid over there... he was in the last Hunter Exam."
The supposed "boss," a bald man in his forties with a mean glint in his eye, frowned. "Huh? That scrawny brat? He must've paid off the examiners to make it that far."
"Right?" said another man. "Let's rough him up a little, see what we can squeeze out of him."
"You idiots," one of them muttered darkly, "does that look like a rich brat? He's on a cheap seat in a third-rate train. Maybe he offered the examiner something else, if you know what I mean..."
The bald man's grin turned predatory. "Heh... If that's the case, we should enjoy some of that generosity too."
"Wait, wait," said a calmer voice from the group. "What if he did pass the exam? What if he's the real deal?"
"Please. Look at him—he's just a kid. What kind of kid passes the Hunter Exam?"
"We ask first. Then we decide," said the one with a sliver of sense.
The others weren't listening. Their eyes locked on Jon—eyes filled with greed and menace.
Jon, meanwhile, remained completely unaware.
He rested his chin in one hand, eyelids growing heavy, as the rhythmic clatter of the train lulled him into a light doze. Outside the window, green hills passed by beneath golden sunlight.