"You win, I concede."
Razor's voice dispersed in the sea breeze, carrying a sense of relief.
He patted the sand and dust off his body.
Leo broke into a smile.
"I had a lot of fun!"
He naturally walked over to Razor's side and patted the man's sturdy arm. The force wasn't heavy, but Razor could feel the latent power within that palm.
"Let's go, let's head back! I have a lot of questions waiting for you, the 'Administrator,' to answer for me."
Having said that, Leo turned around on his own and leisurely walked toward the fortress.
Razor stood where he was, watching Leo's back. He rubbed his back, which was still burning with pain, and shook his head.
This young man really didn't show any mercy when striking.
If he hadn't dodged that spike, he probably would have become part of the crater by now.
He sighed helplessly, took a step, and followed.
Inside a lounge in the seaside fortress, the sea breeze blew in through the open window.
The room wasn't large and the furnishings were simple—a long table, a few chairs, a small freezer in the corner, and a painting on the wall depicting a lighthouse by the sea.
Razor took two bottles of water from the small freezer in the corner and casually tossed one to Leo.
He unscrewed one for himself, tilted his head back, and took a large gulp, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down.
Water droplets slid down his chin and dripped onto his collar.
He squinted his eyes again, returning to that lazy appearance, leaning against the back of the chair with his arms crossed.
"Alright, what do you want to know? But I won't answer everything for you."
He said seriously.
Leo took the water and said his thanks.
He sat opposite Razor, looking directly at him, getting straight to the point.
"I want to know how this 'Greed Island' was actually created."
He laid out all of his observations.
"Based on my analysis and observations, relying solely on your twelve Nen Users—even if every one of you is a top-tier expert—it would be absolutely impossible to sustain an island this massive, complex, and 'real' for over a decade."
"Tens of thousands of highly intelligent NPCs, monsters with diverse forms and complex behavioral patterns, strictly logical game mechanics, and this perfect card rule System... the total amount of Nen and precise control required has already exceeded the scope of 'human power.' Even with the most severe 'Vows and Restrictions' added, I don't believe it could reach this level."
"From what I understand, everything on this island can be turned into cards, which to some extent is already interfering with reality. Furthermore, the cards can be taken to the outside world to be used. Behind this..."
He paused slightly and observed Razor's reaction.
The other man's eyes remained squinted, revealing no emotion whatsoever.
Leo continued.
"I've had many guesses, among which 'Divine Letters' is the most likely one, but I think besides Divine Letters, there must be other 'things' providing support."
He stopped speaking and waited quietly for Razor's answer.
The lounge fell silent.
Outside the window, the waves crashed against the reefs, making a rhythmic sound.
After a moment of silence, Razor spoke slowly.
"There truly are many smart people in this world; the direction of your guess is correct."
Hearing Razor's ambiguous answer, Leo also knew the answer within it.
Divine Letters—those carved on the magic circles at the game's starting point, carved on the walls, carved in certain corners of the island—perhaps these are the foundation for building Greed Island.
The Nen of the twelve administrators is merely the blood injected into the skeleton, while the Divine Letters are the heart that makes the blood flow.
Leo followed up.
"Among the twelve of you, there must be at least two Great Masters proficient in the path of Divine Letters. I suspect Ging must be very good at Divine Letters as well. Carving a network of Divine Letters that covers the entire island is definitely a long and painstaking project."
At this point, his tone suddenly shifted.
"But! Even with such a massive Divine Letters System as a foundation and enhancement, there is one point I still can't figure out."
"Oh?"
Razor seemed to have his interest piqued, and he leaned forward slightly.
"What point?"
"You, or rather, all of you—"
Leo asked.
"Why are you willing to stay on this island for over a decade? Is it because you don't want to Leave, or... because you can't Leave?"
When the words "can't Leave" were spoken, Razor's eyes, which had been squinted all along, opened into a tiny, imperceptible slit.
Although they returned to their original state in an instant, that fleeting sharp light was accurately captured by Leo.
That wasn't relaxation, nor was it surprise; it was vigilance—the kind of instinctive reaction that only occurs when a core secret is touched upon.
A brief silence fell over the room.
After a long while, Razor finally spoke slowly.
"Hmm—how should I put it..."
He seemed to be weighing his words, his fingers tapping twice on the armrest.
"You are indeed very smart, your observation skills are astonishing, and... you've grasped the most critical issue."
He looked up, his squinted eyes fixed on Leo, his tone becoming candid.
"Yes, we indeed... cannot Leave, but I can't tell you the reason."
Razor looked up at the ceiling and murmured.
"Besides, I'm a death row inmate. If I don't stay on this island, where else could I go..."
Leo smiled and didn't follow up on that.
He had long had such a suspicion; now it was simply confirmed.
He continued to ask.
"Are you waiting for the game to be cleared?"
Razor did not answer.
His silence was an answer in itself.
He stood up and placed the empty water bottle on the table.
"That's all I can answer. As for the rest, I'm afraid I cannot resolve your doubts. If you are capable enough, perhaps you can find the answers yourself."
After a moment of thought, Leo asked.
"I have one last question. Specified Slot Card No. 65: witchs rejuvenation potion—is the effect real?"
Razor rubbed his chin and immediately understood Leo's meaning.
"Do you want to take this card out to use? The effect is real, but it won't increase your lifespan; what it restores is the physical state of the body."
Leo also stood up and placed the unopened water bottle on the table beside him.
He looked at Razor with a calm gaze.
"I understand. Thank you for your cooperation, Mr. Razor."
He stopped questioning and gave Razor a casual wave of his hand.
"Well then, I'll take my Leave. Goodbye!"
After saying that, he turned and walked out of the lounge.
Razor watched his back without speaking.
His gaze became somewhat complex the moment Leo walked out the door.
This young man was much smarter than he had imagined, and much more dangerous.
He not only saw through the surface rules of Greed Island but also touched upon its underlying architecture, even guessing the fact that they, the administrators, could not Leave.
Leo had only taken a few steps when he seemed to suddenly remember something and turned to say to Razor.
"Right, let me tell you some news. Ging's son, 'Gon,' has already entered Greed Island. I expect it won't be long before he finds his way here."
Hearing the words "Ging's son," Razor paused slightly.
Some instructions Ging had once given flashed through his mind; that was many years ago.
Ging had stood before him, patted his shoulder, and said with a smile.
"Razor, my son will come here one day. When that happens, don't hold back—use your full strength against him!"
That smiling face, carrying a hint of seriousness, was still clear in his memory.
By the time Razor snapped out of it, Leo had already left.
Razor sat back down, picked up the bottle of water Leo hadn't drunk from the table, unscrewed the cap, and took a slow sip.
He leaned against the back of the chair and closed his eyes.
This day had finally come.