Ickshonpe's face stretched into an enormous grin. "You're not bad! At least you don't call me by some dumb name like him." He jabbed a thumb toward Ging, clearly enjoying Larry's respectful tone.
Ging just shrugged. "You're no fun."
With a casual motion, Ging reached into his pocket and pulled out a small, ordinary-looking metal box. "Anyway, here you go, your copy of Greed Island. I had a few in reserve, so I figured I'd give you one directly."
Larry took the item with a satisfied nod. "Thanks. I'll make good use of it."
Seeing this, Ickshonpe perked up. "So you're into games too?"
"Yeah," Larry replied. "I got curious about Greed Island, so I figured I'd try it out."
He paused for a moment, then leaned in slightly with a small, knowing smile. "Wanna hear about even cooler games?"
"…?"
Ickshonpe tilted his head, intrigued. Some time later, in that same endless white digital world, only Ickshonpe remained. Ging and Larry had already left.
Ickshonpe stood alone in the void, surrounded by cardboard sheets now covered in rough sketches, gameplay notes, and wild design ideas. His abstract face glowed with excitement, mouth stretched into a ridiculous grin.
"Larry is amazing… I have to make these games!"
Earlier, Larry had spent some time sharing stories about the types of games from his world on Earth, massive open worlds, online multiplayer experiences, social deduction mechanics, choice-based narratives. It was an entire universe of innovation.
For Ickshonpe, who was still locked in a mindset shaped by traditional single-player games, it was like someone had just shown him fire. He always believed that Greed Island was the pinnacle of game design.
And to be fair, in many ways it was. The sheer fact that real people could be physically transported into the game world made it unlike anything Earth had ever achieved. The Nen-based mechanics and unique item systems gave it the charm of a fully immersive fantasy realm.
But now, after hearing about the games Larry described, Ickshonpe's creative mind was ablaze. Games weren't just about immersion, they could be art, they could be community, they could be infinite.
He stared at his scrawled notes, eyes burning with passion. "There's no way I'm not building these."
In many areas, there were still countless masterpieces on Earth that could easily surpass him. Larry wasn't here to boast, he just wanted to introduce a different kind of game and broaden her horizons. He talked about card games, competitive games, all sorts of genres that might spark new ideas.
Then, with a sudden flash of white light, Larry reappeared in front of Menchi. "Back already?" she asked, stepping forward, though a flicker of worry lingered in her eyes.
"Yeah, I'm back, and I brought what we need." Larry lifted the iron box in his hand.
It looked simple at first glance, but Menchi quickly realized what it was. That ordinary-looking box was actually the legendary Greed Island, a treasure worth a fortune in any market.
"I just had a quick chat with a friend. Now, let's try this out for real."
Larry placed the Greed Island console on the table and handed her a ring. "This is what we'll need inside the game. Put it on, and we can go in together."
Earlier, when he entered the game with the others, Ging had passed him two rings, one for him, one for a partner. Ging had already given away the consoles, so he figured he might as well provide the whole set.
These rings weren't just accessories. They were crucial for using commands like "Gain" and "Book", tools that played a central role in gameplay.
They were second only to the console itself in terms of importance. "Wait, we'll have to enter one at a time," Larry added.
Just like in the original version of the game, there was only one receptionist: Eta. That meant each player had to be processed individually, with all the rules and procedures carefully explained before they could officially enter.
Menchi nodded obediently, curiosity gleaming in her eyes. She still didn't know that Greed Island wasn't just some VR fantasy, it was an actual, physical location in the real world.
Larry took a breath, focused his aura, and stood in front of the console. He activated the ring with a soft chant, "Start", and a wave of aura surged out. As soon as his aura connected with the system, his body vanished. "So this is Greed Island, huh…"
He looked around and found himself in a strange space made of glowing black-and-white grid lines. A large door stood ahead of him.
As he followed the path forward, he encountered the familiar sight of Eta, Greed Island's in-game receptionist. "Welcome to the world of Greed Island," she said.
Eta sat atop a floating machine, her voice gentle and mechanical. She looked up and paused, recognizing the name Ging had mentioned just moments earlier.
'So this is the one Ging was talking about… Larry, huh. The guy who got a whole console gifted to him.'
Eta's wide eyes scanned his face. She knew every Game Master currently monitoring the island had just been informed: someone special was entering. And this was the first time Ging had ever made that kind of announcement.
As she recalled Ging's cryptic warning, her voice continued its automated script. "Would you like me to explain the game rules?"
"Give me the short version," Larry replied. He remembered most of it from the manga, but it had been years, and the details were hazy. A quick refresher couldn't hurt.
"Understood." Eta launched into the overview. Larry stood quietly, absorbing her words while looking around.
"…That concludes the basic rules of Greed Island. You can discover the rest as you play."
Eta gestured toward a staircase nearby.
"You may proceed down the steps to begin."
As her voice faded, Larry nodded. His memories of the game's systems were now clear again. He turned toward the stairs but gave Eta a glance and said softly, "It must be exhausting, staying here all these years."
She blinked, taken aback. Players usually ignored her once the rules were explained. But Larry had noticed, really noticed, and his words left a lingering impression.
'Who exactly is he?' Eta stared after him, her curiosity now fully piqued.
Larry walked down the spiral staircase. His boots hit soft earth as he stepped onto the lush green lawn, surrounded by sunlight and endless blue sky.
This was it, Greed Island. The real thing. Not some data-generated world, but a physical island tucked away somewhere in the real world.
It reminded him of those starting zones in Pokémon games, like Pallet Town or New Bark Town. A quiet, peaceful hub before the real adventure began.
Rolling fields stretched far into the distance, and the scent of wild grass filled the air. Larry stood still for a moment, soaking it all in. This was a legendary game, no, a world, and it was all waiting ahead of him.