HxH: Ryomen... Satoru?

Cyr glanced down at the small card in his hand. It bore no photo, just a name, an ID number, and a birthplace.

Name: Cyr Deville

Birthplace: Yorknew City

"This identity has already been entered into the system database," Pampas explained.

"If you're planning to take the Hunter Exam, you can use this ID number to register online. Registration is open right now. Would you like me to help you sign up?" Pampas added.

"Aren't you worried I'll just bolt today?" Cyr asked, holding the card between his index and middle finger, a sly grin on his face.

"You're free to leave anytime. Perhaps the sooner, the better," Pampas replied nonchalantly.

"By the way, if you do decide to go, take the route through District Thirteen and head towards the Gordeau Desert. With your speed, you'll cross it in no time."

"Or you could hitch a ride on one of the garbage transport airships," Pampas offered, casually listing escape routes.

Cyr blinked, his eyes narrowing in suspicion.

When Pampas had initially insisted he stay in Meteor City for a year, Cyr assumed the man had some hidden agenda. Yet, his time here hadn't been all that bad—productive, even.

With Sid helping him train, he'd grown much stronger.

And now Pampas was making it clear he could leave anytime.

So what was the point of keeping him here in the first place?

"I'm an opportunist," Pampas said, smiling as if reading Cyr's thoughts.

"I'm confident that meeting you was a once-in-a-lifetime investment opportunity."

"At the very least, even after you leave Meteor City, you'll remember me. We're friends, aren't we?" Pampas added, his polite tone laced with charm.

A shrewd merchant, Pampas had seen potential the moment he laid eyes on the white-haired boy.

Cyr had to admit, Pampas had a good eye for talent.

If Cyr's current self had been the one to meet Pampas initially, he might've simply smashed his way out of Meteor City.

Still, the idea of playing the role of a friendly, grateful protégé was laughable to him. His expression twisted into a disdainful sneer.

"I don't need something as boring as friends."

He turned on his heel, clearly uninterested in further conversation.

"Wait, take this," Pampas called, tossing a phone in his direction.

"It has my number and Sid's," Pampas added.

Without turning back, Cyr caught the phone midair and disappeared through the doorway.

Pampas watched the empty doorway for a moment, then pulled out a small notebook from his pocket.

"Another treasure mine investment," he muttered, flipping through its pages.

Among the many names listed, Cyr Deville was carefully recorded.

An opportunist like Pampas rarely limited himself to a single investment.

---

Cyr decided to leave tomorrow. For now, he'd return to District Two for a good night's sleep. Before leaving, though, he had to let Sid know.

"You're leaving tomorrow?" Sid's face was a mix of shock and disbelief.

Pampas had gone through all that trouble to recruit Cyr into the church, only to let him go so soon?

Then again, it wasn't surprising. Staying in Meteor City wouldn't be enough to maximize one's growth.

The outside world offered far greater opportunities for honing one's skills.

"I see." Sid said with a nod. He added nothing more.

Cyr didn't expect anything else from him. With a brief nod of acknowledgment, he returned to his temporary residence.

During his time in Meteor City, he had only brought in the bare essentials: a blanket and some toiletries. When it was time to leave, he needed nothing but himself.

The Hunter world had many famous locations. There was Whale Island, the birthplace of the protagonist Gon, as well as the Hunter Exam sites like the Visca Forest Preserve and the Trick Tower, which seemed to be a prison. Cyr wondered if they offered tours.

Then there was Kukuroo Mountain, home of the Zoldyck family, Heaven's Arena, and Yorknew City, controlled by the mafia. However, attending an auction in Yorknew required money. He'd have to find a way to sneak in for free.

And, of course, he couldn't forget one of his key goals: meeting famous figures and collecting photos with them.

Cyr suddenly sat up in bed. He thought about the time he spent with Shalnark and Uvogin. What a missed opportunity for his photo collection! The Phantom Troupe members had likely left Meteor City by now. He'd have to hope for another chance encounter.

As a former comic convention enthusiast, collecting photos was practically second nature to him.

He lay back down, staring at the ceiling. What kind of Nen ability would he develop? He didn't care much, as long as it was fun.

Once he unlocked the full suite of Gojo Satoru's and Sukuna's abilities, he would be an unstoppable force—able to attack, defend, and heal.

Still, having his own unique Nen ability was crucial. He wanted something fun, mysterious, and powerful. If he could only have one ability, it needed to be versatile and engaging.

He drifted off, imagining the possibilities.

---

In his dream, Cyr pondered over his future Nen ability.

He liked the idea of cards, like Clow Cards or Tarot Cards.

Each card would have a unique effect. The thought alone was thrilling—something interactive, something with endless potential.

As the dream's creator, he willed his ideal into existence. In his dream, he manifested a deck of his own.

---

When Cyr woke the next morning, he sat up and stared at the object floating in front of him.

A large circular disc hovered in midair, rotating slowly. Dozens of cards spun within it, their backs identical and their faces blurred, waiting to be drawn.

He blinked in silence, processing what he was seeing.

"Well, this is… unexpected," he muttered, rubbing his eyes. The disc and cards remained, as real as the room around him.

Cyr silently raised his hand and drew a card. The space left behind was quickly filled by another card from the spinning wheel. He drew two more in quick succession, and then the circular disc vanished.

It seemed he could only draw three cards at a time.

Looking down at the cards in his hand, the once-mysterious, indistinguishable faces now revealed their true designs.

The cards were crafted in black and gold, exuding a sense of weight and elegance.

They were unmistakably Tarot cards—just like the ones from his dream.

Who develops their Nen ability in a dream?

"So, a Conjuration ability…" Cyr mused, flipping through the cards.

Nen types could usually be identified through Water Divination, which revealed the user's category based on how water reacted to their aura.

But that could wait.

After all, powerful Nen abilities often blended multiple categories. The specific type wasn't that critical.

The three cards in his hand resembled traditional Tarot cards, except for one glaring difference: the figures on the cards bore his likeness.

For instance, the Hierophant card depicted a white-haired, blue-eyed youth with tattoos, wearing a red papal robe and holding a three-tiered scepter.

"...Mutated Tarot? Is my ability fortune-telling with these cards?" Cyr speculated, examining the cards with curiosity.

As someone well-versed in the esoteric, he knew how to perform Tarot readings. Typically, you'd start by formulating a question, then draw cards for divination.

But the spinning disc and the randomly selected three cards didn't seem designed for that purpose.

The first card he drew was the Upright Hierophant.

"Use?" he murmured, experimentally flicking the card.

In an instant, his outfit transformed. He now wore the exact same ceremonial attire depicted on the Hierophant card.

"...A card-draw costume change?" Cyr stared at his flamboyant new attire, momentarily stunned into silence.

He reached to take off the ornate robe but was immediately struck by a strong intuition—it couldn't be removed.

"So, I'm stuck like this?" he muttered, contemplating his reflection. After a brief pause, he laughed.

No matter. He'd treat it like a new game mechanic. Today, he'd role-play as a Hierophant. No big deal.

He couldn't get mad at his own ability. After all, he'd gleefully dreamed it up.

What a fun and unexpected twist.

---

Cyr left his room and ran into Sid, who was carrying a white backpack.

Sid froze momentarily, his gaze flickering as he took in Cyr's grandiose attire.

"You prepared that for me?" Cyr asked, nodding toward the bag.

"Yes. I've also packed some money. There will undoubtedly be places where you'll need to spend along the way…" Sid's unusually formal tone made Cyr's eyebrows twitch in confusion.

Sid was speaking with… respect? This wasn't the Sid he knew.

"You even prepared money?" Cyr's voice took on a skeptical edge.

"Yes. If you need more, I'm willing to offer my life savings as well…" Sid's words became increasingly outlandish.

Something was definitely wrong.

Wait a minute… could this be the effect of the Hierophant card?

Cyr glanced down at his red ceremonial robes, his expression growing more complex.

Could the Hierophant card's ability be… making people willingly hand over their wealth?

It can't be that simple.

°°°

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