Chapter 21: The Trade contract

[A.N. Wow! I didn't expect so many angry people after the last chapter.

It's so fun to see indignant reviews and comments after MC first real set back.

Also, set back? I was even worried that Kamui was too strong… apparently not.

MC hatsu needed to be balanced. The 1 week time frame was a big error on my behalf. It's too short, I can't do time skips and I naturally have to give weaker powers as well.

From reading some comments you would imagine I took away these people favorite toys.

In a good story, not everything goes always the MC way. I was already making errors on that front.

That said, I'll not change the Hatsu's time frame back, in fact, it could even become longer in the future.

Using abilities as a payment is also something that could return.

If these thing bothers you (I really can't understand why) then I suggest dropping this fanfic now.

Take care]

From the flying ship, hundreds of skyscrapers could be seen going through the clouds and reaching towards the sky.

Yorknew City was a sprawling metropolis located in the United States of Saherta on the Yorbian Continent.

With its 10 millions citizens and the thousands of annual tourists, it was one of the biggest cities out there.

The place was known for the various annual auctions that were held from September 10th to 20th, including the world's largest auction, the Southernpiece Auction, in which the world's rarest and most valuable items would be sold.

Aside from thousands of authorized auction houses, the city was also famous for its black market auctions, which mostly dealt in illegal goods.

Tens of trillions of Jennys were exchanged in the authorized auctions alone.

There were 2 sides to the city.

From the bustling paradise of opportunities that it was during the day, to being the cove of the most nefarious organizations during the night.

Yorknew City had a very high crime rate, and it wasn't only because of the petty thieves roaming the streets pick pocketing people in the broad daylight.

Human trafficking, drug dealing, shady loan sharks, money washing casinos… These were only a few of the criminal activities that were on the agenda.

This trend could not be inverted easily.

Mafia's families paid for 60% of Yorknew's mayoral election campaign, and, since the police chief was the mayor's lapdog, the Mafia had considerable influence over Yorknew's police.

…

Enma was lost in his thoughts while watching the beautiful view.

A pirate eye patch was covering his left eye.

'Kamui… Even the Nen version is good'.

The new Hatsu worked around a separate space known as Kamui's dimension, which It could be used in various different ways:

-The user could use his right eye to enter Kamui's dimension. This was a place entirely made by Nen, and completely separated from the real world.

-The user could use the right eye to exit the dimension, teleporting anywhere he has been before at least once, without the need to designate a destination beforehand.

-The user could turn his body "intangible", automatically transferring the body parts that otherwise would have been in contact with the overlapping matter into Kamui's dimension.

Everything the user touched during this ability activation, including clothes, weapons and even other people, would become intangible as well.

However, like every Nen ability, this one also had few restrictions, such as:

- While other people or object could be sucked into Kamui's dimension in addition to or instead of the user, physical contact was needed.

-The user couldn't physically interact with anything he wasn't in contact with prior to the intangibility's skill activation.

-The user could only keep his body slip through for maximum five minutes at a time, needing a 'recharge' period, which was as long as the time the ability was used for (A.N. For example if he uses the ability 2 seconds, he can reactivate the ability only 2 second later.)

-As long as intangibility was activated, the user could not use Kamui for teleportation or even enter Kamui's dimension.

-While in the Kamui's dimension, the user could not become intangible.

'The restrictions are manageable, the only thing that bothers me is the fact that Kamui's dimension is made by Nen.

This means that since yesterday, I had to expend all of my Nen over and over again, and I was only able to create a room as big as a coffin.

It's so small that I would rather not teleport in there, last time I almost had a panic attack.

In few days it will grow nicely though.'

Enma caressed the eye patch.

'I lost an eye, Jackpot knuckle and spider-sense for this ability.

But… Not everything is lost.

The new Merchants conditions could even be better than before…'

…

-Few hour prior, Enma private room-

Enma had his eye bandaged. Only 2 hours had passed since he mutilated himself.

Doctors were called, and the injury was medicated shortly after.

Despite the blindness, the wound wasn't serious or difficult to treat, especially in a world like HxH.

Enma was facing, once again, the Merchant.

No booth or stall, he was there alone.

"You are recovering well young master! I hope this will be a lesson for you in the future…"

Said the black robed man smugly.

Enma's mouth twitched.

'I really want to kill him right now.'

"Merchant."

His tone cold.

"Come on! That's in the past! I've already forgotten it!

Ok, let's talk about the new deal"

"Go on."

"First of all, like you have already read in the contract, the opening time of the booth will be set at the first day of every month."

Enma's remaining eye went to the ground, and a big sigh escaped his mouth.

"Don't be sad. The longer the wait, the better the items!

Oh! Yeah! Only 2 items will be displayed at a time. Again… having fewer items is not always a bad thing… heheh"

Huff!

"Ok, I get it. I accept."

"Here is it another change. The item that you do not choose will be put at the stall for double its original price, and not lost.

Like always, if you do not choose any, you lose both."

"That is good."

"Humpf! Ingrate!"

Seeing that Enma was not too much enthusiast, the Merchant pouted.

"Is that all?"

"There is another thing...

You see, I really liked the deal we made through the contract.

I want to see it more.

For this reason, I'm presenting you a new feature of the Shady Merchant: Trade contract!"

The merchant moved his arm, and a page appeared from a green puff of smoke.

Enma's empty eye socket pulsed with pain.

"Hehe I can see that you recognize this bad boy. Yes, it is the same I used before.

Now...How about using it yourself?"

Along with another poof, a quill pen appeared.

[Trade contract]

It was a blank and dirty page.

"With this, you'll be able to trade anything, from objects to even your abilities, with another person.

You just need to set the conditions and the other person has to willingly accept them, and sign right here…

Obviously, you cannot force or use an ability to influence the other party.

Also, this is a trade, you will always have to give something back, It cannot be a one sided deal."

Enma's mood improved instantly.

'Finally good news!'

"Are threats considered a forceful approach?"

"Yes."

"Tsk!"

"The other party must feel completely free to walk away undisturbed, even if he doesn't accept your deal.

If this rule is not met, the contract will simply not activate."

"What if the other person is forced to accept by his own situation?"

"It's fine if it is not your doing."

"What if I lie?"

"Hehe as long as the conditions set are clear and the other person accept, what harm can a couple of lies possibly do?"

"Also, what if one of the parties does not pay?"

"Are you stupid? If the other party does not pay, the contract will activate, forcefully seizing the due payment.

All clear now?"

"Just another thing, what happens effectively after the other person sign?"

"You get what you paid for, or, If it's not an immediate transaction, both of you will receive a copy of the contract, and, if he does not comply to the conditions… well, you already know what happens."

"Now that you know everything, there are a couple of new clothes items in the stall, why don't I show you…"

…

Enma looked at an orange mask with swirls and a single eye hole, and put it on.

'Why do I always give in to temptation and buy these useless things?

… Still, it goes so well with Obito's Akatsuki outfit, it would have been a shame not to buy it!

Anyway… I think that this experience has changed me.

Stabbing a knife in my eye it's no really something I would have ever expected of doing.

How far can I go for a bit of power?'

While thinking, Enma was distracted by the cabin's little speakers.

<…And that was "Hunting For Your Dream", by GALNERYUS!!

That's all for today, tune in at same time tomorrow for more! And now, back to the studio for some news!

Thank you Cocco.

The maiden's Butcher has hit once again. It's the 10th crime scene in the last month alone.

This time the victim is the 25 years old Saya Gol.

The young woman was found dismembered in an empty alley not too far away from Berry street, or, as it is known by those who frequented it, Powder street, a red light district where drug smuggling and illegal prostitution have always been gone uncontrolled.

From the wounds found, the bloodless body and other undisclosed pieces of evidence, the police was able to find in the Maiden's Butcher the primary suspect.

The girl was….>

Enma turned the radio off.

'Despite the world I'm living in, scum like these exist everywhere.

Oh… The ship is going down. I've finally arrived.'