Chapter 26: TalkxString

About halfway through the trip, I direct Ponzu to follow me to a secluded corner where I can talk with her privately. She asks "So what is this about?"

"Well, I'm going to talk to you and explain something important along with that little favor you agreed to." When I say this a look of surprise splashes across her face and she says "What do you wanna explain and why did you need me to agree to a favor when you could obviously just force me into doing anything anyway?"

"I didn't force you because it's something you need to agree to and it's a part of one of my many abilities I will tell you about and show you if you accept."

"Okay, what exactly do I need to accept?"

"Well my ability is called 'String of Fate' It allows me to write up a contract and if you agree to all terms I am able to place a string inside of you that does whatever the terms of the contract say will happen if either party doesn't fulfill or doesn't comply with the contract. When I place the string on you I will be able to communicate with you mentally, see your memory, and take control of your body."

"hmm, so what's the contract you want me to agree to?"

"Well, you must pledge your loyalty to me by joining my mafia family. If you go against me it will alert me plus you will be mute and paralysed until I decide what it does with you. I will teach you about nen and I will unlock your aura the fast way so you don't have to take the long and not fun way."

With a confused look on her face, Ponzu asks "What is this Nen?"

"Well, I will tell you if you agree. All you need to know right now is it will make you insanely more versatile and strong as a combatant"

"Hmm okay, then I will join you."

"Wait what why you do know you're selling your life away and pledging your loyalty to me right?" she nods "Normally I have to threaten people to agree to this contract that's pretty nice," I say "But why? Why are you joining?"

"Well, there's no reason for me not to join as I obviously have no choice. You are stronger than me and therefore you could force me into the contract with my will or against my will. I do know it's selling my life away but if I don't want to die I would have no other choice but to agree. Am I right?" She says with a smug smirk.

I put the string into her and we go about our days as normal. She doesn't seem too off only a bit frizzled by me unlocking her aura nodes I guess different people react differently.

When we get off the boat on shore, Lippo shows us the way up the trick tower, where we wait for the Hunter Association blimp to return and carry all of us to the 5th stage of the exams.

As we board the blimp, Gramps appears in the main hall and introduces himself, with a regular, 'Hello everybody, my name is Netero the chairman of the hunter association. If you hear your name called on the speakers, please make your way to the first reception room on the second floor.

He then proceeds to leave and call Hisoka first. The order we go in is Hisoka, Pokkle, Killua, Bodero, Illumi/Gittarackur, Gon, Hanzo, Kurapika, Leorio, Ponzu, Nicholas, and finally Me. I walk up to the reception room and open the door. Behind the door is the old man sitting down at desk with a paper and an ink brush in his hands writing something down. 

He greets me with a typical 'Yo' before asking me to take a seat. I oblige and sit on the other end of the table from him. As we sit he looks at me and asks me the questions from the original."

"Why do you want to become a hunter?" He asks his eyes glinting seriously.

"That simple 'Freedom' so I can explore the world," opening my hands as a gesture of how big the world is. "Plus I'm also allowed in most if not all restricted places," I answer proudly with a smile opening my hands as a gesture of how big the world is as his gaze loosens into a soft smile.

"Okay, then next question. Is there anyone you are interested in out of the eleven other applicants?"

"Yes, I am interested in Leorio Padnight number 403, Kurapika Kurta number 404, Gon Frecces number 405, Hanzo number 294, Killua Zoldyck number 99, Nicholas number 187, and Ponzu number 246 all for good reasons. I am not interested in anybody for any bad reasons."

"Hmm," he murmurs in a surprised tone "What about numbers 44 and 301?"

"Meh, I've fought Hisoka and number 301 isn't really scary just weird putting needles in himself like a masochist," I say in what I think is an uninterested tone.

"Okay Last question. Which of the current contestants do you least want to fight right now?"

"Ohh I would probably say Number 187 Nicholas because he would be the least fun fight. Now if the questioning is over I have something to talk to you about."

"Sure" He replies with an interested eyebrow raised.

"Well, I have an ability called 'String of Fate' where I can make a contract between myself and one other party. I can put anything into the contract and If the other party agrees I put a string in them and me that upholds the terms of the contract. I can set the penalty as anything but it must be in the contract."

"Okay, and you would like to use it on me why?" Gramps says with a serious face.

"Well, I would like to make a contract with you where the terms are I help you when I can and you help me when you can. It would be a fair contract and there would be no penalty for going back on it so if there's something I need help with you would help and the same if you needed help."

"Why make contracts I would already help you if you needed it as long as it's not something I can't do?"

"Well, the other thing about 'String of Fate' is that I can talk without talking. Think of it like a link I create between strings and we can talk telepathically without any physical speaking being done. It also comes with you not being able to be controlled by any manipulators as I set all my strings including the ones inside of myself to manipulate anybody for less than a split second as soon as it sends foreign nen inside of their body trying to control them. The only downside would be that I could control your body but if you would like I can put it in the contract that I would not control your body."

"So is there a distance limit on the telepathy?" he asks in a surprised tone.

"No there is no limit distance on the strings or the distance between links I can create. The only thing is that it takes more nen to create a string at a farther distance but that's no problem for me unless I'm in a really brink of death-like state."

"Hmm" he hums in a contemplative tone before his face turns into a goofy smile and he says "I see no problems with it I agree but I want to know for an ability so powerful as to create contracts with anybody and be able to manipulate them from anywhere in the world what type of limitations did you use as an aura boost on it?" 

"Well, actually there's only one limitation on it." I watch his eyes go wide before continuing the explanation "It is that the other party must agree and I must tell them my ability with full disclosure of all details and they must agree after I tell them."

"Oh sure then I agree to the contract.", he says before I stretch a string into his neck, force it through his veins into his brain, and leave with a simple "Thanks, bye Gramps!"