Hunter x Hunter: Call Me Master Inventor

Von Klay chuckled inwardly.

Protect me?

With a brain like yours, which was completely fooled by Kuroro?

However, he still maintained a polite demeanor on the surface.

"Sure, sure!"

"If you ever get hungry in the future, you can come to me anytime."

He threw out the bait.

"real?!"

Uvogin's eyes lit up instantly, like two little light bulbs.

Do you think today's sticky rice cake is an illusion?

von Clay shrugs:

"But next time you come, you'd better decide what to eat in advance."

"Of course, if you don't trust me, you don't have to come..."

"Come! You have to come!"

Uvogin grinned from ear to ear and excitedly leaned closer:

"Bon Clay, you're just my type!"

"I like you! Come, let me thank you properly!"

As he spoke, he was about to give von Klay a warm, "Uwokin-esque" hug.

"Stop! I don't need that kind of gratitude!"

With lightning speed, von Clay pressed his palm firmly against Uvogin's large face as he leaned in.

"Don't be shy, I don't have anything else... huh?"

Uvogin was just playing around, but he suddenly realized that the force coming from the other person's palm was actually quite strong!

He subconsciously applied more force, but still couldn't move it!

This ignited his competitive spirit, and he began to secretly vie for power.

Machi, standing to the side, watched as Bon Clay easily blocked Uvogin...

Then, glancing at the amazing machine next to him, his eyes gleamed with even greater curiosity.

"I'm not playing anymore! I'm not playing anymore!"

Uvogin was the first to withdraw his strength, took a step back, and rubbed his face.

He also voiced the question that had been bothering Machi:

"Hey, von Clay, how did you do that?"

"What's this 'invention' all about?"

He always felt that this "invention" was not what he understood at all.

Want to know?

As von Clay watched the two men's curious expressions, a mysterious smile curved his lips.

Uvogin nodded vigorously, and Machi looked at him intently as well.

"This wondrous power originates from deep within the human body, like a deep well waiting to be explored."

Von Klay spoke in an aria-like tone, his fingers gracefully circling:

"Everyone's 'well' has different 'spring water,' which can irrigate different 'flowers'~"

Uvogin and Machi leaned forward involuntarily, listening intently.

"As for how to open the lid of this 'well'..."

Von Clay drawled out his words, clearly piquing the curiosity of the two men to its peak.

He suddenly spread his hands, revealing a bright yet irritating smile:

"No comment~"

"???"

Upon hearing this, Uvogin, who was leaning forward, nearly fell headfirst into the muddy field in front of him.

His head was full of question marks, and his big eyes were filled with bewilderment.

But when he saw von Clay's relaxed, even slightly mocking, hand-in-hand demeanor...

Gradually, he realized what was happening and started baring his teeth again.

"You bastard! You knew perfectly well, didn't you?!"

Uvogin's face scrunched up:

"You're deliberately trying not to tell us!"

"Hmm~ that makes sense, doesn't it?"

von Klay nodded calmly:

"Besides, I don't think I'm obligated to tell you, do I?"

Uvogin: "..."

That makes sense, but in Meteor City, might makes right!

Uvogin subconsciously clenched his fist, but then looked at von Clay's calm face.

Then I remembered the force with which the other person had pressed down on me with one hand just now…

He eventually pressed his fist against his thigh.

Besides, they just treated me to a nice meal, and then they turned on me and started a fight over trying to find out my secrets...

Uvogin felt that this was a bit too much.

Although Meteor City doesn't care about morality, the current Uvogin is not the villain who later experienced tragedy and became a thief.

He was just a thirteen-year-old boy, impulsive, but also more innocent.

"What will it take for you to tell us?"

Just as Uvogin was baring his teeth, Machi spoke again, her voice calm yet hitting the nail on the head:

"Since you've specifically explained this to us, it means it's not a secret that absolutely cannot be revealed."

"Is your silence primarily due to your own considerations?"

Although she was only ten years old, her insight into the essence of things far surpassed that of Uvogin.

"If you didn't want us to know in the first place, you could have avoided us when making the sticky rice cake, or used other means to cover it up."

"But you didn't."

"You showed us the existence of this power, yet when we asked, you said 'no comment'..."

Machi raised her little face, her eyes sharp:

"So, we need to pay the corresponding 'price,' right?"

"Hmm~"

Von Clay hesitated for two seconds, then looked at Uvogin...

"Now I understand why you've been able to survive in Meteor City for so long."

"Looks like it's not all just about those muscles, huh?"

Uvogin: "??!"

What does that mean? It sounds like he survived entirely thanks to Machi!

Just as Uvogin's face darkened, von Clay turned to March and nodded:

"That's right~ In this world, if you want to get something, you always have to give something in return."

"Power itself is no exception."

Machi may not understand Nen abilities, but she is well-versed in the survival rules of Meteor City:

Everything has a price.

Struggle, plunder, and exchange—that's the norm.

In her view, von Klay's request was perfectly normal.

Uvogin was still muttering to himself, "You treated us to sticky rice cakes before, and you didn't ask for anything in return..."

"Just tell us directly this time, okay...?"

"Didn't you help me plant and harvest rice before you ate the sticky rice cake?"

Von Clay glanced at him sideways.

"That seems to be true..."

"Alright, tell me, what do you want us to do this time?"

Uvogin, too lazy to think any further, simply asked.

"It's actually very simple~"

As von Clay noticed the two men's gazes, a mischievous smile slowly crept onto his lips:

"You can just 'beg' me, okay?"

"...???"

Uvogin tilted his head to the side, and a tangible question mark seemed to appear on the top of his head.

Maggie stared at von Clay and realized he wasn't joking; in fact, he seemed thoughtful.

"Does he have a strange fetish for making people beg him? Or does he satisfy his need for control by manipulating the requests of others?"

"As expected, this is the kind of perverted person you'd find in Meteor City..."

Various guesses flashed through her little mind.

After staring intently at von Clay for a few seconds—

"Are you kidding me?!"

Uvogin had an extremely strong sense of self-esteem.

Even at only thirteen years old, his experience in a place like Meteor City had already shaped his unyielding character.

It was during my youthful and impetuous years that I valued my reputation above all else.

Therefore, when he heard von Clay ask him to "beg" him, Uvogin immediately exploded.

"Are you kidding me?!"

He sprang up from the ground like an enraged lion cub.

"If you ask me to kill someone, rob someone, or do any other dirty or tiring work for you..."

"For the sake of good food, I, Uncle Uvogin, am willing to do it!"

His face was contorted with rage, and he was practically spitting out saliva...