Lord: Sequence Master

In the Rose Castle hall, Nurdin and Hubert, freshly cleaned and free from their dungeon, were devouring roast chicken with reckless abandon. They hadn't starved in the months they'd been imprisoned, but the hard French bread they'd been surviving on had left their gums sore, and a few of their teeth had become loose. Sometimes, Stephanie, who was supposed to check on them, would forget, leaving them to starve for days. Fortunately, as Nen users, they were able to endure hunger better than the average person.

Rosen wasn't in any rush to send them back into Greed Island to collect cards. They were far too weak, and without stronger abilities, they wouldn't survive for long in the island's treacherous environment.

Nurdin was a capable survivor, but many of the more valuable cards were still out of his reach. Rosen decided to equip both of them with a large stock of spell cards, adding a few enhancement potions to increase their abilities.

The potions Rosen provided were specifically designed to boost vitality and enhance physical strength. While these potions were shunned by those in extraordinary sequences due to their harsh side effects, they were perfect for regular people. For individuals like Nurdin and Hubert, who were Nen users and had no chance of transitioning to an Extraordinary Sequence, these enhancements could bring them to Sequence 9 levels of strength.

Most pirates at sea never awakened their spiritual energy. A few might join the Pirate Sequence, but the majority only reached Sequence 9 strength through artificial enhancements. While the side effects of these potions were severe, making spiritual awakening impossible, they provided immediate benefits for those who didn't care about advancing through normal means.

As the strength-enhancing potions took effect, Nurdin and Hubert began to feel their power grow, and with it, dangerous thoughts crept into their minds.

Rosen sensed their treacherous intentions immediately and activated the punishment mode of the alchemical chips implanted in their brains.

"Please, no! I know I was wrong... spare me!" Nurdin wailed in agony.

"It hurts... kill me, please!" Hubert screamed, his Nen-enhanced senses amplifying the searing pain to an unbearable level. It felt as if his mind and body were being ripped apart.

The experience shattered their hopes of defying Rosen, making them realize just how tightly he controlled their fates.

Once the punishment ended, Rosen let his thoughts wander, focusing on his Mind's Canvas. He recalled how he had sensed their betrayal through their eyes before activating the chips.

They say the eyes are the window to the soul, but most people mask their true feelings behind false expressions. Someone who looks innocent and kind might be hiding evil thoughts, while someone with a fierce appearance might possess a gentle heart.

But with Mind's Canvas, Rosen had been able to sense their malice directly through their gaze.

He began to suspect that his Mind's Canvas had developed an ability that hadn't been mentioned by Fam during their training. The combination of his Hunter Sequence skills and Painter Sequence abilities might have enhanced his perception of intent and emotions. His superior senses and Nen abilities allowed him to project his will—whether soothing energy or killing intent. Perhaps these capabilities had awakened something new in his spiritual artistry.

After nearly dying from the pain inflicted by the chips, Nurdin and Hubert abandoned any notion of rebellion.

Rosen summoned the card collection book and activated the Spell Card: Roadmarker, which would reveal the locations of all cards except for the elusive card number 000. The spell would guide Nurdin and Hubert to the areas where certain cards were likely to be found.

Some of the cards, however, were far too difficult to obtain with their current strength.

"I hope they return with good news," Rosen murmured, watching the two men as they left, hoping their next journey would prove more fruitful.

Mashadora, the largest producer of spell cards on Greed Island, had become a goldmine for Rosen. Over the months, he had monopolized the supply of spell cards from the department store, amassing a collection that included everything from low-grade F cards to the more coveted S-tier cards.

After months of hoarding, Rosen had deciphered the energy costs required for exchanging cards.

F and E rank cards could be exchanged for 500 to 1,000 units of spiritual energy.

D and C rank cards required anywhere from 5,000 to 10,000 units.

B and A rank cards demanded a steep price, ranging between 30,000 and 50,000 units.

S rank cards cost a staggering 100,000 units, while SS rank cards remained a mystery—he hadn't encountered one yet.

Each card tier corresponded to levels within the Extraordinary System. S and SS cards were powerful enough to be on par with Sequence 6 artifacts, capable of turning the tide of battle.

For now, Rosen had his eye on a B-rank card, "Life Album", which cost 30,000 units of spiritual energy. Unfortunately, he didn't have enough reserves to exchange it yet. Until he had the necessary resources, he had to wait, even if his lackeys were lucky enough to find it.

The Life Album was especially intriguing because it could record the details of every person Rosen had ever met, along with their conversations and interactions. Since young Rosen was now part of him, the album might even reveal the hidden secrets surrounding young Rosen's father.

With this in mind, Rosen prepared to earn more spiritual energy by accepting hunting missions.

He left Masadora and headed to the Hunter Guild. There was no need to disguise his identity—at the moment, he was just an ordinary hunter, a newcomer. No one would recognize him as a noble unless he displayed his crest, and no one would suspect that a hunter could also be a painter.

In a bustling city like Blazing Shadow Royal City, where countless Extraordinary Sequences gathered, the chances of anyone recognizing him were slim.

At the Hunter Guild, Rosen spent half a day interviewing different hunting groups. To his dismay, most of them weren't trustworthy. The Extraordinary World, while full of potential, was rife with scammers looking to take advantage of inexperienced newcomers. Many hunting parties tried to swindle their recruits, exploiting them for the hardest tasks while offering meager rewards, if anything.

Seasoned hunting groups were typically tight-knit, formed by people who had built trust over time. There was little chance for an outsider to join without first proving themselves through trials.

Frustrated by the lack of decent teams, Rosen finally gave up and opted to hunt solo.

This decision limited the number of spiritual realms he could explore, but it gave him more control over his actions. After several hours of searching, he found an open realm run by the Hunter Guild, purchased a ticket, and awaited the realm's opening.

He spent the night at the Hunter Guild's inn, and by midday the following day, he was in the teleportation chamber, ready to enter the spiritual realm.

The chamber was already filled with over a thousand Extraordinary Sequences, ranging from weak Sequence 9 hunters to a few powerful Sequence 7s. The room, expanded through spatial magic, allowed everyone to make their final preparations before the hunt.

Entering a spiritual realm with such a large group meant facing immense danger. Every hunter present knew that even the slightest carelessness could lead to death.

(End of Chapter)