After Leo finished speaking...
Battera's heart jolted in shock.
How did this person know this secret?
He had never revealed it to anyone; even Tsezgala didn't know his true purpose for collecting Greed Island.
He quickly composed himself, his voice returning to a steady tone.
"Why should I believe you?"
Tsezgala also spoke up, his tone even more cautious than Battera's.
"Shouldn't an uninvited guest introduce himself first?"
Leo smiled, his gaze sweeping across Tsezgala's face.
"My name is Leo."
Tsezgala was instantly shaken.
Leo!
Of course he had heard this name—the man who wiped out the Phantom Troupe, was promoted to a Two-Star Hunter, and was extremely famous within the Hunter Association.
He hadn't seen Leo's face before, but he had heard rumors.
He fell silent for a moment, his tone becoming a bit more respectful than before.
"So it's you. Is Mr. Leo also interested in Greed Island instead of hunting wanted criminals?"
Leo shook his head.
"You've misunderstood. I'm only interested in Battera's money."
Battera laughed.
He understood Leo's intention now—he had come for the money.
This actually made him breathe a sigh of relief.
Problems that can be solved with money are not problems at all.
Tsezgala, however, frowned with a look of confusion.
"With your strength, you shouldn't be lacking this fifty billion."
Leo shook his head, his tone flat.
"No, what I want isn't fifty billion."
He looked at Battera, his gaze as calm as water.
"Battera, your woman only has a few months of life left. You won't be able to wait for the rewards from clearing the game."
Battera immediately grew anxious, his voice rising.
"How is that possible! I don't believe it!"
Tsezgala was also shocked.
He looked at Battera and read the truth from his reaction—Leo was telling the truth.
They were only hired by Battera to conquer Greed Island; Battera hadn't told him about any deeper purpose.
Battera fell silent.
His fingers tightened around his wine glass, his knuckles turning white.
Since Leo knew his secret, he must also know his lover's current condition through some means.
Although he didn't know how Leo did it, what if...
What if he really had a way?
He didn't dare to gamble; he couldn't afford to.
Seeing that he wasn't speaking, Leo continued.
"I can save her, the price is two-thirds of your net worth."
Tsezgala immediately spoke up, his tone urgent.
"I know you are very strong, but I don't believe you can cure her."
Tsezgala analyzed calmly.
"Although I don't know what the illness is, the fact that even Mr. Battera's financial resources have left him helpless shows that this is no simple ailment."
Leo interrupted him, his voice not loud.
"Whether I can do it or not is not for you to dictate."
He looked at Battera.
"Mr. Battera, the choice is in your hands. It's up to you. I'll only give you ten seconds to consider."
Tsezgala grew anxious and turned to Battera.
"Mr. Battera—"
Battera raised his hand, stopping him.
He spoke slowly, his voice hoarse but firm.
"No need for ten seconds. I accept your terms. As long as you can cure her, it doesn't matter if you take my entire fortune."
Leo nodded.
"Very good. Mr. Battera really is a good man. I admire that."
He truly did admire this old fellow.
For the sake of love, he was willing to pour out his entire fortune to treat his lover.
That woman was also a good woman; she didn't love Battera's money.
In the original work, after his lover died, he dispersed his entire fortune, even willing to pay the fifty billion meant for clearing the game in advance.
A truly devoted old soul, yet it ended in tragedy—a pure-hearted old fellow.
He was willing to rewrite this ending; for him, it was a trivial matter.
Hearing Battera's words, Tsezgala stopped trying to dissuade him.
He respected Battera's decision.
Battera turned to Tsezgala expressionlessly, his voice calm.
"Sorry, Tsezgala. I will pay you and your team's compensation in full. You can handle the game save files as you see fit."
Tsezgala nodded silently.
He said nothing more, simply stepping aside.
Leo stood up.
"Then I'll trouble Mr. Battera to lead the way. The sooner we solve this, the sooner it's over."
The three of them walked out of the lounge, through the corridor, and got into a black stretch limousine.
Battera had chartered a private train; the train crossed vast plains and rolling hills, the scenery outside whistling past until the train stopped in front of an ancient castle standing on a desolate ridge.
Leo glanced at the castle.
It had to be said, this old fellow was truly wealthy.
By a rough estimate, his entire net worth was at least one trillion.
In the original work, there were seven game consoles up for bid at the Southernpiece Auction, each costing tens of billions to acquire; he spent over two hundred billion just to purchase Greed Island consoles.
And that wasn't counting the ones he had already bought; in the manga, there were twenty-six consoles laid out on the table in the basement of Battera's castle. This financial power was indeed terrifying.
Leo followed Battera up to the third floor and came to a room.
Battera pushed open the door. The room was large, the curtains were half-drawn, sunlight squeezed through the gaps, and the air held a faint scent of medicine and flowers.
A woman was lying on the bed.
Her eyes were closed, her face was pale, and her lips had almost no color.
The ventilator tubes extended from her nose to the equipment at the head of the bed, the machine emitting a steady, rhythmic hum.
She was beautiful, truly beautiful, so beautiful one couldn't look away; no wonder Battera was obsessed.
Battera walked to the bedside, his eyes tender, gently stroking her face.
His movements were light, as if touching a fragile treasure.
"She is my lover."
His voice was very soft, as if he were talking to himself.
"You all must think she's only with me for my money, right?"
Neither Leo nor Tsezgala spoke.
Battera continued on his own.
"She isn't that kind of vain woman. She didn't want others to think she was with me for an inheritance... She returned all the expensive gifts... but she dearly loved the crude picture frame I made by hand."
His fingers lightly brushed across her cheek.
"Aside from having each other, we wanted nothing. So we swore to dispose of all our property and spend our lives together. But not long after... she met with an accident... fell into a coma... I don't know when she'll wake up... she really... just looks like she's asleep..."
As he spoke, tears slid from the corners of his eyes, dripping onto the white bedsheets.
Leo watched this scene, then stepped forward and said with a smile.
"A very heartwarming story. I've come to fulfill your wish."
During these past few days in Yorknew, Leo had specifically visited a slaughterhouse and killed a batch of creatures, [Rank: Level 81 (12%) → (28%)]; he was afraid his Life Energy wouldn't be enough.
Battera turned around and bowed solemnly to Leo.
"Please!"
Tsezgala took a few steps back, and Battera also moved to the side.
Leo stepped forward, reached out, and grasped the arm of the woman on the bed.
He didn't care if these two knew he could heal others; he was no longer afraid of others knowing his capabilities.
A ball of soft green light emerged from his palm, enveloping the woman entirely.
The light was very warm; it seeped into the woman's skin, flowed through her blood vessels, and spread throughout her body.
The woman's brow twitched slightly.
Then, her complexion regained its rosy hue at a speed visible to the naked eye.
The paleness receded, and a healthy flush spread back bit by bit from her cheeks, lips, and fingertips, as if someone had lit a lamp inside her body.
Battera and Tsezgala watched in total shock.
Tsezgala's mouth opened, closed, and opened again.
After a long while, the woman's eyelids fluttered incessantly, and she soon opened her eyes.
Seeing the woman wake up, Leo ended the treatment.
Life Energy consumed: 17%, [Rank: Level 81 (11%)].
"Elena!"
Battera cried out, his voice hoarse and choked with tears.
He stepped forward excitedly, threw himself by the bed, and took the woman's hand.
The woman's eyes were still a bit dazed, but when she saw Battera's face, the corners of her mouth turned up slightly, revealing a weak but sweet smile.
Leo tactfully moved away.
He said to the dumbfounded Tsezgala.
"Let's go. Do you want to be a third wheel?"
Tsezgala snapped out of it, glanced at the lovers weeping in each other's arms, and silently followed Leo out of the room.
The door closed gently.
The corridor was very quiet, with only the occasional wind blowing outside, making a whistling sound.
The two went to the living room and sat on the sofa, neither speaking.
Tsezgala glanced at Leo, looking as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he didn't speak.
Leo leaned back on the sofa, closed his eyes, and waited quietly.