Hisoka was a Transmuter, adjacent to the Enhancement and Conjuration.
Theoretically, Hisoka could utilize 80% of an Enhancer's precision.
When applied to throwing playing cards, the lethality was still considerable.
So when Machi faced Silva directly, Hisoka, approaching from behind, was fully capable of assassinating her.
This was precisely the most common outcome in Nen combat when "outnumbering the opponent", instantly eliminating a normally troublesome adversary in an extremely short time.
Yet Hisoka's attack bypassed Machi...
From this, Morrow discerned that Hisoka held an almost extreme regard, one might even call it a bottom line, for fair, head-on combat.
While marveling at this, Morrow couldn't help but feel a pang of intense regret.
If he had been in Hisoka's position just now, he could have taken the opportunity to eliminate Machi and gain a substantial amount of upgrade experience.
But afterward, he would most likely face pursuit from Chrollo and the others.
As for the rules of joining the Troupe?
Forget about ambushing them during a mission...
The target would have been one of the Troupe's founding members, a childhood companion of Chrollo and the rest...
In such a scenario, no one would believe in so-called "recruitment rules."
Morrow had personally verified this truth.
Thus, to reap rewards, one had to face risks.
Since he hadn't been bold enough to charge into the square fearlessly like Hisoka from the start, he naturally didn't deserve the opportunity to gain massive experience earlier.
At this thought, Morrow's regret instantly dissipated.
Even if given a second chance, he would still have chosen to position himself on the rooftop of the high-rise.
Capabilities dictated actions.
The risks of ambushing a Troupe member in the square were too great. Compared to that decision, Morrow still preferred snatching the head of Omokage, the Troupe's No. 4 member, from Hisoka's grasp.
If he recalled correctly, Omokage had faked his death to escape in the end.
And Hisoka, fully aware of this, had still let him go.
By leveraging this information, Morrow could decide whether to act based on the situation.
Though he might draw Hisoka's attention afterward, it was still better than facing half the Troupe head-on.
Morrow reined in his thoughts and gazed at the figure emerging from the light in the distance.
Whether it was an illusion or Hisoka's deliberate doing, Morrow couldn't help but feel that Hisoka's gait carried a hint of provocative sway, something that, in the eyes of the ambushed Omokage, would undoubtedly come across as 100% provocation.
Being a troublemaker is good. Best to stay the center of attention, Hisoka.
Muttering to himself, Morrow kept a close watch on the battle unfolding in the square.
With Hisoka's sudden intervention, the standoff between Machi and Silva froze for an instant, while Omokage, now under attack, fixed a cold glare on the slender-hipped figure sauntering toward him.
Then, as time resumed its flow, Machi refocused on Silva.
"Nen Thread: Net."
Machi abruptly raised her hands, and the aura-transformed Nen threads wove into a crisscrossing web.
Though she was a natural Transmuter, her exceptional talent and relentless training had granted her the ability to wield 100% of an Enhancer's precision simultaneously.
Thus, her Nen threads carried Enhancer properties.
"Don't even think about escaping." Machi spread out her web of threads and leaped backward, momentarily creating distance while immediately increasing the intensity of her aura output. In an instant, she hurled the rapidly expanding web of threads forward toward Silva.
The shimmering web of threads descended like the lines of a chessboard, enveloping Silva.
But Silva was not one to be restrained by such a net. Using the footwork technique Rhythm Echo, he left behind an afterimage at the web's landing point while his true body swiftly evaded.
However, Machi possessed innate Nen eyes that could perceive aura with just a glance. She saw through Silva's Rhythm Echo instantly and, without hesitation, pulled back on a Nen Thread connected to the web.
Under her control, the web seemed to gain a tracking function, relentlessly pursuing Silva.
Silva glanced at Machi, silently acknowledging the formidable nature of these individuals.
Even as he marveled, his hands moved swiftly. He raised his arm and fired a Nen bullet directly at the web.
Boom!
The Nen bullet struck the web, the resulting explosion obliterating it completely.
So fast…
Machi's pupils contracted as she witnessed Silva's astonishing speed—from gathering aura to firing the Nen bullet in an instant. She now fully grasped Silva's strength.
Yet, her next actions showed no hesitation despite Silva's prowess.
Almost simultaneously with the explosion, Machi closed in on Silva's flank, the faint glint of Nen Threads flickering between her fingers.
The shorter her Nen Threads, the stronger they became.
The earlier expanded web had merely been a setup for this moment.
Just as Machi attempted to sever part of Silva's limbs with her threads, Silva twisted his waist with even greater speed and kicked her squarely in the shoulder.
Thud.
A jellyfish-shaped shockwave erupted violently.
Machi grunted as she was sent flying sideways like a cannonball.
Silva retracted his leg and steadied himself, only to be momentarily halted by a barrage of bullets blocking his path.
Paku was wielding a revolver, firing at him.
Naturally, these bullets couldn't harm Silva; they merely delayed him for a fraction of a second.
Meanwhile.
Hisoka, gripping playing cards between his fingers, lunged forward toward Omokage with his upper body leaning in.
Midway, he crossed paths with Machi, who was still airborne from Silva's kick.
Their gazes met briefly in midair.
Machi's eyes flashed with wary surprise, while Hisoka's held only naked battle lust.
The next instant.
Hisoka reached Omokage, slashing at him with the playing card as if it were a blade.
Faced with Hisoka's swift and fierce assault, Omokage didn't even have time to ask, "Who are you?" before he was forced to retreat, narrowly avoiding the slash.
His evasion, however, inevitably gave Hisoka an opening to pursue.
Hisoka stepped forward, retracting his right arm while driving his knee toward Omokage's abdomen.
Omokage's expression shifted as he crossed his arms downward, blocking the knee strike.
Thump.
A dull impact.
Though Omokage blocked the strike, the force still sent him flying backward.
This was exactly the outcome Hisoka wanted.
He had no intention of joining the group fight; his goal was to isolate Omokage from the battlefield.
"Boss…!"
Shalnark frowned at Hisoka's sudden interference.
Chrollo glanced at Hisoka, who was chasing Omokage like a rabid dog. Considering Omokage's ability to summon multiple dolls, he judged that the situation wouldn't escalate immediately.
First, deal with the one who killed Lucius, he decided.
"Got it." Shalnark and Kortopi unconditionally trusted Chrollo's arrangements and immediately moved toward Silva.
—--
On the rooftop of the high-rise building.
Morrow noticed Hisoka isolating Omokage from the battlefield and Chrollo's group focusing their efforts on dealing with Silva. His heart stirred.
An opportunity!