Regarding Kanzai's employer, Morrow knew very little, only that the employer had died aboard the airship.
Now, someone who should have been dead had reappeared.
While surprised, Morrow couldn't help but think of himself.
Yet, according to Kanzai's earlier words, that employer hadn't been a Nen User.
Though resurrection abilities had appeared in the original work, the prerequisite was being a Nen User, wasn't it…?
"Was the dead one a body double?"
Morrow withdrew his gaze and turned to Kanzai.
But the moment the question left his lips, he immediately dismissed it in his mind.
If it had really just been a body double, Kanzai wouldn't have gone out of his way to come to Guguanyu after the job was already completed.
"Not a body double."
Just as Morrow had guessed, Kanzai answered firmly.
He looked up, his expression blank as he stared at the silver-haired woman on the TV, his tone unreadable.
"That's why I want to figure this out myself."
"…"
Morrow was momentarily speechless. He wanted to ask if it was really necessary but held back.
Kanzai suddenly glanced at him and snapped, "If you've got something to say, say it. Why hold back?"
Though they hadn't known each other long and their interactions had been few, Kanzai already considered Morrow a friend.
Seeing Morrow hesitate, he made his stance clear.
With Kanzai's encouragement, Morrow spoke openly.
"I'm just surprised… For you, the job's already over. Is it worth going to all this trouble?"
"All this trouble…"
Kanzai lowered his head slightly, stirring the scallions in his bowl with his chopsticks.
As the chopsticks moved, the oily broth rippled slightly, mirroring the turmoil in Kanzai's expression.
Yeah… Was it worth all this trouble?
He asked himself silently.
"I clearly said 'all this trouble'…"
Across from him, Morrow corrected in a low voice.
"…"
After a brief silence, Kanzai bared his teeth and smacked the Menu irritably.
"Have you decided what to order yet?"
"Yeah."
Morrow hadn't actually picked anything, but given the situation, he randomly pointed to a dish.
Kanzai called the waiter over to place the order.
Once the waiter left, Kanzai frowned and scratched his head roughly.
"Morrow, it's not strange that you'd think that way. Honestly, even I don't know why I had to come here…"
As he spoke, his scratching grew more forceful, his face gradually taking on an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"Maybe it's because of the title 'Pro Hunter'… Or maybe... I'm just pissed."
"Pissed?"
Morrow didn't understand.
Kanzai lowered his hand, then glanced again at the silver-haired woman on the TV, his voice darkening.
"My employer really died. So who is she? I've never seen an ability that perfectly replicates height and appearance, but that doesn't mean it doesn't exist."
"Just the thought that someone might be exploiting the "dead", even if it's just a tiny possibility, makes my skin crawl. I can't let it go."
As he spoke, Kanzai's gaze sharpened, like a tiger ready to pounce.
He hadn't been able to protect his client, yet he'd received payment in advance because of the client's resolve…
The whole thing had already left him deeply frustrated. Now, seeing the deceased client reappear in this manner, Kanzai felt as if fleas were crawling all over his body.
Before he could even give himself a clear answer, he had already arrived at Guganyu.
Across the table.
Morrow silently observed Kanzai, reaching only one conclusion in his heart.
This guy is 100% "strong" material...
But it might also be that Kanzai himself places an unusual level of importance on his identity as a "Pro Hunter."
For some reason, Morrow thought of the Gourmet Hunter he had encountered in the forest.
Comparing the two, the Kanzai before him was undoubtedly more deserving of his respect.
"There is."
Morrow pulled out a napkin, wiped his chopsticks, and said calmly, "I've seen abilities that can perfectly replicate a person's physique and appearance. At the very least, this information is confirmed. I hope it helps you."
"Huh?"
Kanzai froze for a moment, then suddenly seemed to remember something and let out a bitter laugh. "Sorry, I called you here to fulfill my promise of treating you to a big meal, not to listen to me vent."
"No problem."
Morrow smiled, his gaze involuntarily drifting toward the still-present Menu, as if to say...
Big meal.
Kanzai was usually too lazy to think deeply, but that didn't mean he was slow.
Seeing Morrow's somewhat meaningful look, he immediately understood.
"Hey, the conditions here are limited, you know."
Kanzai pushed the Menu back toward Morrow and said earnestly, "Besides... there's a first time for everything. And I checked; people on the blog all say this place tastes great. How about you have a few more bowls?"
"Then I won't hold back."
Morrow picked up the Menu and ordered several expensive meat side dishes, along with an extra bowl of noodles.
He was genuinely hungry by now.
When the noodle soup and side dishes arrived, Morrow began devouring them.
The broth, simmered from large bones, carried a richness that rivaled seafood.
Morrow let out a surprised sound and, without bothering with the noodles, drank down most of the broth first.
Seeing his reaction, Kanzai grinned. "Not complaining now, huh?"
"Yeah, not bad."
Morrow exhaled a satisfied breath of steam.
Perhaps because he had been too hungry, just a few sips of the broth gave him a sense of how good it was to be alive, lifting his mood slightly.
Maybe this was the true essence of "gourmet food."
Morrow buried himself in slurping the noodles. Within minutes, he had cleaned out all the hot dishes on the table, still craving more.
If Kanzai hadn't brought him here, he would never have imagined finding such delicious food in a town nestled within such a chaotic, lawless area.
Morrow slowly set down his chopsticks, thinking to himself: It's a shame I don't yet have the "qualification" to truly "enjoy" things...
—--
After finishing the meal, Kanzai was about to head to the airport.
Outside the noodle shop, Morrow bid farewell to Kanzai, watching as that stubborn figure walked away.
Only when Kanzai had completely vanished from sight did Morrow finally withdraw his gaze, his thoughts turning to Gel of the Snake.
Both were members of the Zodiac Twelve, but compared to the aloofness Gel exuded in her words and actions, Kanzai was far more personable and easier to get along with.
Morrow silently wished Kanzai smooth sailing in all his endeavors, then took out his phone.
Now that I'm full, it's time to get to work.
Morrow lowered his eyelids, concealing a fleeting coldness, and opened an email sent by Argo on his phone. Words like virus, human body, and experiments leaped out at him.
That so-called Menu organization.
Not only did they engage in human trafficking, but they even accepted orders for virus research.
Clients with such demands were often targeting entire nations.
This also revealed the extent of Nolan's ambitions.
Morrow didn't care about any of that.
His goal was to completely destroy them.
And this stop was merely the first step in his counterattack.
--------
5 more Power Stones for a bonus chapter.