In the passage.
Hisoka turned toward the sound, his gaze landing on the tall figure.
Shoulder-length black hair, unnaturally pale skin, and pitch-black eyes that exuded a deathly emptiness, like a mask worn over the face.
"Hmm~"
Upon recognizing the person, Hisoka remained unfazed. "How sad. When you asked me where I was the other day, I thought you wanted to catch up."
"Don't worry, I wouldn't do something so boring."
The newcomer was none other than Illumi of the Zoldyck Family.
Kalluto had taken the job to locate Morrow, while the other assassination request, targeting Hisoka, had fallen into Illumi's hands.
"Calling to ask where you were just saved me time tracking you down."
Illumi shook his phone slightly before slipping it into his pocket. Then, with a fluid motion, he plucked a bead-head Nen needle from his clothes, pinching it between his slender fingers.
A surge of aura manifested around him, its intensity unmistakable, laced with palpable killing intent. It was clear he wasn't bluffing.
Despite sensing Illumi's blatant hostility, Hisoka remained unresponsive, exuding an almost meditative detachment.
"Illumi, what would it take to make you drop this killing intent (job)?"
"Sorry, no can do. I have to uphold my client's trust."
Illumi's expression remained blank, leaving no room for negotiation.
Hisoka drooped his eyelids, leaning against the wall with a sigh. "I'll pay more."
"Deal. After all, we're 'acquaintances'."
Illumi gradually withdrew his killing intent, sliding the bead-head needle back into place.
Unlike his stern father or lenient grandfather, he didn't cling too tightly to professional ethics.
As long as the "payment" condition was met, he'd decide whether to bend the rules based on the situation.
When it came to avoiding unnecessary casualties, he certainly didn't feel compelled to follow the same unspoken principles as his father and grandfather.
What could he say? He was a Manipulator who did things his own way.
Tilting his head slightly, Illumi studied Hisoka, who was leaning against the opposite wall. A thought struck him, and he asked curiously, "But do you even have the money? I heard you spent everything recently trying to track someone down."
"Oh?"
Hisoka's eyes widened in mock surprise.
Silence briefly filled the passage as the two stared at each other.
After a moment, Hisoka replied airily, "Can I owe you?"
"…"
Illumi slowly pulled the bead-head needle back out.
—--
The fluttering scraps of paper were inconspicuous, yet they guided Kalluto unerringly.
As long as the activation conditions were met…
His ability allowed him to pinpoint his target's exact location. Even if they had no prior connection, it wouldn't affect the tracking.
So he wasn't worried about losing the trail, keeping a steady distance as he followed.
By the time the sun set and the city lights flickered on, he found himself stepping into a dimly lit alley.
The ground was slick with filthy water, the walls cluttered with worthless junk, and tangled electrical wires drooped haphazardly overhead.
The stench and the risk of dirtying his white socks…
These environmental factors made Kalluto frown slightly.
But his steps forward never faltered.
Discovered… or…?
The wooden clogs splashed through the filthy water as Kalluto's gaze pierced the dim depths of the alley ahead, his thoughts churning silently.
He had maintained a safe distance, confident that Morrow wouldn't detect him.
Yet Morrow's sudden detour into such a place inevitably stirred his suspicions, forcing him to consider the possibility that he had already been noticed.
Can't be sure.
The distance made it difficult for Kalluto to determine.
If only he could monitor Morrow's movements through eavesdropping or some other means, he wouldn't have to resort to guesswork.
My ability isn't mature enough yet. Forget it… I'll deal with what's behind me first…
Kalluto muttered inwardly.
He stepped past the clutter lining the walls, then halted in a slightly wider section of the alley, turning to face the entrance.
An old bulb dangled from the wall, its flickering light casting erratic shadows over Kalluto.
At the mouth of the alley, a figure appeared, blocking part of the dim glow.
—--
Splash.
Feet landed in the murky water, sending small ripples outward.
Morrow paid no mind as the filth soaked his trousers, striding calmly through the quiet, shadowed alley.
Along the grime-coated walls, occasional dangling bulbs provided feeble illumination in this forgotten underbelly of the bustling city.
Huddled near trash bins and scattered debris were gaunt, hollow-eyed addicts.
Their gazes followed Morrow's footsteps, greed and malice flickering in their sunken eyes at the sight of his well-dressed figure.
Yet as Morrow drew closer, an inexplicable chill seeped into their bones, washing away their hostility and replacing it with panic.
They lowered their heads, allowing Morrow to pass unhindered through the grimy passageway, deeper into the darkness.
Only when he reached a crossroads did Morrow pause, his back still turned as he spoke calmly, "This should do. What do you think?"
A brief silence followed.
Then, faint footsteps echoed from the alley behind him.
A man emerged from the shadows, his gaze sharp as he studied Morrow's back.
"When did you notice me?"
Morrow didn't answer, turning instead to scrutinize the newcomer.
Tall and wiry, his features carried a trace of cruelty, his nose and lips each missing a chunk.
Level 18, give or take…
Shifting his focus to the man's aura, Morrow made a quick assessment, disappointment creeping in.
Conjurer. And an amateur at that.
Noticing the excess aura unconsciously pooling in the man's left hand, Morrow deduced his Nen affinity.
And that face…
He'd seen it before, recently, in the Bull Market.
A fellow scavenger?
When he first sensed the tail, he'd assumed it was a lackey from the Menu Organization. Instead, it was just another Nen user scouring the market for bargains, though their motives differed.
Morrow sought to absorb residual aura, while this man was likely after the items themselves.
After all, even ordinary antiques held value, regardless of whether they carried traces of Nen.
And not all Nen-infused relics were necessarily precious; some counterfeit masters, skilled enough, inadvertently left traces of their aura on fakes.
Still, most Nen-laden artifacts were the real deal. Therefore, even a Nen user who knows nothing about the antique trade can profit by observing aura.
The man following Morrow was precisely this kind of Nen user, making a living through such methods.
As for why he had ill intentions…
It was simple: Morrow had encroached on his profits.
Human nature was often this straightforward.
Morrow felt disappointed.
On one hand, he had hoped the approaching Nen user was from the Menu Organization; unfortunately not, or else he could have continued cutting off the organization's claws.
On the other hand, the man was too weak, likely offering little in terms of experience or gains.
The lanky man had no idea what Morrow was thinking. Seeing Morrow's undisguised disappointment and his continued silence, his hostility only grew fiercer.