In a densely packed residential area crammed with low-rise buildings, Kalluto and Morrow found themselves targeted by trouble one after another.
At the entrance of one of the alleys leading into the neighborhood, three figures suddenly appeared, blocking most of the light that filtered into the narrow passage.
The three were an odd bunch, one short and fat, another tall and skinny like a monkey, and the last burly as a bear. They stood blocking the alley entrance, their gazes fixed on Kalluto inside as if appraising a priceless commodity.
"Delicate as a doll, top-tier goods. Hah, we'll fetch a fortune for this one," the short, fat man muttered, eyes gleaming as he assessed Kalluto's worth without needing further inspection.
The trio had dabbled in numerous criminal activities, with human trafficking as their primary trade. Prey of Kalluto's caliber was a rare find.
The tall, skinny one grinned. "Let's grab her first. Can't let her slip away."
Laughing among themselves, they strode toward Kalluto, who remained motionless. To them, her stillness seemed like fear-induced paralysis.
Blinded by greed, they failed to question why a child dressed like Kalluto would wander alone through these chaotic, filthy streets, or why she had even ventured into such a dangerous area.
"Stop!"
A cold, youthful voice suddenly rang out from the alley entrance. The three traffickers halted and turned.
A blond boy stepped into the alley, gripping a wooden sword, his eyes burning with an anger the traffickers couldn't comprehend.
After taking in Kurapika's appearance, the three exchanged glances, surprise and excitement flashing in their eyes.
"Another premium catch," the burliest man murmured, squinting at the blond boy's equally striking features, already envisioning a hefty payout.
This blond boy was Kurapika, who had come solely for the eyes of his brethren. He had noticed the traffickers tailing Kalluto on the streets.
Though initially reluctant to interfere, his innate kindness, and memories of childhood friends, had ultimately driven him here.
Hearing words like "premium goods" and "selling for money" from the traffickers, he could no longer hold back. With a shout, he tightened his grip on his wooden swords and advanced toward them.
"I'll handle this one. You two grab the other," the burly man ordered his companions.
"No problem," the fat and skinny duo chuckled, moving toward Kalluto.
Kurapika's urgency spiked. Raising his swords, he lunged at the burly man blocking his path.
But before he could strike, the man reacted with superior speed and strength, swiping his dagger to knock the wooden swords from Kurapika's hands.
Clatter.
The swords spun through the air before clattering against the wall.
The burly man had some skill. Recognizing Kurapika's decent physical ability, he seized the boy's collar and unceremoniously flung him into a pile of debris by the wall.
Thud.
Kurapika crashed into the heap, pain momentarily pinning him down. Yet he struggled to lift his upper body with great effort, turning his head with difficulty to look at Kalluto, who was being approached by the fat man and the tall, skinny one.
Instantly, a deep sense of helplessness surged within him, giving way to resentment and even fiercer anger.
"You... these... beasts in human skin..."
Kurapika's eyes gradually turned red.
By now, the fat man and the tall, skinny one had reached Kalluto, their gazes raking over him with insatiable greed. Unconsciously, they grinned, revealing yellowed teeth.
Faced with their disrespectful behavior, Kalluto's expression remained unchanged. Suddenly, he snapped his paper fan shut.
Snap.
The sound of the fan closing was soft.
Just as the two men were about to speak, blood suddenly erupted from their bodies in jets, spraying backward and splattering sharp, jagged streaks across the filthy ground.
"Huh?"
Confusion and fear slowly spread across their faces before they toppled over, dead.
The sudden turn of events left the burly man momentarily stunned.
Kurapika, still embedded in the pile of debris, was no different, his eyes widening in shock, utterly clueless about what had just happened.
"M-monster...!"
Finally snapping out of his daze, the burly man turned and fled without hesitation, driven by an overwhelming sense of danger.
Kalluto watched his retreating back coldly.
Guided by his gaze, a swarm of white paper sheets fluttered through the air like razor-sharp blades, slicing through the burly man's body.
In an instant, the man's sprinting form silently split into countless pieces, scattering forward like celestial blossoms across the alley.
Kurapika's face was splattered with blood. He shuddered violently, staring in utter disbelief at the scattered flesh on the ground.
What... just happened?
He hadn't seen any attack, yet the burly man had suddenly been reduced to chunks.
The only certainty was that the girl before him had single-handedly created this scene, defying all logic.
Kurapika stiffly turned his neck to look at Kalluto, who had remained silent the entire time.
At that very moment, Kalluto also turned his gaze toward Kurapika.
Upon seeing Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes, Kalluto's expression remained utterly indifferent. Without a word, he turned and walked deeper into the alley.
Behind him, Kurapika stood frozen in shock, his face slack with disbelief.
—--
At a crossroads in the residential district's alleyways.
The lanky man glared fiercely at Morrow, his voice icy. "You've made quite a profit these past few days."
Morrow's response was the same as always, silent and composed.
"If there's a next life, learn to watch your back!"
Seeing that Morrow had no intention of speaking further, the lanky man spat out his final threat before surging his aura and lunging at Morrow.
Morrow glanced impassively at the flow of the man's aura, noting the sharp increase in aura concentration around his left hand; this confirmed his earlier suspicion that the man was a Conjurer.
Deceptive Shooting Star.
Without moving from his spot, Morrow raised his hand and fired a fist-sized Shooting Star at the lanky man.
The man reacted swiftly, barely dodging the projectile. At the same time, he raised his left hand, where the gathered Nen mass rapidly took the form of a clawed blade.
The blade's edge was lined with green, vein-like streaks, hinting at some hidden function. Seeing the lanky man closing in, Morrow remained motionless, shooting another Shooting Star at him.
With the distance now shortened, the lanky man barely managed to block the attack with his claw blade as he reacted.
A soft pop sounded.
The Shooting Star burst like a bubble, scattering into countless tiny points of light.
"That's it?!"
The pitiful power of the Shooting Star took the lanky man by surprise.
Yet the next moment…
The first Shooting Star from earlier curved back and struck the lanky man squarely in the back.
A violent explosion erupted, and a mist of blood sprayed from his back.
The impact sent his body tumbling like a ragged sack before Morrow, his consciousness plunging into darkness in an instant.
The Green Vein Claw Blade in his grip also dispersed into aura.
Poisoned blade, huh...
Morrow shook his head slightly, then glanced at the back of his hand.
His level hadn't changed, and the amount of aura output he gained was only a slight increase.
Lv.18…
Judging by the assessed level value, the opponent's aura output was technically passable. He must have been a Nen user for quite some time.
But perhaps due to neglecting training or failing to hone his combat skills, his actual fighting ability fell far short of what his Lv.18 stats suggested.
In simple terms, he had the numbers, but not the skill.
If his opponent had been Lv.30 or higher, yet still lacked the corresponding advanced Nen techniques or combat experience…
Then in Morrow's eyes, there would be no difference in difficulty between defeating an Lv.18 and an Lv.30; both could be instantly crushed upon contact.
The only difference was that an Lv.30 would provide more experience, giving him the satisfying feeling of effortlessly snatching a kill from someone else's hands.
On the other hand, if he encountered an opponent with a low level but formidable combat prowess, it would be like biting into a tough, low-reward bone.
An amusing thought.
The experience gained from leveling up depended on the prey's aura output, and the growth of aura output required long-term cultivation by a Nen user.
It was almost as if…
Leveling up meant stealing the fruits of another's time and effort.
The experience gain is too poor.
Not wanting to waste his efforts, Morrow crouched down to search the corpse.
Just as he pulled out a wallet, however, he suddenly stopped and slowly stood up, his body once again brimming with dense aura as he turned his gaze toward the alley ahead.
Perhaps in response to Morrow's reaction, the faint sound of wooden sandals stepping through murky water echoed from the alley.
Then, Kalluto, clad in a dark purple kimono, emerged from the shadows.
Morrow studied Kalluto, his gaze lingering briefly on the kimono and paper fan before a flicker of surprise flashed deep in his eyes.
A Zoldyck…
Kalluto?
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