Powerful, aloof, enigmatic...
These were Kurapika's immediate impressions of Kalluto.
The pile of bloodied flesh on the alley floor further emphasized Kalluto's brutality.
This was undoubtedly a monster.
Kurapika's perception was violently shaken.
Had he not witnessed it himself, he would never have believed that a child who appeared no older than six or seven could dismember a robust adult into dozens of pieces with a mere wave of their hand.
Just as he was struggling to accept the reality before his eyes, he saw that very monster fleeing in panic.
What had happened?
Who had injured that monster, driving it to flee in such terror?
Kurapika stood frozen, a chill creeping up his spine.
Kalluto, emerging from the depths of the alley, immediately spotted Kurapika still standing there.
Ignoring Kurapika's presence, Kalluto swiftly stepped over the filthy water and the scattered chunks of flesh and blood, sprinting toward the brightly lit alley entrance at full speed.
He wasn't naive enough to believe Morrow's words.
Precious ability, he scoffed.
In that fight, he hadn't even had the chance to activate his Hatsu, and he wouldn't forget that look in Morrow's eyes!
Gritting his teeth, Kalluto ignored his injuries, focused solely on putting as much distance between himself and Morrow as possible.
Nearby, Kurapika watched in stunned silence as Kalluto vanished from the alley.
The events of these brief ten minutes felt like icy hands, brutally crushing his understanding of the world, leaving him dazed as if trapped in a dream.
Moments later, footsteps echoed from the alley once more.
This time, it was Morrow stepping out from the shadows.
"Hmm?"
Morrow first noticed the two blood-soaked corpses and the scattered remains on the ground, then his gaze landed on the blond boy slumped against the wall.
His eyes traced the boy's distinctly Kurta Clan attire and the wooden twin swords tied together with a rope beside him.
Kurapika.
Recognizing the boy instantly from these features, Morrow felt a flicker of surprise.
Drawn here by rumors of the Scarlet Eyes, perhaps...
Morrow's peripheral vision caught the gruesome flesh chunks and the blood-soaked paper fragments, realizing these corpses were Kalluto's handiwork.
Judging by the spread of blood, Kalluto must have done this before encountering him.
"Guess I won't be returning that paper fan after all."
Morrow's gaze shifted to the illuminated alley exit.
Though he could easily chase Kalluto using the Star Mark, given Kalluto's current mental state, catching up would be pointless.
"Probably around Lv.15... truly a Zoldyck, a cradle that breeds monstrous geniuses," Morrow mused.
There were multiple reasons he'd let Kalluto go today...
Chief among them was the likelihood of needing Kalluto's tracking abilities in the future.
He could only hope the "kindness" he'd shown today would leave a favorable impression.
But for now, the more pressing question was: who had hired the Zoldycks for this assassination?
The answer was obvious—Nolan, the one controlling the Menu Organization.
He just hadn't expected Kalluto to be the one sent.
Had it been Illumi, Morrow would be the one fleeing on his Shooting Star right now. It seemed he needed to take more proactive action.
But with his current strength, he couldn't handle the Ten Dons' subsequent retaliation.
This concern had just surfaced when Morrow immediately suppressed it. If they'd already reached the point of hiring the Zoldyck Family to kill him, there was no room for hesitation now.
Morrow fully understood the importance of careful planning, so before making any decision he always considered every step. But when the time came to act, he didn't hesitate for a second.
In this current situation, his only thought was to charge straight into Nolan's stronghold.
As for how the Ten Dons would react afterward, that was a problem for later.
At worst, he could just leave a message at the crime scene: "We refuse nothing, so please take nothing from us."
Morrow pondered deeply.
Kurapika struggled to suppress the turmoil in his heart, cautiously watching Morrow as he contemplated.
When his gaze fell upon the paper fan in Morrow's hand, he recalled the monstrous being who had just been forced to flee in panic. The shock rising from his heart gradually spread across his face.
To drive such a terrifying monster to that state... just how powerful must this person be?
Beyond shock, Kurapika felt an intense yearning.
He was both cautious and unwilling to look away, silently observing Morrow.
Morrow noticed Kurapika's gaze and finally turned his full attention to him.
Desire...
Morrow recognized this emotion in Kurapika's eyes, while also sensing an unfamiliarity about him, something different from the original story.
The composed, calm and rational Kurapika who appeared during the Hunter Exam was noticeably distinct from the one before him now.
Morrow recalled that only two years had passed since the massacre of his clan, and he could guess some of the reasons.
He's still growing.
That was Morrow's conclusion.
After all, no one who saw Kurapika during the Hunter Exam would have imagined the blood-soaked vengeance he carried, nor could they fathom how he endured such soul-crushing pain to reach that state.
"Are you alright?"
Morrow glanced at the blood at the corner of Kurapika's mouth and asked first.
Kurapika stiffened slightly. Though the other had initiated conversation in a friendly manner, the question burning in his heart remained unspoken.
How did you do it?
That was what he wanted to ask.
Seeing Kurapika's dazed silence, Morrow assumed he was still overwhelmed.
One thing puzzled Morrow. According to Uvogin's words in the original story, he somewhat acknowledged the strength of the Kurta Clan, which suggested there must have been multiple Nen users among them. Yet Kurapika only learned about the existence of Nen after passing the Hunter Exam.
But now, due to Kalluto's interference, Kurapika had witnessed Nen's power much earlier. Under the curse of vengeance, it was only natural for him to show such intense yearning for this power.
"Do you need help?"
Noticing Kurapika's lingering stupor, Morrow raised a brow and asked again.
This second show of concern gave Kurapika more courage.
No matter what, he had to seize this opportunity.
Kurapika pursed his lips and finally asked the question weighing on his mind: "How... did you all do it?"
"I won't answer that question, nor do I even have the obligation to."
Hearing this, Morrow shook his head.
Kurapika's lips parted slightly as overwhelming disappointment engulfed him. He instinctively lowered his head, unwilling to let the other see his eyes turning dull and fragile.
Wh-what's going on...?