Before attending the grand auction, Morrow could never have anticipated crossing paths with Biscuit like this.
He had once envied Gon and Killua for receiving Biscuit's guidance.
Yet he never imagined that his freeloading of the Executioner's Blade's Post-Mortem Nen would lead Biscuit to proactively exchange contact information with him.
Though he found her sneakily persistent harassment somewhat overwhelming, formally befriending such a master of the Shingen-ryu Style was an incredibly fortunate opportunity for Morrow at this stage.
Perhaps he could even seek her advice in the future…
After exchanging contacts, Biscuit hurried off with a quick "let's talk when you're free," clearly preoccupied.
The unheated emerald she'd obtained from Aksel still awaited carving, and it had been weighing on her mind.
Her sole purpose in attending tonight's auction had been to bid on that heart-shaped ruby.
Had she not encountered Morrow at the venue, she would've left immediately after securing the gem.
Shortly after Biscuit's departure, Morrow received a transfer of 4.2 billion from the auction house.
This was the proceeds from several auctioned items tonight, including the Scarlet Eyes, after deducting the 5% commission. The remaining sum still exceeded 4.2 billion.
Now, Morrow's net worth had surpassed 5 billion.
But compared to the aggressively bidding buyers tonight, his 5 billion was likely just pocket change to them.
Exiting the guest lounge, Morrow thought about the three other buyers who had acquired Nen-imbued objects.
However, they had already left with their purchases.
No big deal.
With money, he could simply purchase intel from the Hunter website.
Investigating the identities of a few buyers was child's play.
He'd just have to trouble Kanzai again…
With this in mind, Morrow stepped out of the Southernpiece Auction House.
In less than a week since arriving for the auction, his Tree Rings energy had surged from 19% to 34%, and his wealth had quintupled.
Given these results, he'd definitely return next year.
Leaving the auction house, Morrow hailed a taxi straight to Lingon Airport in the outskirts of Yorknew.
With matters settled, he saw no reason to linger and planned to catch a flight out tonight.
Yorknew City was a model of urban prosperity, yet beyond its borders stretched an endless wasteland, a stark, desolate landscape.
Across this barren expanse, only scattered cacti, clusters of withered yellow grass, and jagged red rock formations broke the monotony.
The only nearby airport, however, was built in the distant outskirts, a full ninety-minute drive away.
This was only feasible due to the highway-quality road connecting Yorknew City to Lingon Airport.
The taxi cruised along the road.
Tonight was cloudless, the full moon hanging brightly in the sky, its silver light blanketing the earth.
Perhaps due to the clear visibility, or simply because the driver was a chatterbox, he kept trying to engage Morrow in conversation.
Morrow responded with absent-minded hums.
Yet the driver, oblivious to his disinterest, rambled on undeterred.
The thought of enduring this for ninety minutes filled Morrow with resignation.
"Young man, let me tell you… huh?"
Mid-sentence, the driver suddenly spotted a streak of fire streaking toward them.
From the back seat.
Morrow's eyes sharpened, instantly recognizing the projectile's true nature.
A rocket!
Without hesitation, he smashed through the car door and lunged onto the wasteland beyond the road. Boom!
The next moment.
The taxi was struck by a rocket, exploding violently and erupting into towering flames.
—--
On a rocky hill not far away.
Mosquito tossed aside the empty rocket launcher and smirked. "Handy. Really handy."
With that, he stuffed his hands into his pockets and leaped down from the hill, heading toward the burning wreckage.
—--
At the same time.
On the desolate plains beside the road.
Morrow stared at the taxi engulfed in flames, his gaze gradually turning icy.
Screech!
From the road behind them, leading toward Yorknew, came the sharp sound of brakes.
Several black sedans, having spotted the explosion from a distance, slammed to a halt, stopping in place.
Further back, a few more cars could vaguely be seen coming to a stop, likely buyers who had come to Yorknew for the auction.
This was the only road leading from Yorknew to Lingon Airport. Anyone planning to leave that night had to take this route.
Even those who arrived on private airships had to dock them at Lingon Airport for storage and necessary pre-flight preparations.
The aura around Morrow's right hand sharpened as his cold gaze fixed on the black sedans in the distance, initially assuming they were pursuers.
But when Tsezguerra stepped out of one of the cars, he immediately dismissed that assumption.
Tsezguerra also spotted Morrow, his expression flickering with surprise. His eyes shifted to the blazing wreckage and the scattered car parts littering the road, his brow furrowing slightly.
Morrow quickly averted his gaze from Tsezguerra, tensing up and entering a state of full combat readiness.
Suddenly, Morrow sensed a thread of killing intent.
By the time he reacted, the sound of earth splitting open came from behind him.
A bizarrely built man wearing nothing but underwear burst from the ground, swinging a fist at the back of Morrow's head.
Without turning, Morrow pushed off the ground with his toes, using Gazelle Steps to dart forward and evade.
Swish.
Worm's punch met empty air as he landed steadily, his murky yellow eyes flashing with surprise as he stared at Morrow, who had retreated a safe distance.
"You dodged it…"
His voice carried a unique tremor, laced with astonishment.
Ambushing his target by striking when their attention was diverted.
This was his signature move, one that had never failed him.
In coordinated operations, no one had ever managed to evade it.
Yet tonight, his prey had dodged it as if foreseeing the future.
Morrow coldly assessed the newcomer.
"Shadow Beast Worm."
"Oh, quite knowledgeable."
Worm didn't press the attack. Instead, he scrutinized the aura around Morrow, gauging his strength.
Morrow, too, silently evaluated Worm's Nen level, somewhere between Lv.45 and Lv.50.
During this brief standoff, a man with a slanted fringe and a leather jacket approached from behind Worm.
Morrow glanced at him and instantly recognized another Shadow Beast, Mosquito, whose aura was slightly weaker than Worm's, likely around Lv.40 at minimum.
Seeing Mosquito in position, Worm spoke in his distinctive trembling voice, "Since you know who we are… don't even think about escaping."
"..."
Morrow remained silent, the aura around his palms growing even sharper.
—--
On the distant driveway.
Tsezguerra stood by the car, reporting to Battera inside: "It's that young Nen user we encountered in the hotel lobby yesterday, along with Worm and Mosquito from the Shadow Beasts. It seems they're targeting him."
"..."
Battera remained calm, appearing completely indifferent.
Tsezguerra could read Battera's attitude.
Even if Battera had other thoughts, he would immediately dissuade him.
When it came to the Ten Dons, it was best not to get involved unless absolutely necessary.