The second photo Kalluto produced was of Illumi.
This was exactly what Morrow wanted.
As a transmigrator, he naturally knew some of Illumi's distinguishing features.
But he had to let Kalluto make the decision—it was akin to obtaining permission.
"This one."
Morrow immediately settled on it.
Seeing this, Kalluto suddenly scrutinized Morrow's facial features and realized, to his surprise, that this bastard bore some resemblance to his elder brother Illumi.
Especially the nose and mouth; they were strikingly similar.
Only the eyes were completely different.
Illumi's eyes were larger and far colder.
In contrast, this bastard's eyes were relatively softer.
Age-wise, they seemed only four or five years apart.
Still, with just a few similarities, some light disguise and a pair of sunglasses should suffice.
Wait, why am I even worrying about this?
He's the one at risk of exposure, not me.
I just can't figure out what he's thinking.
On one hand, he doesn't want his identity exposed, yet on the other, he insists on meddling in an assassination operation.
Kalluto found himself lost in thought before he realized it.
"There's something I should warn you about."
Suddenly, Kalluto recalled Nolan's true purpose in asking him to track Morrow's location, as well as the two Shadow Beasts members he had encountered while relaying the message.
Noticing Kalluto's suddenly serious expression, Morrow asked curiously, "What is it?"
"Nolan is hunting you down, and two extremely powerful Nen users are involved."
Kalluto spoke gravely, "Even though you've already left the borders of the United States of Saherta, to be safe, it's best we avoid contact before your disguise is ready. We don't want unnecessary complications."
He had agreed to take on the assassination mission against Nolan because he was confident in his Nen-based tracking ability, allowing him to patiently wait for the perfect opportunity to strike.
Thus, when executing the assassination, he would never resort to a frontal assault.
But with Morrow's involvement, the nature of the operation shifted from "waiting" to "proactive."
Now Kalluto had to consider the possibility of "unnecessary complications." At the very least, before the operation began, he didn't want any avoidable trouble.
Morrow instantly understood Kalluto's concerns and smiled. "Then we'll do as you say. But these two powerful Nen users you mentioned... are they Shadow Beasts members?"
"Yes."
Kalluto nodded, then suddenly realized something and frowned. "You've already encountered them?"
As he asked, his gaze involuntarily flickered to the sharp tears in Morrow's clothes.
Considering how Morrow had crossed nearly half the country to board this airship, he began to piece together the reason.
Before leaving Yorknew, Kalluto had been in close proximity to those two Shadow Beasts members and had witnessed the peculiar way one of them appeared.
Was it Worm?
At the time, he hadn't sensed even a trace of aura.
With such a method and coordinated tactics, even if Morrow was strong, he would have a hard time gaining the upper hand against those two Shadow Beasts.
So Morrow must have realized he was outmatched during the encounter, then used his ability to escape while simultaneously tracking me down, intending to use money to neutralize Nolan's kill order and resolve the issue at its root. Kalluto quickly figured out the reason without waiting for Morrow's answer. His brows relaxed, and his tone unconsciously carried a hint of glee as he said with schadenfreude, "Oh, so you ran away."
"Huh?"
A question mark popped up over Morrow's head.
Kalluto lowered his eyelids, hiding a trace of smugness while failing to notice Morrow's reaction. He continued speaking to himself:
"Those two Shadow Beasts members were indeed very strong. If you fled because you couldn't defeat them, it couldn't be helped. For our next moves, we'll have to be wary of those two Shadow Beasts, especially that one exhibitionist..."
"No need to worry. They're dead."
Morrow suddenly interjected.
"Th-their... abilities... what do you mean dead?"
Kalluto's words abruptly halted mid-sentence as he jerked his head up, staring blankly at Morrow.
Morrow replied calmly, "I killed those two Shadow Beasts members. There's no need to consider them anymore."
"!!!"
The smugness in Kalluto's eyes receded like a tide, replaced by shock and bewilderment.
How is this possible...?
As someone who had lost to Morrow, he acknowledged Morrow's strength.
But compared to those two Shadow Beasts members, there was still a clear gap, especially since one of them possessed a powerful synergy-based combat ability.
How could such an obvious disparity be overcome at the mere cost of "a few torn clothes" to kill those two Shadow Beasts members?
Seeing Kalluto's dramatic reaction, Morrow slowly said, "It's fine. Schadenfreude is a child's nature, but it's not a good habit. Try to change it if you can."
"I wasn't gloating!"
Kalluto retorted angrily, though his eyes involuntarily darted away.
Naturally, Morrow didn't dwell on the matter and didn't press the topic further. Instead, he pulled out a paper fan from his person.
"Here, your fan."
"..."
Kalluto silently stared at the fan Morrow handed over, making no move to take it.
Seeing this, Morrow had no choice but to shove the fan directly into Kalluto's hand.
Snapping out of his daze, Kalluto snorted coldly before turning his back.
His mind was anything but calm.
He knew there was a gap between his strength and Morrow's, but he hadn't expected it to be this vast.
Could he really catch up to Morrow in the future?
Could he really trample Morrow underfoot one day?
Before his path of struggle had even properly begun, he couldn't help but doubt whether he could achieve it.
Then he desperately tried to imagine how Morrow had killed those two Shadow Beasts members.
Damn it, if only I hadn't left!
I really want to know how this bastard pulled it off!
Was it because of that Starlight Convergence ability?
At this thought, Kalluto suddenly remembered the Starlight Convergence pattern this bastard had left on him.
"One more thing!"
He spun around abruptly, fixing Morrow with a deliberately fierce glare.
Morrow asked, "What?"
"Since we're in a cooperative relationship now, shouldn't you remove this Mark from me?"
As he spoke, Kalluto tugged open his kimono, revealing the Starlight Convergence pattern between his collarbone and shoulder.
Morrow glanced at the exposed Star Mark, and a sudden idea flashed through his mind.
"Of course."
He agreed with a smile, though inwardly, he was already calculating.
Kalluto felt a surge of delight.
While he could have sought an Exorcist to remove the Starlight Convergence pattern, that would have taken time.
If he could get rid of it immediately, he wasn't about to pass up the chance.
"Then hurry up."
Kalluto urged impatiently.
Morrow replied, "Don't rush. There's a condition that needs to be met to lift the ability."
"Speak."
Kalluto's eyes narrowed with focus.
Morrow spoke unhurriedly, "Should I first explain the conditions for forming a 'Star Mark'?"
"No need. I already know."
Kalluto gritted his teeth.
Morrow nodded. "Alright then. The condition for removing the Star Mark is that you must be within the range of my ability, and under the premise of 'not fighting back,' you must dodge 'three' of my attacks."
At this point, Morrow suddenly emphasized his tone, warning:
"And during this process, you cannot be hit even once. Otherwise, the count will reset. If you fail too many times, it will reinforce the Star Mark's hold. By then, even I won't be able to remove it."
"Understood."
Kalluto's expression was grave.
Back then, within that field of starlight, he had merely missed Morrow once, and that was enough to form this Starlight Convergence pattern.
Now, to undo the ability, he had to dodge three of Morrow's attacks within that same starlight.
It made sense.
However, it also required the cooperation of the ability user, so in a way, the difficulty of shaking off the Starlight Convergence was still quite high.
"Shall we start now?"
Eager to remove the Starlight Convergence as soon as possible, Kalluto pressed immediately.
"Mhm, let's go."
Morrow smiled as he released his aura.
"Starlight Convergence."
In an instant, the spacious VIP cabin was enveloped in a dazzling expanse of starlight.
Kalluto stood within it, yet he had no mind to admire the breathtaking radiance so close at hand.
Morrow's body was wrapped in a thin layer of aura as he raised his Index Finger, channeling what little aura he had left to condense a non-locking, marble-sized Shooting Star at his fingertip.
Seeing the Shooting Star on Morrow's finger, Kalluto tensed like a soldier facing imminent danger, his focus razor-sharp.
"Here comes the little shooting star~"
Morrow gave a playful warning before flicking his finger, sending the tiny Shooting Star flying toward Kalluto.
Kalluto's gaze locked onto the Shooting Star, thinking its speed was nothing to worry about.
But the next moment...
The Shooting Star abruptly split into dozens of slender, needle-like strands of aura, spreading out to envelop Kalluto.
"Huh?!"
Kalluto's expression shifted. Instinctively, he wanted to take a step back to evade the barrage of needle-like aura.
But the condition forbidding him from leaving the Starlight Convergence's range instantly suppressed that impulse.
In the split second his thoughts wavered, the dozens of needle-like strands were already upon him, striking his body like raindrops, though they left no visible impact.
"Why didn't you dodge?"
Morrow asked, puzzled.
Kalluto took a deep breath before grinding his teeth. "Are you… mocking me?"
"Not at all. I thought you'd jump to avoid it."
Morrow shook his head slightly, his tone utterly sincere.
Kalluto nearly bit through his teeth.
True, jumping would have barely sufficed to dodge.
But the problem was that he was accustomed to never putting himself in precarious positions.
So when faced with such an attack, his instinct was to avoid leaving himself airborne, lest it give the enemy an opening to follow up.
Kalluto took another deep breath before enunciating each word: "I don't mind dodging a few more times, but please, don't make this more complicated than it needs to be!"
"Got it."
Morrow acknowledged before condensing another utterly harmless Shooting Star at his fingertip. However, Kalluto's trust in Morrow had plummeted to rock bottom. Despite giving a stiff reminder before the second attempt began, he still anticipated Morrow might continue his mischief.
So when Morrow's fingers showed signs of exertion, Kalluto didn't hesitate to use the Zoldyck family's footwork technique, Rhythm Echo.
This was a movement technique that manipulated the rhythm between steps to create afterimages and confuse the enemy.
For Kalluto to resort to it now showed just how cornered he felt.
In an instant, Kalluto darted back and forth within the range of Starlight Convergence, leaving a trail of afterimages in his wake.
Yet every single movement he made was unknowingly being read by the scattered traces of aura.
Having achieved his goal, Morrow casually flicked the Shooting Star from his fingertip.
Whoosh!
The Shooting Star pierced through one of the afterimages, striking the cabin wall and leaving only a faint scorch mark.
"Dodged it!"
Kalluto's eyes lit up, his spirits lifting.
But he didn't dare let his guard down, maintaining his use of Rhythm Echo.
Within the five-meter radius of Starlight Convergence, the space was nearly filled with his numerous afterimages.
Morrow lazily flicked out a second Shooting Star.
As expected, it hit another afterimage.
"Dodged it again!"
A faint smile tugged at Kalluto's lips, his excitement growing.
Merely evading two Shooting Stars within the confined range felt like winning a championship.
What a poor kid, driven to this state.
Had Morrow known about Kalluto's mental shift, he might have felt a twinge of guilt.
Third shot.
Morrow deliberately paused for a moment before leisurely flicking the third Shooting Star.
Once it passed through an afterimage and flew beyond the range of Starlight Convergence, Morrow promptly deactivated his ability and remotely dispelled the Star Mark on Kalluto.
To remove the Mark, all he needed was a single thought, none of those extra conditions were necessary.
Making Kalluto struggle so much had only been to gather information on Rhythm Echo.
Unaware of this, Kalluto, seeing Morrow withdraw his ability, barely contained his victorious glee as he hastily pulled open his kimono to check his shoulder.
The Starlight Convergence pattern was gone.
Perfect.
With the Mark removed, Kalluto felt significantly lighter.
"Heh heh."
He picked up the paper fan Morrow had returned, spreading it to cover half his face and hide his uncontrollably delighted grin.
Morrow played along, giving Kalluto a thumbs-up before casually dropping a "See you at the party" and walking straight out of the cabin.
Still oblivious to the trap he'd fallen into, Kalluto's young mind remained immersed in his moral victory.
I can do this!
I've got this!
I'll win next time!
Kalluto had finally regained a shred of confidence.
—--
Meanwhile, in the airship corridor.
Morrow used En to scan for an empty cabin, then entered and locked the door behind him.
"The Zoldyck family's signature footwork, Rhythm Echo…"
Standing in the dimly lit room, a glint flashed in Morrow's eyes.
Then, slowly shifting his stance, he began replicating Kalluto's unique force application technique under the guidance of the gathered data, gradually settling into that distinctive rhythm of pauses and bursts.
Morrow wasn't in a hurry. Moving at several times slower speed, he let his body steadily absorb the information and adapt to the technique.
Little by little, afterimages began to flicker into existence within the cabin.
"Success."
Having replicated Rhythm Echo, Morrow was satisfied. Starlight Convergence is a Counter-type ability, with its focus lying in evading attacks.
This makes strong support from "footwork techniques" essential.
The Gazelle Steps I previously stole from Calista were somewhat useful, but in terms of skill, they weren't as refined as the Zoldyck's Rhythm Echo.
Often, Gazelle Steps required more aura reinforcement to overcome the stiffness in power application techniques.
Rhythm Echo, however, had no such flaws. While it still needed aura to strengthen muscles and bones, the burden was far less noticeable.
After all, it was an inheritance mechanism from an established family, undoubtedly refined through countless improvements to achieve its current perfected form.
And now... it's mine~!