Morrow knows Rhythm Echo?
Kalluto's small mind was instantly filled with confusion.
His genuine reaction didn't escape Tsubone's notice.
She had been fooled by that young man.
Tsubone reflected on Morrow's natural and composed demeanor when answering questions earlier.
At her age, she had still been tricked by a little brat.
Really now...
Tsubone shook her head slightly and smiled wryly at herself.
At that moment, Kalluto stared at Tsubone. Though he didn't speak, the question in his eyes was unmistakable.
Tsubone had no choice but to recount what had happened earlier.
Amane silently retreated to a corner.
She really wanted to remind her grandmother to spare her some dignity, but she didn't dare speak up.
And when it came to certain matters, Tsubone was always blunt and straightforward. Even if she sensed her granddaughter's inner thoughts, she wouldn't accommodate them.
Kalluto listened quietly to Tsubone's explanation, his eyes gradually revealing a strange glint. Unconsciously, he glanced at Amane twice.
Amane noticed Kalluto's gaze and immediately lowered her head even further.
This is so embarrassing, ugh...
Her face remained expressionless, but inside, she was already weeping.
Only Tsubone's voice filled the room.
After a while,
Tsubone finished her account, and Kalluto learned what had happened while he was unconscious.
I never taught Rhythm Echo to Morrow.
Kalluto looked up at Tsubone, his deep purple eyes brimming with astonishment.
He seemed utterly unable to comprehend how Morrow had learned Rhythm Echo.
Moreover, according to Tsubone, Morrow's Rhythm Echo, though noticeably unpolished, had already been integrated into his combat rhythm, far from something achieved in a short time.
Tsubone raised her index finger and rested it horizontally against her chin, her eyes thoughtful.
"Then, has he seen your Rhythm Echo before?"
"Yes."
Kalluto answered swiftly.
Tsubone narrowed her eyes and slowly lowered her hand, roughly guessing the reason.
To grasp the technical aspects of a skill just by witnessing it and then learn it independently...
Such a thing was indeed hard to believe.
But it was the only possible explanation.
Amane observed Tsubone's reaction and, seemingly guessing her grandmother's thoughts, was stunned.
"Grandmother… you don't actually think that guy just saw Young Master Kalluto's Rhythm Echo and managed to master it on his own, do you?"
"What, is there a problem?"
Tsubone glanced at her granddaughter indifferently.
Thanks to this encounter with Morrow, she had seen many shortcomings in her granddaughter. Once they returned, she would definitely intensify Amane's training.
Amane shivered inexplicably, assuming it was just the effect of her grandmother's intimidating gaze.
"No problem."
She replied obediently.
Tsubone said calmly, "Don't assume that your 'surroundings' represent the entirety of the world. The world is vast, and genius monsters are never in short supply. What you think is absolutely impossible might be nothing remarkable in the eyes of such geniuses."
Amane kept her head lowered, humbly accepting the lecture.
Truthfully, she wanted to argue a little.
From as far back as she could remember, she had rarely left the Zoldyck Family.
Every day was filled with rigorous training, and the people she interacted with were mostly outstanding peers and the true genius monsters, the young masters.
From that perspective, her surroundings were her entire world.
Of course, she could think it all she wanted, but she wouldn't dare speak up in front of her grandmother. The one receiving instruction was Amane, yet Kalluto beside her also hung his head low. Recalling all the hardships endured to master Rhythm Echo, while Morrow had grasped it after just one observation...
Without shedding blood or sweat like him, he'd learned it in such a short time.
The relentless perseverance that had driven Kalluto to grit his teeth through exhaustion now seemed insignificant when faced with a true monstrous genius.
An inevitable bitterness welled in Kalluto's heart, and he abandoned his dream of someday surpassing Morrow.
"You're already outstanding, Kalluto."
Amidst the sour disappointment, Morrow's words suddenly flashed through Kalluto's mind.
Liar.
Kalluto instinctively clenched his fists, yet somehow, the ache lessened.
Tsubone noticed Kalluto's dejection and initially intended to offer comfort. But sensing the subtle shift in the boy's emotions, she silently admired his resilience.
In comparison, Tsubone's gaze flickered imperceptibly toward Amane before she shook her head slightly.
"? "
Amane's instincts immediately tingled as she suspiciously eyed her grandmother.
Was it just her imagination?
She couldn't shake the feeling of having been silently judged again.
Amane sulked.
Addressing Kalluto, Tsubone spoke measuredly: "After we return, I'll report everything truthfully to Silva. I hope you understand."
"..."
Kalluto nodded silently.
Then, as if struck by a thought, he suddenly looked up and asked, "Tsubone... do you think Morrow is strong?"
"Hmm?"
Tsubone found the question odd, but seeing Kalluto's intense stare, she considered it seriously before answering.
"For his age, he's no less remarkable than young master Illumi."
"I see."
Kalluto lowered his head.
The ache diminished further.
—--
At dawn, on the long street.
Morrow paused beneath a streetlamp.
Ahead stood a plump middle-aged woman, her facial features so crowded together her eyes appeared as mere slits.
This woman was the clinic's doctor.
"Snitch. What do you want?"
Hands in pockets, Morrow regarded her calmly.
The woman's fleshy lips stretched into a grin. "What do you think? You nearly demolished my entire clinic."
Her words addressed only the damage, not the betrayal.
"So you're here for compensation?"
"Small businesses struggle. Have some consideration."
"Oh. Go ask Tsubone for it."
With that dismissal, Morrow walked away.
The woman's eyes widened slightly at this, but she made no further attempt to stop him, simply watching as he left.
Only when Morrow had disappeared did she whistle cheerfully and head back toward her clinic, retrieving a voice recorder containing Morrow's "Go ask Tsubone for it" statement.
These days, earning petty cash was truly troublesome.
She sighed inwardly.
—--
Two days later.
Morrow arrived at the pawnshop where he'd deposited the Poultry Scarlet Knife.
With matters settled, he intended to reclaim the weapon before returning to Heavens Arena.
Pushing open the pawnshop door, he entered.
The shop contained only two counters, inner and outer, separated by security-barred glass with a small transaction window, like most pawnshops.
Morrow's eyes swiftly scanned the interior before landing on the metal door beside the counter.
Just as Kalluto had described. With this in mind, Morrow walked straight to the small window and, as Kalluto had instructed, uttered the words "Tree Hollow" to the other side of the opening.
Click.
The sound of a lock disengaging came from behind the iron door.
Morrow immediately stepped forward, pushed open the iron door, and entered.
Inside was a corridor, with another iron door at the end.
Though it was his first time here, Morrow already had a general understanding of the environment and procedure from Kalluto's description.
He walked straight to the iron door at the end of the corridor, pushed it open, and descended a staircase leading underground.
The air carried a faint scent of candle wax.
Flickering candlelight illuminated the far end of the basement, creating an atmosphere that felt detached from modern society.
As Morrow descended into the basement, his gaze swept over the numerous cabinets lining the walls before settling on an elderly man wearing reading glasses behind a long wooden table.
"I'm here to retrieve something."
Approaching the table, Morrow placed the copper coin corresponding to the Poultry Scarlet Knife on its surface.
The old man leisurely picked up the coin, glanced at the number engraved on it, and instantly recalled Kalluto's visit to deposit the knife.
Though the young man before him bore no relation to the transaction, the old man showed no inclination to inquire. Instead, he turned and walked toward the cabinets.
Seizing the opportunity, Morrow focused his Gyo to observe the aura surrounding the old man.
So steady... like thick, viscous mud, Morrow thought, inwardly astonished by the state of the old man's aura.
For just one of the Tree Hollow Organization's deposit points to have such a formidable old man...
He truly couldn't underestimate these organizations that had never appeared in the original story's perspective.
Including that intermediary group called the "Sengi Guild," where Kurapika had gone job-hunting in the original story—their foundations were likely just as impressive.
Morrow mused silently, then promptly withdrew his gaze to avoid being impolite.
Yet, despite his swiftness, the old man had already noticed.
But being "scrutinized" was something the old man had experienced countless times, and he paid it no mind.
Retrieving the Poultry Scarlet Knife from the cabinet, he returned to the table and gently placed it down as though handling the world's most precious treasure.
"Please inspect it."
The old man withdrew his hand and looked at Morrow.
Morrow picked up the Poultry Scarlet Knife, unsheathed it, and a faint glow of aura spilled from the crystalline blade as it left the scabbard.
"No issues."
He sheathed the blade, fastened it to his waist, then took out two Tree Hollow gold coins, along with a black envelope and a rolled-up map made of parchment, placing them lightly on the table.
"Please store these two items for me."
"..."
The old man silently examined the parchment map and the black envelope, his gaze lingering on the eye-shaped wax seal for a second or two.
Noticing this reaction, Morrow's eyes flickered slightly.
Though he hadn't intended to delve into the origins of the Eye of Truth, it was clear this old man knew something about it.
In that case, he might as well ask a few questions.
Unaware of Morrow's thoughts, the old man collected the two Tree Hollow gold coins, then retrieved two copper coins from the table's drawer and slid them toward Morrow.
Instead of taking the coins immediately, Morrow suddenly asked, "Do you know about the 'Eye of Truth'?"
"Hoh."
The old man raised an eyebrow slightly, his gaze calm as he regarded Morrow without speaking.
Morrow straightened his expression. "You can treat my question as a trade for information. In return, I'll pay a reward that satisfies you."
"No need." The old man shook his head and said calmly, "This old man only knows how to keep things for others."
"Can't you make an exception?"
Morrow pressed on persistently.
The old man stopped speaking, picked up the black envelope and the map parchment, and walked toward the cabinet, carefully placing both items inside.
Seeing this, Morrow had no choice but to give up. He pocketed the copper coins and decisively turned to leave.
As he reached the stairs, he heard the old man's faint voice: "After you step out of this door, you'll encounter a problem, but that problem has nothing to do with our Tree Hollow."
Hearing the old man's words, Morrow turned back to look at him, his eyes filled with confusion.
The old man offered no further explanation, instead continuing leisurely, "Behind the Eye of Truth is a group of delusional madmen. You opened the invitation but chose to store it away, which shows you have little interest in it."
At this point, the old man paused, his tone growing slightly more serious.
"That's a very wise choice. Well, I've said enough. Take care on your way out."
"..."
Morrow raised an eyebrow slightly and saw the old man's eyes vanish into the shadows of the candlelight. After a moment's hesitation, he decided not to press further and stepped onto the stairs, leaving the basement behind.
A problem?
Back in the hallway, Morrow pondered the old man's words.
First mentioning a problem, then distancing Tree Hollow from it, and finally offering information about the Eye of Truth... Morrow roughly understood the old man's meaning.
It was as if he were saying, "I'll give you this piece of information, but if you run into trouble after leaving, don't blame Tree Hollow."
The question was... what kind of trouble would it be?
Morrow remained vigilant.
Exiting the pawnshop, Morrow casually rested his right hand on the hilt of the Poultry Scarlet Knife, his gaze sweeping across both sides of the street.
The street was eerily quiet, with few pedestrians in sight.
Morrow walked slowly toward the car parked by the roadside when suddenly, he sensed a sharp gaze from behind. In his mind, the scene of the buildings behind him, including the pawnshop, flashed vividly.
From the alley to the right of the pawnshop.
Pinpointing the source of the gaze with lightning speed, Morrow didn't hesitate to unleash the combined techniques of "Starlight Convergence" and "Rhythm Echo."
In an instant, his aura shattered into a river of stars, surging toward the alley to the right of the pawnshop.
At the same time, Morrow moved like a phantom, darting forward under the guidance of Starlight Convergence.
In the alley.
Menchi was startled by the aura emanating from Morrow and quickly crossed her arms, drawing two slender kitchen knives from her waist.
She had no ill intent from the start, it was just her habit to observe people leaving the pawnshop with the eyes of someone assessing ingredients.
But when she caught sight of the Poultry Scarlet Knife at Morrow's waist, he suddenly charged at her with a terrifying aura.
The abruptness of the situation left her no time to think, forcing her to assume a defensive stance as quickly as possible.
The dazzling river of star-like aura rushed toward Menchi, instantly filling the entire alley.
Morrow's cold gaze swept over Menchi as he drew the Poultry Scarlet Knife with his right hand, stepping through a series of afterimages to appear before her.
Menchi's expression changed. Her kitchen knives, wrapped in solidified aura, swung up to block Morrow's thrusting Poultry Scarlet Knife.
But at that very moment...
The starry aura that had filled the alley suddenly collapsed and vanished. Instead, Morrow directly abandoned the aura maintaining Starlight Convergence, sacrificing a portion of his potential aura so that fresh aura could envelop his body even faster.
This was quicker than retracting his ability.
Then, leveraging the advantage of the information he had read, Morrow allowed Menchi's kitchen knife to strike only the afterimage of his Poultry Scarlet Knife.
Menchi's pupils constricted sharply, but fortunately, her other kitchen knife was already poised defensively.
The only drawback was that her failed block earlier had left the distribution of her aura between offense and defense unbalanced.
The next moment.
Morrow swung his blade toward the kitchen knife Menchi was using to defend.
With a metallic clang...
Menchi's kitchen knife snapped in half.
Her eyes reflected the spinning broken blade, and her heart nearly skipped a beat.
Morrow's gaze was icy as he raised his left arm and slammed it into the softness of Menchi's chest, shoving her against the alley wall. The tip of his Poultry Scarlet Knife in his other hand pressed against her neck.
At such close range, Menchi stared into Morrow's death-filled eyes, her face paling drastically.
She had never imagined things would unfold this way.
--------
Just one more power stone to hit 30 and unlock another bonus chapter.