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154 HxH: The Strongest Assassin
🕑 Added 2024-12-01 06:00:09 +0000 UTCFrom the outside world's perspective, Dandins had vanished without a trace from Orion. No one in Orion seemed to notice his disappearance, making it extremely challenging to track him down.
In terms of strength, Dandins wasn't particularly formidable.
Even so, Milluki couldn't rely on his efforts alone to locate Dandins. He had to collaborate with numerous intelligence brokers, which came with its own set of costs.
"This isn't the right time to discuss this," someone commented.
"To think the Mafia Community would entrust this to the Zoldycks," another remarked.
"Milluki will keep spinning his wheels until he realizes he's chasing a ghost," someone else added.
High above the clouds, the airship sailed through the sky. Outside the window, the scenery blurred as the clouds rolled by.
Kaizen sat by the window. Compared to when he'd left Zoldyck Manor nearly a year ago, he had grown taller, but he still had the appearance of a teenager.
"Excuse me, can I switch places with you?"
A girl's voice broke his train of thought. Kaizen turned to see a girl with long black hair. She wore a dress that resembled a palace-style gown and looked slightly older than him.
Her aura was non-existent, marking her as an ordinary person. However, something about her face seemed off. The left side appeared to be covered by a layer that mimicked her skin tone—subtle enough that most people wouldn't notice. But Kaizen wasn't most people.
"I want to see the view outside the window," she said expectantly.
Kaizen nodded. "Sure."
He stood up, exchanging places with her. The young man in the seat next to him glanced at Kaizen briefly before looking away.
The girl leaned against the window, staring outside with wide-eyed curiosity.
"So beautiful! So many birds… They look so free. I'm so envious…" she murmured softly.
Her wistful tone made Kaizen frown slightly.
After a moment of silence, she turned back to him. "I'm done. Let's switch back. Thank you."
Kaizen nodded and returned to his seat.
...
Two hours later, lunch was announced.
Passengers on the airship could choose between two options: visiting the onboard restaurant, where chefs prepared a variety of dishes of varying quality, or dining at their seats with pre-packed meals like bread and desserts.
Kaizen had brought bread with him before boarding, as had the girl.
"This is for you. To say thanks," she said, handing him a small dessert.
Kaizen hesitated briefly before accepting it. "Thanks."
Normally, he would've avoided taking food from a stranger. But his training at the Zoldyck Manor included poison resistance, making him nearly immune to ordinary toxins. Even highly toxic substances had minimal effects on him. Years of experience also honed his ability to detect poison.
The girl seemed pleased when he accepted her gift.
"Are you heading to Yorknew City as well?" she asked.
"Yes," Kaizen replied. "This airship has only one destination."
The girl's cheeks flushed slightly. "Have you heard about the auction there?"
"I have."
Kaizen had learned about the annual Yorknew Auction both from the original world's storyline and from intel gathered by Alutan in Orion. Hosted by the Mafia Community, the event featured an eclectic assortment of items, many of which were illegal. Despite this, the gangsters controlled the city so tightly that external authorities could do little to intervene.
"Are you going for the auction too?" Kaizen asked.
"Yes," the girl said. "I came with my family. They're interested in acquiring something. I'm curious about the auction as well—I've heard it has all sorts of fascinating items."
She leaned closer. "Have you been to Yorknew before?"
Kaizen shook his head. "No."
The girl's eyes sparkled with anticipation. "I wonder what kind of city it will be."
Kaizen noticed a young man seated nearby glancing nervously between the girl and a middle-aged woman sitting further back. The woman subtly shook her head, and the young man refrained from intervening.
The girl seemed brimming with curiosity, eagerly chatting with Kaizen about everything from the outside world to her interests. Surprisingly, she was passionate about video games rather than the typical hobbies of girls her age, like dolls, flower arranging, or music.
"Have you heard of Greed Island?" Kaizen asked.
"Greed Island?"
"Yes. It's a famous game, but the price of the console is extremely high. The developers poured a lot of effort into it, so it's said to be incredibly realistic. I've been searching for it, but I haven't found a copy yet."
"Is it fun?"
"I've heard it's amazing—almost like living in another world," Kaizen said.
The girl's eyes lit up. "That sounds like a dream come true."
As the airship began its descent, passengers lined up to disembark.
Kaizen followed the girl off the airship. As he stepped onto the platform, he noticed a folded note in his hand.
He opened it.
Inside was an email address along with a name that made him pause: Morena
The girl glanced back at him briefly before disappearing into the crowd.
Kaizen waved at her retreating figure, though his mind lingered on the note.
That name… Why does it sound so familiar?
