NenMaster
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Chapter 75 (1.8k)
🕑 Added 2024-12-01 14:43:49 +0000 UTC“Then, I’ll be counting on you!!”
From the moment she stepped through the door, through all that had transpired, to Morin’s sudden arrival and his assertive demeanor, Laisha Ritz could no longer contain herself. Rising to her feet, she gave Morin a deep bow.
“No need to rush.”
Morin motioned for her to sit with a slight downward wave of his hand. “We haven’t even discussed payment yet.”
“Yes, yes… that was my oversight.”
Laisha Ritz quickly composed herself and asked, “What is it that you require? If it’s money, I have plenty here…”
“I’m not interested in money,” Morin interrupted.
It was true—his [Compound Interest Bank] had amassed such a staggering sum that he had completely lost the motivation to accumulate wealth. For him, money was just a number.
Laisha Ritz froze for a moment, then cautiously asked, “Then… do you need help with some troublesome matters…?”
Her voice trailed off.
After all, this wasn’t just any place. This was the all-purpose Anything Agency, renowned for solving any problem. If even the head of this agency had an unresolved issue, how could she possibly help?
“Let me be direct—there are two conditions,” Morin said, raising two fingers.
“First, this is Yorknew City. If my idiot apprentice or I encounter any annoying pests while out and about, and we end up… crushing them, I don’t want any complications afterward.
“While we can handle things our way, our methods are often blunt and time-consuming.”
He leaned forward slightly, his gaze piercing. “You, as part of the Ritz family—the city’s largest black-market syndicate—should understand what I mean.”
“I understand!!” Laisha Ritz immediately replied.
Yorknew City was a prosperous yet corrupt metropolis. Even the mayor and city government were mere puppets of the underground powers. As the largest syndicate in the city, the Ritz family wielded influence over both the legal and illegal worlds, effectively ruling as local emperors.
“Good.”
Morin nodded. “Second, I need information.”
“I’ve been focused on training and rarely pay attention to the outside world. Most of my errands are handled by my fool of an apprentice.
“If there’s intel I need or tasks I require your help with, I expect no refusals.”
“That’s a given,” Laisha Ritz agreed without hesitation.
“Straightforward. I like that.”
Morin nodded in approval. “Then let’s begin.”
As he spoke, he brought out an object resembling a small suitcase.
Item:
[Doctor’s Medical Kit], also known as the [Doctor’s Toolbox].
Effect: Originally a toy for children playing doctor in a futuristic world, it turned out to be extremely effective. By placing the kit’s stethoscope on a patient’s stomach or affected area, the kit could diagnose their condition and dispense medication that, once taken, would cure them instantly.
Though it appeared simple and playful, the Doctor’s Medical Kit was an exceptional tool for healing.
Among Doraemon’s many futuristic gadgets, few focused on medical applications. This one, along with the [Universal Medicine] used to heal pets, were rare exceptions.
With its near-universal efficacy in treating injuries and illnesses, the Doctor’s Medical Kit stood out as a uniquely versatile tool.
After a quick examination with the stethoscope to confirm his earlier diagnosis, Morin filled a small syringe with the appropriate medication.
“Take this, and you’ll be fine.”
He handed the syringe to Laisha Ritz.
Without hesitation, she took it and swallowed the entire dose.
Soon after, she felt an unusual sensation—a subtle movement beneath her skin, as if her body was undergoing a transformation.
“Relax. The effects are fast. It won’t take long,” Morin reassured her.
Hearing his words, Laisha Ritz took a deep breath and sat upright, anxiously awaiting the moment she had dreamed of for so long.
A few moments later, the movement beneath her skin subsided.
At that exact moment, her bodyguard, who had fainted earlier, slowly regained consciousness.
Looking up at Laisha in her seat, he instinctively rubbed his eyes.
“Am I dreaming? I could’ve sworn I just saw… the young lady as she looked years ago.”
The bodyguard abruptly fell silent, his eyes widening in disbelief as he stared at the sight before him. His mouth hung open, unable to form words.
“Let me see!!”
Laisha Ritz’s voice trembled, her heart pounding so hard she thought it might leap from her chest
Morin thoughtfully handed over a mirror.
"I... really..."
Laisha Freize's trembling hands caressed her smooth, flawless face. In disbelief, she asked, "Am I... restored?"
"Is this really me?!"
Her voice cracked to the point where even she could barely hear herself.
"It's true, miss! You've been restored!!"
Her chauffeur and bodyguard suddenly leapt to his feet, shouting excitedly, "Miss, you've really recovered! Ahhh!!"
In the next second, he was promptly subdued by the robot in the room.
"I've recovered..."
Laisha Freize muttered, her vision blurring with tears.
"I've truly recovered!!"
Tears streamed uncontrollably down her face.
The countless nights of nightmares, bearing the burden of a hideous, grotesque visage—
—were finally over.
"Ahem."
Morin lifted his teacup. "I understand your current feelings, but any emotional outbursts can wait until you're back home."
"I only hope that the promises you've made to me will be fulfilled perfectly."
"Absolutely!"
Laisha Freize covered her face with both hands, nodding tearfully in agreement.
The chauffeur, still subdued on the ground, muffled, "Mmmph! Mmmph!!"
Yes, he was in agreement too.
"Good."
Morin smiled, but his words carried a hint of menace:
"Let me give you a little reminder."
"Let’s be clear: if you fail to uphold your end of the bargain, just as I restored you, I can just as easily return you to your previous state."
"After all, this is purely a business transaction between us."
"Your family isn't exactly saintly, and I’m no virtuous person either."
"Dealing with a devil comes with its own risks and costs—you’d best keep that in mind."
After Morin’s stern warning, Laisha Freize and her chauffeur left.
Though they had words of gratitude they wished to express, Morin's parting remarks made one thing clear:
Instead of flowery thanks, concrete actions would mean far more.
With that understanding, the two quickly adjusted their emotions, expressed their gratitude, and left Morin's foldable house.
Yes, even this versatile "anything agency" house was a tool from Morin's collection:
Item: [Foldable House]
Effect: A foldable house made of paper that, when placed on the ground, immediately expands and hardens to become as durable as reinforced concrete.
If the [Materialization Door Sticker] could create a standalone apartment, the [Foldable House] directly generates a standard, ready-to-use building.
"Finally! I don’t have to run errands anymore!"
From behind the desk, Kastro cheered as he set down the book in his hands.
"Exactly," Morin replied as he approached, nodding. "Now you’ll have more time to read."
"Ah?!"
Kastro groaned as if all the energy drained out of him.
"Why, Master? There are so many books—when will I ever finish reading them all?!"
He looked as if his life was falling apart and asked pitifully.
"As I’ve told you before," Morin said seriously, "reading is to broaden your horizons and enrich your foundation."
"When you’ve gone through all these books, I’ll begin teaching you combat training."
"If you can’t even endure this, then you might as well leave now."
"Just pretend I never took you in or accepted you as my apprentice."
"I understand!!"
Gritting his teeth, Kastro begrudgingly picked up a book and resumed his reluctant reading.
Seeing his apprentice’s effort, Morin finally nodded in satisfaction.
Since taking on Kastro as his student, Morin hadn’t begun teaching him right away.
Instead, he provided him with countless books about the world’s knowledge and history.
Much like how Biscuit had guided Morin back in the can workshop.
The difference was that, back then, Morin had studied to understand this unfamiliar world.
Now, he had Kastro read to broaden his perspective and deepen his character.
In Morin’s view, during Kastro’s fight against Hisoka, there had been a real opportunity to defeat Hisoka.
Using his unexpected [Double Substitute] technique paired with the destructive power of Tiger Bite Fist, he could’ve ended the fight in one decisive strike.
If, at the start, he had aimed for Hisoka's neck, it could have been an instant victory.
Before Hisoka could react, Kastro could have decisively eliminated him.
Unfortunately, Kastro wanted to prove his growth and strength to Hisoka, becoming overconfident.
As a result, Hisoka quickly saw through his [Double Substitute] ability and destabilized his mindset completely.
Kastro’s defeat against Hisoka came down to two key issues:
Lack of Versatility in Combat
Kastro, a martial artist at heart, remained stuck in the mindset of a close-combat fighter. Even after mastering Nen, he didn’t fully adapt to the versatile and tactical combat style that Nen required.
While adept at hand-to-hand combat, he was sorely lacking in the broader aspects of Nen-based strategy, such as misdirection, traps, and verbal manipulation.
Nen, as a supernatural power, isn’t limited to traditional martial arts—treating it as such is a grave mistake.
This rigid mindset prevented him from effectively utilizing the tools and tactics of a Nen user.
The most glaring example?
Hisoka used his [Bungee Gum] to stick aura to Kastro, including his playing cards and severed hand, yet Kastro failed to notice!
During the fight, Kastro didn’t even think to use [Gyo] proactively—a fundamental skill every Nen user employs during combat.
Biscuit had repeatedly emphasized to Morin, Gon, and Killua during their training that:
"Using [Gyo] in battle is a basic necessity for any Nen user!"
Yet Kastro, throughout his fight with Hisoka, never once used [Gyo].
This speaks volumes about his inexperience and lack of awareness in Nen combat.
Mental Instability
Kastro’s mental state crumbled under pressure.
Hisoka’s confidence, coupled with his illusionary technique [Texture Surprise] to fake having an uninjured hand, overwhelmed Kastro’s psyche.
Hisoka’s mind games, including his prophetic taunt, “You will dance yourself to death,” ultimately broke Kastro’s spirit.
What followed was a humiliating defeat as Hisoka manipulated him like a puppet, leading to his demise—a poetic irony.
Morin’s method of having Kastro read was aimed at addressing these flaws, particularly the latter.
Reading would help him cultivate patience, stabilize his temperament, and expand his knowledge.
An unstable mind often stems from shallowness and a lack of depth.
With a narrow worldview, encountering anything beyond one’s understanding can lead to fear and confusion.
As for Kastro’s combat versatility? Morin planned to address that during their formal martial training.
Morin had a broader plan for Kastro: he intended to send him to the Hunter Exam.
The exam, with its diverse and unpredictable challenges, would serve as the perfect grindstone for Kastro.
Not only would it hone his strategic thinking, but it would also expose him to his own shortcomings.
Moreover, upon passing the exam, new Hunters receive guidance on improving their Nen techniques—a systematic learning opportunity Kastro desperately needed.
While reflecting on this, Morin recalled the message Laisha Freize had left him before departing:
“The release of Greed Island, huh?”
Rubbing his chin thoughtfully, Morin mused, “It really is about that time, isn’t it?”
