Get comfortable, turn the page, and let’s see what this story has been hiding 🔥 ✦ Every Hunter had something they pursued.
Dreams, status, fame, money, power.
Wright was a highly ambitious Blacklist Hunter.
In order to move toward higher status and greater fame, he had never thought about stopping halfway to rest.
Forward.
Stride forward without stopping.
That was what he had always done.
Personally capturing the infamous Phantom Troupe was an extremely important milestone before he could cross his own finish line.
For that reason, he had left a long-term commission through his intelligence channels to investigate the Phantom Troupe’s movements.
Now, there was finally news.
“Understood.
Send the information to my email.
After I verify it, I will transfer the corresponding payment.” After saying that, Wright hung up directly.
Kieran swallowed a piece of meat and looked up at him.
Hearing the words “information” and “payment,” he had realized something.
Wright raised his phone and grinned.
“Heh.
Work came in.” “Is it urgent?” Kieran put down his bowl and chopsticks and asked the question he cared about most.
Wright said, “Every second counts.” Information usually had a time limit, especially information related to someone’s movements.
It absolutely required immediate action.
In other words, Wright had to leave quickly.
Kieran nodded to show he understood, then pointed at the table.
“But I cannot finish this much meat by myself.” “Ha ha, do not worry.
I will finish eating before I leave.” Wright laughed heartily and fished a large pork leg from one of the bowls.
Kieran said nothing more and picked up his bowl and chopsticks again.
The two of them buried their heads and ate.
Soon, Kieran noticed that Wright’s meat-eating speed had clearly doubled.
It seemed he had deliberately slowed himself down during previous meals.
The reason did not need to be stated.
Watching Wright wolf down the food, Kieran could clearly feel how much Wright valued this “work.” ‘I have gained a lot during this period.
It is enough.’ Kieran silently thought this in his heart.
Although one day remained in the sparring agreement, in this situation, he would not demand that Wright fulfill the “contract.” A short while later, Wright finished his portion of meat.
“Sorry.” After eating, Wright stood and apologized to Kieran.
“Something came up suddenly.
I will have to owe you the final day of sparring.” “It is fine.
Make it up after you finish your work.” Kieran stood as well.
During this period, he had experienced what an Enhancer’s stubbornness looked like through Wright, so he wisely kept the thought of “forget the final day of sparring” to himself.
Even if he brought it up, it would only waste time.
“Then I am leaving.
We will contact each other later.” Once Wright decided to go, he went without dragging things out.
“Mm.
Safe travels.” Kieran nodded slightly.
With his back to Kieran, Wright waved a hand and strode away.
The farewell was simple and efficient.
After leaving the temple, Wright followed the mountain path downward and took out his phone to check flight information.
“It is 20:35 now, and the nearest flight is…
20:50.” Looking down at the screen, Wright muttered, “That is cutting it close.” As he spoke, he put away the phone and stretched in place a few times.
“I was planning to lay my cards on the table with Kieran tonight.
Plans really cannot keep up with change…” Before his voice had fully faded, Wright kicked off the ground.
His whole body shot into the distance like an arrow from a bow, disappearing into the night in the blink of an eye.
Inside the temple, everything was quiet as usual.
Kieran finished clearing away the remaining meat, then simply cleaned the table.
After that, he walked to the scarred courtyard and opened his aura nodes, releasing the maximum amount of aura.
To increase the total amount of latent aura reserve and extend the duration of Ren, there was basically no shortcut.
Release the aura and drain it.
Recover, then release it again.
Repeating that cycle over and over was how one increased the total amount of latent aura, bit by bit.
Two minutes passed.
Kieran lay exhausted on the ground, eyes closed, breathing heavily.
Only after quite a while did he barely recover a little strength.
“I suddenly feel a little unused to this…” Kieran slowly opened his eyes and casually picked up a small piece of broken blue brick beside him, holding it above his face.
The night deepened.
On the mountain peak, the old temple stood alone.
The next day.
Dawn broke.
Kieran woke early, ate a simple meal, and began his daily training.
Without Wright as a sparring partner, what he could do now was build a solid foundation in the four major principles.
Release.
Recover.
Release.
Recover.
The training was dry and dull.
Just like that, the morning passed.
At noon, the sun hung high.
After eating, Kieran was preparing to begin another round of training when movement outside the temple interrupted him.
A group of workers carrying various tools and materials arrived outside the temple and shouted loudly for someone to open the gate.
Hearing the calls, Kieran crossed the courtyard and opened the old wooden gate.
Seeing a group of fully equipped workers standing outside, Kieran was surprised at first, but quickly reacted.
He guessed they had probably been called by Wright.
“Hello.
Mr.
Wright Bulwer commissioned us to come here.
He said there is a courtyard in need of repair.” The lead worker greeted Kieran respectfully.
“Yes.
Come in.” Understanding the situation, Kieran opened the gate directly and gestured for the workers to enter.
They immediately picked up their tools and materials, filed in, and arrived at the scarred courtyard.
The lead worker confirmed the project requirements with Kieran.
After receiving approval, the team immediately began work.
Thanks to their astonishing efficiency, the entire construction team completed Kieran’s request in only one hour.
Kieran had no idea where they had found stone that looked weathered by wind and sun, but after the repairs, the courtyard did not look very different from before.
After seeing the construction team off, Kieran closed the temple gate and returned to the courtyard, once again feeling impressed by Wright’s thoughtfulness.
“Speaking of which…
Hawk should be coming back soon, right?” Looking at the restored courtyard, Kieran suddenly thought of his cheap father.
At the time, Hawk had said he would return after ten days to half a month.
Counting now, eleven days had passed.
Perhaps he would be back in another two days.
Kieran thought about calling Hawk to ask about the situation.
But remembering Hawk’s instruction before leaving – do not call whether there was a reason or not – Kieran could only give up.
Time flowed slowly.
The sun set, and night fell.
In a certain town only one hundred kilometers from the temple, Hawk leaned under a remote bridge.
His right hand pressed tightly against his abdomen, and his head tilted slightly upward as he panted.
Sweat ran down his cheeks and dripped into a pool of blood, sending ripples across its surface.
Tap, tap.
The sound of footsteps suddenly mixed into the stream’s flowing water.
Hearing those steps, Hawk’s eyes sharpened at once, but in the next second, they softened again.
“Looks like you are badly hurt, Hawk.” Beneath the bridge, the little stream murmured.
Moonlight fell slantwise across the water, shining brightly.
A frog suddenly leapt into the stream, blurring the light reflected on the surface.
When the water calmed again, a green figure had abruptly appeared in the bright reflection.
The figure stood by the bank, calmly staring at Hawk, who sat under the bridge.
“Just a scratch.” Hawk turned his head toward that figure.
She wore a long green dress-like robe.
She was petite, with pleasant features, narrow-rimmed glasses on her face, and calm, steady eyes.
Most eye-catching of all, a pair of dog ears rose from her long green hair.
On closer inspection, one could barely tell the dog ears were decorative.
The newcomer was Cheadle Yorkshire, the Dog of the Hunter Association’s Twelve Zodiacs.
She was also a Two-Star Disease Hunter with roles as both doctor and legal scholar.
“A scratch?” Cheadle walked under the bridge and said calmly, “You heard my footsteps and immediately released killing intent.
That deliberate reaction is like a beast caught in a trap, able only to roar out a meaningless threat.” “…” Hawk fell silent for a moment.
Then, with a helpless tone, he teased, “Madam legal scholar, I have a question.
How many years do dignity and bluffing get sentenced to under your laws?” “There is no such provision in the law.
Besides, I am merely stating facts.” Cheadle came in front of Hawk.
Her gaze fell on his bleeding abdomen, and she frowned.
“When you never showed up, I guessed something had happened.
But…
I did not expect you to be hurt this badly.
With your ability, if you wanted to run, even multiple Nen users should have been helpless against you.” “That is true.” Hawk laughed bitterly and was about to ask Cheadle to stop the bleeding first, only to be cut off by her.
“But you were severely injured.
Was it because the enemy had a lock-on type Nen ability?
No, if that were the case, you would probably already be dead.
Strange.
Hm?
Unless…” Cheadle seemed to think of something.
Her eyes suddenly grew grave, and she asked in a low voice, “Has the post-mortem artifact at the temple grown to the point where you had no choice but to leave Mouse Gem there?” “Yes, yes, yes.
If my left hand were working right now, I would definitely clap for you.
But the more urgent issue is whether you can first help me…” Hawk looked weak and drained.
Cheadle’s expression changed.
She had no mind to listen to the second half of Hawk’s sentence.
Lowering her head slightly, she clenched her teeth and muttered to herself.
“Damn it.
Has it already become that serious?
I can currently contact one Nen Exorcist, and including the one in the Association, that makes two.
But neither is skilled at removing post-mortem Nen.” “Um…” Looking at Cheadle as she lowered her head and muttered to herself, Hawk said weakly, “If it is convenient, could you stop the bleeding first?” Cheadle still did not react.
She continued muttering, “Although I have issued a bounty among civilians, the compensation is an unavoidable problem.” “…” Hawk’s eyes went lifeless.
He looked down at the terrible amount of blood beneath him and felt the very practical anxiety of someone bleeding out fast.
“Hey, Cheadle.
I am about to die.
Maybe look up at me?” “@#@…” Only someone’s endless low muttering answered him.
“…” Hawk’s eyelids twitched several times.
After a moment of hesitation, he tested his final option at this life-or-death moment.
“Cheadle, you lonely Dog.” “Hm?” Cheadle snapped her head up, her gaze turning sharp as it locked onto Hawk.
✦ ✦ ✦ Ready for more?
CREATORS’ THOUGHTS EmberHollow Thank you for reading.
I hope this chapter pulled you deeper into the story.
Stick around, because there’s still a lot waiting just ahead.