Tsubone could guess what had happened.
Gotoh, who was accompanying her, also had an inkling.
After all, the feud between Morrow and Illumi was no secret within the Zoldyck Family.
As a butler, he shouldn't presume to speculate on his masters' thoughts, nor should he interfere too much in family affairs.
But...
Since his official appointment, this was the first time he had encountered someone as unique as Morrow, who had established an extremely delicate relationship with the Zoldyck Family.
So much so that the masters within the family held polarizing opinions and views about Morrow alone.
Among them, Kikyo Zoldyck's attitude and hostility were the most blatant, she never concealed her disgust and bloodlust toward Morrow.
And Young Master Illumi's stance was undoubtedly the same.
Thinking this, Gotoh adjusted his glasses with his middle finger and considered speaking up to warn Kalluto about the potential consequences of hiding the truth.
However, the moment he opened his mouth, Tsubone shot him a glance.
The most senior butler's eyes carried a clear warning.
"..."
Gotoh froze for a moment before realizing that Tsubone had seen through his thoughts. A bead of cold sweat silently formed on his forehead.
He had thought he hadn't been too obvious with his internal musings.
Yet, Tsubone had still seen right through him.
Teacher Tsubone... remained as strict as ever.
Gotoh raised his hand again, pushing up his glasses to ease his discomfort.
He understood why Tsubone didn't want him to warn Kalluto, on one hand, a butler must know their place, and on the other, Tsubone wanted Kalluto to personally experience the consequences of "hiding and lying."
Compared to Gotoh, who could sense some clues...
Amane was staring at Kalluto in shock, clearly unable to believe that Kalluto had been the one to injure Illumi so severely.
While stunned by the situation, she was also puzzled as to why Kalluto would do such a thing.
Tsubone glanced at her granddaughter's reaction out of the corner of her eye and let out an almost imperceptible sigh.
Now was not the right time for discipline, so she pretended not to notice.
"Little Kalluto."
Tsubone took out the Zoldyck family special medicine, her tone gentle but firm. "Our mission this time is to retrieve Young Master Illumi. However, Kikyo Zoldyck specifically instructed that she wishes for you to return with us."
"Tell Mother I'll return on my own."
Kalluto's refusal was swift and decisive.
"Understood."
A flicker of surprise passed through Tsubone's eyes, though she maintained her kindly smile.
She could clearly sense the changes in Kalluto over this period.
If nothing else, this once-obedient child now dared to openly defy Kikyo Zoldyck's wishes.
If Kikyo Zoldyck saw this change in Kalluto, she would likely lose her composure...
Tsubone said no more.
As a butler, her duty was only to convey Kikyo Zoldyck's message, anything beyond that was outside her responsibilities.
She walked slowly to the bedside, and when her gaze fell on Illumi's severed arm, her gentle smile finally faded.
With injuries like these... we'll have to wait for the medicine to take full effect before considering moving him.
With that thought, Tsubone began applying the medicine to Illumi. Gotoh didn't need Tsubone's instructions and proactively came over to lend a hand.
In contrast, Amane was still puzzled as to why Kalluto had dealt such a heavy blow to Illumi.
Illumi wouldn't be waking up anytime soon.
As for Hisoka's injuries, they weren't exactly severe, but they weren't light either.
In any case, the guy regained consciousness the next day.
However, from the moment he woke up, he had been leaning against the window, mechanically counting the leaves falling from the tree outside.
When Morrow came to visit, he noticed Hisoka's unusual emotional state.
Out of concern, he asked Hisoka a question.
"Hisoka, what's 1+1?"
"2."
Hisoka answered in a hollow voice.
"Good, your brain's still intact."
With those words, Morrow left the hospital room.
Hisoka silently watched Morrow leave, not particularly bothered by his abrasive tone, and continued counting the leaves with an empty expression.
Right now, he desperately needed the thrill of battle to fill the void in his heart.
Yet he was painfully aware that he had to suppress this impulse until his injuries fully healed.
All of this was to ensure he could face the long-awaited excitement in peak condition.
After leaving the hospital, Morrow immediately rendezvoused with Kurapika nearby.
Until Uvogin and Nobunaga arrived, they could only rely on Kalluto to monitor the state of the living paper doll.
So far, the intensity of the paper doll's reaction had been steadily increasing.
This meant Uvogin and Nobunaga were still on their way.
Thus, Morrow and Kurapika prepared themselves to intercept and eliminate the two at any moment.
All they had to do was wait for Kalluto's signal.
After learning of Morrow's plan, Kanzai wasn't in a hurry to leave either and stayed behind to back up Morrow and Kurapika.
Another day passed quickly.
Morrow had assumed that once Tsubone and the others arrived, they would immediately move the severely injured and unconscious Illumi.
Unexpectedly, a whole day went by without any movement from Tsubone's side, she simply remained in the hospital room, keeping watch over Illumi.
Morrow didn't disturb them during this time, only frequently checking in with Kalluto about the living paper doll's status.
Then, as night fell...
Morrow, who had been waiting near the hospital, received a call from Kalluto.
"Where are you?"
Kalluto asked over the phone.
Morrow replied, "Near the warehouse. What, are Uvogin and Nobunaga almost here?"
"Yeah, the paper doll's reaction is getting stronger."
After answering Morrow's question, Kalluto quickly added, "I'm coming to meet you now!"
"Kalluto, you really don't..."
Click.
The call ended.
Morrow sighed and put away his phone.
If it was just Uvogin and Nobunaga, he and Kurapika were more than enough, especially with Kanzai backing them up.
But Kalluto hadn't given him any chance to refuse.
Back at the hospital...
Kalluto pocketed his phone and headed down the hallway toward the exit.
In the intensive care unit...
Tsubone instructed Gotoh and Amane to stay behind, then stepped out of the room and followed the direction Kalluto had gone.
But after only a few steps, Amane also emerged, hesitating as if she wanted to say something.
Tsubone stopped walking, she knew exactly what her granddaughter was thinking.
"Gotoh alone is enough to keep watch here. Having you here doesn't make much difference."
With that, Tsubone walked off without looking back.
Amane was happy at first, but soon realized...
"Ah, am I really that useless?!"
She hurried after Tsubone.
Tsubone kept her gaze straight ahead and said calmly, "Less talk, more action."
"Okay."
Amane felt a bit wronged but knew better than to argue further.
The warehouse ruins weren't far from the hospital.
Kalluto quickly arrived at the apartment building where Morrow and the others were stationed.
From their position, they had a clear view of the warehouse ruins cordoned off by police tape.
If any Nen users approached the ruins, they would spot them immediately.
"Very close now."
Kalluto glanced at the living paper doll in his hand and warned.
Hearing this, Morrow immediately turned his attention to Kurapika.
Kurapika gave a silent nod and headed downstairs first.
Meanwhile.
On a street just a few hundred meters from the warehouse ruins.
Uvogin and Nobunaga walked side by side, making their way toward the ruins.
Had Morrow not intervened, Uvogin and Nobunaga would have received Machi's message tonight, instructing them to divert to the nearby hospital morgue instead.
But now.
Following their orders, Uvogin and Nobunaga soon arrived beside the warehouse ruins.
"Huh?"
The moment they saw the ruins surrounded by police tape, their expressions shifted.
Before they could dwell on it, a sharp aura erupted from the shadows of the ruins ahead, surging toward them like a tidal wave.
"Hey, what the hell? This is the meeting spot, right?"
The instant he sensed the aura, Nobunaga's eyes turned cold. His right hand gripped the hilt of his sword as his razor-sharp gaze locked onto the ruins.
The aura fluctuations emanating from there were like a glaring light in the darkness, making his skin crawl.
Uvogin, however, didn't overthink it. The moment he felt the overwhelming aura rushing toward him, his fighting spirit flared wildly.
"Whoever you are, get the hell out here."
Facing the oppressive aura from the dimly lit ruins, Uvogin responded by opening all his aura nodes, unleashing a torrent of battle-hungry aura.
Nobunaga didn't ruin the moment by warning Uvogin to be careful. Instead, he tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes fixed on the darkness. Faint footsteps echoed, followed by...
The crisp clinking of chains.
Gradually, a figure emerged from the shadows.
The first thing Uvogin and Nobunaga noticed were those eyes, glowing red in the night.
"Scarlet Eyes... So there was a survivor?"
Nobunaga's pupils constricted as he instantly recognized the distinctive trait.
Those were the eyes of the Kurta Clan, whom they had slaughtered to the last.
For one to appear now, of all times...
Nobunaga quickly scanned the surrounding wreckage, a sense of foreboding creeping into his chest.
Unlike the cautious Nobunaga, Uvogin had long forgotten about the Kurta Clan. Even now, seeing those Scarlet Eyes triggered no memories.
What truly excited him was the opponent's rapidly escalating aura.
Uvogin stepped forward, his wild aura surging with anticipation.
Nobunaga finally couldn't hold back. "Uvogin, be careful. This guy's a Kurta survivor. And this place... There's clearly been a fight. I'm worried about the Boss and the others..."
Whoosh!
A chain shot through the air, cutting Nobunaga off.
His eyes flashed coldly as he lunged forward, slashing at the chain with his sword.
Clang!
Blade and chain collided midair.
Sparks flew as the chain recoiled.
Nobunaga frowned as he watched the chain being deflected back, sensing something amiss.
At that moment.
Kurapika fully emerged from the darkness, his right hand raised levelly. The chain extending from his knuckles seemed to come alive, freely lengthening and thickening at will.
This was a deliberate display under Morrow's instruction, meant for Uvogin and Nobunaga to see.
The purpose was...
Conjuration!
Uvogin immediately recognized the chain's transformation.
"The Kurta Clan? I've definitely heard that somewhere, but never mind... I'll leave the cleanup to you, Nobunaga."
With a quick remark, Uvogin lunged forward, his bear-like muscular frame charging straight at Kurapika.
Facing an unknown Conjuration ability, yet launching an attack without any prior probing...
There was only one reason Uvogin dared to act this recklessly.
Nobunaga was present.
"Uvogin, that guy's chain strength defies logic, don't charge in too hard!"
Seeing Uvogin's reckless advance, Nobunaga hurriedly warned.
Uvogin heard the caution and adjusted slightly.
Kurapika stared coldly at Uvogin as the retracted chain lashed out again like a serpent.
Uvogin sneered, nimbly dodging the chain.
Boom!
The chain's tip struck the ground behind him, blasting a crater with terrifying force.
The deafening impact gave Uvogin pause, but his momentum only intensified. Accelerating abruptly, he closed the distance instantly and threw a straightforward punch.
No technique, just raw, brutal power.
Kurapika crossed his arms, barely blocking the blow.
Thud!
A shockwave erupted from the impact point.
Kurapika grimaced in pain as he withstood the strike. To endure Uvogin's fist, he'd concentrated most of his aura output into his arms, drastically reducing defense elsewhere.
Nobunaga, having fought alongside Uvogin countless times, seized the opening with practiced precision. Darting behind Kurapika at the perfect moment, his sword gleamed with surging aura.
Was I overthinking this?
The thought flashed through Nobunaga's mind as his blade descended toward Kurapika's exposed back.
Then, in the next instant...
Nobunaga's grip on his sword vanished.
Instead, a fleeting sting pierced his shoulder and flank.
"Huh?!"
His eyes widened in shock as an arm spun through the air, still clutching a familiar longsword.
That's... my hand.
When did...
His stunned gaze dropped to where his lower body should be, but he felt nothing below his waist.
Then came the sensation of his torso tilting.
Before he could process it, excruciating pain erupted around his midsection.
Uvogin's peripheral vision caught the scene.
Seeing Nobunaga's severed right arm and the diagonal gash stretching from the stump to his ribs, his eyes bulged.
"NOBUNAGA!"
Uvogin roared.
Perhaps triggered by the shout, Nobunaga's bisected upper body slid diagonally to the ground.
Squelch.
His torso collapsed sideways. Struggling to lift his head, Nobunaga saw Morrow standing there, gripping a crimson dagger.
"When... did you strike...?"
Nobunaga's vision was gradually swallowed by darkness.
Morrow flicked the blood off his Poultry Scarlet Knife.
He had deliberately let Kurapika confront them alone so he could use Astral Step to instantly kill Nobunaga, who preferred fighting alongside Uvogin.
As long as he seized the right moment, eliminating Nobunaga, who left himself defenseless when attacking, was hardly an issue.
"Bastard!!!"
Watching Nobunaga get cleaved in half before his eyes, Uvogin's pupils flooded with crimson veins, his face contorting in fury.
Morrow glanced at the enraged Uvogin and remarked coolly, "Why the outrage? It's just a dead beast."
"!!!"