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Chapter 52 - Jester’s Prying × Defenses Impossible to Hold

The candy infused with aura lay quietly in the little girl's palm…

Her smile was so sweet no normal person could bear to refuse her.

But Wutong was no normal person. He returned just in time, loyal to his duty, stepping in to block the "knife" for Roy.

"Big brother has a toothache, he can't eat candy. Thank you, sweetheart."

"Really?" The little girl tilted her head at Roy. Roy smiled and nodded at her.

The girl's mother, a gentle woman, tugged her daughter's hand at the right moment. "Eina, don't bother the brother."

She gave Roy and Wutong an apologetic smile.

Roy and Wutong exchanged glances, letting out a breath—yet before it even left their chests it was caught again, stuck in their throats.

Because the clown-dressed employee was coming their way…

He was surrounded by children, scattering candy as he walked. To an outsider it might look like he was rebelling against low wages. Every traveler along the way got a piece. Soon, he was right before Roy and Wutong.

"Candy… chocolate flavor… delicious… have one…" A pale hand reached out.

The clown, with his garish red nose, smiled sweetly at Roy, bright red lips stretching to his ears.

Roy lifted his gaze to meet him. The clown's smile was even sweeter than the girl's, but his eyes slid past Roy's shoulder to the tall figures stationed at the hall doors.

Why hadn't the Hunter Association acted yet?

Had they not noticed the candy? Impossible.

If the man was a Nen user, they couldn't have failed to sense the aura.

They must have been afraid of sparking chaos, of letting the "Jester" slip away in the confusion.

But did ordinary lives mean nothing?

Without an Exorcist, the aura attached to the candy couldn't be easily removed. Or maybe they were sure they could kill him before he activated his ability?

Roy's mind raced. He declined the clown's offer directly. "Sorry, I have congenital diabetes. I can't eat sweets."

"Oh~ poor little one. Luckily Uncle still has sugar-free ones…" The clown flipped his hand and produced another piece of candy.

Roy: "…"

He shook his head. "Sugar-free has additives. I don't eat those."

"All natural, no additives, safe to eat." The clown's smile widened.

"No additives tastes bad."

"Don't worry, it's tasty."

"He said he doesn't want any!" Wutong shot to his feet, his tall frame a wall between Roy and the clown.

"Ma…ma…" The clown feigned surprise, raising his hands, retreating two steps. Candy spilled from his pockets, drawing children into a scramble.

"Beep… beep… beep… Attention passengers… boarding now for Airship K3284 to Heavens Arena… please proceed to Gate G4…"

The airport announcement blared. The crowd surged, separating the clown from them.

He stood amid the press of bodies, crimson eyes fixed on Roy. Seeing the figures at the hall door finally move, he flicked his hand, sending a rain of candy into the air. The crowd rushed to grab it. In the confusion he melted into the masses, vanishing.

"He boarded the airship." Wutong had kept him locked in his sights, saw clearly as the man dropped Zetsu and activated Gyo the moment he stood up.

The young butler adjusted his glasses. "Good thing you foresaw this, young master, and told me to change our flight early."

Foresight?

Roy watched the Hunter Association agents pushing through the crowd and chasing after Jester, wordless, lost in thought.

Nearby, the little girl had picked up more candy and was happily eating. She swung her short legs and said to her mother, "Mama, big brother seems to be on the same flight as us, right?"

The woman gave Wutong an awkward smile.

He answered with a cold glance, then sat down silently.

Half an hour later, Airship K3284 lifted off with Jester and the Hunter Association aboard.

Hearing the engines roar, Roy looked out the window, a chill rising in his heart.

Clearly the Hunter Association and the police were willing to risk an entire ship of passengers to take Jester down. Out there with no sky and no ground, nowhere to run—even if the capture failed, a fall would kill him. But that also meant a whole ship of innocents forced to be "sacrifices."

"Back when I went on missions with the master, I saw the darkness of the Hunter Association," Wutong murmured as if reading Roy's thoughts. "Many of them aren't about justice. Most of the time they're like us—paid to do a job."

"It's just… the master, and Zeno, they at least have some concern for ordinary people…"

"They…" Wutong's laugh was cold. "When they get extreme, they're not human at all."

The Association took government or corporate contracts, then assigned them to its hunters.

Whether successful or not, the Association guaranteed them pay based on risk and difficulty.

In other words—the will of the state stood above the Association.

"Maybe the Mingbo Republic's higher-ups, embarrassed and furious, made some secret deal with Bartochia Republic," Roy thought suddenly of Netero's old friend Jed—how he'd been the "shadow" of the Association, doing its dirty work, his death leaving behind a grudge so great it became a curse.

"Are you two talking?"

The little girl chewed her candy, curious about Roy and Wutong's silent lip-language.

"Eina, I told you not to disturb the brothers."

"It's fine." Roy smiled and waved as the woman tugged her daughter's braids.

His eyes lingered on the candy in her mouth for a moment. He hoped the Association people would be competent enough not to let a young life end before it began.

At 3:20 p.m., the airport broadcast announced boarding for Airship K3285.

After waiting all this time, Wutong rose with Roy and followed the crowd to board.

By chance, after changing tickets, they ended up seated across from the woman and child.

"With the sudden change, the officials couldn't arrange a VIP cabin. I'm afraid you'll have to make do in the regular cabin, young master."

"Red tea, pastries, and familiar faces. Nothing to complain about…"

"Yes, big brother, this time the snacks aren't sweet and have no additives. You can eat safely~"

As Wutong sat down beside Roy, the little girl's mouth stretched to her ears, her smile sweet as sugar.

Roy and Wutong stiffened. Two gun barrels pressed against the backs of their heads.

"Don't move!"

T/n:

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