After disembarking on Dolle Harbor…
Roy's group of three walked on beneath the sunlight.
The boy's gaze slid toward a distant ridge, found a tall cedar, and his nostrils flared—faint beast-sounds drifted on the air.
Should be the Kirikos…
Gotoh followed behind Roy, scanning left and right, never dropping his guard over the young master.
Kuraging was nowhere near as professional—her lovely eyes kept darting around…
When Roy strode past the bus stop and slipped straight into the woods, she hurried to call after him: "Sir, you seem to be going the wrong way."
"The direction to Zaban City is that way!"
"We should catch the bus."
She pointed at the bus sign. The bandaged man, the snake-handler, the bow-slinging youth were gathered under the shelter, quietly waiting; a "tour guide" type with a pennant and a kindly face was introducing the route.
Roy flicked him a glance—the face rang a bell. He thought, recognized him, and the corner of his mouth ticked up.
Without looking back: "If you want to ride, ride."
"Gotoh, we're going."
Kuraging: "…"
Left standing, a bit embarrassed, she hesitated.
Just then the "guide" hurried over to block Roy's path. "He's right."
"The bus to Zaban City is about to arrive—the express stand is that way~"
"And you are?" Gotoh paused with Roy, nudged his glasses up, and coolly sized the man.
The man beamed. "Name's Tonpa—same as you, I'm a Hunter Exam candidate."
"Please take care of me."
He offered a "friendly" hand.
Roy studied him with interest. The legendary "Mr. Tonpa"—counting the future Gon & Killua cohort—was on attempt number thirty-five, a serial newbie-saboteur who'd ruined who knew how many examinees.
The fact he was still alive bordered on miraculous.
Roy opened Ken; one look said he was an ordinary man. Tonpa shivered for no reason and looked up—
Just in time to watch the boy ignore him and brush past his shoulder.
Tonpa: "…"
A cross-vein popped on his forehead. Squinting after Roy, Gotoh, and Kuraging as they vanished into the trees, he took a long breath, put his smile back on, and slung an arm around the bald ninja's shoulders toward the buses.
"Don't worry about them—let's catch the bus," said the ninja—Yusuke. He liked the guy; in a competition, he still helped strangers. Big heart.
Moron. Like hell I'm bussing with you. I'll ship you all off first, then settle with that brat.
After watching Illumi and Kite go, Tonpa made mental notes in his little black book…
…
Thump… thump… thump…
Blue sky, white cloud, green trees—following Roy through the forest, Kuraging came upon a small town. At the gate, she looked closer—eerily, the town was abandoned.
"Sir, there's something wrong here."
Beyond the crumbling entrance, not a soul in sight.
All she saw—
Peeling walls… flagstones choked by weeds… shattered windows creaking "gaa—gaa—" in the wind as if they'd drop any moment…
Cold and creepy—skin-crawling…
A chill climbed her spine. Ignoring Gotoh's murderous glare, she edged nearer to Roy…
Blue veins bulged on Gotoh's brow. He pushed her away and murmured to Roy, "Sir—someone's here."
Roy, face blank, leaning on his staff-sword, flicked a glance into a certain corner…
On the Association airship, Netero was eating chocolate cake while the "beanman" attended him, eyes on the monitors. He chuckled. "Your eldest has arrived—you won't take a look?"
Zeno didn't move; apparently scenery was more interesting.
Netero took another spoonful and smacked his lips. "Looks like he brought a little girlfriend…"
"Ah—"
A breeze and Zeno flickered to the screen, eyes raking over Kuraging—earning a snort from Netero.
"So young and already courting—Zeno, your eldest needs better self-control…"
Zeno opened his mouth—"Fu…"—
Before -ck could leave, Netero swallowed the tease.
Humanity's Strongest pouted like a child and stared at the feed.
In the empty town…
A faint rustle—whispered recitation seeped from every crack and alley at once—
"Riddle~ riddle~"
"Iron and cotton both weigh a ton—which is heavier?"
"Iron."
"Wrong. The same—they're both a ton."
"Which is older, the older brother or the younger?"
"Correct answer: unknown—they're twins."
"…"
Hua-la—
A cold wind swept the street.
Kuraging jumped at the sudden voices. Forgetting Gotoh's death stare, she grabbed Roy's arm—forgetting how she'd been pried off earlier…
"You've overstepped!" The young butler was about to snap.
Roy tapped the staff-sword to the ground. "Come out."
From the shadows, a toothless old crone—two yellow fangs left—met his gaze and frowned. Even with Zetsu, he'd tagged her at once. Her muddy eyes lingered on his staff-sword, recalling Captain's warning—let him pass…
She rapped her cane, and the "children" stepped forth.
"Riddle~ riddle~"
Footsteps swarmed the street, sparse to dense, ragged to regimented. Kuraging's eyes widened—
Five, six dozen children in white smocks and masks, hair dyed in garish colors, filed out and blocked the road.
They didn't look like normal humans.
They looked like the "Nen beasts" that wretched butler had drilled into her head these last few days.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 50 Chapters Ahead of Others!