For Hisoka to be reduced to borrowing money...
It seems Illumi really took him for a ride.
Morrow immediately guessed the reason but could only express helplessness.
Lending money was absolutely out of the question.
However, exchanging intel about the Phantom Troupe was worth pursuing.
He then asked Hisoka about the gathering of the Spiders.
Hisoka cooperated fully, recounting everything that happened at the meeting in detail.
The first order of business after the Spiders assembled was for Pakunoda to thoroughly investigate potential traitors.
When Morrow read this message from Hisoka, he couldn't help but silently marvel at how troublesome Chrollo was.
Dealing with someone like him truly required zero negligence.
Fortunately, thanks to his intel advantage, Morrow had prepared Hisoka in advance.
Even if Hisoka were exposed during the Spider gathering, Morrow could still use the Star Mark to get the news immediately.
This was his backup plan.
Regardless, Hisoka managing to slip through was the best possible outcome.
Morrow quickly finished reading Hisoka's message.
After eliminating the traitor threat, the Troupe launched into heated discussions about the brutal deaths of Feitan and Shalnark.
But ultimately, Chrollo settled on two action plans.
One was to find the killer responsible for Feitan and Shalnark's deaths, and the other was to quickly recruit new members to replace them.
These two plans aligned closely with Morrow's earlier predictions.
He wouldn't claim deep familiarity with the Troupe, but he could roughly guess how they'd react to such an incident.
The only surprise was Chrollo's heightened caution.
Because in Hisoka's intel, the detail that stood out most was Chrollo's order for members to operate strictly in teams.
Team operations, huh...
Morrow pocketed his phone, deep in thought.
He recalled that during the Kakin succession war arc, the Phantom Troupe's hunt for Hisoka had no emphasis on "teamwork."
In fact, they operated on a "first-come, first-served" basis, as if terrified someone else might claim Hisoka's life first, completely disregarding risk assessment.
But now... they were cautious enough to mandate team operations.
Were they... afraid?
So even you can feel fear.
Morrow's mind flashed to Chrollo's usual calm and composed demeanor.
Until they traced the threat back to him, the Troupe would likely remain on high alert, mentally prepared for an ambush at any moment.
After all, he had killed Feitan and Shalnark without claiming their bounties, effectively ruling out Blacklist Hunters as suspects.
If not for money, then it had to be revenge.
With that conclusion, the Troupe naturally braced themselves for potential retaliation.
Still... Hisoka, just how much do they despise you? Not a single Troupe member was willing to team up with you.
Morrow shook his head slightly.
Despite the Troupe's clear team-based directive, Hisoka was left partnerless...
As if his death wouldn't matter.
And Morrow found that rather regrettable. Otherwise, he could have easily taken the opportunity to target Hisoka's teammates, making the spiders lose a third leg.
For now, let's focus on replenishing the energy of the second ring.
After learning the Phantom Troupe's operational strategy, Morrow temporarily shelved the idea of targeting them again.
With a traitor like Hisoka around, he could always keep tabs on the Troupe's movements.
The top priority now was to fully charge the energy of the second ring.
Thinking this, Morrow glanced at the second ring on the back of his hand.
Only about 4% energy remained.
He estimated it would only take five or six Nen-imbued objects or a random Post-Mortem Will to complete it.
Mid-May.
After more than twenty days of recuperation, Kurapika's injuries had fully healed.
In truth, with the Zoldyck Family's special medicine, he could have recovered much faster.
But his eagerness to grow stronger led him to persist in training during the critical recovery period, delaying his healing.
Morrow took advantage of this opportunity to guide Kurapika in developing the ability of "Holy Chain."
On the rooftop arena.
Kurapika stood with his eyes closed, right arm extended forward, a chain with a cross pendant dangling from his thumb.
Beside him.
Morrow observed the faint green glow emanating from the surface of the cross chain.
Among all of Kurapika's chain abilities, the one that left the deepest impression on Morrow was ironically the least conspicuous, the Holy Chain.
This was an incredibly potent healing ability, capable of mending even severe fractures in an extremely short time, rivaling the effects of Greed Island's Angel's Breath card.
With the Holy Chain's power, Kurapika wouldn't have needed nearly a month to recover from his injuries.
Moreover, in actual combat, the ability would grant him far greater margin for error.
Unfortunately, due to the butterfly effect caused by Morrow's interference, Kurapika hadn't developed the Holy Chain ability as he had in the original timeline.
Upon realizing this, Morrow naturally couldn't let Kurapika miss out on this skill.
Under his guidance, Kurapika quickly developed the rudimentary form of the Holy Chain.
The ease with which the ability was conceptualized and realized was largely due to two key factors:
First, in his Emperor Time state, Kurapika could maximize the potential of all Nen types.
Second, Kurapika's initial design for his chains conjuration had already envisioned each finger's chain corresponding to a unique ability.
On the arena, Kurapika slowly opened his eyes, gazing at the faintly glowing green Holy Chain.
Noticing this, Morrow casually tossed the Poultry Scarlet Knife toward him and said, "Test its effects."
Kurapika caught the knife steadily and, without hesitation, slashed a deep wound into his arm. Blood immediately gushed out.
"Holy Chain."
Kurapika activated the ability instantly. As the cross-headed chain touched the bleeding wound, the green light flared brightly, and the injury healed completely in the blink of an eye.
"Near-instantaneous healing effect..."
Morrow nodded approvingly. "It already has practical combat value. The only downside is that it can only enhance your own healing capabilities."
Hearing this evaluation, Kurapika visibly froze for a moment.
Noticing his reaction, Morrow asked curiously, "What's wrong?"
"The effect of Holy Chain... can actually be applied to others as well," Kurapika explained.
Upon hearing this, a flicker of surprise flashed in Morrow's eyes.
If he remembered correctly, Kurapika's Holy Chain ability could only enhance his own self-healing, a result seemingly imposed by its Limitation.
"Give me the knife."
Without pressing further, Morrow reached out to Kurapika for the blade.
Kurapika immediately handed him the Poultry Scarlet Knife.
Morrow took it and decisively made a cut on his arm before turning his gaze to Kurapika.
Without needing to be told, Kurapika understood and manipulated the cross-shaped chains to touch Morrow's wound.
With a brief flash of green light, the injury on Morrow's arm healed completely in an instant.
"Tch."
Morrow examined the healed wound, inwardly astonished.
Under his influence...
Even the scope of Holy Chain's ability had changed.
But the deeper reason was likely the difference between "fighting alone" and "working as a team."
Because Kurapika was no longer solitary, his considerations for healing abilities naturally extended beyond just himself.
It was as if he had shifted from being a berserker with self-healing to a healer who prioritized the team.
Indeed...
A person's needs, perceptions, and even changes in their environment could directly influence their Nen abilities.
Morrow felt this truth more profoundly now, but...
"What's the cost?"
He abruptly looked up at Kurapika.
Such an instantaneous healing ability that could be used on others must come with equally harsh conditions.
Kurapika hesitated slightly before murmuring, "The price for enhancing healing... is a shortened lifespan."
"I see..."
Morrow wasn't surprised by this answer.
Based on his speculation, this ability likely achieved its extreme healing effects by accelerating cell division.
Given such a heavy cost, the instantaneous healing made sense.
Ultimately, the primary value of this ability lay in increasing survival rates in combat.
Compared to that, the price of a shortened lifespan meant little.
After all, what use was a long life if you were already dead?
But...
Morrow suddenly recalled Kurapika's earlier hesitation. Frowning, he fixed his gaze on Kurapika's eyes and asked: "A powerful healing effect like this coming at the cost of a shortened lifespan isn't surprising, but I want to know... who bears that cost?"
"..."
Kurapika fell silent.
For a brief moment, he considered lying to conceal the truth.
But under Morrow's unwavering stare, he ultimately answered honestly: "Me."
"Kurapika, you..."
Morrow was momentarily at a loss for words.
The Limitation of Emperor Time already eroded Kurapika's lifespan.
And now, the ability of Holy Chain, which could only be used under that condition, also demanded the price of a shortened lifespan.
This was...
A double toll on his life.
But what truly left Morrow exasperated was the excessive kindness ingrained in Kurapika's nature.
If the healing ability only affected himself, sacrificing lifespan would be one thing.
Yet Kurapika had taken on the cost of healing others as well...
Kurapika gently raised his hand, suspending the cross-shaped chain before his eyes, and said: "Morrow, you once said that the strength of one's willpower and resolve... greatly influences the intensity of "Nen." This is my resolve. It is precisely because of this resolve that I can better unleash the effects of this ability."
Morrow remained silent.
This isn't resolve, Kurapika.
That innate kindness in your bones as an avenger...
Will only become your greatest weakness.
Yet he had to admit, perhaps it was precisely because of this kindness that you could so effortlessly develop an ability meant to heal others.
Suppressing the complicated emotions in his heart, Morrow ultimately chose not to voice this thought. Instead, he adopted a joking tone: "Seems like we'll have to be extra careful from now on, to avoid situations where you'd need to use your healing ability."
"For me..."
Kurapika lightly grasped the Holy Chain, as if oblivious to the deliberately casual humor in Morrow's words, and solemnly replied: "Of course, it would be best if I never had to use it. But when it is needed, I hope it can fulfill its intended purpose."
"..."
—--
With Kurapika fully recovered, Morrow's plan to replenish the second ring energy was promptly set into motion.
If the target was Nen-imbued objects, then the place to go would still be Yorknew's free market.
In such places, visiting periodically could yield a few aura-laden Nen objects from the stalls. However, due to competition, collecting these objects reliably still largely depended on luck.
Another relatively stable method was attending auctions, though the financial burden would be heavier.
After much deliberation, aside from revisiting Yorknew's free market, Morrow suddenly recalled the old man he had met at last year's Yorknew Auction, the one who had purchased the Executioner's Blade.
That old man was the curator of a private museum. Though not a Nen user himself, he had developed a slight sensitivity to aura and could vaguely perceive Post-Mortem Nen.
Back then, after Morrow had "borrowed" the Post-Mortem Nen from the Executioner's Blade in the old man's possession, he had exchanged contact information with him under the guise of a folk Exorcist.
Morrow clearly remembered the old man saying he would reach out immediately if he ever needed exorcism services.
Yet, until now, Morrow hadn't received a single message from him.
Whether it was due to a lack of need or simply because the old man had forgotten about him, Morrow couldn't say.
Considering that the old man seemed to deliberately collect Nen objects bearing Post-Mortem Nen, Morrow thought he might take the initiative to contact him and visit his private museum for a look.
Museums... That's right. Many countries establish national treasure museums. Those places... must house quite a few aura-laden national treasures.
A gleam flickered in Morrow's eyes.
Just as Morrow was calculating where to gather the final Tree Rings energy, Menchi, whom he hadn't heard from in a long time, suddenly called.
"Morrow, I've found a weapon that meets your requirements!"
On the other end of the line, Menchi's voice brimmed with excitement.
For her, helping Morrow find a suitable weapon meant she could finally obtain the Poultry Scarlet Knife as promised.
"Bring it over and let me see."
Compared to Menchi's enthusiasm, Morrow remained much calmer. The weapon he needed had to be comparable to the Poultry Scarlet Knife.
If it fell even slightly short, he wouldn't agree to the exchange.
"This…"
Menchi's voice suddenly turned hesitant. "Morrow, can you come here in person? The owner of this knife insists... that you must pass his trial to take it."
"Then just pass the trial yourself?"
Morrow asked in confusion.
Menchi let out a bitter laugh.
"I wish I could, but that bastard said only men are allowed to take the trial!"