Shizuku's corpse lay not far away, surrounded by a pool of blood that had spread beneath her.
Morrow remained in place, waiting for Kurapika and Kalluto to arrive.
When he had taken down Phinks earlier, he had considered leaving Shizuku for Kurapika and Kalluto to gain combat experience.
However, to test the synergy between Insidious Shooting Star and Astral Step, Morrow ultimately decided to deal with Shizuku himself.
Before long, Kurapika and Kalluto approached.
Their gazes swept over Shizuku's body before simultaneously turning to Morrow, a flicker of surprise in their eyes.
From their perspective, the battle against Phinks and Shizuku had ended far too quickly and effortlessly.
So much so that a doubt arose in their minds: Were the members of the Phantom Troupe really this weak?
No.
It was that Morrow had truly grown stronger.
This wasn't a joke, but an undeniable fact.
The change stemmed from a teleportation ability they had never seen before, as well as a clear increase in his aura output.
But what had caused such a sudden transformation?
That was what puzzled Kurapika and Kalluto the most. Yet, they could sense Morrow had no intention of explaining.
Morrow noticed their reactions.
From their perspective, his abrupt changes would naturally seem inexplicable.
But he wouldn't voluntarily explain the existence of Tree Rings.
Even if Kurapika and Kalluto voiced their questions, he wouldn't answer.
If they didn't ask, all the better.
"Seven left."
Morrow glanced at the corpse on the ground and suddenly spoke.
Kurapika blinked in surprise.
Morrow then turned to him.
"Kurapika."
"Hm?"
Kurapika lifted his gaze to meet Morrow's.
Morrow reached out and lightly patted his shoulder before walking toward the distant car, a Shooting Star forming in his hand.
Whoosh.
The Shooting Star shot precisely at Shizuku's corpse, reducing it to a rain of blood and flesh.
"It's time to make the Troupe disappear for good."
Once the explosion faded, Morrow's voice carried over.
"We're moving now?"
Hearing this, Kurapika hurried after him, confused.
"Yes."
"..."
Kurapika grew even more puzzled.
According to the intel Hisoka had provided, the Troupe members were regrouping.
Their original plan had been to wait for further updates from Hisoka after dealing with Phinks.
But Morrow had suddenly changed course.
Why?
Kurapika briefly pondered but quickly dismissed his doubts.
If this was Morrow's decision, then his only task was clear...
To follow Morrow's lead without hesitation.
Kalluto, meanwhile, swiftly caught up, overtaking Kurapika and naturally falling into step beside Morrow.
"Hmm..."
However, as he walked, Kalluto's gaze kept shifting between Morrow and Kurapika.
Sensing his stare, Morrow tilted his head.
"What's wrong?"
"Something feels... off."
Kalluto's delicate brows furrowed slightly as he silently tried to grasp the inexplicable change in the air.
"Off? How so?"
Morrow asked.
"It's just..." Kalluto subconsciously bit his lower lip, his gaze flickering as he glanced back at Kurapika before quickly looking away. He truly didn't know how to describe the feeling and eventually shook his head. "Never mind, forget I said anything."
"That won't do. Come on, tell me; what exactly felt off?"
Morrow smiled as he pressed for an answer.
At his words, Kalluto's brows furrowed even deeper as he struggled to put his thoughts into words.
But the moment he looked up, he saw the unmistakable teasing glint in Morrow's eyes.
"Hmph!"
Kalluto instantly realized he was being toyed with and snorted coldly, turning his head away with a deliberate flick of his kimono sleeve, intending to end the conversation right there.
Morrow chuckled at the sight.
He had no intention of revealing even a sliver about the rewind.
But seeing Kalluto's reaction now, he suddenly wondered... if the timeline continued to progress after his and Kurapika's deaths...
What kind of future would this already-changed Kalluto have?
—--
August 20th.
Three days after killing Phinks and Shizuku.
Morrow altered their plans and had Kalluto create a living paper doll linked to Hisoka.
Following the doll's guidance, they trailed Hisoka's route at a distance, never closing in directly.
Morrow had received the Troupe's assembly order from Hisoka on the night of the 17th, then intercepted and killed Phinks and Shizuku on the 18th.
And he remembered... the Star Mark implanted on Hisoka had abruptly vanished on the night of the 24th.
Meaning...
The night of the 24th was likely when all Troupe members would gather in one place.
But Morrow had no intention of simply waiting until then.
Time passed.
—--
August 22nd.
In a town called Yuanguo within the Kukan'yu Kingdom.
Feitan's corpse had been entrusted by the Troupe to Yuanguo Hospital, which shared the town's name.
Near the hospital stood a half-abandoned warehouse.
The Troupe members, summoned by the order, had gathered inside.
Emergency lights along the warehouse walls cast a dim glow across the hall.
Hisoka lounged casually atop a pile of debris, a playing card dancing deftly between his fingers.
His gaze drifted idly over Chrollo and the others, lingering just a beat longer on Chrollo each time.
"Uvogin and Nobunaga said they'll probably arrive the night after tomorrow," Machi said coolly, slipping her phone away.
Chrollo gave a slight nod. "Then we'll wait for them directly in the hospital morgue that night."
"Buzz... buzz..."
The moment Chrollo finished speaking, a vibrating hum filled the warehouse.
Everyone turned toward the source, Hisoka, still sprawled on the debris.
Hisoka leisurely picked up his phone, but the moment he saw Morrow's caller ID, his body stiffened imperceptibly.
He had explicitly told him not to contact him during this period.
Hisoka stared silently at the screen, a bead of sweat seeming to form on his forehead.
If it had been a text, he could've masked it with Texture Surprise...
Chrollo's deep eyes reflected Hisoka's figure as he suddenly spoke.
"Answer it."
"..."
Under the collective gaze of the Troupe, Hisoka had no choice but to steel himself and pick up the call.
Morrow's voice came through the phone.
"How many?"
"..."
Hisoka's eyes flickered slightly as he instantly grasped the meaning behind Morrow's question. But he didn't answer.
"Forget it, use Ken."
Morrow then uttered another seemingly random phrase before abruptly hanging up the phone.
Chrollo, Pakunoda, Machi, Kortopi, and Amanda on the scene all heard the strange conversation, each reacting differently.
The next moment.
Everyone saw Hisoka's body erupt with flame-like aura output.
He obediently activated Ken.
At that very instant,
A dense series of sounds came from above the warehouse.
The group looked up in alarm, their pupils contracting slightly as countless Shooting Stars pierced through the metal roof, descending upon them like a meteor shower.
Boom, boom boom...!
In an instant, they were engulfed by an unending series of explosions.