We don't refuse anything...
From the burly leader's unfinished sentence, Morrow confirmed they were from Meteor City.
Morrow just hadn't expected that after he had bombed Meteor City last time, they would still dare to come looking for him.
And so eagerly, at that.
He had just returned to the six continents, leaving only a few traces of his whereabouts, and they had immediately dispatched a formidable team to intercept and kill him.
It seemed now that Meteor City's confidence this time, perhaps it came from some special modification technology?
Not only could it greatly enhance physical strength, but it could also forcibly raise the level of one's aura output?
No wonder these idiots were so confident, to the point of arrogance.
Even though they had already formed an encirclement, they insisted on revealing themselves and reciting their signature motto before making a move.
However, this style was indeed very much in line with Meteor City's usual way of doing things.
And even if they had sought a more cautious method of assassination, the result of their complete annihilation would not have changed in the slightest.
The Nen waves that shot up into the sky dissipated like quicksand at the horizon, taking the lives of these people with them.
But the surrounding ground was unusually calm, with no traces of explosions or impacts left behind.
The hundred-plus formidable Nen users seemed to have vanished into thin air, as if they had never existed.
But not all of them.
A final, faint trace of aura remained on the field.
The owner of this aura was none other than the burly leader.
He lay on the ground, covered in wounds. His lower body had almost completely disappeared, leaving only a gruesome, severed cross-section.
Kurapika glanced at the sole survivor on the field.
The abruptly cut-off opening line had also allowed him to recognize the origins of this group.
But he showed little emotion about it, instead being more surprised by the almost traceless state of the ground before him.
Over a hundred powerful Nen waves had completely obliterated the enemies in an instant, yet after shooting out from the ground, they hadn't affected the ground in the slightest.
Just what exquisite level of control over one's power was this?
At the very least, Kurapika couldn't even begin to imagine it.
And the burly man, who was barely clinging to life, seemed not to have processed the tragic outcome yet.
His body was slumped crookedly on the ground, and he had even temporarily forgotten the excruciating pain coming from all over his body, his gaze just staring blankly at the empty mountainous terrain around him.
A second ago, there had clearly been over a hundred companions standing here.
What terrified him even more was, the ground was completely intact, without the slightest trace of damage.
Could a human really be capable of something like this?
The burly man's mouth was agape, but his throat could only produce a broken, intermittent hissing sound like a bellows.
"To be able to withstand that, you have some skill."
A calm voice suddenly sounded.
The burly man's scattered gaze snapped into focus. He laboriously and tremblingly raised his eyes to look at the monster that was far beyond his comprehension.
Morrow walked right past him, giving him only a casual glance.
"Meteor City, it seems the last lesson wasn't enough."
Averting his gaze, Morrow walked straight ahead.
Kurapika followed closely behind, but as he passed, he also glanced with a calm expression at the burly man's mangled body, which was about to stop breathing completely.
"..."
The burly man stared blankly at Morrow's retreating back, his vision gradually blurring.
He tried with all his might to say something, but couldn't even make a sound.
He was afraid.
Afraid of the threat this monster would pose to his home.
He was also filled with regret.
Regret for naively trusting the great power he had obtained through modification, regret for blindly following the orders of Gyro, who had taken over Meteor City.
But humans are creatures that often refuse to face their own mistakes.
Gyro had indeed brought unprecedented changes to Meteor City.
But that change was one that finally gave Meteor City the power to control its own destiny.
Unfortunately, it was the arrival of this very power that reignited the hatred and desire for revenge against Morrow in the hearts of the Meteor City elders.
This matter was, in essence, orchestrated by those elders.
So no matter what consequences they faced, it was nothing more than what they deserved.
Even this burly leader, who was carrying out orders at this moment, did he not harbor a sliver of desire deep in his heart to replace the now-defunct Phantom Troupe and become the "new hero of Meteor City"?
It was just that at this moment of near-death, perhaps due to the humiliation of being instantly killed, he subconsciously avoided his own ambitions and instead shifted all the blame to Gyro.
"Hss, hss..."
The burly man's chest heaved violently as he stared at Morrow's gradually receding back.
He still wanted to say something.
At least in the final moments of his life, he didn't want to die so ignominiously.
His eyes suddenly widened, bulging with fine, bloodshot veins, as he was about to muster his last bit of strength.
But in the next instant, a dazzling starlight surged up from beneath him.
The burly man froze.
Another Nen wave shot up from the ground, engulfing his horribly mangled body and completely extinguishing his final thoughts.
When the Nen wave vanished into the horizon in an instant, the ground was empty. Nothing was left behind.
In the distance.
Morrow looked straight ahead and said calmly, "Meteor City must have mastered some kind of modification technology that can greatly enhance strength. It might even be capable of mass production. This is the source of their confidence to seek revenge."
"What do you plan to do?"
Kurapika looked at Morrow.
His direct question about Morrow's subsequent plans also implied his unreserved trust in Morrow's judgment regarding the so-called modification technology.
Morrow replied almost without hesitation, "Flies and mosquitoes buzzing around are ultimately annoying. So this time, I'll solve it at the root."
"To achieve that..."
Kurapika's eyes flickered slightly.
Before he could finish his sentence, Morrow continued, "That's right. I just need to make Meteor City disappear completely."
"..."
Kurapika fell silent for a moment.
He thought of Meteor City's population of several million, and that not all of them behaved like the Phantom Troupe and the elders.
In such an environment, there must be many people who were just struggling to survive.
And Morrow's words about making Meteor City disappear could mean erasing the existence of these several million people.
Kurapika had no doubt about Morrow's ability.
In his view, Morrow, who had brought back so many things from the Dark Continent, was fully capable of making a settlement of several million people disappear completely.
At this thought, Kurapika couldn't help but feel a sense of pity.
This was due to his inherent nature.
But if Morrow was truly insistent, he would support him with all his might.
Because in his heart, Morrow was unshakable.
He was a being like light.
More important than anything else.
So important that even if it meant going against his own nature, he would not hesitate in the slightest.
Morrow glanced at the suddenly silent Kurapika and raised an eyebrow. "Kurapika, you're not thinking that I might kill all those millions of people in Meteor City, are you?"
"Yes."
Kurapika nodded frankly.
Morrow couldn't help but chuckle, yet he was also somewhat surprised that the kind-hearted Kurapika would acquiesce to such a nearly cruel course of action.
However, he didn't delve deeper into it.
"Kurapika, I will make Meteor City disappear completely, but I don't intend to kill everyone. If conditions permit, I will at most deal with those who need to be dealt with."
"I see," Kurapika replied again.
Morrow looked at him and asked, somewhat amused, "Aren't you curious about what I specifically plan to do?"
"A little curious, but I can also guess a thing or two."
After learning Morrow's true intentions, Kurapika could roughly guess his method.
Or rather, to accomplish such a thing, there was really only one possible way.
That was to use a major power to change the very nature of Meteor City's existence from its roots.
As for whether Morrow possessed the capital and ability to make this happen, it was not even within Kurapika's consideration.
He believed that as long as it was something Morrow planned, it was almost impossible to fail.
"Mm."
What's more, just by his identity as someone who had returned from the Dark Continent, and his terrifying strength that far exceeded the limits of any human individual, he already possessed the bargaining chips to negotiate with major powers.
Morrow observed Kurapika's expression with great interest and said, "Tell me what you think."
"I believe you, Morrow, will still use thunderous methods against Meteor City, and you'll be even more relentless than last time."
Kurapika analyzed calmly, "It's just that this time, the V5 should... no, perhaps only one of the major powers will need to intervene and take over the aftermath to make Meteor City a thing of the past."
"A very accurate guess."
Morrow smiled and nodded. "I do indeed plan to have one of the V5 countries intervene. Only a major power of that level has the ability to take over the mess in Meteor City, like taking in refugees."
"Actually, compared to using the V5 to make Meteor City disappear completely..."
Kurapika's eyelids lowered slightly as he said softly, "I think for you, Morrow, it would be easier to just make those several million people in Meteor City disappear directly."
"Yes."
Morrow's smile suddenly faded as he said faintly, "Just using my abilities to wipe out several million people would indeed be simpler."
With his current abilities, there were far too many ways to achieve that.
After all, Meteor City was already a fringe area not covered by any international conventions.
Even if it were truly razed to the ground one day, the countries that had been dumping their trash there for years would probably only care about where to dump tomorrow's trash and whether there was enough space.
No one in the outside world would care how those several million people became one with the junkyard.
Kurapika looked at Morrow's profile and said, "But you won't do that."
"Ah, not necessarily."
A dangerous glint flashed in Morrow's eyes as he said calmly, "If every single one of those several million people could pose a threat to us, then I would not hesitate to make them all disappear."
—--
Kukuroo Mountain.
After a long journey, Kalluto finally saw the Testing Gate.
Having grown accustomed to the efficiency of traveling with Chimera, going back to taking airships and switching to various other modes of transportation indeed felt too slow.
Kalluto had set off from the coastline of the Yorbian Continent, and it had taken him nearly two days just to get on an airship that could take him directly.
Although the airship could go straight to the Dentora Region, the journey itself took a full three days.
After landing, he still had to transfer to buses or trains to finally reach the foot of Kukuroo Mountain.
If it were Chimera, flying at full speed, it probably wouldn't even take a day.
Kalluto looked up at the towering and majestic Testing Gate before him. Having been apart for only a week, he was already starting to miss Chimera.
At this moment.
As usual, a group of tourists taking pictures was gathered in front of the Testing Gate.
In the security booth to the side, Zebro held a cup of tea, his gaze occasionally sweeping over the noisy crowd outside the gate.
Suddenly, his gaze fixed on a familiar figure, and he couldn't help but be taken aback for a moment.
Was that Kalluto?
But his demeanor seemed completely different from his memory, making him hesitant to confirm it.
In the moment he was dazed, Kalluto's figure moved lightly, like a silent breeze, flitting swiftly through the crowd and arriving directly in front of the massive Testing Gate.
"Uncle Zebro, your tea is getting cold."
Kalluto turned his head and gently reminded the security booth, which served as a greeting.
Before his voice had even faded, he had already raised his hand and pressed it against the stone gate.
The heavy door, which required immense strength to push, seemed as light as a feather at this moment.
Rumble...
All the doors of the Testing Gate were pushed open at once.
The dull, grand sound not only pulled Zebro back to his senses but also drew stunned reactions from all the tourists.
Until the stone gates slowly swung back and closed again, the group of tourists still felt as if they were in a dream.
Zebro came back to his senses, not overly surprised by the strength Kalluto displayed.
He just looked at the closed gates, took a light sip of his slightly cool tea, and a touch of emotion welled up in his heart.
Kalluto's demeanor had indeed changed significantly.
But he could still feel that Kalluto hadn't changed at all.
After being influenced by that young man...
"I forgot to mention that Master Illumi is back."
Zebro suddenly remembered this.
—--
At this time.
Kalluto passed through the sea of trees, quickly ascended Kukuroo Mountain, and returned to the mansion he had been away from for many days.
Thanks to his excellent aura concealment, he was not discovered by the butlers along the way.
But the mansion was filled with cameras, making it impossible to avoid them completely.
Kalluto didn't pay it much mind and went directly to Maha's room.
However, just as he reached the outside of the room, the door opened automatically.
Kalluto pursed his lips, knowing that the aura concealment ability he had honed was still difficult to hide from his great-grandfather's perception.
But he wasn't discouraged.
"Great-Grandfather, I'm back."
Kalluto walked into the room and looked at a simple sofa inside.
Maha was sitting on the sofa. Hearing her voice, he beckoned for her to come and sit.
Kalluto walked over as told and noticed the lingering trace of sleepiness on Maha's face, indicating he had just been napping.
"Great-Grandfather, did I wake you?"
Kalluto sat down beside Maha, his tone carrying a hint of playfulness. "But that's not important. I brought you a really great gift this time."
"Oh?"
Maha slowly opened his eyelids, his gaze sweeping over the bag on Kalluto's back. Seeming to have sensed something, he said slowly, "It seems it's not Sanrio Keroppi merchandise."
As soon as he finished speaking, he suddenly looked up at the open door and waved his hand casually.
Thud.
The door closed in response.
It also completely blocked out a faint, probing aura from outside the door.
It was Illumi's aura.
---------------
Bonus chapter @400powerstones. Ty for your support