"Sorry, let me interrupt for a moment."
C·L's voice drifted over faintly, reaching Kisho's ears from behind.
Kisho shuddered and turned to stare at him.
"W-what—"
C·L smiled slightly. "The time for the next activity has been set. It's in one day."
Kisho bristled. "One day, my ass! If this isn't an activity targeting me alone, I'll write my name backwards!"
C·L smiled, showing not the slightest embarrassment at being exposed, and even followed along with it.
"You don't need to write your name backwards."
Kisho: "..."
If I couldn't beat him… if I couldn't beat him…!
So infuriating!
His eyes rolled as he planned to continue the tactic he'd used last year when he took leave for exams.
"Then what about leave? I should at least be able to take leave, right? I'll just take another six months."
C·L politely refused. "Didn't you already get four months off earlier? There were several activities you didn't participate in because you needed to 'prepare for exams.'"
Without waiting for Kisho to speak, he continued.
"Besides, the activities you're allowed to skip only apply when the target is an ordinary person. This activity doesn't fall into that category."
Kisho: "...You're saying things like 'the target is an ordinary person' so openly in the Hunter Association. Isn't that a bit outrageous?"
Ignoring Kisho's misplaced focus, C·L pretended to think.
"And if I remember correctly, someone owes quite a bit of money to the other members. The troupe's custom is to settle accounts at the end of the year. If you can't pay it back by then… heh."
Kisho's whole body trembled at that "heh."
He couldn't help imagining the astronomical amount he owed Machi, the astronomical amount he owed Shalnark, and the one-million signing fee he owed the guy standing in front of him…
Those Nen needles in Machi's hands, Shalnark's ill-intentioned grin, and the thick book titled Bandit's Secret—
If they all turned their attention to him, then… then—
Terrifying!
In this lifetime he was only a twelve—no, thirteen-year-old kid who had lost his Nen ability. Why did he have to bear so much…
Kisho instantly surrendered, pressing his hands together like a pitiful debtor cornered by loan sharks.
"Please give me a little more time."
"I personally don't have a problem with it, but whether the other two will agree, I can't say."
What the hell do you mean "I can't say"?!
This was clearly something the hated Leader could solve with a single sentence!
C·L's elegant and innocent smile made Kisho want more and more to smash his fist into that stupid face—
But when he had Nen he couldn't beat him, and now he didn't even have Nen. There was even less chance.
Kisho gritted his teeth. "Con! Di! Tions!"
C·L smiled gently, though to Kisho that smile looked no different from a demon's.
"Attend this activity obediently. If you perform well, I can help you repay that debt."
Kisho continued grinding his teeth. "...What activity?"
"You'll find out when the time comes."
With that, C·L turned around and said while walking away,
"Five minutes. Boarding Gate Ten. Don't be late."
"—Hey, at least give me some time to say goodbye to people!"
Kisho roared like a cute tiger while turning around to look for Amos, but there was no sign of him anywhere.
He stood there blankly, looking confused as he glanced at a nearby staff member. Before he could even ask, the staff member spoke.
"Mr. Eros asked me to pass along a message. He had something to deal with and left first. He left a phone number and asked that you not contact him when nothing's wrong. And if something is wrong, still don't contact him."
Kisho: "..."
So angry he stomped his foot.
He ran off way too fast!
If I'm not supposed to contact you whether something's wrong or not, why the hell did you even leave contact information?!
Grumbling angrily, he walked outside.
He had spent too long having a "friendly conversation" with C·L. Aside from the staff, he was the only examinee left in the hall.
However, at the corridor exit, Kite was still standing there.
"Finished talking?" Kite looked at Kisho.
"Huh?" Kisho looked up at him. "You weren't waiting for me, were you?"
Kite smiled slightly. "Who knows when we'll meet again next time. Of course I should say a proper goodbye."
Kisho nodded solemnly.
"What are you going to do next?"
"I'll search for the traces my master left behind while training myself. And I'll investigate creatures and ruins together with my friends."
Kite lowered the brim of his hat and spoke more quietly.
"If you ever need my help, you can contact me."
Kisho froze for a moment.
Their eyes met, and in that instant he seemed to understand the unspoken meaning behind Kite's words—
He had probably noticed C·L's true identity as well.
"I will."
Kisho answered seriously.
"You too. My Nen sealing period ends in sixty days. I might not be able to help with anything right now, but after sixty days, if you need my help, you can contact me."
"Alright."
Kite placed his hand on the sheath at his side and turned slightly.
"I'm leaving."
After watching Kite depart, the half-warmed feeling in Kisho's heart instantly cooled again when he saw someone crouched at Boarding Gate Ten, covering his mouth in boredom while studying a nest of ants on the ground.
The distance was barely more than ten meters, but Kisho dragged it out for four full minutes, finally strolling over to C·L at the very last second. He glanced at the ants C·L had been staring at—
Nothing unusual about them.
C·L glanced at him and leisurely stood up.
"Let's go."
"Can I ask where we're going?" Kisho asked quietly.
"Sartude City, Republic of Bartochia."
C·L answered while walking up the airship's boarding stairs.
"Huh? We're not going back to Meteor City?"
C·L looked back at him.
"Weren't you curious why I don't use Nen?"
Hearing that, Kisho muttered, "Since when did you become so kind that you answer whatever I ask…"
But he was indeed curious. What kind of reason could allow a living person to transform flawlessly into someone else?
Height, weight, fingerprints… everything external had changed.
Even the Hunter Association's precision instruments couldn't detect the slightest flaw.
C·L only smiled without saying a word.
He slowly removed the gloves he had been wearing continuously these past few days.
"You'll understand once we arrive."