The enemy Haze encountered wasn't the only one he killed. It seed that Beyond had sent quite a number of people to the island; in less than fifteen minutes, five of them had already fallen by his hand.
That included a three-person team ...
likely the Nen users who had attacked him first, not counting those who had hindered nchi and the others.
"Hmm… you're done already?"
After walking a few more minutes, Haze erged from a man-tall thicket, parting the grass to observe the recently finished battlefield. nchi stood calmly beside several corpses, wiping blood from her kitchen knife, with Anthony and Gabwich at her side.
"Captain!"
The three turned toward him the mont they saw him. None of them seed at all worried for his safety.
"Captain… soone knocked out… I didn't see who it was," Gabwich stamred awkwardly, clearly embarrassed.
"It's fine," Haze replied coolly.
Before confirming whether Saiyu would side with Beyond, he wouldn't have killed his companions. So Haze knew Gabwich would be safe.
"We ran into several Nen users who suddenly landed on the island. Looks like they're chasing us. They're fairly strong ... but nothing we can't handle," nchi reported, before shifting tone:
"The ones who attacked Gabwich, though, can't be the sa group. It must have been two of the Zodiac."
If it were them, there would be no survivors ... and certainly no one left rely unconscious.
Among the Nen users who scattered the team, the strongest went directly after Haze and Saiyu; the rest were of average strength.
Still, there seed to be around twenty of them in total.
"It was Saiyu," Haze said calmly.
"Huh?"
The three exchanged glances.
Why would Saiyu attack Gabwich?
"He's dead."
That next sentence made all three freeze.
"He died at the hands of that group… Maybe they were after him for so reason we don't know," Haze added with a quiet chuckle.
"…"
The three understood ... though not entirely.
"In any case, what happens on this island isn't our business. We were only here to investigate. Now that the mission's done, we can leave."
nchi sheathed her knife with a sharp motion.
"Let's go find the others."
Haze gestured for them to follow.
Soon, they found Gail, Feitan, and Rita, who had just finished dealing with their own attackers and were preparing to regroup.
"Saiyu is dead?"
Upon hearing the news, Gail's serpent-like eyes locked on Haze.
"What? Don't tell you think I killed him," Haze said, giving nchi and the others a knowing wink. The five took the hint and drifted away, searching the area for survivors or remaining enemies.
"No doubt these people were sent by the Kakin Empire," Gail said, showing a piece of torn fabric. "This type of clothing belongs to one of their regional tribes… They're nurous, yes, but with Saiyu's strength, even if sothing went wrong, he could retreat. In other words, there's nothing on this island that could kill him."
"Except… you."
"You're awfully direct. Aren't you afraid I'll kill you?" Haze took a step forward, eyes glinting oddly.
"…"
Gail's arm transford instantly into a venomous serpent that struck toward Haze, tongue flicking, fangs bared in warning.
Haze didn't even flinch ... he took another step closer.
Gail couldn't help but back away.
"Heh." Haze let out a quiet laugh.
She was still afraid.
"Relax. I'm not going to hurt you."
His tone was gentle as he leaned forward, the serpent's head brushing against his neck as he ca within ten centiters of Gail's face. Their eyes t.
"Yes. I killed him," Gail said slowly. "I covered for him to protect his reputation. Believe , you'd better tell the Association the sa ... because even if you tell the truth, it won't affect . I won't be punished."
"Why?" Gail asked, heart pounding.
"Because it involves certain secrets… Once they're revealed, it'll make perfect sense that I killed Saiyu."
"You… want to protect you?" Gail said in disbelief.
"No. I'm just telling you the facts you wanted to know."
Haze's eyes curved with a faint smile.
"…"
Gail fell silent.
So Saiyu had joined this mission with hidden motives ... motives connected to Pariston.
Either way, she would report everything to the Chairman.
Haze gave her a light pat on the shoulder and walked away.
His Nen ability, Hell's Curse, was still active; with so many dead on the island, there were still plenty of souls to collect.
Half an hour later, all seven regrouped.
"Captain, the body's gone," nchi whispered to Haze, referring to Saiyu's remains.
"Mm. I left it for soone ... a gift," he replied, unfazed.
"Captain! We found survivors who escaped. Should we pursue them?" Rita shouted.
"No need. Let's head out," Haze said, and the team walked past Gail without even glancing at her.
Beyond's n had landed on the opposite shore. After boarding their ship, Haze returned alone to his narrow cabin.
He took out a small black pouch containing a neatly arranged set of fine silver needles ... acupuncture tools of various lengths. Sitting cross-legged on his bed, he inserted them into pressure points and began slow, controlled breathing, entering a ditative state.
Throughout the voyage, he repeated this routine daily without fail.
This so-called three-star mission had been a farce ... a setup.
Still, it would count as a success on record. Once he completed another three-star mission, Haze would qualify to submit an application to the higher ranks.
At that ti, the Association would have no grounds to object. Even the Zodiac who disliked him couldn't deny his strength, experience, or professionalism. He was qualified to be a Three-Star Hunter ... without question.
The only concern… was the V5.
As long as the V5 approved, Haze could be promoted regardless of what the Association thought.
Such was the privilege of supre power.
Knock, knock, knock.
The next day, Haze was reading an old book in his room when a knock sounded.
"Co in," he said.
The door opened ... Gail entered.
"Phone." She handed him a cell phone without preamble.
Haze closed the book and took it with a faint smile.
" Haze? This is Cheadle."
A cold, low female voice ca through the receiver.
"Yes," he answered.
"I'm officially informing you, by order of the Association, that you are under surveillance. From this mont, Gail will serve as your personal bodyguard and will monitor all your activities 24 hours a day. During the return trip, you are not permitted to separate from her under any circumstance. If you violate this, you will be judged according to Association law. Furthermore, if Gail suffers any harm or injury before reaching land, you will be considered the primary suspect. Understood?"
"Twenty-four hours?"
Haze raised an eyebrow at the calm woman before him.
He couldn't help but chuckle inwardly.
Even if he hadn't told Gail those things earlier, she would have reported him anyway.
"Don't get so tense… I understand."
He smiled faintly. "Well then, see you at the Association."
He handed the phone back to her.
Then, glancing at the small room, he asked, "I only have one bed here. Want to move in with ?"
Gail put the phone away, kept two ters of distance, and sat on a stool.
"There's enough space. Only the two of us can move around freely anyway."
Haze smiled again and resud reading.
Gail didn't interrupt.
Under the sa roof, they each went about their own business.
At first, she'd been nervous ... outwardly calm but deeply wary. Yet as ti passed, she realized that Haze seed genuinely straightforward, with no apparent ill intent toward her. Her tension slowly faded, replaced by curiosity about his thods.
His daily routine remained unchanged: reading ancient texts and practicing acupuncture to stimulate his body.
As a pharmacologist with deep knowledge of anatomy, Gail could tell the practice did enhance his qi and blood circulation ... though she didn't understand the principle behind it.
She simply watched.
Ti passed. nchi and the others knew their captain was under watch. Deep down, they also understood that this mission ... and Haze's role ... was tied to the Association's internal power struggle.
It wasn't their concern.
During the voyage, they occasionally visited Haze's room to chat, but everything remained peaceful ... no further incidents.
Eventually, the ship returned to port.
One by one, the seven disembarked.
The mont Haze set foot on land, he saw the reception team sent by the Association:
Ox Pariston, Tiger Kanzai… and Biscuit.
Together with Gail, that made three mbers of the Zodiac.
"Co with us," Pariston said sternly, arms crossed, the black paint over his left eye socket emphasizing his glare.
"Afraid I'll run away?" Haze asked with a smile.
nchi and the others imdiately stepped forward to shield him from the Zodiac.
"Relax," Haze told them calmly.
"Captain…" Anthony said worriedly.
"Go to the hotel and wait for . I'll be there soon," Haze added. "Go."
In the squad, his orders were absolute.
Hearing that, the others reluctantly obeyed and left first.
"You're such a headache," Biscuit huffed, hands on her hips, pouting before fixing her sharp eyes on him. "Did you really kill him?"
"Yes," Haze answered simply.
"…"
Everyone fell silent at his blunt confession.
"Well then," Haze said with a small laugh, "since everyone's here, let's go. This should be my first official eting with all of you ... the Twelve Zodiac Signs. Sha it had to be under these circumstances."
(End of Chapter)
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