"Haze, are you leaving?"
"Back to work, I suppose… What a sha! It's rare to et soone I get along with so well. We barely even know each other yet…"
"Pengi, what are you saying? Haze's from a big city of course he's got things to do! Not like you, lazing around and drinking all day!"
"Eh? Payton… you looking for a fight?"
"Bring it on!"
Mitt's tavern buzzed with noise and laughter.
A bleary-eyed man raised his glass toward Haze, who sat at the counter, offering a reluctant farewell toast.
But another man quickly mocked him, and the two nearly stord outside to settle things until the others stopped them.
"Don't worry, I'll co back when I can," Haze said, lifting his glass in return.
"The next ti you visit, you're coming to my house!"
"Whale Island's a great place definitely worth another visit! We'll miss you!"
The crowd cheered.
But truthfully… Haze was only being polite.
Though Whale Island held so sentintal aning to him mostly from the ani visiting it once was enough.
Over the past month, he'd occasionally left the mountains to visit the tavern again, getting to know the locals. He would be leaving early the next morning.
So friends who'd heard the news ca to join the farewell party and Haze was covering the entire tab.
He found the people here… rather interesting.
All simple, genuine, and deeply attached to their ho.
"Thank you for taking care of Miss Mito all this ti," Mitt suddenly said, leaning toward Haze from behind the counter.
"I should be the one thanking you," Haze replied with a faint smile.
Even though he paid for his als, Mitt had often asked Miss Mito to bring him lunch.
And just today, she had washed one of his suits it looked spotless.
" Miss Mito 's been without parents since he was little," Mitt said hesitantly. "I rarely see him so… dependent on soone."
"It's not dependency you're overthinking it. Miss Mito isn't like other kids; he's actually quite mature. He enjoys being around because I show him new things and satisfy his curiosity. He has a huge thirst for knowledge, and once sothing catches his interest, it's hard to stop him. That's just a kid's nature. Really, our relationship's more like friendship, don't you think?"
Haze emphasized the last part, gently pointing his finger.
Mitt's eyes dimd slightly upon hearing that.
"I have a small personal piece of advice," Haze said softly. "Want to hear it?"
Mitt looked up at him.
"You can't hold him forever. I understand how you feel… But sotis letting go is also an option and it might make life easier. Who knows, the future could bring surprises. You're important to him like a mother. So before you let him go, treasure the ti you've spent watching him grow. It'll be a beautiful mory."
"He and Jin Freecss… they're the sa kind of person. The only difference is that Jin's a bad one and Miss Mito isn't."
At the ntion of Jin Freecss, Mitt's face suddenly changed.
"You… so you knew…"
"I don't know Jin, and I'm not a Hunter," Haze said quickly. "Don't get the wrong idea I just heard a few things. Don't worry, this is his ho. No matter how far he flies, he'll always co back."
Haze caught her thoughts and smiled gently.
"Thank you," Mitt murmured.
But his words didn't seem to comfort her much.
She had legal custody of Miss Mito . After Jin's departure, her relatives had passed away, and the man had never returned.
To Mitt, Jin wasn't just an incompetent father he wasn't even a proper family mber.
Seeing her eyes fill with tears, Haze suppressed his own emotions and turned away, chatting with the others again.
Upstairs, Miss Mito hadn't co down he was in his room, practicing breathing techniques.
Haze had noticed that once the boy got into sothing, he could quickly beco completely absorbed in it.
That was an invaluable trait.
As for the breathing techniques… Miss Mito was only experinting with the most basic static breathing forms. They might bring slight changes, but a complete transformation was impossible. After all, the Hunter World's power system had its own rules.
Unless practiced at an extrely deep level, this so-called internal energy harmonization through breathing would only bring limited benefits. Haze could already predict the outco: it would make Miss Mito more skilled at controlling "Nen" in the future.
He had planned to leave long ago there was no real reason to stay. The only reason he'd delayed was not Gon, but his own training in the Breathing Technique. The peaceful, mountainous landscape of Whale Island made for the perfect temporary training ground.
The next morning, the weather was beautiful.
Haze threw his jacket over his shoulder and walked away under the sunlight, waving goodbye to the three mbers of the Mitt family.
Gon waved as well, showing no sadness at Haze's departure. Everyone understood that soone like him would never stay in such a small place.
Whale Island was never ant to hold him.
"Mr. Haze, please co back soday!" Gon's voice echoed behind him.
Haze didn't turn around he only raised a hand in reply.
Unless sothing truly special happened… he didn't intend to return.
It was like savoring a delicious al before you taste it, you imagine how amazing it'll be. But once you've eaten it… it's just ordinary.
The sa goes for travel.
The thrill of a place fades quickly once you've been there.
Now, looking at this island, he saw it without illusion.
He planned to reach the dock by noon to catch the ferry to his next destination.
Beep, beep—
Suddenly, the phone in his pocket began to ring.
He'd told David, the butler, that there was no need to bother him he was just out to relax.
"Hello," Haze answered lazily.
"Hello, my friend…"
A voice he had almost forgotten spoke from the other end, and a familiar face flashed through his mind.
Haze's relaxed expression vanished, and he froze mid-step.
Hisoka.
"I heard you were traveling… That's not the Haze I used to know. Or maybe you've gotten so strong you don't need to train as hard anymore?"
Hisoka's tone was playful mocking and sinister. "Has that sense of danger faded away?"
But how did Hisoka get his number…?
This phone belonged to David.
In other words Hisoka was inside the Fields family mansion.
"No, maybe I should call you 'Old Ten'… the mastermind behind the Fields family," Hisoka chuckled.
Haze sighed. "You really don't make things easy for … Thanks for finding , I guess."
"I can't help it," Hisoka said with a teasing laugh. "I gave you my number, but you never called . As a friend, that broke my heart this was the only way!"
"You've been stirring up quite a storm lately. I did a little digging otherwise, this call wouldn't be happening."
"You didn't do anything too extre, did you? I've been in the mafia for a year now, and my temper's gotten worse. Believe you don't want to see that side of ," Haze muttered, still walking.
He knew Hisoka too well.
This guy…
"I'm reasonable. These are your people, after all I wouldn't do anything to ruin our friendship," Hisoka replied.
Inside the Fields mansion, Hisoka lounged on a sofa with his legs crossed, one hand holding a phone to his ear and the other playing with a card near his chest, a grin on his lips.
Before him was a shattered conference table.
The floor and walls were riddled with bullet holes signs of a fierce gunfight.
All around lay the dismbered bodies of mafia mbers, weapons scattered across the floor…
The scene was grueso.
Phyllis, Lily, and David were still alive.
The woman was unhard, though the butler had several minor cuts.
"The security here's pretty tight not just anyone can get in," Hisoka said lightly. "So to et you, I had to use a few tricks. You don't mind, do you?"
Tricks…
Haze narrowed his eyes.
"Are you angry?" Hisoka teased.
"Don't worry, I still have the woman and the butler," he added, laughing quietly.
"…You're making want to kill you," Haze said coldly.
"Did you forget what Moritonio said? A good performance requires careful preparation a stage ant only for you and . Right now, it's not showti yet… but I'm looking forward to it," Hisoka's tone was heated, though Haze could tell he was restraining himself just like that day at the hotel when they parted ways.
"Don't take it personally," Hisoka went on. "It's just that your people weren't very polite to ."
"Handle it with the butler," Haze said flatly. "I was in a good mood then I heard your voice and lost it instantly."
"Are you sad?"
"What do you think?"
"…Fine."
"Even if you do get my number again, don't call unless it's important," Haze said, and hung up with a click.
Hisoka didn't mind at all. In fact, this kind of exchange sharp and familiar delighted him.
"You heard him," Hisoka told David, waving the phone. "Tell the people outside to stand down. I told you your boss and I go way back. We're old friends."
(End of Chapter)
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