Hunter: I became stronger even after I died.

Chapter 218 The Spider's Investigation

Hisoka...

Well, it's really reliable.

Of course, the premise for making him reliable is—

You need to hang a carrot in front of him that will tempt him.

As long as the carrot is tempting enough, there's no need to worry about whether he'll take action.

He doesn't even need anyone to urge him; he runs faster and works harder than anyone else.

He's practically a model employee in the world of working people, and an oddity in the world of cattle and horses.

Moro looked down at the information about Franklin on his phone, his mind flashing back to Hisoka's twisted smile. He also thought about how he had refused Franklin's request for a loan last time, and felt a pang of guilt.

The main reason is that Hisoka is just too good.

This makes Moro feel like a wicked capitalist at this stage.

Moro shook his head slightly, banishing Hisoka from his mind and refocusing on the intelligence.

Within the Phantom Troupe, apart from Hisoka who is a lone wolf, the other members always operate in groups, either in pairs or in groups of three...

Franklin was paired with someone else, who was also someone Morrow knew well.

Morrow looked at the name in the text message—

Peel Lev.

Compared to Franklin's abilities, which are already publicly known, Lev's ability to disguise himself still remains somewhat unknown.

After reading the information provided by Hisoka, Morrow immediately instructed Kurt to begin preparing to create a life-piece to rival Franklin's.

Once the life paper figure is completed, we can begin operations immediately.

However, just to be on the safe side, even if Morrow could accurately pinpoint Franklin's location and movements, he would not rashly launch a direct attack.

He would observe for a while before taking action.

It wasn't that he had reservations about the information Hisoka provided, but rather that he needed to be wary of the Phantom Troupe's modus operandi of operating both overtly and covertly.

If Franklin and Lev's modus operandi becomes too conspicuous, then we should be wary...

This idea might turn into a battle of wits with thin air, but Morrow believes it's necessary.

He had long since become accustomed to this approach.

Moreover, this approach always proves valuable in battle.

A few days later.

Morro, Kalmod, and Kurapika left the Sky Arena and boarded an airship heading west.

The life paper figure can only guide the way.

The accuracy of positioning will only be enhanced after the distance is shortened.

Therefore, before reaching a certain distance, one can only follow the direction and move forward.

finally--

After a five-day trek, Moro and his party arrived at the border of the ancient Ganyu Kingdom.

Returning to this land once again, Moro looked towards the immigration office in the distance.

This place is very close to Plitv, a town he had visited before.

The area is adjacent to the border and has a chaotic security situation.

He met Kang Jae there last August, and later, during a retaliatory operation against the Finger organization, he encountered the kind virus hunter.

Thinking of Sambica, Moro suddenly realized that he hadn't contacted her in a long time and didn't know how she was doing.

Moro composed himself and walked with Kurapika and Kurt towards the immigration office in the distance.

With the help of Kurapika's Hunter License, the group entered the country smoothly without any hindrance.

After entering the country, Moro bought a car directly from a driver soliciting customers nearby and sped off in the direction indicated by the paper effigy of life.

However, they were traveling in the direction of the road leading to the town of Plit.

However, judging from the intensity of the Life Paper Man's reaction, it is still a long distance away from Franklin, and it certainly cannot be in the town of Plitt.

Morrow then decided to take a break when passing through the town of Prit, and took Kurapika and Kurt to the noodle shop that had impressed him so much.

On their way to the town of Plit, they unexpectedly passed through the village where Sambica had once treated them.

Moro didn't stop, but simply looked out the car window at the many houses in the village.

He saw desolation and death.

That village is dead.

Moro slowly withdrew his gaze, his feelings somewhat complicated.

In this border region rife with crime, the birth and death of a village are like inconspicuous blades of grass crushed by roadside wheels, attracting no attention whatsoever.

Moro gazed at the disruptive road ahead, thinking that only a year had passed since last year, but for some people and things, it seemed like a very long time had gone by.

After traveling about ten kilometers on bumpy roads, the car finally entered the town of Plit and eventually stopped near a noodle shop called Red Dan.

Moro turned off the engine and got out of the car, his shoes making a slight sound as they stepped on the rough ground.

Kurapika and Kalte also got out of the car one after the other.

"That noodle shop has pretty good food."

Moro pointed to the building not far away, constructed of red-gray timber and gray-white bricks, a hint of nostalgia flashing in his eyes, "Even now, I still clearly remember that smell."

As he spoke, he turned his head and said to the two people beside him, "Let's go eat something first, and then we'll continue on our way."

"Ah."

Kurapika nodded.

Meanwhile, Kurt was already curiously observing the buildings on both sides of the street, feeling that the architectural style here was very similar to that of Haozhu City, which he had visited before, both being red wood and gray tiles.

Moro walked straight to the noodle shop not far away, with Kurapika and Kalmod following behind.

They had only walked a dozen meters when several burly, fierce-looking men emerged from a corner of the building and silently approached them.

The group of men brazenly sized up Moro and his companions, their eyes filled with naked greed, as if they were examining merchandise waiting to be sold, not even bothering to make the most basic attempt at disguise.

However, their gaze lingered more on Kurt's doll-like face.

Kurt sensed the men's malice intuitively, but he was already used to it. He reached for the fan handle on his kimono sash with his right hand, but instead of making a move, he looked at Moro.

Moro nodded.

Kurt immediately drew his purple bamboo fan and swiftly slashed at the men.

chi chi-

A sharp glint flashed, and before the men could even react, their bodies, including their heads, were torn into seven or eight pieces, scattered across the street.

The gruesome death was witnessed by many onlookers.

Without a sound, these gazes quietly fell silent.

Kurapika glanced at the scattered remains of the corpse, then looked at Kalmod, who remained calm, and for a moment he recalled the scene when he first met Kalmod on Yorknew City.

"Not used to it?"

Moro's voice brought Kurapika back to reality.

Kurapika then realized that his fingertips were unconsciously tracing the chains. He took a deep breath and shook his head: "No, it just feels too much..."

His voice gradually faded, and in the end he said nothing.

Upon hearing this, Kurt tilted his head, lightly rested his chin on his fan, and asked, "Too much what?"

The childlike, innocent tone of his voice created an eerie contrast with the bloodstains scattered all over the ground.

Meeting Kal'ts' questioning gaze, Kurapika's lips twitched slightly, and he said, "Cruel." In his view, Kal could have killed him with a single blow, and there was no need to cut his body into seven or eight pieces.

"Pfft."

Upon hearing this, Kalluto moved his fan up to cover his mouth, which was about to burst into laughter. He looked away from Kurapika and instead turned to Moro.

"Moro, did I do something wrong?"

Kurt seemed to be asking a question, but he already knew what answer Morrow would give.

This question was specifically asked to Kurapika.

Moro said, "Well done."

"Uh-huh."

Kalluto smiled happily, then glanced sideways at Kurapika with his deep purple eyes, as if in a show of defiance.

Kurapika paused for a moment, then hesitated, as if he wanted to say something but couldn't.

Moro glanced at Kurapika's reaction, but didn't bother to explain. Instead, he walked around the pieces of the corpse on the ground and headed towards the noodle shop.

After a while.

Moro and his two companions entered the noodle shop and ordered three bowls of their signature soup noodles.

When the soup was served, Morrow and Kurt picked up their chopsticks, while Kurapika clearly had little appetite.

Moro didn't pay any attention to Kurapika. He first took a sip of soup, then ate a bite of noodles, and let out a satisfied sigh.

Now that I'm in a different state of mind, this bowl of noodles tastes even better.

Being able to enjoy the present moment with a carefree and unrestrained mindset is truly the best seasoning in the world.

"There is no security in this place; criminal activity is commonplace."

Moro picked up the bowl and took a big gulp of soup, then suddenly spoke.

These words were naturally meant for Kurapika's ears.

Kurapika couldn't help but look at Moro.

Moro also looked at Kurapika and said calmly, "I don't need to tell you what those people were trying to do."

Kurapika remained silent, only glancing subconsciously at Kalmod, who was engrossed in eating his noodles.

Those people's intentions were quite clear; they were mainly after Kurt.

Moro observed Kurapika's reaction and said, "They may not be human traffickers. They might just have seen that Kalluto is good-looking and decided to use him to make some extra money."

"..."

Kurapika remained silent.

Kurt was still engrossed in eating his noodles, but the corners of his eyes were slightly curved.

Moro stirred the oil foam on the soup with his chopsticks and continued, "There were at least dozens of people who shared the same idea as them just now, and Kurt's actions made those rats consciously retreat into the gutter."

"Ah."

Kurapika lowered his eyelids and responded with a sound.

Seeing this, Moro stopped there.

----------

The most striking feature of the ancient Ganyu Kingdom is its ancient charm, which is completely different from that of modern cities.

From majestic palaces to well-arranged mahogany buildings, many famous cities, including royal capitals, have perfectly preserved the unique features of ancient architecture.

This may be a unique cultural phenomenon in monarchical countries.

However, the dominant theme of this world is ultimately modernity.

Even in a country like Guganyu, which cherishes tradition, some cities within its vast territory are already undergoing transformation.

The city of Zhongyang is filled with high-rise buildings, with only a few ancient buildings remaining.

The development of this city seems to be a microcosm of the future direction of Guganyu.

Franklin and Lev arrived in the city.

They weren't disguised; they sat on chairs on the viewing platform by the artificial lake like tourists, seemingly unconcerned about the bounty they carried.

This is consistent with the Phantom Troupe's usual style of doing things.

But it is precisely this approach that has given them the opportunity to hone their skills.

Therefore, they usually welcome anyone who comes seeking revenge or simply for money.

Lost.

That means you lacked ability, so you can't blame anyone else if you die.

The essence of the world is the survival of the fittest.

Won.

Then step over the corpses on the ground to become stronger, so that you can go further and bring what you want into your arms.

"So slow."

Peelov tapped the table lightly with his red-gloved hand.

The two of them came here to use the local gangsters to open up intelligence channels.

At this moment, they were waiting for the second-in-command of the local gang.

Before the formal meeting, they had already learned about the background of this gang family.

On the surface, it is a deeply entrenched underground force, but in reality, the true mastermind is a prince from the ancient Ganyu royal family.

This under-the-table power structure looks exactly like the model of the Kakin Empire, where gangsters are also the henchmen of the royal family, but there are some differences.

"It's not the agreed time yet; we're too early."

Franklin picked up a delicate pastry with his large fingers and casually put it into his mouth.

Pastry crumbs clung to the corners of his creased mouth, only to be casually brushed away.

Peeling Lev finally stopped banging on the table, a muffled nasal voice coming from between his bandages: "So why did we arrive early?"

"Why are there so many whys?"

Unlike Lev's barely concealed impatience, Franklin's face, crisscrossed with stitches, remained composed throughout.

Even the way he swallowed his snacks had a mechanical, steady rhythm.

It was as if even his most basic physiological behaviors were embodying a certain composure ingrained in his bones, just like his tall, bear-like physique.

Lev leaned back in his chair, gazing at the distant lake, and suddenly asked, "Commander, you went to Ryuo Country a while ago. Did you make any progress?"

"Hard to say."

Franklin abruptly stopped his large hand reaching for the tea and snacks on the plate, and calmly said, "The captain's 'ability' is very useful, but it requires a lot of time and effort, and there is no guarantee that the desired result will be achieved."

"But if the commander's actions yield results, then we won't have to keep acting like headless flies."

There was an urgency in Peelov's tone.

The team has spent so much time and has indeed recruited a new member, but it will be difficult to find another intelligence expert like Xia Ke.

More importantly, the search for the "perpetrator" has been fruitless, with no clear leads.

Now it seems we can only hope for some progress from the regimental commander.

Franklin suddenly turned his head and glanced at a young man in the distance wearing a burgundy suit and a badge pinned to his chest. That must be the second-in-command of the local gangster family he was meeting.

Then he turned his gaze back to Peelov.

"The leader made the 'clearly defined' choice to go to Ryuo Country because there is a profession that is rumored to have the ability to communicate with the dead... Perhaps, there will be something to gain."

(End of this chapter)