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The bloodstains on the floor were not very obvious, showing signs of being dragged.
After carefully searching, Rin found faint traces of blood near the door.
Although he couldn't be completely sure, he could roughly guess the fate of the room's previous owner.
Rin's suspicions were not baseless.
Kuroro Lucifer, being the leader of the Phantom Troupe from Meteor City, was naturally not a merciful or kind person.
He might care a bit about the members of the Troupe, but he also didn't value his own life much.
The entire Phantom Troupe was considered a notorious and ruthless organization in the Hunter world.
Even though the members each had distinct personalities, it couldn't hide their identity as thieves.
And Kuroro, with his ability, Skill Hunter, exemplified the extreme of a thief's nature. Just his ability alone could reveal his character.
"Steal, if you desire!"
"Rob, if you need!"
"Whatever you want, you must get it!"
These three statements basically described Kuroro's vile personality.
For someone from Meteor City, killing might be as common as grabbing a cup to drink water.
It wasn't because he liked killing, but because taking what he wanted from others was easiest and most convenient through killing.
Would a normal person want to make their own cup just to drink water?
Thinking of this, Rin sat cross-legged on the floor, taking a long breath, feeling a slight chill in the air.
Even tightly wrapped in the coat, he still felt cold, with an indescribable feeling welling up inside.
This wasn't just watching anime anymore; it was a real world.
And he wasn't someone with a twisted mindset but a normal person with even a hint of kindness.
Right now, in the room he was sitting in, someone had died just ten hours ago.
And the murderer had meticulously taken care of him all night.
How should he describe this complex feeling?
Rin didn't know, only feeling a bit stifled, angry, and even slightly fearful.
"Maybe I should talk to him..."
He muttered to himself.
Meanwhile, at the outskirts of a slightly run-down town to the west,
Long footprints stretched across the snowy ground. Kuroro, dressed in thin clothes, looked calmly at the town ahead, speaking softly.
"Finally here..."
"Thinking about it, Rin's body still needs some nutrition..."
He lightly touched his chin, seeming to recall something, nodding slightly, and said calmly.
"Too thin..."
With that, he flashed and headed into the town.
Perhaps due to poor governance, the town had a desolate appearance.
However, it was clear that the pharmacy business wasn't suffering.
A sudden early winter snowfall had caused many illnesses in the town.
Additionally, the common people, living under a pervasive gloom, naturally developed various health issues.
In the town, other stalls and shops had sluggish business.
But the pharmacy at the east end was thriving.
When Kuroro arrived, several apprentices were busy dispensing medicine for customers.
Just as he was about to inquire about the physician,
"Dr. Sakata, this medicine was only twenty ryo yesterday, why is it seventy ryo today..."
"Please, sell it cheaper... my mother fell ill yesterday... we can't afford this much..."
A plainly dressed but somewhat delicate-faced girl was blushing, unable to help but plead softly.
However, before she could finish, a fat-bellied middle-aged man in the pharmacy interrupted with a scolding tone.
"Don't speak nonsense, Shiokko!"
"The roads are blocked by snow, you think I want to raise the prices!?"
"I am wholeheartedly serving the neighbors of this town, how can I face everyone with you talking like this!?"
Hearing the middle-aged man's scolding, the girl named Shiokko was clearly frightened. She hurriedly bowed to apologize but still pleaded softly.
"Please, Dr. Sakata, make it cheaper..."
Dr. Sakata frowned at her, appearing helpless, and then called to the apprentices.
"Keep an eye on the customers."
He then motioned for Shiokko to follow him, sighing.
"Come with me, I'll find some cheaper medicine for your mother."
Hearing this, the girl's face first showed surprise, then delight, and she quickly bowed.
"Thank you, thank you, Dr. Sakata!"
Kuroro, however, noticed the doctor's sly smile as he turned away, but showed no expression, casually walking into the shop.
Inside the pharmacy, in a storage room full of medicine,
Shiokko followed the middle-aged man, not daring to ask any questions.
Suddenly, Dr. Sakata stopped.
He glanced at some herbs nearby, grabbing a packet, then turned around with a sly, somewhat lecherous smile.
"Shiokko, your mother is sick. As your uncle, I'll give you this quality medicine for free."
Shiokko was first taken aback, unable to believe it.
But seeing the expression on Dr. Sakata's face, she panicked, stepping back and stammering.
"No need, Dr. Sakata, just give me the cheap medicine... I'll pay for it..."
Seeing Shiokko step back, Dr. Sakata's face turned unpleasant, scolding.
"As your uncle, I'm helping you out of kindness, and this is how you act, Shiokko!"
With that, he stepped forward to grab her.
Seeing the fat-bellied Dr. Sakata reaching for her, Shiokko's face turned pale, and she screamed, trying to run, but was grabbed by the shoulder.
At this moment,
"Crack—"
"Ah!"
A scream of pain like a pig being slaughtered came from Dr. Sakata.
Shiokko, pale-faced and terrified, stared at the bloody, twisted arm with bones piercing through, her face turning deathly white.
Only now did both of them notice Kuroro, who had somehow appeared there.
"Who... who are you!?"
Dr. Sakata's forehead was covered in cold sweat, his face twisted in fear.
Who... who is this guy!?
Is he a ninja!?
Hearing Dr. Sakata's question, Kuroro glanced at him, his expression calm, speaking slowly.
"To avoid too much trouble, I think this method should make you more cooperative."
"Could you please get me some medicine to help with recovery... something highly nutritious..."
Hearing this, Dr. Sakata's expression changed, internally shouting.
This guy... is he crazy!?
Just for this reason... he did this to me!?
Seeing Kuroro's calm face, Dr. Sakata, gritting his teeth in pain, nodded weakly.
"Yes, yes, I'll get it right away..."
Kuroro then turned to Shiokko, speaking calmly.
"If you're unrelated, take your things and leave."
Shiokko, still terrified, looked at Kuroro.
After confirming his words, she hurriedly tried to leave.
But then she hesitated, unable to leave the medicine behind, knowing her weak mother desperately needed it. She shakily picked up the fallen packet.
Before leaving, she couldn't help but turn back and whisper.
"You... you should run, the town... the town has a guard squad. If they catch you, you'll die..."
Hearing Shiokko's words, Kuroro seemed to realize something. His expression frozen, he looked at her, and spoke calmly.
"Sorry, I can't let you leave."
Hearing this, Shiokko's face turned deathly pale, almost crying.
"I... I won't tell anyone... please! I still have my mother to take care of, please, sir, I won't tell anyone!"
Kuroro frowned, then relaxed, looking at her, speaking slowly.
"Wait for me at the town gate. If you want to live, you'll need to do something for me. If you try to run, you know the consequences."
Shiokko nodded quickly, wiping her face, and this time she didn't hesitate, fleeing the scene.
Kuroro showed no further reaction.
He turned to Dr. Sakata, glancing at the surrounding herbs, speaking calmly.
"Your turn... pick out the herbs I need..."
........
At the entrance of the small town,
In the cold winter, Shiokko's thin body tightly clutched the herbs, her dark eyes filled with fear, unsure of what awaited her.
She had been waiting here for a while.
Then, a figure appeared across the street, making her body tremble.
However, when that frightening figure approached, she was stunned, and her fear seemed to lessen.
Kuroro was carrying several roasted chickens in his left hand and several large bags of herbs slung over his shoulder.
In his right hand, he held a large cut of pork, with some seasonings tied around his waist, looking like a chef on a shopping trip.
However, Kuroro clearly didn't care about these appearances.
In Hunter x Hunter, Meteor City was a place where anything could be discarded, and it was not recognized by any government.
Trash, weapons, bodies, babies... the residents accepted everything the world abandoned.
Growing up in Meteor City, Kuroro understood one thing from a young age.
To get what you want, you must take it by any means necessary, the process didn't matter.
Now without Nen, he wanted Rin to recover quickly, which was the simplest and quickest way, so he did it.
Seeing Shiokko waiting, Kuroro nodded and spoke calmly.
"About an hour's walk east of this town, there is a village."
"I need you to go there and take care of someone."
Hearing this, Shiokko's voice trembled as she spoke.
"My mother just fell ill... she needs me to take care of her..."
Kuroro looked at her, pondered for a moment, then asked.
"Do you have any other family?"
Hearing this, Shiokko trembled, lowered her head, and said softly.
"No, it's just my mother and me."
Kuroro responded slowly.
"Then wait until your mother is better, and bring her along."
"Rin could use an extra person to take care of him now..."
He didn't seek Shiokko's consent any further.
To Kuroro, having them take care of Rin was incredibly fortunate.
If he still had Nen, he wouldn't have made such arrangements.
In this world, he was also very unfamiliar and needed to be cautious of many risks.