Shiro didn't look old, roughly around thirty, but his actual age was higher, and his attire was rather outdated.
He wore a yellow bamboo hat on his head, a raincoat woven from palm bark draped over his shoulders, but underneath he wore short sleeves and shorts, with straw sandals on his feet.
A vermilion red pipe was clamped in his mouth. Over his shoulder, he carried a simple bamboo fishing rod, a fish basket hung at his waist. Following behind Ging, he was half a head shorter.
From the moment they entered the hospital, Shiro's clothing seemed out of place.
The two, one in front of the other, arrived at the corridor outside the special care ward. Law had been waiting for them there.
Before coming, Ging had notified Law in advance. Law hadn't informed anyone else about this.
However, it probably wouldn't be long before those people would rush over on their own.
"Hello."
Law looked at Shiro, as this was his first time meeting him.
"You must be Law, right? Smoke? Want one?"
Shiro quickly moved closer, pulling a crumpled pack of cigarettes from his pocket, appearing very enthusiastic.
"Thanks, I have my own."
Law gently accepted Shiro's enthusiasm, then retrieved a self-made cigarette from the Kuro's space.
Shiro's gaze immediately dropped, fixing on the cigarette between Law's fingers. His nose twitched slightly, a flash of surprise in his eyes.
"Lost Grass, Dip Herb, Three-Ding Stone Tip, Horseshoe Flower... That's the combination, right?"
Staring intently at the cigarette Law took out, Shiro muttered the ingredients, pondering in his head what effect such a combination could produce.
Seeing Shiro identify the ingredients by scent alone, Law's eyelids lifted slightly. In a way, this was an ability more impressive than the White Smoke Font's appraisal system.
Ging approached, reached out, snatched the cigarette from Law, and straight up stuck it into the bowl of Shiro's big red pipe, very much like lighting incense.
"Handle the main business first."
After sticking the cigarette in, Ging walked towards the ward entrance.
Shiro regained his composure, but his first action was to light the cigarette. Then he took a deep drag, squinting his eyes as if savoring some delicacy.
"So that's the effect. You made this yourself?"
Shiro looked at Law while following Ging.
"Yeah, made a few in my spare time." Law nodded, then pointed at the No Smoking sign on the wall.
Shiro glanced at the warning sign and directly ignored it, saying with interest, "Impressive, young man. If this cigarette were sold on the market, countless enemies would probably come to your house with guns."
When he smelled the ingredients, he knew this cigarette should be harmless. After smoking it, he understood its specific effects.
Since it was harmless, there was no need to mind the No Smoking warning.
"How so?" Law pretended not to understand.
Shiro blinked and said seriously, "This cigarette can refresh the mind and cure addiction. Throwing it on the market would cut off countless people's sources of income."
"I see." Law feigned sudden realization.
Seeing this, how could Shiro not tell Law was playing dumb? He looked at Law's empty left sleeve and said, "Give me a few packs of cigarettes, and I'll heal your arm."
"Sure."
Law agreed readily.
Shiro chuckled and said no more.
As wise as he was, how could he have thought Law didn't believe he could heal the arm?
The three of them arrived at the ward door. The female doctor from Vanlin Medical University stood beside it, 'fully armed'.
The mask covering her mouth and nose couldn't hide the scar at the corner of her eyebrow. Now, looking at Ging's trio, her brow furrowed deeply.
Her name was Lita. She had a long-term cooperative relationship with the Association and was the leader of the medical team for this Chimera Ant operation.
"No disinfection, no change of clothes, and smoking. Give me a reason to let you in."
Lita looked coldly at Shiro, exuding a peculiar, sharp killing intent.
"This cigarette is harmless. Can't you smell it?" Shiro looked surprised.
Lita's eyebrow twitched, clearly showing anger. She was evidently provoked by Shiro's flippant demeanor. Moreover, the thought of entrusting the treatment to such a person was unacceptable.
Law and Ging, witnessing the suddenly swirling clash of auras in the room, wisely chose silence.
Shiro, however, ignored Lita's anger and strode over, saying, "Step aside."
Lita remained silent for a moment, then said gravely, "Can you bear the consequences?"
"Then you'll have to ask these two behind me."
Shiro lifted his thumb and jerked it backward.
Law and Ging timely approached, looking at Lita.
"Please cooperate," Law said politely.
He didn't need to explain or give Lita a reason because she knew what to do.
These matters had been handed over before the treatment began.
The trigger for Lita's outburst was probably Shiro smoking.
But in fact, that cigarette truly was harmless, both to the user and bystanders.
After a moment's silence, Lita compromised and stepped aside.
"Sorry about this. This quack will have the Chairman cured in a bit."
Shiro threw out a boastful line before entering the ward.
But compared to matters like smoking and disinfection, this statement wasn't worth Lita's anger. On the contrary, if Shiro could cure Netero, it was something Lita wanted to see.
The trio entered the ward, came to the bedside, and looked closely at the mummy-like Netero.
If not for the fluctuating data on the instruments indicating Netero was alive, one would suspect he was already dead.
"Confident?" Law asked.
Seeing such a wretched Netero, Shiro silently removed the vermilion pipe, saying bitterly, "Had I known it was this serious, I wouldn't have boasted earlier."
Hearing Shiro's words, Law and Ging were speechless.
Shiro sighed, casually placing the fishing rod and pipe on the floor. Without further ado, he emanated Nen from his body.
[The Fool's Method]
Nen surged into a mass, materializing a grindstone and an iron pestle.
"Grindstone and iron pestle this time." Shiro took the grindstone and pestle in hand.
'Conjuration-type?' Law was slightly taken aback… he had thought it would be Enhancement-type.
"I'm going to start. You two wait outside."
Shiro didn't explain. Holding the grindstone and pestle, he directly sat cross-legged on the floor, focusing intently on Netero on the bed.
Hearing this, Law looked at Ging, who nodded.
Thus, the two exited the ward, then joined Lita at the glass window.
Lita stared at the suddenly appearing tools, her gaze heavy, lost in thought.
"Shiro's ability is called The Fool's Method," Ging used Nen as a medium, attaching his voice to it and directly sending it into Law's ear.
Law received the sound, glanced at Lita. Seeing no reaction from her, he used the same method to send his voice to Ging's ear: "Just from the name, it feels quite fitting."
After saying that, Law looked into the ward at Shiro, who had already begun grinding the pestle.
"Right? The ability is somewhat like wish-granting. Judging from the tools conjured this time, the condition for treatment is probably grinding the pestle into a needle," Ging said.
Hence the name [The Fool's Method].
Thinking of the Greed Island card, Law couldn't help but ask curiously, "What's the connection between the Angel's Breath card and Shiro's ability?"
"That starts with Shiro's luck."
Ging said meaningfully.
Inside the ward, Shiro, who was grinding the pestle, suddenly shivered.