The Fool's Method.
With [Killing Time] as its essential requirement, it randomly conjures something.
The tools Shiro conjured this time were a grindstone and an iron pestle.
By grinding the pestle into a needle, the condition would be met, triggering the healing effect.
Depending on the strength and duration of concentration, the effect and process would vary.
Normally, grinding an iron pestle into a needle would require an immeasurable amount of time. But as long as Shiro's concentration was strong enough and remained undistracted for a long period, the time could be shortened.
Basically, the things conjured each time the ability was used were primarily about killing time, with a few exceptions.
Like a lottery, Shiro occasionally drew a jackpot, directly conjuring a beautiful woman or a bottle of liquid, allowing the healing ability to activate instantly.
Greed Island's Angel's Breath card was a recorded product of Shiro's exceptionally lucky moment.
Of course, to capture that moment of explosive luck, Ging had made Shiro use his ability repeatedly back then.
One must know that after activating the ability, regardless of whether there was a target to heal, the ability's condition had to be fulfilled.
Imagine the feeling of grinding a hundred iron pestles into needles. Thinking about it still made Shiro's scalp tingle.
After hearing Ging's explanation, Law roughly understood.
If there was no way to shorten the grinding time, this ability would be downright bizarre.
In other words, just like sincere prayer, as long as Shiro was sufficiently serious during the ability's maintenance, with high concentration and single-minded focus, he could shorten the ability's activation time.
Thus, the three of them stood in the corridor, watching Shiro grind the pestle through the glass.
It was quite a bizarre sight.
"By the way, Gon is waiting for you," Law suddenly said.
"You brought him?" Ging asked.
"Yeah." Law nodded.
Ging scratched his head, thinking he couldn't avoid it this time.
After half an hour, Cheadle arrived at the corridor first, followed by Knov and Morel, and the Zodiac members. Only Pariston was absent.
"Ging, your son is looking for you."
"Your son came to find you."
"Ging, is Gon really your son? He's much more polite than you."
Upon seeing Ging, the Zodiac members were not polite at all, immediately starting to greet him.
"..."
Ging was speechless. When it came to Gon, he couldn't refute it at all.
The Zodiacs, having rarely gotten such an opportunity, wouldn't hold back, bombarding Ging in various ways.
"Single dog."
Ging casually retorted, angering the Dog, Cheadle.
Then, Ging simply made a run for it, going to find Gon.
Before leaving, he told Law to notify him once the result was out.
And so, everyone stood or sat, staring wide-eyed as Shiro earnestly ground the pestle.
If you told someone this was treating an illness, they'd definitely think you were crazy.
From day to night, everyone watched as the pestle in Shiro's hand slowly turned into a long needle.
Swish!
Once the pestle was ground into a needle, the conjured grindstone automatically vanished, indicating the condition was fulfilled.
Shiro looked rather tired. He got up from the floor and walked to the bedside.
Outside, the attentive crowd grew slightly tense.
Inside the room, Shiro carefully raised the needle, then slowly inserted it into Netero's chest.
The long needle stood upright, a faint luster shimmering.
A moment later, the needle melted like ice, transforming into an immaculately clear liquid, akin to morning dew in early spring, slowly seeping into Netero's body.
Suddenly, a white light emanated from Netero's withered body, followed by a noticeable Nen Fluctuation that passed through the glass and the crowd's bodies.
Including Law, they couldn't help but be moved.
'Such powerful Nen.'
Personally experiencing the fluctuation and influence of the Nen, everyone couldn't help but regard Shiro more highly.
Even though it was non-combat Nen, it gave a feeling not to be underestimated.
'No matter what, he's a partner valued by Ging...'
Law thought silently, then focused all his attention on Netero.
Amidst the flashing white light, they saw Netero's severed hand rapidly regenerate, and his withered physical state visibly improved.
Shiro observed Netero's changes up close. Before the healing ended, his expression suddenly turned grave, as if already seeing the outcome.
About a few minutes later, the light faded.
On the bed, Netero's condition had noticeably improved… his severed hand had regrown, but his body had only changed from 'mummy-like' to 'emaciated'.
Shiro sighed softly, then picked up the pipe and fishing rod from the floor, pushed the door open, and walked out.
"Failed?"
Morel muttered to himself.
No one responded, all looking at Shiro emerging from the room.
Lita quickly passed by everyone, even Shiro's body, directly entering the room to observe Netero's condition through the instruments.
"Vital signs have stabilized, and the severed hand has perfectly regenerated."
Lita half-knelt by the bedside, staring blankly at Netero's newly grown hand.
It was seamless, as if it had never been severed.
Outside, Cheadle strode towards Shiro, intending to ask, but Law was a step faster, arriving before Shiro and asking, "Couldn't cure it?"
"It's cured." Shiro raised a hand to press down his bamboo hat.
'Cured?'
Everyone looked puzzled.
Not to mention Netero hadn't woken up… his physical condition didn't seem cured at all.
"Doesn't look cured," Law said calmly.
"Yeah."
Shiro sighed, glancing sideways at Netero in the room, and said gravely, "But that's how the Chairman originally was. Because his Nen is exhausted, and my healing method is physical. At most, I can only achieve this much."
Hearing this, everyone fell silent.
Netero was of advanced age, but he was an Enhancer. Long years of training, combined with his Nen, kept his body and spirit vibrant.
To use a metaphor, Netero's body was a balloon, and Nen was the air filling it.
As the balloon, Netero had several holes. Shiro could patch the holes but couldn't fill the balloon with air.
So, Netero now was a patched balloon, but due to his exhausted Nen, there wasn't enough air.
Yet, everyone understood the concept of Nen exhaustion.
Without Nen to nourish and support the body, even if Netero woke up later, he likely wouldn't be able to get out of bed. His physical condition would deteriorate daily… in short, he'd just be waiting for death.
"I did my best. Now it's up to the hospital to see if they can nurse the Chairman's body back."
Shiro looked at the silent crowd, said his last words, and left.
He hadn't come at the Association's invitation… this was pro bono work. Even if he couldn't cure Netero, he felt no pressure, let alone having actually cured him.
Everyone became entangled in worry, and the entire corridor seemed shrouded in dark clouds.
Cheadle watched Shiro's retreating back, gritted her teeth slightly, immediately entered the room to discuss the follow-up treatment plan with Lita.
The other laymen could only watch blankly, while Law followed Shiro.
The two walked straight out of the hospital, into a green park.
"I know I've already cured Netero."
Coming to a small stone path, Shiro suddenly said this.
As if, deliberately emphasizing something.
"Thank you."
Law sincerely expressed his gratitude.
Shiro's body suddenly relaxed. After a moment of silence, he said, "Next is your arm."
Law also remained silent for a moment, then said sincerely and seriously, "I think... let's forget it."
He knew Shiro had just suffered a not-insignificant blow. If he tried to heal his arm now, it would likely be another blow.
"Why?" Shiro widened his eyes, thinking, 'Could it be he's reluctant to part with the cigarettes?'
As if reading Shiro's mind, Law said, "I'll give you the cigarettes, but treatment isn't necessary."
"That won't do. I never take things for free." Shiro insisted.
Seeing Shiro's determination, Law could only agree. Simultaneously, his thoughts drifted to Killua.
'The Fool's Method only healed Netero's physical injuries, unable to restore him to his state before the Chimera Ant extermination.'
'So, could the final hope only be placed on Alluka?'
Early morning the next day.
"How is this possible!?"
Shiro stared blankly at Law's completely unchanged left arm, almost feeling life wasn't worth living.
'That's why I said... forget it.'
Law silently thought.