Before leaving, Law mentioned Linne would come but didn't specify when.
Linne and Shachmono came without informing Netero in advance.
So, when the two brought medicinal meals, the timing was quite off.
It seemed they had used Nen to protect the food along the way. Despite the long journey, the meals in the thermal containers were still warm.
Netero opened the containers: a bowl of porridge, two side dishes.
Before clearly seeing the dishes, he first smelled an aroma that invigorated the spirit, like a cool breeze in early spring.
Both the porridge and dishes were small portions, reflecting Linne's style. Her culinary creations were always refined and modest.
The porridge contained green fragments, shimmering under the light.
One dish resembled sliced cucumber sections but had a different hue, almost looking like green jade at first glance, with fine, dense red veins inside.
The other dish was plain 'tofu', actually a type of B-grade deep-sea fish meat Linne acquired through connections via a merchant association.
Though he had just eaten and his digestive function was poor, just smelling these dishes was invigorating.
Looking at the sliced vegetable dish, memories surfaced in Netero. Nostalgia appeared in his eyes, and he sighed, "How many years since I've seen this dish."
Shachmono stood quietly nearby. Linne opened her eyes slightly and replied, "Can't remember."
Netero smiled, picked up chopsticks, and took a piece of the green strip, calmly saying, "Because it was long ago. After all, we've both aged."
Linne looked at Netero, now as old as herself, a complex glint flashing in her eyes.
When she transformed from a beautiful young girl to an old woman, Netero, though old, was always vibrant. Compared to his age, the traces of time on his face and body weren't as pronounced.
Linne sometimes wondered: If Netero, older than her, weren't an Enhancer, what would he be like now?
Now she saw.
Indeed, older than herself. It felt like a gust of wind outside could blow him away.
Netero placed the green strip in his mouth. It was crisp but tasted very light.
Chewing and swallowing brought a gentle warmth.
This medicinal meal primarily strengthened the body, nourished blood, and also stimulated appetite.
Though the taste was quite light, it had a lingering effect, making one want bite after bite.
Netero ate quietly, his pace quickening, soon finishing all the food.
If Lita knew he ate something outside the diet list, she'd probably explode.
Putting down the chopsticks, Netero couldn't hide his satisfaction. The meal contained Linne's deep care.
He looked at the empty bowl and said softly, "Seems long since I've been to the Gourmet Contest."
One dish in the meal was something Linne presented at the Gourmet Contest in her youth. Back then, Netero was already a regular judge there.
So today, memories surfaced, recalling past times.
Perhaps because his body had aged...
"Yeah."
Linne replied.
Since she started taking Law traveling across the Six Continents, she hadn't attended the Gourmet Contest.
Now, hearing Netero mention it, though her face showed no reaction, she felt somewhat interested.
Maybe fitting the scene and people, the two elders suddenly chatted about their adventurous past.
Shachmono listened quietly nearby, his gaze towards the two elders filled with respect.
Even with white hair and beard, he was still a generation younger than Linne and Netero.
…
Compared to the peaceful, ordinary scene inside the ward, outside, killing intent gradually rose.
Sarman, responsible for security, fell in the restroom, becoming a semi-mummy.
The middle-aged woman stuffed Sarman's corpse into the innermost stall and locked it.
Then, she nonchalantly walked out of the restroom, heading straight towards Netero's ward.
They came to the hospital prepared, knowing Netero had four bodyguards.
At most, they could use the terrain to eliminate one first, then go for a forceful assault because a missing bodyguard would alert the others, making them more vigilant.
Of course, she wouldn't act alone, and her companion was also in position.
...
On the rooftop, Mongma, with decades of assassination experience, locked onto Tonpa.
Two assassins from the Blackstone Family had made their moves, while one remained hidden.
On the rooftop, wind and rain intertwined.
Rain carried by wind slapped faces, enough to blur vision instantly, but it didn't affect Tonpa and Mongma.
One was on guard, while the other was building momentum.
Until a fierce gust swept from behind Mongma, lifting a mist from the accumulated water. Suddenly, Mongma moved, creating a series of afterimages while moving, a technique very similar to the Zoldyck Family's Rhythm Echo.
Five or six figures pulled out, attacking Tonpa from different directions.
Though the heavy rain limited his ability, when narrowed in range, it still had effect.
Tonpa didn't even need to look… he knew where the real body was, let alone the next attack.
Facing the fierce onslaught of figures, Tonpa didn't retreat but advanced, directly passing through the illusions, also causing Mongma, who had circled behind, to lose his attack opportunity.
Mongma stood there awkwardly, retracting his sleeve blade.
He hadn't even officially struck, yet his opponent seemed to foresee it, dodging in advance.
In his decades as an assassin, through countless battles, this was probably the first time he was a step behind in rhythm.
More incredible was that his opponent's chosen evasion route was directly forward… mixing deception and danger, completely ignoring the inherent risk of the illusions.
'Impressive. Truly can't judge by appearances.'
Mongma looked at Tonpa, who appeared harmless, even a bit chubby, and became alert.
To attack Netero, he probably had to overcome Tonpa first.
Unbeknownst to him, while dodging that attack, Tonpa sent out a message.
Had he noticed, Mongma's narcissism might have suffered a devastating blow.
Tonpa looked at this highly dangerous old man, thinking to delay as much as possible and wait for backup.
After all, offense was always his weakness. But when it came to evasion, except for Law, he was confident in making anyone's attacks repeatedly miss.
…
Kukuroo Mountain, Zoldyck Family.
The wallpaper-covered room couldn't mask the metallic atmosphere.
Alluka sat among numerous plush toys, looking at the sound-making steel door, immediately standing up, face full of anticipation.
He thought it was Killua coming to play.
However, the door opened, and the people entering weren't Killua but Illumi, Silva, and Law.
Illumi's clothes were stained, his right arm and left leg broken, supported by Silva.
Those injuries were caused by Killua.
After verifying information, Silva naturally brought Illumi to Alluka for healing. Law took the chance to see Alluka, but he didn't come empty-handed.
Killua wasn't with them because he was exhausted and unconscious, resting in his room.