Seeing that Liam kept calling but didn't get through, Wing asked with concern.
Liam waved his hand and put down the phone. "Don't worry about it. Keep eating!"
Shizuku glanced at the phone on the table. Liam had called 10 times. No one answered.
Wing didn't know who Liam was calling, but he still said, "Maybe he was busy and put it on silent, didn't notice."
Liam smiled. "Maybe there's no signal."
Wing shook his head. "That's not true. If you're outside the service area, there'll be a notification sound."
Liam was thoughtful.
He didn't often talk to people on the phone in Hunter World, so he really didn't know if the other party wasn't in the service area, whether there'd be a dial tone, or a prompt.
"Speaking of which, there shouldn't be many places without signal, right?" Liam asked casually.
Ghostly places like Greed Island, where the location is transferred out of thin air due to accidental Nen, are all covered by signals.
Liam didn't know how the network signal of Hunter World was laid, but in this world where Nen existed, the way to develop the technology tree must be completely different from his previous life. It was simple: any scientist with Enhancement Nen abilities, or those with Nen who could manifest experimental equipment, might create unimaginable theoretical breakthroughs or technological products in a single thought.
Wing nodded. "Not much." After a pause, he said, "Basically, it shouldn't be called 'no signal,' but 'the signal has been artificially interfered with and blocked.'"
"The huge network with international servers as the hub covers the entire sea and every corner of the six continents. However, some countries that are too xenophobic, forces and organizations outside the V5 international order, will actively erect firewalls to separate themselves. They either build their own networks internally, or more extreme, completely abandon modern communication methods..."
Wing pushed up his glasses.
His words reminded Liam of two locations in the Chimera Ant manga: East Gorteau Republic and the NGL Autonomous Region.
The former was an extremely xenophobic small country, while the latter was a country that ostensibly advocated natural life, but secretly was a super lair of a huge drug manufacturing operation.
Closer to home, Kurapika's phone wasn't connecting. Not that there was no signal. So it was unlikely he'd go to locations like these.
Also, Wing, how do you know there's no warning on my phone that it's not in service area? You're eavesdropping, right?
Wing pointed at his ears and smiled. "My hearing is a little sharper than ordinary people. Can't help it. I don't have to cover my ears when someone's talking on the phone around me, right?"
"That's true." Liam nodded.
His hearing had actually improved a lot compared to before. Now he could hear other people's normal speech clearly even from 20 meters away.
If he concentrated aura on both ears, the distance could be estimated at about 100 meters.
Of course, this kind of hearing was definitely incomparable with Melody. Not to mention 100 meters—even 200 meters away and blocked by heavy rain—Melody could still hear other people's conversations crystal clear.
In the Hunter World, due to the widespread existence of the basic power of aura, there were too many strange people.
At the beginning of the manga, Gon hadn't yet awakened Nen. Because he'd lived in the forest all year round, he'd trained himself like a humanoid beast. He could tell whether a storm was coming by smelling the sea breeze from miles away. A colorless and odorless super laxative? He could tell something was wrong with just a touch of it. Not to mention a nose comparable to a police dog.
Even without practicing Nen, Kurapika's sensitivity of the five senses was much higher than ordinary people.
Liam actually seriously doubted that people with powerful Nen abilities would subtly change their own genes as they practiced and pass on this change.
Nen users could create things from nothing, deform their own flesh and blood, manifest external constructs, and transform time and space.
If someone told Liam that a Nen user started from themselves and created a special ethnic group, he wouldn't be surprised at all.
In addition to powerful wild animals, Hunter World also had different Magical Beast races that could speak human words and possess high intelligence, as well as some extremely rare non-humans.
The Kurta Tribe might be a certain branch of non-humans.
After having a meal together, Wing quickly said goodbye and left.
He'd heard that Liam's Floor Master Challenge was scheduled for October, so he'd come to watch.
Seeing that Liam had successfully won the position of Floor Master and made great progress in strength, he admired him in his heart and planned to work harder, not wanting to lose to this young man.
Liam and Shizuku went back to Heavens Arena and went through the relevant procedures to take over as Floor Master.
He didn't stay any longer. In the regretful eyes of the waitress on the 244th floor, he walked into the elevator with Shizuku and left calmly.
The Floor Master position is just an achievement I challenged. After getting it, I actually have little interest in it.
The reason he still had to go through the process and formalities was because he thought there might be an interesting challenger in the future. It would be a pity to miss it. If I remember correctly, that guy Hisoka is also a Floor Master, right?
And he'd only become Floor Master after Killua and Gon left Heavens Arena. It was seriously suspected he'd killed a certain Floor Master in order to duel with Chrollo.
In other words, there might be a situation where Hisoka challenges me in the future.
Liam thought about it for a moment.
Hisoka's cheeks were often painted with clown makeup. One side seemed to be in the shape of a five-pointed star.
Comes with five-pointed star pattern.
Liam couldn't help but laugh as he imagined the funny scenes that might happen if he met Hisoka.
He went shopping with Shizuku for a while, fed the large and small shopping bags to Blinky. After returning home, he only had to follow the shopping list before Shizuku forgot all these things, and release them one by one.
The two of them lived a simple life. Apart from rest and entertainment, they spent the rest of their time practicing.
They were both young. Their energy and spirit were in the stage of rapid growth. As long as they kept their minds down and practiced—he wouldn't talk about massive gains—but they'd definitely gain something.
When Liam was practicing Ken, Shizuku practiced her Nen skills beside him.
The effect of Blinky's chainsaw teeth was very good. Now Shizuku was trying to move more in the direction of Transmutation.
For example, it would undoubtedly be more convenient if she could create Blinky's effect without fully manifesting it, and could also use a chainsaw.
Turn the aura into a sawtooth shape, able to rotate and cut at high speed.
Nen users weren't immune to their own Nen abilities.
Those who turned aura into electricity would be the first to be electrocuted.
Those who turned their aura into gunpowder and detonated it were the ones closest and most vulnerable to being blown up.
Therefore, Shizuku needed to carefully control the changes in this aura.
When she wasn't yet proficient, the aura that turned into rapidly rotating sharp teeth would actually cut Shizuku herself.
This was also the danger of practicing Nen. Even if there were other Transmuters who were happy to see a new technique and wanted to replicate Shizuku's ability, maybe one mistake and they'd be the first to have their head cut off by the jagged aura they created. They might even cut themselves into pieces.
Fortunately, Shizuku had Liam's Star Mark as body protection. As long as the mark on her inner left thigh wasn't damaged, no matter how serious the injury, she could heal quickly.
She was also very generous. After leaving a part of her aura to protect the mark on her leg, she started to experiment with aura changes unscrupulously. Anyway, even if my hand breaks or my head falls off, the Star Mark will save me.
After Liam finished practicing Ken once, he took turns with Shizuku.
Shizuku opened Ken. Liam went to take a shower. After the aura in his body recovered a little, he sat next to Shizuku and practiced techniques like Ten and Gyo.
He majored in Manipulation. The best elective was the adjacent Emission, but practicing that category took too much aura and made a lot of noise.
Liam thought to himself that after several days of competition with Netero at Sensui Mountain, he was now more like a warrior. More like Enhancement-type.
Buzz, buzz, buzz.
The phone was placed on the coffee table. Suddenly it vibrated.
Liam clenched his palm to extinguish the beating ball of aura in his palm and looked at the vibrating phone. Someone was calling.
Shizuku, who'd been maintaining Ken for two hours, also took the time to look over.
Her current aura was about 19,000. She'd only been in Ken for two hours. Far from the stage of physical and mental exhaustion.
Liam took the phone and looked. "It's Kurapika."
He immediately answered the call and sat casually on the floor leaning against the sofa. "Hello? What are you busy with?"
The person on the other side was quiet for a while, then said, "Who are you?"
It's not Kurapika's voice!
Liam's eyes suddenly became sharp. He sat up straight with his legs crossed and raised his hand to Shizuku, who was looking over. In terms of hearing, Shizuku wasn't bad either.
The voice on the other end of the call—which Liam had thought was Kurapika—was an unfamiliar man's voice. No other characteristics could be heard, but he seemed a little tired.
Liam asked, "Who are you?"
The person on the other side sighed tiredly. "Do you know Kurapika?"
"Do you know Kurapika?" Liam also asked, emphasizing the word "you."
The other person was silent for another moment. "I am a professional Hunter and I met Kurapika while on a mission. Listen, I don't know who you are, but if you know Kurapika, if you're his friend, then I think... we need to meet as soon as possible. We have to talk."
Shizuku was a little confused. She couldn't help wondering what Kurapika had entered as Liam's number in the phone's address book, and why the person who had his phone didn't know what to call Liam.
Professional Hunter?
Liam asked, "Why did you use his phone to call me back? And why didn't you call back immediately when I called this afternoon, instead of delaying until now?"
The person on the other side sighed. "I just found his phone too. It seems he threw it out in a hurry before disappearing. After I found the phone and saw a bunch of missed calls, I tried to call you. I didn't know who you were, because there's only your number in Kurapika's contact, but no name. Listen, whether you believe me or not, I have to tell you that Kurapika's current situation is not good. Very bad..."
Liam frowned.
"Yes, he's disappeared for 10 days. I've searched all the places and all the clues, but still found nothing... I can't explain it clearly on the phone. I'll give you an address. We'd better meet in person." The other person sighed. "Originally, I was the one who got hit. It was Kurapika who helped me out at the last moment, but in the end, he himself... I owe him this."
"You said you're a Professional Hunter. What was your name?" Liam interrupted him.
"Essi Rick, you—"
"Come to Heavens Arena." Liam didn't wait for the other person to finish speaking. He left "Floor 244. Tell them you're looking for the Floor Master" and hung up the phone.
In another city, the Professional Hunter whose phone was hung up was surprised.
He thought silently for a while, put away Kurapika's phone with its cracked screen, opened the laptop on the table, and looked up plane tickets.
After Liam hung up the phone, he couldn't help wondering: What brand of phone did Kurapika buy? The battery can actually be used for 10 days and still has power?
"Do you want to go out?" Shizuku still maintained Ken and looked at him.
The second rule of The Ten: among companions, help each other, don't interfere with each other, and don't betray each other.
Now that Liam had asked the other party's name, he'd definitely go to the Hunter website to look up the person named Essi Rick.
"You finish your training first. You've been practicing for so long. It would be too wasteful to give up halfway." Liam comforted. "If he's really a Professional Hunter, I can check it out on the official website. No need to insert a Hunter License."
Liam went to the bedroom to get his laptop and typed in the Hunter official website—the Muggle version for ordinary people.
After typing for a while, Liam found the photo of the Hunter named "Essi Rick."
Since the identity of the other party is true, the credibility of his other words is greatly improved.
Kurapika really disappeared?
Closing the laptop, Liam looked out the window. The sky was already dark. The stars were bright in the night sky. Faint moonlight came in, illuminating Shizuku's half-body covered with a solid layer of aura.
Rubbing Ring A on his index finger, Liam immediately activated the Moon Mark.
Two vague impressions came to mind: the Moon Mark on Shizuku's Ring B, and Kurapika's Ring C.
Thoughts triggered the Moon Mark of Ring C.
Ready to connect.
However, the reaction after the Moon Mark activated this time was completely different from before. It seemed the signal was poor. The induction became intermittent and unclear.
[Hello? Anyone there?]
Liam spoke in his mind, frowning as he looked at the frosty layer of moonlight on the floor.
At this time of night, it stands to reason the "signal" of the Moon Mark should be full.
[Tendō?...]
Kurapika's echo finally came to his mind, but his tone sounded as if he was about to expire. Extremely tired.
It's really weird. This is telepathic communication. How can it have such an expressive "tone" of tiredness?
However, at least he wasn't dead.
Liam crossed his legs and sat on the sofa, rolled his eyes, and asked: [What's the matter with you, kid? You saved my phone number but not my name, right?]
There was silence for a while.
He didn't know if it was because the signal wasn't very good, or because Kurapika felt speechless.
[Liam, Ring A... none of them are very good names... so...]
He really sounds exhausted!
[Is this the time to wonder what name to said?] Liam frowned and asked. [What happened? Where are you now?]
[Boss... find me...]
Kurapika's voice transmission became increasingly blurry until it was completely cut off.
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