Inside the Shiririko Auction House.
A beautiful auctioneer stood under the spotlight, pointing to a small jade carving from an ancient civilization on the display stand, introducing its historical origins, craftsmanship value, and Legacy records with a well-trained, pleasant voice.
The five hundred or so seats in the audience were almost full, each face representing a considerable amount of wealth or power.
"...In summary, this 'Moon Goddess Maiden Statue' is not only a masterpiece of art but also a witness to history. The starting bid—fifty million Jeni!"
The auction gavel fell with a crisp sound.
"Bidding starts!"
Before the words died away, someone in the audience had already raised their hand.
Immediately after, a second person, a third person... arms rose like a forest, and gestures representing bids followed one after another.
The auctioneer's gaze swept across the venue quickly, her voice clearly announcing the constantly rising prices.
"Fifty-five million! Sixty million! Sixty-three million! Good, that lady bids sixty-eight million! Seventy million! Eighty—"
"I bid ten billion."
The voice was not loud.
But like a pebble thrown into a calm lake, it instantly overwhelmed all the noise.
It wasn't a shout, it wasn't a roar, just a calm statement.
Yet it carried a certain mountain-like weight, clearly reaching everyone's ears.
The whole venue suddenly went quiet.
Everyone—the auctioneer, the bidders, the security personnel, the staff—turned their heads in unison to look in the direction the voice came from.
At the entrance, a sturdy figure stood there.
The suit looked a bit tight on him, the fabric outlining the rock-like bulging muscle lines underneath.
He had his hands in his trouser pockets, his head tilted slightly, looking down at the entire venue below, a near-arrogant smile hanging on his face.
Morex.
He slowly opened his right hand and clenched it suddenly.
"Everything here—"
His voice echoed in the dead-silent venue.
"—I'm buying it all by myself."
After a brief silence, an old man in the VIP seats wearing gold-rimmed glasses and meticulously combed hair stood up abruptly, his face flushed with anger.
"By what right?!"
The voice was sharp, carrying the arrogance of someone who had held a high position for a long time.
Morex looked at him, his smile widening, revealing stark white teeth.
"By the right that I—"
He paused, extending his right index finger.
"Can kill everyone present here."
The moment the words fell, a white Nen Bullet the size of a peanut condensed at his fingertip.
No charging, no warning, just a gentle flick—the Nen Bullet cut through the air, making a faint whistling sound.
The old man didn't even have time to react before the Nen Bullet hit the center of his forehead.
"Bang!"
It wasn't a gunshot, but a duller, more heart-stopping sound.
The old man's head exploded like a watermelon.
Red, white, and bone fragments splashed onto the faces, bodies, expensive gowns, and suits of the people around.
Time seemed to freeze.
One second. Two seconds.
Then, screams erupted!
Not from one person, but dozens, hundreds of people screaming simultaneously, mixed with fear and collapse!
The crowd was like an exploded ant colony; some wanted to run out, some slumped in their seats, some vomited by the railing.
But Morex just stood there, his smile unchanged.
He raised his hand and made a "shh" gesture.
Strangely, the venue really quieted down—not voluntarily, but from a rigidity born of extreme fear.
Everyone stared at him, not daring to move, not daring to make a sound, even holding their breath.
"The demonstration is very clear."
Morex's voice was still calm, but it seemed particularly harsh in this silence.
"You'd better cooperate with me."
He scanned the venue, his eyes like a butcher sizing up livestock waiting to be slaughtered.
"Otherwise—everyone will die."
In the corner of the venue, in the shadows against the wall.
Two people sat quietly; the bloody scene just now had caused no ripples in their hearts.
Nobunaga tilted his head, the grass stem in his mouth moving.
"Didn't expect this... besides us, there were others eyeing this auction."
He looked at Franklin beside him, his tone carrying a hint of amusement.
"And... even more arrogant than us."
Franklin was expressionless, his huge body like a stone statue in the seat.
He glanced at Morex at the entrance and let out a disdainful snort from his nose.
"Arrogant people usually die quickly."
"So?"
Nobunaga asked.
"So..."
Franklin pulled off the tie around his neck, threw it on the ground, and stood up slowly.
"It's my turn to go on stage."
His movements were slow, but each one carried a heavy weight.
His suit jacket was stretched tight, the buttons seeming like they would pop off at any moment.
The surrounding audience made space for him in terror—the aura emanating from this giant was no worse than the murderer at the entrance.
Shiririko Auction House, on the rooftop of a five-story building across the street.
Leo's pupils contracted sharply.
He noticed several figures walking unhurriedly toward the auction house gate on the street in the distance.
Six people.
Leading them was a black-haired man wearing a fur-collared coat, the reverse cross tattoo on his forehead clearly visible even in the night.
His pace was as casual as if he were taking a walk, but every step carried a certain indescribable rhythm.
Chrollo Lucilfer.
To his left was a purple-haired woman with an indifferent expression; it was Machi.
To his right was a short-haired, capable-looking woman, Pakunoda.
A little behind was Bonolenov, wrapped in bandages.
There was also Omokage in a long black coat.
At the very back was a man in a white suit with an effeminate temperament, whom Leo had never seen before.
Phantom Troupe.
Leo's heart tightened suddenly.
He didn't expect this. He really didn't expect this.
The A-rank wanted criminal Morex was already tricky enough, and now even the Phantom Troupe had arrived—and it was the leader leading the team in person, plus six members.
This was no longer a scope he could handle.
Just as Leo was weighing the situation rapidly in his mind—Chrollo in the distance suddenly stopped.
He turned his head and looked in the direction where Leo was.
Across a distance of more than a hundred meters, across the night and the reflection of the glass—those eyes looked over.
Leo instantly activated "Zetsu," his aura completely concealed, and his body shrank back into the depths of the shadows.
One second. Two seconds.
In the distance, Machi tilted her head and asked Chrollo.
"Leader, is there a situation?"
Chrollo looked toward the rooftop, was silent for two seconds, and then slowly turned his head back.
"An illusion?"
His voice was very light.
"Let's go, let's go in."
The five people continued walking toward the auction house gate.
Only after their figures disappeared inside the door did Leo slowly exhale.
"Didn't expect..."
He muttered to himself, his voice a bit dry.
"That even they would come."
Sophia noticed something wrong with his tone and moved a step closer.
"Master, what's wrong?"
Leo looked at the auction house, word by word.
"The Phantom Troupe have come too."
Sophia's face turned pale instantly.
She had followed Leo to hunt wanted criminals for the past few months and also understood that they were one of the most dangerous wanted criminal groups.
Every member had extraordinary strength, acted without bottom lines, killed like cutting hemp, and had never been successfully captured by the Hunter Association to this day.
"Then we..."
Her voice trembled slightly.
"Are we still going to capture Morex?"
Leo didn't answer immediately.
He leaned against the railing, closed his eyes, and his brain worked at high speed.
Give up, give up immediately. The entire Phantom Troupe is out; this is not a situation he can intervene in.
Taking Sophia and retreating—this is the most correct choice.
But another emotion was surging.
It wasn't fear, it wasn't excitement, but something... more complex.
All along, Leo had taken the safest route.
From cautious hunting in the Secret Realm to steady improvement in the Heavens Arena, to chasing those wanted criminals with controllable strength.
Every step was calculated for risk, never letting himself fall into a true desperate situation.
He thought he was doing well.
But at this moment, watching the Phantom Troupe walk into the auction house, watching this impending conflict that far exceeded his past experiences—his heart was beating wildly.
Not fear.
It was... longing.
He remembered the Moonlight Tundra, what Biscuit said after training ended.
At that time, he was complacent, feeling that his progress was already fast.
Biscuit shook her head, a hint of disappointment in her eyes.
"Leo, your talent is indeed strong. But do you know? You lack one thing."
"What thing?"
"A heart that dares to struggle and face danger directly."
Biscuit sat cross-legged on the glowing moss, the moonlight shining on her golden twin tails.
"You are too cautious. Every step calculates gains and losses, and every battle leaves room for maneuver. This is an advantage for ordinary people, but for an Enhancer... it is a fatal weakness."
She looked at Leo, her eyes serious.
"What is the essence of an Enhancer? It is purity, it is directness, it is condensing all power into one point to explode."
"Your caution prevents you from bringing the characteristics of an Enhancer to the extreme."
"So your strength has encountered a Bottleneck—not a physical one, but a 'heart' Bottleneck."
At the time, Leo didn't think much of it.
He thought, what's wrong with being steady? Only by staying alive can one become strong.
But now... now he understood.
Leo opened his eyes and looked down at his right hand.
His palm opened, clenched, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force.
Then, he smiled.
Not a happy smile, not a mocking smile, but a relieved smile, carrying a certain determination.
"All this time..."
He said in a low voice, a voice only he could hear.
"I've only been playing low-end games."
Sophia looked at him in confusion.
"Master?"
Leo took a deep breath, raised his head, and looked at the clear bright moon in the night sky.
The moonlight spilled onto his face, illuminating the flames gradually igniting in those eyes.
Biscuit was right.
He had always thought he was on the right path.
But true experts are not achieved by hiding in safe zones and grinding mobs.
To become stronger, one must face stronger opponents.
To climb to the peak, one must step over dangerous peaks.
Leo turned and looked at the closed gate of the Shiririko Auction House.
The lights inside shone through the stained glass windows, casting colorful light and shadows on the ground.
And behind the door were the Phantom Troupe, the A-rank wanted criminal, and various forces wanting to snatch treasure or save their lives.
Chaos, slaughter, danger—but it also meant opportunity.
"It's time..."
Leo's voice was very light, but every word was as clear as a blade cutting across ice.
"...to play a high-end game."
He turned to look at Sophia, his expression unprecedentedly serious.
"Sophia, what happens next is not something you can participate in. No matter what happens, no matter what you see or hear—do not come out. Find a place to hide, and wait for me to come out."
Sophia's eyes widened.
"But... Master! It's too dangerous! The Phantom Troupe they—"
"I know."
Leo interrupted her, his tone unquestionable.
"That's why I have to go."
He paused, looking at the worry about to spill over in Sophia's eyes, the corners of his mouth slightly raised in a comforting arc.
"Don't worry. Your Master..."
He patted his own chest.
"...won't die here so easily."
Leo turned around, facing the auction house, with his back to Sophia.
The night wind blew his clothes, and the moonlight stretched his shadow long, casting it on the rooftop floor.
Then, he said those words.
The voice was not loud, but like some kind of vow, like some kind of declaration, like the first long roar of a beast that had finally broken free from shackles—
"I! Will climb to the—"
He paused for a moment, as if savoring the weight of every word.
"—very, top, end!!!"
As the words fell, the aura around his body changed suddenly.
No longer restrained, no longer suppressed.
Nen gushed out from his body, not an explosion, but like an unsealed volcano, naturally and unstoppably flowing out.
The aura was clearly visible in the night, the light not dazzling, but carrying a certain heavy texture.
That was confidence. It was determination.
It was the realization of finally recognizing the path and deciding to go down it without looking back.
Sophia looked at Leo's back, opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but finally just nodded vigorously.
"I understand, Master."
Her voice was steady, and although there was still worry in her eyes, there was more trust.
"I won't let you worry. You... go ahead and do it."
Leo turned back and gave Sophia a smile.
It was faint, but real.