Night fell quickly in Shimeile Wetland.
After hanging up the phone, Leo stood silently in place for a long time.
The surroundings were filled with the silence peculiar to swamps, occasionally broken by the hiss of some creature in the distance, only to be quickly swallowed by the dense fog.
The tattoo on the back of his hand glowed with a faint, dark red luster in the darkness.
Hisoka's news was like a stone thrown into a deep pool, with ripples spreading out.
The Phantom Troupe had noticed.
This was expected, but it had come faster than Leo had anticipated.
He had originally estimated he would have a buffer period of one to two months; Chrollo was not the type to wait passively—he must be investigating, analyzing, and planning a counterattack at this very moment.
"I can't delay any longer."
Leo looked up at the night sky shrouded in dense fog.
The moonlight was blocked by layers of tree crowns and mist, revealing only a hazy silver rim at the edges of the clouds.
He needed to make preparations on two fronts; he couldn't rely solely on Hisoka's intelligence.
While the Spiders hadn't tracked him down yet, he had to seize the time to break two more of their legs.
The problem was that there were no new discoveries from Nico's side for the time being.
Shanark and Kortopi were the last targets he could lock onto; after this, the Phantom Troupe's actions would surely become more cautious, leaving behind very few clues.
With Nico's skills, it would be difficult to have another Breakthrough in a short time.
"If I investigate on my own, the efficiency is too low."
Leo analyzed calmly.
"I need a professional."
A name appeared in his mind—Retz.
A rare Black Hunter in the Hunter Association, the Item-Hunting Hunter who had specifically come to congratulate him when he was promoted to one-star and had proactively exchanged contact information with him.
Retz's ability was exactly what he needed right now.
Leo took out his phone and checked the time—9:47 PM.
It wasn't too late, but it wasn't early either.
He hesitated for two seconds before dialing Retz's number.
The rhythmic waiting tone came from the receiver.
After three rings, the call was answered.
"Hello, Leo."
Retz's voice came from the other end, carrying his signature tone that was both hearty and steady.
There was no superfluous small talk, no questioning of the late-night call; he called his name directly.
Leo relaxed slightly.
"Hello, Mr. Retz. Please forgive me for calling you so late."
"Haha, it's fine."
Retz laughed, a laugh that came from the heart, without any falsity.
"Calling me at this time means you have something urgent. Go ahead, what do you need me for?"
Leo liked this straightforward way of communicating.
"I want to commission you to help me find a few people."
He didn't beat around the bush.
"I wonder if it's convenient for you? As for the remuneration, just name a figure."
The other end of the line was quiet for two seconds.
Retz did not answer immediately.
This wasn't hesitation, but rather a rapid weighing of options—Leo could feel that this experienced Hunter wasn't thinking about "whether to accept," but "how to accept best."
"I see."
Retz spoke again, his tone carrying a hint of understanding.
"Finding people is no problem; I happen to be free during this period. My fee is—"
He paused, his tone becoming serious.
"Two billion jenny per person."
Leo didn't even frown.
Two billion jenny was an astronomical price for an ordinary Hunter, but he was prepared in his heart; the prize money he had received from participating in Heavens Arena over the past two years, the money he had bet on himself to win, and the bounties he had obtained from capturing wanted criminals meant his net worth had already reached over nine billion.
Retz's type of auxiliary ability was very rare and worth this price.
"However."
Retz continued, his tone becoming more solemn.
"I need as detailed information as possible—names, physical characteristics, height and build, dressing habits, any details you can think of."
"My ability is not omnipotent; it can lock onto a general range, but the more precise the input, the clearer the direction I can get."
He paused and added.
"And I don't guarantee that I can find them one hundred percent. Some targets have special abilities that interfere, or they might be in certain enclosed spaces, which could affect the results."
Leo nodded—though the other side of the phone couldn't see it.
"I understand. Everything you said is no problem."
"That's good."
Retz's voice returned to that heartiness.
"Is it convenient for you to come over? Or should I come find you?"
"If it's convenient, come to Kent City."
Leo said.
"I am currently near Shimeile Wetland, and I will return to the city tomorrow."
"Shimeile Wetland?"
Retz's tone carried a bit of surprise, then he laughed again.
"Okay, I'll book a plane ticket tomorrow, departing from the Hunter Association headquarters; it will take about two days."
"Good, I'll wait for you in Kent City."
"By the way."
Retz suddenly said.
"No need to call me 'Mr. Retz,' it sounds awkward. Just call me Retz; we are all Association members."
Leo's mouth curled up slightly.
"Okay. Retz."
"Haha, that's right!"
Retz laughed heartily twice.
"Then let's leave it at that, see you in Kent City."
"See you in Kent City."
The call ended.
Leo held the phone, looking at the words "Call Ended" on the screen, lost in thought.
Retz had agreed more readily than he had expected.
A commission of two billion jenny was not a small amount, but he had almost no bargaining, nor did he ask much about who the targets to be tracked were.
This readiness, rather than being interested in the commission itself, was more like... being interested in the client.
Leo figured it out.
Retz valued not this one business deal, but establishing a cooperative relationship—or rather, wooing him.
The interior of the Hunter Association was never a monolith.
The Zodiacs each had their own factions, and one-star and Two-Star Hunters also belonged to different circles; the struggle for resources and the right to speak never stopped.
Retz's willingness to answer his phone in the middle of the night, travel thousands of miles for the commission, and even proactively lower his posture by saying "just call me Retz"... this was a gesture of goodwill, and also an investment.
In Retz's eyes, Leo, this newcomer who "became a Hunter and was promoted to one-star in one year," was worth betting on.
He put away his phone and didn't think too deeply about it.
Factions, wooing, that was all for later.
The top priority now was only one thing: before the Phantom Troupe completed their counterattack, reduce their numbers as much as possible.
Retz arrived two days later.
He needed to prepare all information about the Phantom Troupe members—names, characteristics, abilities, the more detailed the better.
Leo dialed a number again.
This time it was Nico.
The phone was answered after only one ring; Nico's voice came from the other end, carrying obvious tension and anticipation.
"Mr. Leo!"
"Nico."
Leo said.
"During this time, when you are searching for intelligence on the Genei Ryodan, you must be careful to hide yourself."
He paused, his tone becoming a bit more serious.
"The Genei Ryodan has already noticed that someone is hunting them. Although they are not sure who it is yet, they will definitely strengthen their anti-tracking measures. Any traces you leave behind could be used by them to follow the vine and find the melon."
The other end of the line was silent for a few seconds.
Then Nico spoke, his voice much steadier than before.
"Understood. I will be careful."
He didn't ask questions like "Really?" or "How could this be?", he wasn't flustered, and he didn't make excuses.
He just confirmed briefly, then accepted.
Leo was very satisfied with this reaction.
"Additionally."
A hint of imperceptible joy suddenly appeared in Nico's voice.
"Mr. Leo, I have already fought my way to the 80th floor of Heavens Arena during this time!"
His tone was still very restrained, but that little anticipation of "I worked very hard, hurry up and praise me" almost spilled out of the receiver.
Leo's mouth curled up slightly.
"Well done, keep it up. When you fight your way to the 150th floor—"
He paused.
"—I will personally give you special training."
A distinct intake of breath came from the other end of the line.
"Re-really?"
Nico's voice changed pitch, unable to suppress his excitement.
"I will definitely work hard! I will definitely complete your instructions carefully! I will definitely fight my way to the 150th floor as soon as possible!"
He said "definitely" three times in a row, speaking as fast as a machine gun.
Leo couldn't help but chuckle.
"Hmm, I believe in you."
"Th-thank you, Mr. Leo!"
Nico's voice was full of motivation.
"I'm going to go do extra training right now! By the way, I will continue to search for the Phantom Troupe's intelligence; I will definitely be more careful and absolutely will not leave any traces!"
"Good. Pay attention to rest, don't train yourself into the ground."
"Yes!"
After hanging up the phone, Leo looked at Nico's name on the screen and thought for a few seconds.
He really hadn't been brushing Nico off.
This little chubby guy who had collapsed and given up in the first stage of the Hunter Exam had shown amazing resilience during this time.
Training for over a dozen hours every day, his record in Heavens Arena was steadily rising, and his hacking skills hadn't fallen behind either—Sophia had said that Nico was often still typing code at the computer screen at two or three in the morning.
People who work hard deserve a chance.
When the special training ends, let him participate in the next Hunter Exam.
With Nico's current strength and mindset, he shouldn't repeat the same mistakes.
Leo withdrew his thoughts and dialed the third number.
Sophia answered almost instantly.
"Master!"
Her voice was crisp and loud, with the sound of wind and faint car horns in the background.
"You finally contacted me! Shizuku and I are currently in the southern part of Ejin Continent; we just took care of a C-Rank wanted criminal today—"
"How was the result?"
Leo interrupted her report.
"152 merit points!"
Sophia's tone carried a small bit of pride.
"We are only halfway to one-star."
"Well done."
He paused and continued.
"But for the next period of time, you must be especially careful about safety."
Sophia's voice became a bit more restrained.
"Is it about the Phantom Troupe?"
"Hmm."
Leo did not hide it.
"They have already noticed that someone is hunting their members. Although they are not sure who it is yet, they will definitely strengthen their vigilance. If you encounter members of the Phantom Troupe while you are out—"
He emphasized his tone.
"—retreat immediately, don't be impulsive."
"Also, you two stay on standby at all times; come over immediately when you receive my call."
The other end of the line was quiet for two seconds.
Then Sophia spoke, her voice much more serious than before.
"I understand, Master."
She didn't say things like "but" or "what if," and didn't become blindly confident just because everything had been going smoothly lately.
Leo gave his apprentice a point in his heart.
"Is Shizuku nearby?"
Leo asked.
"Yes."
Sophia handed over the phone.
A few seconds later, Shizuku's calm voice came from the receiver.
"Big Brother Leo."
"Shizuku."
Leo said.
"You heard what I said just now. If you encounter people from the Phantom Troupe, don't fight them head-on."
"Hmm, okay."
Shizuku replied, then paused.
"I will watch over Sophia."
Sophia's voice of protest could be faintly heard in the background.
"Why is it you watching me—"
But Shizuku had already hung up the phone.
Leo looked at the screen and shook his head helplessly.
These two... After all the calls were finished, Leo put his phone in his pocket and looked up at the deepening night.
The night fog of Shimeile Wetland was getting thicker and thicker, almost swallowing the whole world.
Occasionally, a few hisses came from the distance, only to be quickly swallowed by the silence.
The muddy ground under his feet was damp and soft, emitting the scent of rotting plants.
He lowered his head and looked at the tattoo on the back of his hand.
[Rank: Level 52 (25%)]
The progress of today's hunt was a bit slower than expected.
Leo turned around and walked towards the direction of the temporary camp.
The day after tomorrow morning, he will leave the wetland and return to Kent City.
Then, wait for Retz to arrive, wait for his ability to lock onto the trail of the next batch of Spiders.
And then—the hunt continues.
He pushed aside the branches blocking his way, and his figure soon disappeared into the dense fog.