Oh no, he still couldn't be called a man—just a thirteen-year-old boy.
Even though he already looked like a high school student???
Machi's gaze moved suspiciously back and forth between Pakunoda and Morin, her brows slightly furrowed.
"You don't mind having one more person accompany you, Vice-Leader?"
Pakunoda folded her arms across her chest, making her already well-developed figure look even more pronounced.
Morin silently reminded himself several times not to look. After all, she was only a fourteen-year-old girl, still a minor.
He wasn't like some toothpick who could even go after minors.
Still, she was only ten
years old and already had that kind of figure. If she grew up like this, then later...
Only then did Morin suddenly understand.
No wonder Pakunoda was so graceful now and dressed herself so conservatively, while later she would be so bold that she did not even wear a bra.
Her development was simply too good—either bras couldn't hold her, or they were too uncomfortable, so she gave them up entirely.
"I don't mind."
He immediately agreed.
Finding Person Cane
Wandering around this world alone was certainly freer, but it was also rather monotonous.
But if a beautiful woman who was quite pleasing to the eye walked at his side, that was a different matter altogether.
Only an idiot would refuse.
"But may I ask why you want to follow me?"
Of course, what needed to be asked still had to be made clear.
"I want to learn about Specialist-type Nen abilities."
Pakunoda's expression was calm, without any sign of anything unusual.
"The leader has not yet fully developed his own Nen ability and needs to devote himself to studying it. If he takes me along as well, he will have to spend extra attention and energy considering my situation.
"But the Vice-Leader has already developed his ability, and it is quite good."
"He has time and experience. I think that if I stay by his side, he should be able to provide me with a lot of help in developing my ability."
Her reasoning was perfectly sound, and no one else gave it much thought.
"Help with ability development?"
The corners of Morin's eyes relaxed slightly, and a curve formed on his lips.
If it were some other matter, he might not be able to help much.
But when it came to developing abilities... he was exceptionally good at that!!
Among the Phantom Troupe's thirteen Nen abilities, apart from the unknown Number Eight whom Silva Zoldyck had killed in the early days, and Kalluto Zoldyck, who later joined and fought by controlling paper—
Morin did not know their abilities, but he knew those of every other Troupe member. Even Omokage, the former member who had faked his death and left midway through, had his Divine Puppet Master Nen ability thoroughly known to Morin.
Speaking of which, Omokage was also a Specialist-type ability user. A Phantom Troupe with only thirteen members had gathered so many rare Specialists.
"As for ability development, if you don't mind a few of my ideas, then I have no problem with it."
Morin said so.
"Then I'll be relying on you."
Pakunoda nodded gently.
Throughout all of this, Machi had been watching Morin and Pakunoda.
Yet their conversation was completely frank and normal.
There was no other implication to it. In everyone else's eyes, this was simply how ordinary Troupe members interacted. Even Chrollo did not think much of it.
But Machi still frowned, feeling that something was off.
And she was feeling rather bad now as well.
It was like a beloved toy she had brought home had been noticed by someone else, who now wanted to take it away and play with it for a while.
I was the one who picked him up and brought him home. Since when did he become so sought-after and popular?
But in the end, she said nothing, because she truly had no reason to stop it.
"Forget it. Rather than think about that, I should think about how to make money at Heavens Arena next."
She shook her head and threw all those random, meaningless thoughts out of her mind.
Only after calculating the huge sum of money she could get her hands on did her mood improve somewhat.
Thus, after setting their respective goals, the group prepared to go their separate ways.
From the Phantom Troupe's founding to the moment its members scattered like stars across the sky, only a few days had passed.
Morin did not feel all that much about it, really.
Strictly speaking, he was not a native of Meteor City. He could not understand the feelings of Uvogin, Nobunaga, Machi, and the others, who had lived here since childhood.
To them, the founding of the Phantom Troupe meant far more than simply forming an organization.
At the very least, Morin could sense it from Uvogin, Nobunaga, even the aloof Machi, and Feitan, who was displeased by everything.
They possessed a sense of belonging to the Troupe that was almost like faith.
Like rootless duckweed abandoned by the entire world, they had finally found a place to settle.
This was their own organization.
As he watched everyone leave in separate directions, there was not the slightest trace of loss or sadness. Instead, they were cheerful, optimistic, and full of positive energy.
Morin suddenly understood why the Troupe did not often act together, yet remained so united and cohesive.
It was because he had seen in those from Meteor City something called a sense of belonging.
"Shall we go too?"
After putting away the Door of Nothingness, Morin looked toward Pakunoda, who was standing quietly beside him and waiting.
"The earlier an ability is developed, the better. We can talk as we walk."
"First, tell me about your personality and preferences. You must be truthful, because they are extremely important to the future direction of your Nen ability's development."
The two chatted as they walked toward the outskirts of the city, which had long since descended into chaos.
Sunlight fell upon them, stretching their shadows long behind them.
"Where are we going next?"
Pakunoda watched Morin take out an utterly ordinary cane and an umbrella, then looked up at the sky.
The weather and sunlight were both just right. It was not raining, and the sun was not harsh.
There was absolutely no need for an umbrella.
"These are two of my gadgets."
Morin casually explained as he set the Finding Person Cane upright on the ground.
Gadget: Finding Person Cane.
Effect: Set the cane upright and let it fall naturally, and it will point in the direction of the person you are looking for. Pretty useful, but only 70% accurate.
"South?"
Morin followed the direction in which the cane had fallen.
"I remember Meteor City is in the north of the European Continent, while the European Continent is located in the southwestern part of the Six Continents.
"If we head south from here, then they are either somewhere on the European Continent itself, or in the Balsha Islands—in other words, around the NGL Republic, where the Chimera Ants will cause trouble in the future.
"But in any case—
Compared to being on another continent, their current location isn't too far from here.
"However, the Finding Person Cane is only 70% accurate, so we'll need a second gadget as extra insurance."
Morin opened the equally ordinary-looking umbrella.
At once, an arrow indicator appeared at the very top of the umbrella.
Gadget: Finding Person Umbrella.
Effect: It can accurately help someone locate the target's direction.
In the original story, when Nobita was delivering an umbrella to his father during the rain, Gian took all of his umbrellas away.
Doraemon used this Finding Person Umbrella to find Nobita and his father.
Then he took out a whole bunch of strange-looking umbrellas and made things terribly difficult for Nobita's father.
Over the past three days, he had checked in for three gadgets in total, two of which were the Finding Person Umbrella and the Finding Person Cane.
With the Finding Person Umbrella and the Finding Person Cane providing double insurance, Morin could be sure of finding the person he wanted.
Once Morin had confirmed the direction and explained the functions of both gadgets to Pakunoda, he prepared to set off.
Having understood, Pakunoda still voiced the question she was supposed to ask.
"We're going to such lengths. Who exactly are we looking for?"
Morin gave her an answer that barely counted as an answer.
"Someone who can help us greatly right now."
The European Continent was located in the southwestern region of the Six Continents.
Geographically speaking, it was the continent closest to the Dark Continent.
Therefore, as time passed, strange and sinister things would often drift here from outside.
The Queen Ant of the Chimera Ant race had arrived at the southwestern tip of the European Continent through V5's manipulations.
Thus, this unique geography had resulted in the European Continent having far more Magical Beasts, secret realms, and ruins than the other five continents.
Moreover, apart from several highly developed cities near the coast, some countries in the central and southern regions resembled the Middle Ages of Morin's original world.
Some places even looked like the fantasy cities high school students in Japanese anime would be transported to.
Well, Hunter x Hunter was an anime too~~~
Relying on the Finding Person Umbrella and Finding Person Cane, Morin and Pakunoda traveled together for another three days.
After Morin checked in for three more new gadgets, they finally arrived at their destination.
It was an extremely run-down little town, and there did not seem to be many people in it.
Morin and Pakunoda stood at the town entrance, looking into the streets, where lazy men sprawled on the ground basking in the sun and occasionally scratching their bellies.
"The person you want to find—the one supposedly capable of helping us—is in a place like this?"
Pakunoda quietly watched Morin.
Though she said nothing, Morin could read that meaning from the doubt in her eyes.
"There is an old saying in my hometown: better to arrive at the right time than arrive early."
Morin did not explain anything. His eyes gleamed as he stared into the town.
Before you continue