The Price

Even without that fleeting burst of aura, Ken and his group could still determine the direction.

That was because their companion Genbul's conjuration ability, "Gambler's Rhapsody," possessed a mechanism of "absolute fulfillment" within a reasonable range when cashing in prizes.

Using a jackpot to exchange for a single directional guide—there was no reason for it not to be "cashed in."

This was the confidence behind Ken and the others being able to pinpoint their direction.

"Position confirmed."

In the driver's seat sat a burly, dark-skinned man with a crew cut.

This man was none other than Genbul, the one with the "Gambler's Rhapsody" ability.

"Then we don't need this anymore."

With one hand on the steering wheel, he glanced toward the scenic area, then reached the other hand out the window and flicked away a handful of blood.

Ken, in the passenger seat, noticed Genbul's action of flicking away the blood and smiled as he praised, "Genbul, confidence is a good thing."

The blood Genbul had flicked away came from Hawk.

"Blood, return to your master."

That was what Genbul had cashed in using one jackpot.

Then, guided by the blood, they had arrived here. But before reaching their destination, they had sensed the sudden burst of resentment aura.

Even though it lasted only about a second, it was enough to confirm their location.

That was why Genbul confidently threw away Hawk's blood, ending the ability's effect.

Ken saw this and couldn't help but praise Genbul's confidence, though inwardly he was cursing Genbul for his erratic behavior.

Genbul, oblivious to Ken's true thoughts, grinned and stomped on the accelerator.

With a roar like a wild beast's howl from the engine, the black car suddenly surged forward, speeding ahead.

The five black cars following behind had no choice but to floor it to keep up.

"What the hell is Genbul thinking again? Leading us on this crappy road is bad enough, but now he's gunning it like this—did it never cross his mind that we might blow a tire?"

Inside one of the cars, a long-haired man in sunglasses driving was grumbling loudly.

In the passenger seat sat Sivir, still dressed as revealingly as ever.

Used to Genbul's sudden fits by now, she didn't bother to echo the long-haired man's complaints.

"Boom!"

Just then, a loud crash came from ahead.

The long-haired man and Sivir looked toward the sound.

They saw Genbul's car slammed into a rock wall, the entire vehicle warped from the impact.

Under the violent collision, Genbul and Ken, both Nen users, were fine, but the three armed members in the backseat weren't so lucky—they died on the spot.

"That idiot..."

The long-haired man sighed, then braked to a stop.

He and Sivir got out, and the cars behind them gradually pulled over as well.

"What a crappy tire."

Unscathed, Genbul kicked the severely deformed car, completely indifferent to the three armed escorts who had died inside.

Ken stood nearby.

He held a longsword in a black scabbard, his expression calm and composed, as if Genbul's reckless move hadn't affected his mood at all.

The long-haired man walked over, too annoyed to even look at Genbul, and said to Ken, "The other cars don't have any extra seats. You two can walk."

"No problem, we're not in a hurry."

Ken smiled faintly, pointing at the sky that hadn't yet darkened, and said seriously, "Surely no one thinks we're going to act in the 'daytime,' right?"

The long-haired man looked up at the sky, then nodded.

Behind him, Sivir forced down the words that were about to slip out.

At the scenic area's mountaintop, the Temple's inner courtyard.

It was hard to imagine—

A face like a piece of dead tree bark could actually display such a rich range of emotions at this moment.

In the end, only a Nen Exorcist could truly grasp the terror of "resentment."

Because most Nen Exorcists' method of removal involved first transferring the "resentment" onto themselves, then sublimating and digesting it.

This kind of zero-distance contact, along with the accompanying risks, constantly reminded Nen Exorcists of what danger truly meant.

Arieser had only taken a close look at the aura emanating from the "Balance" before he completely lost any courage to interact further with that "Balance."

That level of resentment was absolutely not something he could touch.

So the one who subconsciously considered himself superior, while startled, very cleanly admitted his inadequacy in public.

However—

Hawk then pointed out to Arieser the true target to be removed.

Not the "Balance" who had just erupted with that terrifying aura, but the gaseous expression on Rat Treasure's tail.

The look of horror on Arieser's face had yet to fade. Under Hawk's guidance, he slowly looked toward Rat Treasure's tail and fell silent.

After Moyu and Cheadle calmed down, they also looked at Rat Treasure.

In their eyes, the wisp of gas at the tip of Rat Treasure's tail was nothing special, and they felt no threat from it at all.

Hawk did not explain. He directly deactivated his ability.

"Accelerator."

The straight-line mark on Rat Treasure's head suddenly shimmered with a green glow.

At the same time, on the surface of the "gas mass" at the tip of its tail, fine blood threads quietly emerged, covering the entire mass at an extremely fast speed.

"Plop."

Rat Treasure let out a soft cry.

The moment the sound faded, the blood-thread-covered gas mass shrank like a deflating balloon, withered, and finally vanished.

At the same time.

Strips of black resentment, like earthworms, quietly surfaced and spread across Hawk's face, neck, and arms.

Immediately after, Hawk's body began to show signs of aging.

The flesh on his face became loose and saggy, many wrinkles appeared on his forehead, and his thick beard was dyed white.

In just a second or two.

His originally sturdy frame had visibly shrunk a full size.

Watching Hawk's instantaneous transformation, Moyu, Cheadle, and Arieser all wore expressions of shock.

Aging, dying, turning to ash.

That was the Price that "Balance" had poured onto Hawk.

Even more terrifying—

This Price would be passed down through bloodlines.

In other words, once Hawk died, this aging phenomenon would transfer to Moyu.

"Mr. Arieser, this resentment attached to me... I entrust it to you."

Hawk's voice was much hoarser, but it did not hide his anticipation.

Arieser's eyes trembled as he stared blankly at Hawk.

Everything he had seen and heard today had violently shaken his senses.

"I..."

Arieser hesitated.

He wanted to refuse, but the pride cultivated over many years pulled at his thoughts.

"I'll try..."

In the end, Arieser did not refuse.

The aged Hawk immediately breathed a sigh of relief. At least there was hope now.

"Hawk."

Moyu walked over quickly, supporting Hawk's aged arm, his expression complex.

Whether to exorcise the Nen—

The choice given by the depths of consciousness felt like an innate instinct, without any sense of dissonance.