Commands X Resistance

Clink!

"Clever as you are, since it's imbued with Nen, it should be called a Nen Needle." Baishi raised an eyebrow and flicked the coin-sized black disc into the air before Killua once again, prompting him with a smile.

"So what kind of command do you think he would have implanted in the Nen Needle to make you flee in fear whenever you encountered danger?"

"And where in your body would the Nen Needle have to be inserted for it to remain hard to detect and keep working?"

The two nearly explicit leading answers immediately set Killua's mind racing.

Before long.

Killua looked calmly at Baishi.

"I have a question. To control and influence a target with a Manipulation command, does the medium have to be inserted into the target's body?

"That's right! Whether the target is living or inanimate, a Nen user can only manipulate it after exerting an influence on it." Baishi narrowed his eyes and smiled. "Looks like you've figured it all out?"

Hmm...

"Here..." Killua tapped the back of his head with the fingertips of his right hand and said expressionlessly, "The implanted command must greatly amplify my fear when I encounter danger and make me need to flee immediately, or something like that!"

"I've always known my own body well. If something were inserted anywhere, no matter how well hidden, there'd be some sign that something was wrong! My control is weakest over the part of my brain at the back of my head, but..."

A trace of confusion flashed in Killua's eyes.

"A needle as thick as a lollipop stick couldn't possibly have no effect at all, could it?"

"So... is the Nen Needle affecting me a specially made needle as thin as a hair?"

"That's very likely, but we can't rule out a needle conjured with a Nen Ability..."

"Conjured?"

"That involves information about other parts of the Nen system." Baishi waved a hand and rolled his eyes. "If you want more information, trade me something I need. I've already given you so much that I've taken a serious loss."

Uh...

Hearing that, Killua awkwardly pressed the back of his head.

"Can the Nen Needle affecting me be pulled out?"

"Of course!" Baishi's fingers twitched, but then he shook his head. "I might not be able to do it, though."

"Why?" Killua asked, puzzled.

"Simple and complicated are relative." Baishi narrowed his eyes and said, "Among Manipulation Nen users, there's such a thing as manipulation priority."

"Simply put, whoever's Manipulation ability affects the target first prevents another person's Manipulation ability from affecting it afterward..."

"At the moment, I'm just a half-baked amateur who's only recently awakened. It'd be almost impossible for me to remove a thin Nen Needle that might be embedded in your brain's nerves without damaging your brain! Do you want to become an idiot because of some unexpected accident?"

Heh~

"Becoming an idiot would be better than being controlled all the time..." Killua sneered, a hint of resentment showing on his face. "Isn't there any other way?"

"Of course there is!" Under Killua's delighted gaze, Baishi smiled faintly. "Once you awaken [Nen], you'll naturally be able to solve this problem yourself!"

"That's also what I've been considering all along. The Nen Needle can indeed be forcibly removed, though it might damage your brain, but once it's forcibly removed, its owner will inevitably sense it..."

"With your current strength, it's very likely that Illumi will implant an even harsher Manipulation command in you afterward. Do you want to be controlled by Illumi again and again?"

"..."

Killua said expressionlessly, "I'd rather die!"

His words were brief, but they revealed a strong killing intent.

Rather than believing Killua would kill himself, Baishi was more inclined to believe he would do everything he could to carry out all kinds of assassination attempts against Illumi.

Ahem, ahem, ahem!

Dispelling his stray thoughts, Baishi chuckled softly. "Since his current goal is to keep you away from danger, it might be a bad thing. Lying low for now and dealing with it once and for all when you're capable is the best solution!"

"Baishi..." Killua's expression suddenly grew a little strange. "After all that, aren't you just worried that if you forcibly pull out the Nen Needle now and Illumi finds out, he'll kill you on the spot?"

"Afraid? I'd be afraid of him?!"

Baishi sneered and curled his lip disdainfully.

"He's just a pervert obsessed with his little brother. Would I be afraid of a pervert like that? What a joke... I'm just biding my time while I'm not strong enough! Once I'm as strong as him, just watch me beat the shit out of him..."

Pfft! Hahahaha!

Killua couldn't hold back his laughter. Seeing Baishi's face gradually darken, he quickly stopped laughing and changed the subject. "What if I went to find him..."

"Stop! Are you trying to get me killed?" Baishi shot him a sidelong glance. "You'd better keep the information I gave you to yourself. Don't go telling even Gon about it."

"Otherwise, with how straightforward that guy is, he might go straight to Illumi and confront him. And given Illumi's personality, when it comes to anything involving you, the consequences go without saying..."

"There are two reasons I want you to deal with the Nen Needle yourself. First, my abilities aren't good enough yet, so I might not be able to do it without hurting you. Second, there's the question of controlling your will..."

"From my analysis... if someone being controlled can rely on their own will to forcibly break free of a Manipulation command's influence, then even if they're controlled again later, there's a high chance they'll be able to break free of the command's constraints!"

"Of course, all of this assumes the other party hasn't given you an absolute command to unleash your full potential and blow yourself up, or something like that."

"I think I understand what you mean!"

Killua said in realization, "You want me to deal with the Nen Needle after I awaken [Nen]..."

"Nen amplifies will. While breaking free of the command's influence, I'll develop some kind of resistance, like with electric shocks..."

Electric shocks...

Baishi gave Killua a strange look. Understanding why he had used that example, Baishi coughed softly and glanced at the pig bones gradually piling up into a mountain by the distant warehouse entrance, as well as Buhara's steadily expanding belly. Then he raised an eyebrow, turned to Killua, and smiled.

"That concludes the information consultation! Now it's time to pay me..."

"Oh, right! Are you satisfied with the 'information' this time?"

Uh!

"Satisfied! Very satisfied! But..."

Hearing the word payment, Killua couldn't help scratching his cheek.

"I don't have any money on me right now..."

Ding!

[Temporary Weighting Task completed!]