There are roughly one thousand Pro Hunters in the Hunter Association, with only about fifty having achieved a star rank.
The Hunter Association's Headquarters is grand and spacious. Many star-ranked Hunters have their own offices within it, which is a mark of their status.
Most star-ranked Hunters do not stay in one place for long, but some have chosen to remain at the Headquarters.
Among them are members of the Zodiac Twelve, like Vice-Chairman, Pariston Hill, the Triple-Star Disease, Hunter Cheadle Yorkshire, and the Double-Star Trouble Hunter, Saccho Kobayakawa. They usually work in their assigned offices.
Besides the Zodiacs, five other star-ranked Hunters have their professional offices within the building. One of them is a Single-Star Bounty Hunter named Bushidora Ambitious.
The person with an overwhelming sense of justice that the sunglasses man thought of was Bushidora.
Blacklist Hunters make up the largest proportion of Association's hunters. Since Bushidora has attained a Single-Star title, he should be more than capable of handling a single member of the Phantom Troupe.
However, the sunglasses man hoped more people would come to ensure Machi couldn't escape.
His actions, though, did not escape Pariston's notice.
...
Bino Plaza had many food trucks parked on it, surrounded by pedestrians waiting for hot snacks or warm drinks.
Law arrived alone at the plaza. After a quick scan, he saw many people, but there's no sign of Machi.
Before coming, he hadn't explained much, just told Sanbica and Buhara to return to the Association and wait for him. He stored the clothes in Kuro's space and came alone.
There were still about eight minutes until the time Machi had specified.
Law walked to a relatively conspicuous white statue and silently watched the pedestrians passing by.
There were parents with children, teenagers on skateboards, young couples walking arm-in-arm.
A cold wind blew, carrying dry leaves that rustled across the ground in little whirls.
Law looked up at the overcast sky. It was hard to tell if it was typical winter gloom or a sign of coming rain.
After a few minutes, Law noticed many people holding warm drinks, the rising steam looking inviting.
He thought for a moment, went to a food truck, bought two cups of hot milk tea, and returned to wait under the statue.
"Two more minutes," Law calculated silently, looking around the plaza again. Machi still hadn't arrived.
Another minute passed. A familiar figure appeared, walking up the steps from the park.
Law saw Machi immediately, and she saw him too.
Machi paused briefly, then quickened her pace to stand before Law.
"Apologize," was her first word.
"I was wrong," Law complied readily.
"Hmm." Machi nodded slightly, her expression calm and unreadable.
Seeing she didn't seem angry anymore, Law thought the matter was behind them. His nose twitched slightly, "I smell blood. Did you have trouble?"
"A team of bounty hunters found me earlier. I killed them," Machi said, her tone casual, as if discussing trivial matters.
Law nodded, asking no further questions. He wanted to ask about the Kurta Clan, but now didn't seem the right time.
He planned to leave tonight. Machi shouldn't stay in this city long either, so he thought it best to take her with him. Then, on the way to find Linne, he could find a chance to ask indirectly.
Unaware of Law's thoughts, Machi looked at him and said, "I specifically chose a place with few people. No one else was involved."
Law felt a pang in his heart. He looked at Machi's calm face and suddenly smiled.
"What are you smiling at?" Machi bit her lower lip lightly, realizing her explanation might have been unnecessary.
"Nothing." Law shook his head. He placed the milk tea from his right hand on the statue's base and took the tracksuit from Kuro's space.
Machi's gaze fell on Law's left shoulder. "Your arm... can it not be restored?"
"Not for now, but it will be possible later." Law replied. He looked at the clothes in his hand, then up at Machi, his eyes briefly passing over her full chest. He sighed, "I think I bought it too small."
"It is too small."
Machi took the clothes. One glance was enough to tell the size was wrong.
'Did he think I hadn't grown at all over the years?'
"Should we go back and exchange it?" Law suggested.
Machi initially wanted to refuse, but remembering Law and Sanbica entering the clothing store, she agreed, "Okay."
Law smiled and put the clothes back into Kuro's space.
Just then, Law and Machi instinctively looked toward the plaza. The crowd was thinning. Several figures were moving through the people, directing them away from the area.
Their actions were blatant, almost as if they wanted to be noticed.
"They're probably here for me," Machi said, watching the scene.
Law said calmly, "This is the Hunter Association's city, after all. Your identity stands out too much here."
The Hunter Association was like a holy ground for Hunters. Even unlicensed hunters gathered here instinctively.
Machi fell silent, her eyes still on the crowd, "I know. So you should stay away from me. Don't get mistaken for an accomplice."
Law felt a wave of helplessness. He knew Machi wasn't fully over her anger, or perhaps she still held onto the idea that they were 'not from the same world'.
'So stubborn,' He thought.
Suddenly, Law's expression shifted. His hand shot out like lightning, intercepting something just behind Machi's head. He caught a long, pointed sniper bullet between his thumb and forefinger.
Sizzle!
A wisp of smoke rose from the bullet held in his grip.
The shot had come from a sharp angle, slipping through a narrow gap in the statue, aimed directly at the back of Machi's head.
Her attention had been on the plaza. The sniper's angle was cunning. Only when Law caught the bullet did she react.
Due to the plaza's disturbance, she had opened her Aura Nodes, spreading Aura over her body. But without focusing it to a point, it might not have stopped a sniper round.
If Law hadn't caught it, the consequences would have been severe.
The hidden bounty hunters were shocked to see Law catch a sniper bullet bare-handed.
A tall, long-haired man wearing a hat looked grim.
They had sent people to clear the crowd deliberately… partly to announce their presence, partly to create the illusion they wouldn't act unless the area was clear.
Under that pretense, the sniper took the shot.
But the plan failed.
'That man wasn't a known Phantom Troupe's member... or was he a new recruit?'
'But he looked somewhat familiar.'
Bang!
A gunshot echoed across the plaza. Pedestrians screamed and fled in panic.
Law crushed the bullet. Seeing Machi's slightly pale face, he said, "Let's leave this place first."
"I'll go alone. You don't need to come." Machi said, calming her shock. She lowered her eyes, "You don't want to be mistaken for one of them, do you?"
"Don't be foolish. Your safety is ten thousand times more important than that."
Law refuted her seriously. He stepped forward, facing the more than twenty distinct figures standing amid the fleeing crowd. All were Nen Users, likely Association's Hunters, though none seemed exceptionally strong.
The strongest was probably the long-haired man with the hat.
Watching Law's back, a beautiful smile spread across Machi's face.