The Southernpiece Auction concluded.
Ellie and the others returned carrying a pile of purchases, whereas Killua and Gon returned empty-handed.
Among the items they had won at auction, apart from jewelry and books, there were also seven Nen-carrying antiquities, spanning a wide range of categories.
Ellie had bought them for Law because she knew he had quite a demand for such things.
"Where's Law?"
When Ellie and the others returned, only Kurapika was in the suite.
"He went out," Kurapika replied, then added, "He didn't say where."
This addition made the words at the edge of Ellie's tongue get swallowed back down. She directly took out her phone and dialed Law's number.
A moment later, the call couldn't go through.
Ellie pouted, but could only give up.
She had wanted to give Law a surprise, but he was nowhere to be seen when they got back.
Gon and Killua ran over to Kurapika, asking about his condition.
After all, when they went to the Southernpiece Auction, Kurapika hadn't woken up yet.
The first day of the Southernpiece Auction concluded successfully.
Gon and Killua were complete spectators, and the winning bid for the first copy of Greed Island was 36.2 billion.
Milluki's budget was 33 billion. Not only did he fail to secure the first copy, but the main competitor, the wealthy Battera, had also figured out his budget.
By the 10th, the Southernpiece Auction would release a total of seven copies of Greed Island. Six remained now.
At this very moment, Law, who had no interest in Greed Island whatsoever, was walking with Machi in the Gordeau Desert.
Law had rushed over immediately after receiving Machi's message.
He knew Machi's purpose was probably just for old times' sake.
However, Law arrived as fast as he could, but Machi had already finished what she came to do.
It seemed she had visited the graves of Chrollo and the others first, then sent the message to Law.
Looking at it this way, she did care to some extent.
So Law avoided mentioning that matter. All his questions were about how she had been during her time with Biscuit.
Machi then talked about her experiences during that period.
And so, the two of them, talking one after another, walked slowly through the desert, facing the wind and sand.
Behind them, the tall pillar-shaped rock stood firm amidst the wind and sand, unmoving.
Who would have thought that at the summit of that rock lay buried several members of the infamous Phantom Troupe.
Back when Chrollo created the Troupe, he had probably already considered the factor of 'continuation', hence the rule that the Troupe's survival was more important than the leader's life.
Moreover, the membership condition of killing an existing member to join was a reflection of a wolf-like nature.
Perhaps Chrollo never felt that an outsider killing an existing member to join would have a fundamental impact on the Troupe.
It could be said that from the inside out, it exuded an aura of the survival of the fittest.
Therefore, a Troupe like this, unless completely wiped out, would continue indefinitely.
And their end point was buried here, with no further chance of continuation.
Walking out of the Gordeau Desert on foot, Law accompanied Machi to stroll around Yorknew City.
It was the peak of the Yorknew City's auction season. Even with the Cemetery Building incident, the population in the city showed no sign of decreasing.
Law and Machi were just like ordinary people, weaving through the crowds, buying things they fancied, going to a drink shop to get two beverages when thirsty.
When tired from walking, they sat at white tables and chairs in a square, ordering a few fragrant snacks, watching the playful, bustling crowds.
At this moment, the two of them seemed like an inconspicuous couple.
By evening, Law wanted to book a hotel room for Machi, but she refused.
Left with no choice, Law had to abandon thoughts of a tender moment and saw Machi off to the Lingon Airport. The round trip took three or four hours.
By the time Law returned to the hotel, it was past 9 p.m.
Law used the key card to open the door, walked past the entrance hall into the living room, and the first thing he saw was Ellie sitting on the sofa with her arms crossed, looking at him with a scrutinizing gaze.
Her posture gave Law a strange feeling, as if he had gone out for an affair and was now under suspicion.
Stargie was also there, engrossed in a soap opera, while Salin was probably in her room reading ancient books.
Ellie got up from the sofa and walked over to Law in a few quick steps.
Law looked at her speechlessly.
Then, Ellie circled around Law once, her nose twitching slightly. Her eyes suddenly widened, and she said warily, "There's a woman's scent!"
"Get to bed early."
Law, however, reached out, patted Ellie's head, then calmly and composedly walked towards his room.
Ellie wouldn't give up so easily. She quickly followed and demanded, "Tell me, whose scent is that?"
"Your sister-in-law's."
Law replied casually, then opened the door.
Ellie felt as if struck by lightning, but quickly recovered and said skeptically, "I don't believe it. Unless you give me a name."
Just like that, the two walked side by side into the room and happened to see Kurapika walking out of the bathroom wearing only boxer shorts.
At that moment, Kurapika was drying his hair with a towel. Hearing the noise, he turned around and saw Law and Ellie standing at the doorway.
Their gazes met.
After about two seconds, Kurapika suddenly dashed back into the bathroom with a bang, violently shutting the door.
Seeing this, Ellie said in a daze, "He... is that shy?"
For a moment, Ellie almost thought she was a man and Kurapika was a woman.
Law also thought Kurapika's reaction was rather exaggerated. He rubbed his temples and said to Ellie, "Look at you, scaring Kurapika. Get out now."
As he spoke, he pushed Ellie out of the room.
Only after the door closed did Ellie snap out of it. She stamped her foot angrily and went back to the sofa.
Stargie glanced at her nonchalantly, then went back to watching the soap opera.
In the room, Law walked to the window, silently looking at the dazzling nightscape below.
Then, he took out his phone and sent a message to Tonpa, who was far away in the NGL Autonomous Region, telling him to find a suitable time to make a call.
That place had abandoned mechanical civilization, so Law couldn't establish real-time communication with Tonpa. He could only leave messages and arrange calls at appropriate times.
After sending the message, Law put away his phone.
Click.
The bathroom door opened, and Kurapika walked out wearing thin clothing.
"I've thought it over carefully. I've decided to go to the front desk tomorrow morning to book another room," Kurapika said, looking at Law who was standing by the window.
Hearing this, Law turned to look at Kurapika and smiled. "That's not necessary. I'm leaving tomorrow morning."
Kurapika raised his eyes slightly and instinctively asked, "Where to?"
"Balsa Islands," Law didn't hide it.
Hearing Law's destination, Kurapika paused for a moment but still didn't ask further about what Law intended to do there.
"And you? Decided where you're going?" Law suddenly asked.
"Not yet..." Kurapika said in a low voice.
Wherever he went, it would be to retrieve his clansmen's eyes.
Once that matter was over, there would be no destination in his life, only the road home.
Law didn't give Kurapika any more suggestions, ended the topic, took a shower, and went to bed.
The next day, Law accepted the antiquities Ellie had given him. Then, while Ellie and the others went to the Southernpiece Auction, he went directly to Lingon Airport and boarded an airship bound for the Balsa Islands.
It wasn't until the end of the second day of the Southernpiece Auction that when Ellie and the others returned, they discovered Law had slipped away, and Kurapika was responsible for relaying his message to them.
The gist of it was: 'Had some business, so I left.'
At the same time, Uvogin and Nobunaga arrived at the Gordeau Desert.
Their purpose was undoubtedly the same as Machi's.