Chapter 87: First Encounter with Hisoka x John Doe of a Hundred Faces
"Young Master, it's Luke on the phone..."
Inside the speeding car, a phone rang. Gotoh held the phone, cautiously seeking Roy's permission. The boy was gazing out the window, one hand propping up his chin. Seeming to sense something, he said calmly, "Answer it."
The call connected.
"It's Luke, relaying the Master's exact words. He reminds you not to forget about the three whips."
The Zoldyck family doesn't tolerate idleness. Butlers must train rigorously, and their masters even more so. Roy could almost picture Silva's stern, unsmiling face. He continued to watch the scenery blur past, saying nothing.
Screech. Soon, the car stopped at the airport. Gotoh got out first, opened the door for Roy, then retrieved the luggage from the trunk and followed. Master and servant activated Zetsu, suppressing some of their aura, and disguised themselves as ordinary people entering the terminal.
They boarded the airship bound for the Saherta Republic, landing in Guianas.
Throngs of people poured out of the terminal. Just outside the exit, the difference between this city and Padokea was immediately apparent. Colorful ribbons fluttered, whistles blew, sounds of juggling acts and crowds cheering filled the air. It was far livelier than Padokea. Guianas truly lived up to its name as the "City of Performance."
"Young Master, shall we go explore?" The suitcases had been checked. With a full day ahead of them, Gotoh slung a small bag over his shoulder and followed Roy into a taxi.
"Driver, do you know where the Moritonio Troupe is performing?"
"There's a show at the Royal Glam."
"Hey... are you folks here for the 'Flying Swim' too? That Moritonio guy is amazing! No idea how he does it, but he really flies without any strings..." the driver chattered excitedly. Without needing prompting, he stepped on the gas and drove them straight to the theater.
Gotoh paid the fare, and followed Roy inside. Above them shone the five large characters: "Royal Glam." He wondered curiously why the Young Master was familiar with this particular circus troupe.
Little did he know, Roy wasn't familiar with it, nor did he have any desire to watch the show. He was here purely to collect "Life Energy."
Not knowing and not killing is different from knowing and choosing not to kill. Since he clearly knew Moritonio was a psychopathic serial killer, and he happened to be here with time to spare, there was no reason not to kill him. Even though Roy didn't consider himself a good person and didn't come from a normal family, he acted as he pleased. Who could stop him? Besides, the "Sun" naturally dispels "Darkness." To maintain the clarity of his heart... it was a simple matter, really.
"Wow! Flying Swim! It's Moritonio!"
They bought tickets and entered. The performance was in full swing.
Gotoh accompanied Roy, leaning against a wall near the central stage rather than taking a seat. A middle-aged man with a top hat and a lush beard under his chin held a cane even more ornate than Roy's cane sword. He floated effortlessly through the air, drawing gasps and screams from the audience.
"Nen?"
"Young Master, this 'Moritonio' is a Nen user." Relying on no ropes to soar through the air clearly violated the laws of nature. Gotoh had been suspicious ever since the taxi driver mentioned it. Now, coating his eyes with a thin layer of Nen, he saw it clearly: a "Nen thread" connected to the ceiling, suspending Moritonio and allowing him to perform his swimming motions in mid-air.
"Nen users have to eat too. It's not strange for them to perform for a living," Roy said. His perception went deeper and broader than Gotoh's. Besides Moritonio, there were other Nen users present. For example... Moritonio's assistant, the girl Abaki who tossed him props, and... not far from them, hidden in the darkness, watching Moritonio intently, was a red-haired clown licking the Ace of Spades.
"Heh heh heh... Instead of watching the show, why are you looking at me? ♥" The clown seemed to possess a keen intuition, sharply catching Roy's gaze. He tilted his head. The boy is about my age... his eyes are interesting, seem to hold many stories...♠
Hisoka's eyes narrowed into crescent moons, meeting Roy's gaze across the dim light. Roy pulled his gaze back, letting it merely brush past Hisoka before returning to the stage. Hisoka remained, biting lightly on the card, his shoulders shaking with ambiguous laughter. ♣
"Amazing! Moritonio! Encore! Encore! Don't leave the stage!"
Half an hour later, the performance neared its end. "Big Star" Moritonio, unable to resist the audience's enthusiasm, performed for an extra five minutes before finally retreating backstage to rest.
"Director, have some water." Abaki gathered the props and followed him into the dressing room, handing him a glass. Moritonio drank it, catching his breath. "Where is Hisoka?"
"Looking for me? ♠" The curtain parted, revealing a face painted with a star and a teardrop. Hisoka leaned against the dressing table, arms crossed. The entire Moritonio Troupe was now accounted for, just waiting for Berlitzo, the "laborer" driver, to take them back to their hotel.
Moritonio removed his costume. Staring out the window as the sun slanted westward and night crept over the horizon, his expression turned blank. He went into the restroom and emerged moments later, completely transformed. Vacant, stiff, like an executioner lost in the darkness, unsure of the way back.
He left the hotel, blended into the crowd, and began to prowl for prey. He spotted a lone girl and began to follow her. Caw... caw... Night deepened, crows called out. Unlike the brightly lit main streets, the alley was pitch black, so dark you couldn't see your hand in front of your face. The girl, her two pigtails swinging, had just left her tutoring session, dreaming of going home and not having homework. Suddenly, she saw a dark figure. Her eyes widened. A hand clamped firmly over her mouth, shoving her against the wall!
"Surprised? Such a fresh face... Be good, child... Let uncle get a good look... at that terrified, desperate, absolutely splendid expression of yours... Quick... open your eyes wider... Yes... just like that... Crying? Why are you crying... Smile... Smile for me!"
Shink! A brilliant flash of a blade sliced through the air, taking an arm with it. Blood sprayed onto the wall. Moritonio froze. The girl vanished, now held protectively in the arms of a young man with a beard. Standing before them was a boy, leaning on his cane sword, watching him expressionlessly.
"Should I call you John Doe of a Hundred Faces, or the big star Moritonio?"
"Have I been found out?" Moritonio clutched his face, his voice muffled as he laughed. "Young man, you are very brave. Could you perhaps let me see your surprised expression as well?"
Screeech—
The cane sword in Roy's hand suddenly moved. Moritonio pointed a single finger at Roy. The cane sword turned against its master,挣脱 Roy's grip, spun around, and thrust back towards him!
"Iron-Stained Bipolarity": The ability to convert Aura into magnetic force, controlling metal at will. This was also the secret behind how Moritonio used "Nen threads" to hook onto the ceiling.
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