The driver hit the gas, breaking through the wall of camera flashes, speeding away.
Gotoh handed Roy the organized materials. Roy carefully examined them—this Dr. Bennett from the Provincial Central Hospital indeed had impressive credentials. In his youth, he'd studied abroad in the Mimbo Republic.
After returning, he specialized further in respiratory medicine for over ten years. In recent years, he'd been promoted to chief physician, specializing in tuberculosis and respiratory tract diseases, and had accumulated rich treatment experience.
As it turned out, Gotoh had chosen correctly. Driving to the hospital, Roy met Bennett. After hearing about Tanjuro's condition, Dr. Bennett quickly proposed a treatment plan—adopting a four-drug therapy of isoniazid, rifampicin, pyrazinamide, and ethambutol. With the right combination, adequate dosage, regular administration, and a full course of treatment, there was a good chance of a cure.
"He also said it's best to bring the patient here for targeted treatment. Young master, what do you think? Should we schedule another appointment with him?"
Leaving the Central Hospital en route to the airport, Gotoh organized the medical plan Bennett provided, carefully inquiring of Roy.
Roy closed his eyes to rest. How could he not know what Gotoh was thinking? Nothing more than curiosity about who the patient was. However, concerning Tanjuro and the Gate of Recognition, Roy naturally wouldn't say anything to anyone. But Bennett's words had given him an idea.
Since he couldn't use "reverse materialization" methods to send medicine in, then from another perspective, could he use Conjuration methods to bring people out from the cognitive world? If possible, not only could Tanjuro's condition be resolved, but even Sakonji Urokodaki and all the powerful individuals he'd meet in the cognitive world could come to the Hunter world through Conjuration methods, becoming his trusted allies.
So the core problem remained: could living people withstand materialization? Before this, were there precedents proving it? This was a question worth serious consideration.
Countless thoughts churned through his mind. Roy silently pondered briefly before directly refusing Gotoh. "We'll see."
He had to take things one step at a time. The Four Major Principles' training wasn't yet complete. Thinking too far ahead only added unnecessary troubles.
The driver floored it. About ten minutes later, they reached the airport. Gotoh first opened the car door for Roy. The young man bent down to exit, looking up at the entrance, signaling Gotoh to also use Zetsu, withdrawing part of the aura naturally overflowing from their bodies to disguise themselves as ordinary people.
Airports were crowded with people and watchful eyes. Learning disguise was essential for professional assassins. On this trip down the mountain, both Roy and Gotoh wore ordinary attire. The young man wore a tracksuit and athletic shoes, holding a "hiking stick"—he looked exactly like a child on an outdoor trip. Gotoh was even simpler—baseball cap, plaid shirt, jeans, flat shoes, carrying two suitcases. He could have passed for a college student heading home who'd earned pocket money through part-time work, taking his younger brother traveling to see the world.
Master and servant concealed their auras and entered the departure hall, then split up—one to collect tickets, the other to find an empty seat. A mother and child sat in the neighboring seats. The mother was teaching her child to read. Seeing Roy look over, she smiled at him slightly as a greeting.
Roy nodded in return, casually reserving a seat for Gotoh. When the "college student" returned with tickets, master and servant quietly waited for boarding. Luggage was checked. Airports in the Hunter world weren't different from his previous life. The departure hall was filled with vendors selling food, snacks, local specialties, clothing, and duty-free goods—an impressive variety, quite lively.
A loud pop attracted many travelers' attention. It turned out to be a newly opened candy store celebrating its first day, running a promotion. That sound was just a store employee dressed as a stuffed toy pulling a party popper.
Ribbons flew. The little girl immediately lost interest in learning, insisting on going to play. The mother couldn't say no to her and gave in. As they passed Roy, she smiled apologetically, asking him to watch the plastic bag she'd left on the chair containing books, picture books, water bottles, snacks—nothing too valuable.
Roy didn't mind—just a small favor. As the mother and daughter walked away, his gaze wandered until he noticed that among the employees celebrating the opening, one was dressed as a clown—face painted with teardrop and star makeup, red nose, wearing a red pointed hat, clown boots with pointed toes. His gaze suddenly sharpened!
"Young master, something's wrong." Not just Roy—Gotoh had also noticed that strange employee. He quietly approached, whispering, "That guy is suspicious. All those free candy samples he's distributing have Nen aura attached to them."
Attaching Nen to objects—Ten could do that too. Attaching Nen to objects that then leave the hand—that wasn't Ten but Ten's advanced application: Shu!
Shu: Using Ten techniques to wrap one's Nen around objects the body contacts, strengthening that object's properties.
Clearly, the other party was a mature Nen user who'd developed their own Nen ability. Connecting this with his clown outfit, Roy and Gotoh's eyes met, simultaneously thinking of one person—the terrorist who committed heinous crimes in the Mimbo Republic—"Clown"!
How did he get to the Batorokia Republic?
Gotoh inconspicuously reached toward his pocket where several coins lay, but Roy gently shook his head to stop him. His expression froze. Turning to Roy, Roy raised his chin, pointing toward the hall entrance.
A black sedan stopped. Several tall figures filed in through the entrance. They also wore casual clothes, disguised as ordinary travelers, but their glancing eyes occasionally aimed at the "Clown"—clearly their identities were unusual.
"Hunter Association people?"
"Don't know."
After Roy and Gotoh discovered the abnormality, they directly used lip reading, silently communicating: "Not our business. Don't ask questions. Find a chance to use the bathroom and change our tickets to the next airship."
Unnecessary trouble—Roy didn't want to provoke it. But Grandfather Zeno this time would probably make a wasted trip. A mobile terrorist actually escaped the Mimbo Republic—their security checks were looser than they should be!
"Young master, should we notify Master Zeno?"
Grandfather Zeno had just ridden Tsubone out this morning. Presumably he wouldn't run too far.
Roy pondered a few seconds. "Send him a text."
"Yes." Gotoh stood up and left his seat to execute the order.
Forty minutes until boarding. Changing tickets now was still in time. After he left, Roy sat alone pretending nonchalance, eyes closed, resting.
Unexpectedly, the mother and daughter returned, even bringing him a huge surprise—"Big brother, have some candy."