Candy with Nen aura attached lay quietly in the little girl's hand.
The little girl smiled sweetly—any normal person couldn't bear to refuse her. But Gotoh wasn't a normal person. He returned at just the right time, ever the loyal butler, blocking the "knife" for Roy.
"Big brother has a toothache and can't eat candy. Thank you, sweetheart."
"Really?" The little girl tilted her head, looking at Roy. Roy smiled and nodded at her.
The girl's mother was a gentle woman, gently pulling the girl's small hand. "Ena, don't disturb big brother."
She smiled apologetically at Roy and Gotoh. Roy and Gotoh exchanged glances, both breathing a sigh of relief. However, before they could fully relax, the tension shot right back up.
Looking ahead, that clown-dressed employee was coming over.
A group of children surrounded him. Walking while scattering candy, those unaware might think he was getting back at his employer for low wages. Travelers sitting along the way each received a piece. Soon, he arrived before Roy and Gotoh.
"Candy... chocolate flavor... delicious... have one..." A pale hand extended.
The clown with a ridiculous red nose smiled at Roy. Bright, glaring red lips curved, stretching to his ears. Roy looked up to meet his gaze. The clown smiled even sweeter than the little girl. His gaze passed over Roy's shoulder, landing on those tall figures guarding the hall entrance not far away.
Roy couldn't figure out what the Hunter Association was thinking—why hadn't they acted yet? Hadn't they discovered the "candy" problem? Impossible. If the other party were Nen users, they couldn't fail to notice the Nen attached.
The reason they watched many people swallow it without interference was probably fear of causing panic, letting this "Clown" escape in the chaos. But weren't ordinary people's lives worth protecting too? Without Nen exorcists present, the Nen attached to "candy" couldn't be easily removed. Or did they have the confidence to kill with one strike before the "Clown" activated his ability?
Roy's brain raced. He directly refused the clown's kindness. "Sorry, I have diabetes and can't eat sweets."
"Oh, poor little thing. Fortunately, Uncle has sugar-free ones here..." The clown flipped his hand, pulling another candy from his chest's large pocket.
Roy: "..."
Shaking his head. "Sugar-free has additives. I don't eat them."
"Pure natural, no additives. Eat with confidence." The clown smiled even sweeter.
"No additives means no taste, not good."
"Guaranteed to have taste. Eat freely."
"He said he's not eating!" Gotoh suddenly stood up, his tall frame blocking Roy like a wall!
"Ma... ma..." The clown acted "startled," hurriedly raising his hands and stepping back two paces. Candy spilled from his pocket, attracting many children to scramble for it.
"Beep... beep... beep... Passengers please note... Flight K3284 to Heaven's Arena is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate G4 for ticket inspection and boarding. Beep... beep... beep... Passengers please note..."
The airport broadcast sounded. The crowd surged, separating the "Clown." He stood in the crowd, pushed backward. A pair of scarlet eyes quietly watched Roy. Noticing those figures blocking the entrance moved, he pulled out his pocket and scattered candy upward. Candy filled the sky, attracting crowds to scramble. Taking advantage of the chaos, he mixed into the crowd and disappeared.
"He got on the airship." Gotoh had been tracking him, seeing everything clearly. The moment he stood up, he released Zetsu and activated Ken.
The young butler adjusted his gold-rimmed glasses. "Fortunately, the young master had the foresight to have me change flights early."
Foresight? Roy witnessed the Hunter Association people pushing through the crowd in pursuit, his expression unreadable as he fell into thought.
Nearby, the little girl picked up several more "candies," happily eating them. She swung her short legs, saying to the woman, "Mommy, big brother seems to be on the same flight as us?"
The woman smiled awkwardly at Gotoh. What answered her was Gotoh's cold glance; then he sat down without a word.
Half an hour later, "Flight K3284" carried the "Clown" and Hunter Association personnel into the sky. Roy heard the engine's roar, looking up toward the window. A chill rose in his heart.
It was obvious—the Hunter Association and Police Department were willing to use a whole plane full of passengers as bait to catch the "Clown" on the airship. Up there, trapped in the sky with nowhere to escape, even if the "arrest plan" failed, the fall could kill him. But this way, an entire plane full of innocent passengers were forced to become "sacrifices."
"Years ago, following Master on missions, I witnessed the dark side of the Hunter Association." Gotoh seemed to read Roy's thoughts, saying quietly, "Many of them actually have no sense of justice. More often, like us, they just take money to do jobs. It's just that Master and Master Zeno, more or less, show consideration for ordinary people. Them?" Gotoh smiled coldly. "When pushed to extremes, they're no better than monsters."
The Hunter Association mostly contracted government or corporate work, then delegated it to association-affiliated hunters. For hunters accepting commissions under such circumstances, regardless of success, the association guaranteed them certain compensation based on risk and difficulty.
In other words, national interests superseded the Hunter Association.
Perhaps Mimbo Republic's upper echelons, humiliated and enraged, secretly reached some agreement with Batorokia Republic. Roy suddenly thought of Netero's close friend Jed. Years ago as the Hunter Association's "shadow," he'd done plenty of dirty work for Netero. Otherwise, after death, he wouldn't have generated such deep resentment.
"Are you talking?"
The little girl chewing candy curiously examined Roy and Gotoh. The two frequently communicated through lip reading without making sounds, clearly arousing her curiosity.
"Ena, I said don't disturb the brothers' rest."
"It's fine." Roy saw the woman frantically grab the girl's pigtails, smiling and waving his hand.
His gaze lingered for a moment on the candy she chewed. He could only hope the Hunter Association people would be competent enough not to let an innocent life perish.
At 3:20 that afternoon, the airport broadcast announced that "Flight K3285" was now boarding. Gotoh, who'd waited half the day, stood up. Following Roy through the crowd, they boarded the airship.
By unfortunate coincidence, after changing tickets, they sat directly across from the woman and little girl.
"With the sudden ticket change, officials couldn't arrange a VIP cabin. I can only ask the young master to make do in an ordinary cabin."
"It's not a problem. There's black tea, pastries, and acquaintances. Quite comfortable, actually."
"That's right, big brother. This time the tea and snacks aren't sweet and have no additives. You can eat with confidence~"
Just as Gotoh sat beside Roy, the little girl grinned from ear to ear.
Roy and Gotoh froze—two gun barrels pressed against the backs of their heads.
"Don't move!"