As an ally, he would be a very reliable person.
As an enemy, he would be a very troublesome person.
This was Chrollo's evaluation of Law. Based on all feasible premises, he had no desire to make an enemy of Law if possible.
First and foremost, what warranted attention was the friendship between Law and Machi, Nobunaga, and Uvogin. The subtle hesitation on Nobunaga's face was a sign that needed to be taken seriously.
Hypothesize, ponder, speculate.
Beginning, process, outcome.
Past, present, future.
The Troupe had no need to concern themselves with others. But if that person was Law, then as long as he didn't cross the line too far, it was best to avoid conflict whenever possible.
However, Law's actions of injuring Pakunoda and Kirlo couldn't simply be ignored.
'Thinking about it this way… what a huge headache.'
In the span of a few seconds, Chrollo arrived at a conclusion that wasn't quite a conclusion. He looked at Law and said calmly, "I'm curious. What's your reason for standing up for the Ohara Museum?"
Law coldly glanced at him and said nothing.
The sudden appearance of a sixth person, who had intervened to rescue Pakunoda using a stratagem of 'relieving the besieged by besieging the base', was something Law hadn't anticipated.
Originally, he could have prepared more, but due to Nobunaga's presence, there were things he couldn't do too overtly.
'It seemed his persuasion hadn't been strong enough. Well then…'
Between them, an unspoken understanding emerged… both Law and Chrollo, from their respective positions, had to consider the presence of Machi, Nobunaga, and Uvogin.
Within that, a delicate emotional constraint seemed to hang between them.
The more one thought, the more one might lose.
Whoosh!
Law suddenly moved, darting toward Kirlo, who was just getting back on his feet.
At almost the same moment, Chrollo flipped a page in his book and also moved.
Both of them utilized Emission-type abilities, employing something akin to teleportation, but their directions diverged.
Law's target was Kirlo, while Chrollo's target was Salin.
Noticing Chrollo's action, Law's eyes turned cold. He understood exactly what Chrollo was planning.
Stalling!
Earlier, sending Shalnark to notify the others was undoubtedly also a delay tactic.
'Did he want others to gather as soon as possible and then overwhelm me all at once?'
Whatever Chrollo's true intentions were, he showed no sign of stopping. That earlier question had been a probe to test the depth of Law's connection to the Ohara Museum, to find a balance… never crossing the line, but never backing down either.
"Law, don't worry about me."
Just then, Salin spoke.
A flicker of surprise passed through Chrollo's eyes. Charging at Salin had been an open move, an attempt to use her to restrain Law. But judging by the result, this woman's words had rendered that plan ineffective.
The faint hesitation in Law's heart vanished. Setting aside the threat Chrollo posed to Salin, he focused entirely on rushing toward Kirlo.
Kirlo had barely gotten up when he saw Law already in front of him. His heart lurched, but the first thing he did was throw his sword toward Nobunaga's direction.
This move, disregarding his own safety, was something he believed he had to do… because Nobunaga without a sword and Nobunaga with a sword were two entirely different people.
However, this action also left him extremely vulnerable.
[Agonizing Bone Drill]
Suddenly, the nature of Aura covering Kirlo's body changed.
Earlier, when he had exchanged blows with Law, despite being physically overpowered, his Nen Ability should have taken effect upon physical contact. Yet, on the surface, it seemed his ability had done nothing.
Before he could resolve this confusion, Law was already pressing the attack.
Left with no choice, Kirlo could only unleash his Aura again to meet Law's assault.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
The two clashed once more, fists weaving through the air, gusts of wind scattering around them.
'Did my Nen fail?'
Kirlo was deeply puzzled, and soon found himself at an overwhelming disadvantage.
Even uninjured, he hadn't been a match for Law… let alone now, while wounded.
As a Transmuter, he could alter the properties of his Aura into a three-step effect: corrosion, rooting, and dissolution. Yet, the first step, corrosion, hadn't manifested at all.
Had it worked, Law's Aura would have been 'tainted', with each step carrying an additional effect of pain. But Law appeared completely unaffected.
'This guy…'
A mountain-like pressure bore down on him.
For the first time, Kirlo felt this unbearable weight from an opponent.
'There's no chance of winning.'
After gritting his teeth and enduring for a while, Kirlo attempted to disengage. A feint momentarily deceived Law, allowing him to retreat hastily.
'He's deceived?'
The judgment Kirlo had made contained a seemingly nonexistent margin of error in distance.
Law watched as Kirlo rapidly retreated, then raised his hand… Shin appearing in an instant.
Playing along with Kirlo's self-deluding feint had only been to make the next step easier.
'This guy is a Conjurer?!'
Kirlo's expression twisted in shock as Law swung his sword, leaving him with no way out.
'How should I respond? Rely on the secondary effects of my Nen? No, my ability wasn't the type to take immediate effect.'
In that critical moment, Kirlo's mind raced… until he heard Law's low murmur.
"First one."
Immediately, Kirlo gathered his Aura at the fastest speed possible, trying to mitigate the damage from Law's sword.
The sword flashed… cold steel pressing against his skin.
Law swung the sword five times.
The first strike, Kirlo barely dodged.
The second, severed his left arm.
The third, his left leg.
The fourth, his right leg.
The fifth, his right arm.
Kirlo couldn't keep up with Law's rhythm. From the second strike onward, he fell behind, cleanly losing all four limbs.
He crashed to the ground, but no scream escaped him… there was no pain at the severed stumps. Yet his entire body was drenched in cold sweat.
After cutting off Kirlo's limbs, Law still held back… he didn't carve out his heart.
Like Chrollo, he was avoiding an irreparable outcome, both restrained by that unspoken emotional constraint, maintaining a delicate balance.
Ignoring the now limbless Kirlo, Law turned his attention to Salin. She was locked in close combat with Chrollo… superficially at a disadvantage, but Chrollo wasn't having an easy time subduing her either.
'A miscalculation.'
Chrollo frowned. He hadn't expected Kirlo to fall so quickly. In terms of speed alone, Law had left him far behind.
Without hesitation, he disengaged, retreating to stand beside Nobunaga, who now held his sword again.
Seeing this, Salin relaxed slightly and moved closer to Law.
She had initially thought Chrollo wouldn't be easy to handle, but in their brief exchange, he had exerted considerable pressure.
"You got what you came for. Know when to stop… or I'll have to persuade you more forcefully."
Law stared at Chrollo, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with Nobunaga, and tilted his arm slightly… Shin's blade pressing against Kirlo's face, stifling any thoughts of resistance.
Kirlo had quickly realized his severed limbs still had a physical connection, but Law's blade crushed any hope of exploiting that.
Seeing this, Chrollo let out a faint sigh, "What we want hasn't been fully obtained yet. So you're telling us to stop now?"
The moment those words fell-
Law immediately realized something and turned his gaze toward the museum.