Ging came to Yorknew specifically for Morrow.
Before arriving, he had even investigated the recent incident of the Phantom Troupe's destruction.
According to the intelligence he gathered, the mastermind behind it all was Kurapika.
However, Ging noticed Morrow's shadow in this incident.
To confirm further, he even proactively contacted Kanzai, causing the latter to repeatedly exclaim that the sun must be rising from the west.
Of course, such matters were unimportant.
As soon as Ging arrived in Yorknew, he discovered that mafia members were tracking down Kurapika.
So he simply hitched a ride and, with the "help" of the mafia members, easily found Kurapika.
Only, he didn't see Morrow. Instead, he witnessed the confrontation between Menchi, Kurapika, and those three mafia members.
Two of the mafia members, through long-developed combat habits, used firearms to transform into Emission attacks and also employed variable rhythm suppressive fire.
This approach was quite tactical, but not by much.
Unfortunately for them, they encountered Kurapika, whose abilities perfectly countered theirs.
Plus, with Menchi's masterful Zetsu technique, whether innate or honed from childhood...
The three mafia members were dealt with in an instant.
Ging could tell that those three mafia members must frequently engage in combat normally. In terms of frontal combat proficiency, they were barely passable.
But they encountered the far stronger Menchi and Kurapika, which was why they died so easily.
In Ging's view, Menchi and Kurapika could utilize environmental factors to maximize their respective "strengths" without any communication beforehand.
Just this alone proved they were undoubtedly excellent Nen users.
So, after developing some interest in Kurapika's chain ability, Ging revealed himself. Using only the power of words, he provoked Kurapika into attacking immediately.
He did this partly to satisfy his own curiosity, and partly to demonstrate sufficient strength upfront to reduce complications during their conversation.
Through his brief observation earlier, Ging instantly discerned the mechanics of the Dowsing Chain and the weaknesses inherent in those mechanics.
Thus, with just one move, he effortlessly neutralized the Dowsing Chain's assault.
With his objective achieved, there was naturally no need for further action.
But...
Ging believed that the strength he displayed at that moment, combined with his clear declaration of no hostile intent, should have been enough to end the confrontation.
However, he underestimated Morrow's importance in Kurapika's heart.
So, under the influence of the words "the target is Morrow," even though Kurapika deeply understood Ging's formidable power after this single exchange, he didn't retreat in the slightest.
Kurapika immediately adjusted his mindset, his eyes sharp as blades. As the Dowsing Chain hit the ground, he seamlessly manipulated the chain's tip to burrow underground.
This movement, happening behind Ging's back where the chain's end was, naturally escaped his vision.
Yet even without seeing it, he could instantly "see" the chain tip digging into the ground through his "hearing."
Impressive.
Ging's eyelids lowered slightly.
In that single blink of an eye, he intuitively grasped the immense potential Kurapika possessed, along with that powerful mentality that transcended his youth when facing formidable opponents.
Then, fully aware that chains were about to strike from underground, Ging very naturally raised both hands, adopting a practiced, standard surrender pose while simultaneously withdrawing the aura enveloping his body.
"I surrender, I surrender."
He casually glanced at his feet before lifting his gaze to Kurapika ahead, showing not a shred of awareness as a top-tier expert as he surrendered outright.
Kurapika's eyes narrowed slightly. Even before Ging made the surrender gesture, he had keenly noticed Ging's casual glance toward his feet.
Just who is this person...?
What's his background?!
A flicker of doubt crossed Kurapika's mind, but he didn't halt his attack because of Ging's sudden surrender.
Under his control, the tip of the Dowsing Chain burst through the ground, instantly coiling around Ging's body like a serpent.
However, due to Ging's surrender and his withdrawal of most aura...
Though Kurapika had the chains bind Ging's body, he consciously controlled their intensity.
"What exactly are you after?"
"Oh, I saw Morrow accepting an Exorcism request on the Hunter website."
Ging allowed the chains to bind him, maintaining his hands-up surrender posture while calmly explaining his purpose: "So I wanted to ask for his help with Exorcism. Ah, right, Ging Freecss, that's my name."
"Ask Morrow for Exorcism..."
Kurapika was momentarily stunned before quickly realizing.
This man before him clearly already knew their relevant information.
So that earlier statement about "targeting Morrow" was purely to provoke him into attacking.
This seemingly meaningless action was meant to...
Personally verify his speculation and judgment about the Dowsing Chain's ability mechanism?
Considering this possibility, Kurapika focused his gaze on Ging, who was tightly bound by chains yet showed no sense of crisis at all.
So capricious it's incomprehensible...
Kurapika thought silently to himself.
"Ging Freecss?"
Menchi had now approached Kurapika's side.
The exchange between Kurapika and Ging, while seemingly layered with deep intentions, had actually been extremely brief.
So by the time Menchi came over, Ging, who had outright surrendered, was already securely bound by chains.
But upon hearing Ging introduce himself, Menchi was immediately startled.
"You know him?"
Kurapika didn't look toward Menchi, keeping his eyes fixed on Ging.
Menchi said: "I've heard of him. This guy is quite famous, a two-star Ruins Hunter, also one of the Zodiac Twelve. But his information is highly confidential. I've only heard rumors about him, never knew he was such a sloppy-looking guy."
"Speaking like that right in front of the person himself, how rude."
Ging drooped his eyelids, looking at Menchi.
Menchi placed her hands on her hips, retorting confidently: "Was I wrong?"
"..."
Ging looked down at his stain-covered clothes, then remembered he hadn't shaved for a long time.
"Alright, you're not wrong."
Given his current appearance, he really couldn't refute the "sloppy" assessment.
Kurapika paid no attention to the conversation between the two, directly took out his phone and took a photo of Ging, then sent it to Morrow and Kanzai.
Although he had learned about the origins of the name Ging Freecss from Menchi's description, it was best to verify his appearance just to be safe.
After sending the photo, Kurapika was about to directly call Morrow's number.
But before he could dial, Kanzai called first.
Kurapika answered, and Kanzai's roaring laughter immediately came through the phone.
"Hahaha, this is killing me, hahaha...!"
"..."
Listening to Kanzai's gleefully malicious laughter, Kurapika silently ended the call.
It was confirmed.
Thinking this, he put away his phone and looked at Ging, who appeared completely unfazed.
"Finished confirming?"
Ging casually remarked, then released his aura output again. With his overwhelming strength advantage, he easily broke free from the Dowsing Chain's restraints.
Kurapika's pupils slightly contracted.
Although he hadn't applied maximum power to the chains, the binding force wasn't weak enough to...
This man, who radiated casualness in every action, was truly terrifyingly strong!
"Alright, can you tell me where Morrow went?"
Ging glanced at the scattered Dowsing Chains on the ground and slowly asked.
—--
A moment later.
Only Kurapika, Menchi, and three corpses remained in the botanical garden.
"My master once said that guy earlier... is one of the world's top five strongest Nen users."
Menchi looked in the direction Ging had left and shook her head. "But... how should I put it, he's completely different from what I imagined. It's kind of disillusioning."
After saying this, Menchi didn't wait for Kurapika's reaction and went to search the corpses' pockets.
"..."
Kurapika silently watched the direction Ging had departed.
After Menchi quickly searched one corpse, he joined in as well.
From Ging's words, they already knew these three were gang members, but their search of the bodies didn't yield anything more concrete to prove their identities.
—--
Boyi Street.
Morrow emerged from a quiet antique miscellaneous items specialty shop, subtly glancing at the distant flow of people, his gaze slightly intensifying.
Buzz.
Just then, his phone vibrated slightly in his pants pocket.
Morrow took out his phone, the screen displaying a photo sent by Kurapika.
Seeing the facial features and clothing style of the person tightly bound by chains in the photo, Morrow was surprised.
Ging Freecss?
While surprised, Morrow noticed the message Kurapika had attached below the photo.
So it's for Exorcism. Perfect timing.
Morrow's eyes flickered briefly as he put away his phone, then skillfully turned into an alleyway.
The sanitary conditions in the alley were as poor as ever.
Wastewater from unknown sources flowed freely across the ground.
The trash cans placed against the walls emitted waves of foul odor.
Squeak...
Morrow stepped through the dirty water, startling a few rats that instantly disappeared from sight.
Not particularly bothered by the filthy environment, Morrow walked deeper into the alley with a calm expression.
After walking for quite some time, Morrow reached a dead end, then turned to look back the way he came.
At some point, a figure had quietly appeared at the alley entrance, radiating aura output like a raging torrent, not concealing their bloodlust in the slightest.
Gang members, huh...
Morrow looked toward the figure blocking the intersection, dressed in ordinary casual clothes but with a viciousness in his expression that couldn't be concealed.
As someone who had dealt with gang members countless times before, Morrow could tell this person's background with just one glance.
That kind of ferocity lingering between facial features, he was all too familiar with it now.
Buzz.
His phone vibrated again.
Morrow took out his phone as if no one else was present.
But before he could clearly read the message content, the figure blocking the intersection decisively drew a long, sharp dagger from his waist.
Immediately, the figure charged toward Morrow with the blade's edge pointed directly at him.
At the same time.
From the buildings on both sides of the alley, another figure descended with bloodlust aimed at Morrow below.
Two people, two attacks.
From appearance to action, no wasted words, only clear killing intent.
"Starlight Convergence"
Morrow calmly put his phone back into his pants pocket, the aura output swirling around his body shattering into brilliant starlight.
The narrow alley was instantly filled with beautiful starlight.
As the starlight floated, Morrow immediately grasped the attack trajectories and even intentions of the two assailants.
In the next instant.
With several swift movements and shifts, Morrow lightly dodged the attacks from both assailants.
And because Morrow's aura output level far exceeded that of the two attackers.
Just by dodging these two attacks, stars had already attached themselves to the two assailants, instantly transforming into golden chains.
Huh!?
The two assailants were preparing to follow up with subsequent attacks when they were suddenly restrained by the abruptly appearing golden chains.
Morrow looked up, skillfully abandoning the surrounding starlight Nen, and entered the Ken state at the fastest speed.
Without needing to use the Emission ability "blink," Morrow drew the Abyssal Sheath with his left hand while gripping the Poultry Scarlet Knife's hilt with his right hand. Using rhythmically alternating footwork, he attacked the two assailants restrained by golden chains.
In that instant,
One of the assailants suddenly widened his eyes, his pupils faintly reflecting a series of Morrow's afterimages.
This was precisely the Zoldyck Family's Rhythm Echo footwork.
Morrow moved forward, the Poultry Scarlet Knife in his hand suddenly unsheathed.
A red gleam flashed through the dimly lit alley, severing the life of the wide-eyed assailant.
At this moment.
All the afterimages instantly converged, gathering behind the other assailant.
Yet this assailant's face showed no fluctuation, only frantic struggling.
Morrow pretended to release icy bloodlust, but in the next instant suddenly retreated a distance.
Just as he reached the alley entrance, the assailant who had been trying to break free from the golden chains moments before suddenly swelled up and exploded like a bomb.
Boom!
The explosive flames surged directly toward Morrow at the alley entrance.
But at this distance, the explosion posed no threat at all.
Facing the rushing shockwave, Morrow slightly tilted his head, his gaze seeming to penetrate through walls to see the distant existence of the Star Mark.
Earlier, through the information feedback from Starlight Convergence, he had discerned that one of the assailants was actually a human bomb controlled by Manipulation ability.
Morrow condensed a Shooting Star between his fingers.
But after a moment's thought, he stopped his intention to attack and dispersed the Shooting Star.
"What, planning to use that person as bait to catch them all in one net?"
Atop a power line above the alley, Ging crouched on the wire, looking down with a smile at Morrow standing at the alley's entrance.
Morrow wasn't the least bit surprised by Ging's sudden appearance.
"I haven't had time to check the message from earlier."
Instead of responding to Ging's words, Morrow took out his phone again.
"It's from Menchi. Let me guess what she said..."
Morrow directly turned his phone screen toward Ging on the power line, lightly tapping the screen to open the message while calmly stating: "She's probably warning me that some peeping tom has set their sights on me."
"..."
Ging's gaze fixed on the message content Morrow had opened.
What was written there...
Was pretty much exactly what Morrow had said.
These young people nowadays, each and every one of them, truly remarkable...
Ging thought silently.