Chapter 51: Speculations on the Gate of Cognition x First Sighting of 'Joker'
The driver slammed on the accelerator, bursting through the encirclement of flashing lights and speeding away.
Gotoh handed Roy the file he had prepared. Roy read through it carefully. This Dr. Bennett from the Provincial General Hospital was indeed impressive. He had studied abroad in the Minbo Republic in his youth, and upon returning, had spent over a decade specializing in pulmonology. He had recently been promoted to chief physician, focusing on tuberculosis and respiratory diseases, and had accumulated a wealth of clinical experience.
As it turned out, Gotoh had chosen the right person.
Upon arriving at the hospital, Roy met Dr. Bennett. After hearing about Tanjuro's condition, the doctor quickly proposed a treatment plan: a four-drug combination therapy using Isoniazid, Rifampin, Pyrazinamide, and Ethambutol. He stated that with a consistent, full-course, and properly dosed regimen, there was a very high probability of a complete cure.
"He also said it would be best to bring the patient here for a direct diagnosis before prescribing the medication..."
"Young Master, what do you think? Should we schedule another appointment with him?"
On the way to the airport after leaving the hospital, Gotoh organized the medical plan Dr. Bennett had provided and cautiously asked for Roy's opinion.
Roy, resting with his eyes closed, knew exactly what Gotoh was thinking. He was simply curious about who the patient was.
However, as this concerned Tanjuro and the 'Gate of Cognition', Roy would naturally not reveal a single detail. But...
Dr. Bennett's words had inadvertently given him an idea.
Since he couldn't send medicine into the Gate of Cognition through "de-Conjuration," could he, by reversing the logic, bring people out of that world through "Conjuration"?
If that was possible... not only could Tanjuro's illness be solved, but even Sakonji Urokodaki... and all the other powerful individuals he might meet in that world could be brought into the Hunter world through Conjuration, becoming his loyal allies.
That left only one core question:
Could a living person withstand the process of being Conjured? And more importantly, was there any precedent for it?
It was a question worth deep consideration and investigation.
A thousand thoughts swirled in his mind.
Roy pondered in silence for a moment before directly refusing Gotoh. "We'll see."
You had to eat your meals one bite at a time and walk your path one step at a time. He hadn't even mastered the Four Major Principles yet. Thinking too far ahead would only bring unnecessary trouble.
Vroom—
The driver hit the gas, and the car sped off. About ten minutes later, they arrived at the airport.
Gotoh opened the car door for Roy first. The boy ducked as he stepped out, glanced up at the terminal entrance, and then signaled for Gotoh to use Zetsu along with him. They retracted the aura naturally leaking from their bodies, disguising themselves as ordinary people.
The airport was crowded and full of prying eyes. Learning to blend in was a mandatory course for any professional assassin.
For this trip down the mountain, both Roy and Gotoh were dressed as civilians. The boy wore a tracksuit and sneakers, carrying a "hiking pole" in his hand, looking every bit the part of a kid on an outdoor trip.
Gotoh's disguise was even simpler: a baseball cap, a plaid shirt, jeans, and flat shoes, carrying two suitcases. He looked like a university student returning home, who had earned a little extra cash from a part-time job and was now taking his younger brother on a trip to see the world.
After concealing their auras, the master and servant pair entered the terminal. They split up; one went to get the tickets while the other found an empty seat and sat down.
Next to him sat a mother and child. The mother was patiently teaching her child to read. Seeing Roy look over, she gave him a small smile in greeting.
Roy nodded back and saved a seat for Gotoh. When the "university student" returned with the tickets, the two of them waited quietly to check their luggage and board.
The airport in the Hunter world was no different from the one in his previous life. The terminal was filled with shops selling food, snacks, local specialties, clothing, and duty-free goods. It was a bustling and lively scene.
BANG—!
A loud pop attracted the attention of many travelers.
It turned out to be a newly opened candy store, holding a grand opening promotion. The "pop" was just a confetti cannon set off by an employee dressed in a plush toy costume.
Colorful ribbons fluttered through the air. The little girl next to him immediately lost interest in her reading lesson and began clamoring to go see. Her mother, unable to refuse, gave in and took her over. As they passed Roy, she gave him an apologetic smile and asked if he could watch the plastic bag they had left on the chair. It just contained some books, a water bottle, and snacks—nothing too valuable.
Roy didn't mind; it was a simple favor. He watched the mother and daughter leave, and as his gaze swept the area, he noticed something among the employees at the promotion. One was dressed as a clown, with a teardrop and star painted on his face, a red nose, a pointed red hat, and pointy clown shoes. Roy's gaze instantly sharpened!
"Young Master, something is wrong." It wasn't just Roy; Gotoh had also noticed the strange employee.
He leaned in closer, whispering in Roy's ear, "There's something off about that guy. All the candy samples he's handing out are imbued with Aura."
To imbue an object with Nen, Ten could accomplish that. But to imbue an object and have the Nen remain after it left your hand was not Ten. It was an advanced application of it—
Shu!
Shu: The technique of enfolding an object held in one's hand with their Aura, using the principles of Ten to enhance the object's properties.
Clearly, the man was a seasoned Nen user who had already developed his own Hatsu ability.
Connecting that with his clown costume...
Roy and Gotoh exchanged a look, both thinking of the same person: the terrorist who had committed heinous crimes in the Minbo Republic—"Joker"!
What is he doing here in the Padokea Republic?
Gotoh discreetly reached for his pocket, where he kept several coins, but Roy gently pressed his hand down, shaking his head.
Gotoh paused, then followed Roy's gaze. Roy tilted his chin toward the terminal entrance.
A black car had pulled up, and several tall figures filed in through the doors. They were also dressed in plain clothes, disguised as ordinary travelers, but their eyes kept darting toward the "Joker," betraying their true identities.
"Hunter Association?"
"I don't know..."
After spotting the anomaly, Roy and Gotoh switched to reading lips, communicating silently.
"This has nothing to do with us. Don't ask questions. Find a chance, go to the restroom, and change our tickets to the next airship."
Roy didn't want to get involved in unnecessary trouble. It seemed his grandfather, Zeno, was in for a wasted trip. For a mobile terrorist to be able to slip out of the Minbo Republic... the security over there was looser than an old lady's waistband.
"Young Master, should we notify Master Zeno?"
Grandfather Zeno had just left that morning on Tsubone; he couldn't have gone too far.
Roy considered it for a few seconds. "Send him a text message."
"Yes, sir." Gotoh stood up and left to carry out the order.
There were still forty minutes until boarding; there was enough time to change their tickets.
After he left, Roy sat alone, pretending to be nonchalant as he closed his eyes to rest. He never expected...
The mother and daughter from the next seat returned, and they brought him a huge surprise—
"Here, big brother. Have some candy."