A scream echoed down the hallway.
Shizuku's eyes snapped open. She fumbled for her glasses, slid them on, and found Liam already awake, sitting upright in bed with one hand pressed against his chest.
"What Conan plot is this," he muttered.
Shizuku understood immediately. "The fish victim died?"
"Yep." Liam checked his watch. "About thirty seconds before that scream started. Someone opened O.Zee's door. Fish vanished. Guy died instantly."
5:00 AM. Three hours until they landed.
Shizuku's hair stuck up in messy spikes. "So Chrollo didn't steal the ability?"
Liam frowned. "There's another possibility."
He looked at her. "He's stealing it right now. Get ready. We might catch the show."
They scrambled out of bed. Liam brushed his teeth while Shizuku washed her face, then they swapped. Two minutes later, they were dressed and out the door.
The hallway was chaos.
Passengers crowded the corridors, whispering excitedly, craning their necks to see what was happening.
"I heard it was someone famous."
"It's that O.Zee guy! The wife-killer!"
"From the trial? That O.Zee?"
"Good riddance."
"Let's go see!"
Liam and Shizuku followed the crowd toward the viewing area. Across from it, the luxury suite section was packed with gawkers. Flight attendants tried desperately to maintain order, sweating and frazzled. At least the passenger count was low thanks to the ticket thief. Otherwise, this would be a full-blown riot.
Liam scanned the crowd with Gyo.
Kortopi. Conjurer. Dangerous but not immediately threatening.
Machi. Transmuter. Very dangerous. Her aura felt sharp, coiled, predatory.
Liam had gained 9,000 aura in just over two months. That was objectively impressive. Proof of talent and brutal work ethic. But it also illustrated something sobering: in the early stages, Nen users with talent and dedication could grow fast.
Machi was talented. How long had she been training? How much aura did she have? 10,000? 20,000? More?
Total aura wasn't the only measure of strength. Tactics, experience, and Hatsu all mattered. But on paper, raw numbers were convincing.
And Machi's numbers were probably way higher than his.
Let's not get noticed by the murder spiders, thanks.
Liam and Shizuku avoided the Troupe members and drifted toward the crime scene. Security guards sweated over walkie-talkies, trying to preserve the scene while coordinating with ground personnel. Someone mentioned checking surveillance footage.
No sign of Pariston or Chrollo.
"Let's get breakfast," Liam said.
They headed to the dining area. It was nearly empty.
At one table, Pariston and Chrollo sat together, chatting like old friends. Or rather, like a fan meeting his idol. Pariston looked cheerful, animated, almost giddy. Chrollo's back was to Liam, so his expression was hidden, but the conversation seemed... pleasant?
What the hell is happening?
Liam and Shizuku sat at a table across the room and ordered food. Liam kept glancing over, watching.
Eventually, Pariston pulled out a pen. Chrollo handed him a book. Pariston signed it with a flourish, closed it, and handed it back.
Chrollo stood, bowed politely, and left.
...That's it? He just stole the ability? That easily?
Liam kept his face neutral, but internally he was reeling. Shizuku finished her breakfast, wiped her mouth, and said, "I'm done." Then she turned to look at Pariston's table.
Chrollo was gone.
Pariston noticed them watching. He waved, grinning like a maniac.
Liam rolled his eyes and went back to his food.
Thirty seconds later, Pariston walked over.
He didn't ask permission. Just pulled out a chair and sat down. "Mind if I join you? You two look like siblings. Or maybe lovers. I wouldn't want to interrupt a forbidden romance. Haha. Just kidding."
"Are you okay?" Liam asked, not looking up.
Pariston's smile didn't waver. "The fish was just stolen. By him."
Liam's eyes flicked up, annoyed. Shizuku stared at Pariston, then made a circular motion with her finger near her temple, silently asking Liam: Is this guy's brain broken?
Liam nodded seriously.
Pariston's grin widened. "You already knew he was part of the Phantom Troupe."
"Shizuku, don't look so surprised," Liam said flatly. "This weirdo's a mind reader."
"Is it my fault?" Shizuku asked, genuinely concerned.
Liam tugged her cheek affectionately.
Pariston watched them, smile deepening.
The hairs on the back of Liam's neck stood up. He glared at Pariston. "You don't think we're 'beautiful' too, do you? Planning to destroy us for fun?"
Shizuku started raising her hand, about to summon Blinky.
Liam grabbed her wrist and held it down.
This girl's too honest. Boss shows hostility, she goes straight to combat mode.
Pariston leaned back in his chair, gazing at the ceiling. "I want to destroy beautiful things because I'm different from other people. I only feel happy when I'm hated."
Blah blah blah.
Liam rolled his eyes. Shizuku made the circular temple-motion again. Liam nodded gravely. Shizuku nodded back, enlightened.
"What's your point?" Liam interrupted. "You saw that guy had bad intentions. You knew he wanted to steal your ability. And you just... let him? Met all the conditions? Handed it over?"
Liam's expression went dead. "Are you saying that kind of self-destructive behavior makes you so happy you could die from pleasure?"
For the first time, Pariston's smile looked genuine. Shadows flickered across his face. "See? I knew we were destined to meet."
What a fucking psycho.
Liam wanted to punch him. He really, really did.
But someone was coming.
A security officer from the airship approached their table. "Excuse me. We need you both to come with us for questioning."
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