As mentioned before, the Hunter World had an international server storing everyone's identity information. In theory, even abandoned babies were obliged to register their identities.
The V5 nations led this international order.
The Hunter Association was a V5 partner. Most privileges granted to Hunter Licenses came from this relationship.
So most information could be found on Hunter websites through Hunter Licenses.
Especially information about ordinary people.
As long as you were willing to spend money, you could buy any intelligence on the Hunter website. Ordinary people's information was the most complete and least valuable.
Liam and Shizuku took Kurapika to an internet cafe, logged in, and swiped the card. In less than three minutes—at a cost of about 20,000 Jenny—they obtained all of Neil Chadman's personal information and his recent activity. Of course, it was the activity trail recorded with his identity info. Where he ate, where he traveled, which buses he took, which hospital he registered at, what bills he paid recently, etc.
They even found out how many properties he owned in his city.
"Waterloo City. Neil Chadman as head of household—three properties total." Liam looked at the screen. "Six months ago, the third property was purchased. After that, monthly consumption surged."
"He may have resold the Scarlet Eye he obtained," Shizuku said.
"Even so, we must find this person first." Kurapika said. "Waterloo City. I'll book tickets now."
"Buy three tickets," Liam said.
Kurapika looked at him.
"You're a rookie. First time on a field operation. As the boss, I need to supervise." Liam waved his hand. "You're welcome."
Kurapika looked at Shizuku.
Shizuku, standing behind Liam's chair, said, "The second rule of the organization is members help each other."
Liam, sitting in the chair, looked up and nearly bumped Shizuku's chin. "I thought you'd say 'I go wherever Liam goes.'"
"Absolutely?" Shizuku said.
On the airship heading to Waterloo City, Liam and Shizuku sat by the window looking at the rolling sea of clouds outside.
The last time we saw this scenery together was... well, last time.
The airship exploded immediately after.
If it exploded again this time, there'd be no help from kindhearted Pariston.
If you thought about it carefully, that was already three and a half months ago.
After those three months, he and Shizuku had been separated because of that bastard Razor, then quickly reunited at Heavens Arena. Training while climbing floors like tourists.
Three and a half months ago, he'd only had 9,000 aura. Now it had doubled to 18,000.
More important was the improvement in overall strength. Now even if he lost his Nen ability or was forced into Zetsu, he could probably climb from the 1st floor to the 200th floor of Heavens Arena without taking damage.
With the development and use of "Flowing Star Strike" alone, even if he'd had today's aura level and faced his past self from three months ago in a one-on-one fight, he'd probably push past-him to the ground and beat him without giving him any chance to fight back.
Add the new "Buy Now, Pay Later" ball ability, and he could win completely with half the aura. Maybe even less.
Generally speaking, Liam was satisfied with the growth and gains from his Heavens Arena experience during this period.
"Why are you worried about the airship crashing?" Kurapika approached.
Before boarding, Liam had specially grabbed several parachute backpacks and asked Shizuku to store them in Blinky, just in case.
"The most recent accident I heard about was in February," Kurapika recalled.
Ha. We were on that one in February!
Liam smiled and said nothing, wondering if he developed Transmutation abilities, could he create two wings and fly?
Too bad he was a Manipulator. The diagonal opposite—Transmutation—was his weakest category.
Shizuku should be able to consider it, though.
Two wings sprouting from either side of Blinky's head. The airship explodes. Shizuku grabs the magical-girl-wand-like vacuum cleaner and glides through the sky while he holds onto Shizuku.
Seeing Liam looking at her, Shizuku tilted her head. A question mark appeared above her head in confusion.
More than two hours later, the airship landed smoothly at Waterloo Airport. The parachute backpacks prepared in advance weren't needed.
Kurapika strapped two nunchaku-like wooden swords behind his back. His loose Kurta tribal coat could just hide them.
Liam gave Shizuku and Kurapika each a photo of Neil Chadman, their trip's target.
"Since this guy happens to have three houses and three activity bases, let's split up. One place each to find him." Liam used his phone to send Chadman's addresses to them. "Let's divide them up. Sound good?"
"I'll go to the one in Triumph neighborhood," Kurapika said.
According to the records they'd found, Chadman's most recent consumption records were around this house. His medical records were also concentrated here.
"Then I'll go to Lance District," Shizuku glanced at her phone.
"I'll take the remaining one." Liam tossed something to Kurapika.
Kurapika reflexively raised his hand to catch it. When he realized it was actually a ring, he couldn't help frowning. Taking a closer look at the pattern engraved on the surface, he guessed what it was and looked up at Liam.
"Suzaku, Ring C." Liam smiled. "You can read this script, right? Look at the inner surface of the ring. See the crescent moon pattern? As long as your skin contacts this crescent, we can get in touch. Like telepathy. Or a 'telephone in the brain.'"
He raised his hand and gestured to the identical ring on his index finger.
Kurapika looked at Shizuku. She had one on her finger too.
Seeing him looking between himself and Shizuku, hesitant to speak, Liam asked doubtfully, "Is there a problem?"
"It's fine." Kurapika put on the C-ring. After concentrating his aura, he could indeed trigger the crescent mark on the ring. Two other crescent marks he could intuitively communicate with came to mind. He understood.
Soon, Kurapika left first.
Liam and Shizuku belatedly looked at each other, then at the rings on each other's fingers. "Did he mistake the rings on our hands for couple rings?"
"Possible," Shizuku said.
Liam smiled and lightly touched the ring on Shizuku's finger. "Let's go. See you later."
The two also split up.
With Liam's current physical strength and speed, he wouldn't feel too tired even running back and forth across this small city from east to west.
What's more, he wasn't short of money now. He could just take a cab.
Half an hour later, Liam arrived at his assigned location—a semi-old residential area. He first took the elevator up to confirm nobody was there, then wandered around inside and outside the complex.
"If you find the target, turn Ring A in a circle."
Liam's heart stirred. He gave himself an order.
The Star Mark on the back of his neck activated immediately. The light in his eyes gradually faded.
There weren't many twists and turns. After another half hour, a small voice in Liam's mind called him back from his distracted state.
[Got him. Shizuku, just watch for now.] Liam canceled the Star Mark self-control. He said "see you later," but it really was see you later! He stood up from the bench in the residential area. [Kurapika, come here too.]
Waterloo City, Lance District.
In a shop across the street, Neil Chadman and a few companions didn't know what they'd said inside. The shop owner kept wiping sweat with a towel. Trembling, he took out the cash box and withdrew several rubber-banded wads of bills, handing them over. Chadman smiled and pocketed them. Several companions beside him cursed and smashed the counter glass, taking a carton of cigarettes and a bag of gum before leaving the store laughing.
"So shameless, actually daring to talk back to Brother Neil. Tsk!"
"Should give these losers a lesson!"
Several people walked with cigarettes in their mouths, talking and laughing. On the roadside ahead, a young man leaned against a wall, seemingly waiting for them. He looked over.
"Who's this kid?"
While his companions chattered, Neil Chadman suddenly felt nervous. This young man's eyes, his aura... He was sensitive because he ran with gangs.
From the corner of his eye, Neil saw a black-haired girl with glasses across the street, walking toward them.
What's going on? Something's wrong.
Neil turned around but suddenly stopped. He saw an expressionless blond boy walking toward him from not far behind.
He looked intently at the blond boy's clothes and suddenly ran.