Thanks to Big Brother Cang Feng, who loves to eat stir-fried wormwood, for the 'Explosive Update Flowers' gift; here is an extra chapter as a token of appreciation.
Night.
The surface of the sea was as calm as a giant black mirror, reflecting the starlit sky.
There was no wind, no waves, only the low hum of the yacht's engine piercing the deathly silence.
The yacht cruised steadily toward the Mitene Federation, its hull slicing through the water and leaving a long white wake that shimmered under the moonlight.
Leo stood on the bow deck, the sea breeze whipping the corners of his clothes and lightly tossing the stray hairs on his forehead.
With his hands shoved in his pockets, he gazed out at the pitch-black horizon in the distance.
There was nothing there, only endless darkness and the occasional flicker of starlight.
Footsteps sounded from behind him.
Machi Komacine walked up beside him, also staring into that darkness.
His expression was even more solemn than usual, and a complex light flickered in his eyes.
"Six hours left."
He spoke softly, as if talking to himself.
Leo didn't turn around.
"Five years."
Machi Komacine continued, his voice tinged with emotion.
"I've been chasing the Doctor for five years. Every single time, she escaped just ahead of me. Every time, I was only one step away."
He paused.
"I hope this time, we can bring her to justice."
Leo finally turned his head and glanced at him.
His gaze was calm, so calm that not a single ripple could be seen.
"Your wish might end in disappointment."
He said.
Machi Komacine was slightly taken aback.
Leo withdrew his gaze and looked back at the distant darkness.
"I don't think the Doctor will go quietly."
His voice was soft, yet very cold.
"I will not show any mercy."
Machi Komacine fell silent for a few seconds.
He knew Leo was telling the truth.
This young man was never soft-hearted toward his enemies.
Of the thirteen members of the Genei Ryodan, not a single one was left alive.
As for the wanted criminals who died by his hand, not even their corpses could be found.
But Machi Komacine spoke anyway.
"I will do everything in my power."
His voice was earnest.
"If I catch her, I hope you'll let me take her back to stand trial."
Leo didn't answer immediately.
He just stared at the darkness, the corners of his mouth curling slightly upward.
The smile was faint, but deeply meaningful.
'Stand trial?'
He thought to himself.
'Going to court, entering prison, and then what?'
The people behind the Doctor possessed overwhelming power.
As long as the Doctor was alive, they would find a way to get her out, change her identity, change the location, and continue those inhumane experiments.
Therefore—the Doctor must die.
Leo turned his head and looked at Machi Komacine.
"Fine."
He said, his tone calm.
"If she falls into your hands, you can take her away."
He paused.
"But if she falls into mine..."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"She will die a miserable death."
Machi Komacine looked at him and remained silent for a few seconds.
Then, he nodded.
"Alright."
He knew this was the greatest concession Leo could make.
The two stood side by side at the bow, speaking no more.
There was only the soft sea breeze and the low hum of the engine.
On top of the yacht.
Hisoka sat there with his legs crossed, leaning against the radar mount, playing with a poker card in his hand.
The moonlight bathed him, casting eerie shadows across his face adorned with star and teardrop makeup.
He looked down at the two figures at the bow, the corners of his mouth curling up.
An excited light flickered in his golden pupils.
'How interesting.'
He thought silently to himself.
'Leo... you surprise me every single time.'
He toyed with the poker card; it flipped and danced nimbly between his fingers like a living thing.
The target this time was the Doctor.
He had heard of this person—the leader of the Purifier Organization, a mysterious figure who hid in the shadows committing all manner of atrocities.
Anyone who could make Leo gather people to deal with them together was definitely not a simple character.
Hisoka stuck out his tongue and licked his lips.
'This is bound to be fun.'
The poker card stopped between his fingers, held lightly.
He looked at the card, the smile on his face deepening.
Three hours before departure, Hunter Association Headquarters.
Leo led Sophia and the other three into Machi Komacine's office.
Everything was ready in the office—several nautical charts were spread across the table, and a backpack full of supplies sat nearby.
Machi Komacine stood by the window; seeing them enter, he nodded.
"Everything is ready."
He said.
"The yacht is already waiting at the harbor. The supplies have been loaded, and we can depart at any time."
Leo nodded.
He turned to look at Sophia and the others standing at the door.
"You guys head to the harbor first and wait for me."
Sophia didn't ask questions; she left with Shizuku and Kastro.
Hisoka followed lazily behind them. When he reached the door, he looked back at Leo, waved with a smile, and then disappeared outside.
Only Leo and Machi Komacine remained in the office.
"One more thing."
Leo said. He turned and walked toward the interrogation room.
Machi Komacine was stunned for a moment, then followed.
Inside the interrogation room, Ashir was still shackled to the chair.
After a few days, he had become much more haggard.
His hair was messy, his eyes were sunken, and his face was so pale it lacked any trace of color.
Hearing the door open, he looked up. Seeing Leo walk in, his body instinctively trembled—a memory of pure terror.
Leo walked up to him and looked down.
"Let's go."
He said.
"Lead us to the Doctor's base."
Ashir was stunned.
"You... you want me to take you there?"
Leo nodded.
"You provided the coordinates. But having you personally lead the way and confirm the location is the safest choice."
He paused, his eyes staring coldly at Ashir.
"And—"
The corners of his mouth curled up slightly.
"I want you to see with your own eyes how the Doctor dies."
Ashir's pupils contracted slightly.
He looked at Leo, at those cold and merciless eyes, and a complex mix of emotions welled up in his heart: fear and awe.
Leo didn't wait for his answer and unlocked the restraints.
The shackles on Ashir's feet were removed, but his hands remained bound as he stood up unsteadily.
He looked at Leo, gritted his teeth, and walked forward.
The moment he stepped out of the interrogation room, he looked back at the heavy metal door.
He knew he would never return here again.
As for whether he would live or die next... it all depended on that man's choice.
At the same time.
In the vast sea, within the underground base of that nameless island.
Inside the massive underground space, the cold white lights remained constantly lit.
The Doctor stood on a high platform, hands gripping the railing, looking down at the area below.
There was no expression on her face, but an excited light flickered in her eyes behind her gold-rimmed glasses.
Below, thousands of creatures were locked in giant metal cages.
Cows, horses, pigs, sheep—various livestock were huddled together, letting out terrified cries.
There were even more wild beasts—wolves, bears, tigers, leopards, and some strange creatures that couldn't be named. they ran back and forth in their cages, letting out desperate roars.
The Doctor raised her hand. In it, she held a fist-sized gem—the styx stone.
The surface of the gem was covered in fine cracks, yet it still emitted a dark red, eerie glow.
The light was like a living thing, flowing slowly inside the gem, as if anticipating the arrival of something.
"You all..."
The Doctor's voice was soft, yet it clearly echoed throughout the entire space.
"...will witness the birth of an era."
She looked down at the terrified creatures, a bizarre smile appearing on her face.
"This is your best destiny."
The moment her words fell—she activated her Nen.
A massive amount of Nen surged into the styx stone like a tide!
The crack-covered gem suddenly erupted with a blinding blood-red light!
Boom—!
An irresistible, terrifying suction force exploded outward with the gem at its center!
Below, the bodies of the thousands of creatures began to tremble violently at once!
Underneath their skin, their capillaries burst one after another!
Thick blood was forcibly extracted as if by an invisible force, spraying out from eyes, ears, mouths, noses, and every single pore!
"Moo—!!!" "Roar—!!!" "Awoo—!!!"
Screams rose one after another, echoing through the entire underground space!
Countless lines of blood converged into a river, frantically surging toward the gem suspended in mid-air!
Around the gem, they condensed into a massive, churning, and expanding sphere of blood!
The blood sphere grew larger and larger—ten meters in diameter. Twenty meters. Thirty meters. Forty meters. Fifty meters! Sixty meters!
A giant blood sphere over sixty meters in diameter hung suspended in the air, emitting a nauseating stench of blood!
The inside of the blood sphere churned and rotated constantly, like a placenta gestating something terrifying!
And below—the creatures that had lost their blood fell in swathes like harvested wheat!
Their bodies shriveled and twisted rapidly! Skin clung to bone! Eyeballs became sunken! Finally, they turned into a collection of differently shaped, shocking mummies!
Thousands of creatures had all died within a few short minutes.
The blood sphere slowly contracted, sinking into the gem, and the styx stone regained its dark red luster.
The light was richer and deeper than before.
Inside the gem, more than half was now filled with blood-red color, with only the last small portion remaining transparent.
The Doctor looked at the gem in her hand and showed a satisfied smile.
"Very good."
She whispered to herself.
"It's almost complete."
She put away the gem and turned to leave the platform.
Behind her was a mountain of mummified corpses and a heavy smell of blood that permeated the entire space.
She didn't even spare a glance.
On the sea, the yacht continued to sail forward.
Leo still stood at the bow, gazing into the distant darkness.