"The most important question right now is whether Kite can return from NGL alive. If he can, all our problems will be solved."
"If not, once word about you gets out, you'll have a horde of Hunters on your tail within three days."
Andrei didn't waste time.
"My identity's been leaked?" Joey frowned.
How could it have leaked so quickly? Only Killua and Gon knew the truth—and neither were the type to blab.
Seeing Joey's confusion, Andrei sighed.
"Your serial killer identity has already been exposed. It started with the Beast Hunter, Pokkle, who returned from NGL two days ago. He was apparently shaken, got drunk at a bar, and while drunk, someone coaxed the intel out of him—including details about your identity as Killer Queen, and rumors of you possessing a special item that restores stamina."
Joey's eyes went wide in disbelief.
"Should I call him clever or a complete idiot?"
Clever for correctly guessing Joey's true nature. Idiot for spilling his guts while drunk. Some professional Hunter!
"Anyway, you're just out of luck," Andrei said, exasperated.
If not for Pokkle's drunken slip, they could've quietly escorted Joey out of NGL. Even without Kite's return, as long as Joey kept a low profile, things would've been fine.
But now, with that intel out, Joey's identity as Kira Yoshikage would bring bounty hunters and crime Hunters swarming. The bounty on Kira's head was massive—his crimes heinous enough to merit death a hundred times over.
"So what do I do now?" Joey's face was dark.
"Hide," Andrei replied bluntly. "Wait and see how things develop. Ideally, wait for Kite's return. In the meantime, I'll help you."
Clearly, they'd prepared for this possibility. They didn't just rescue Joey without a plan.
"I'll leave a link to Prisoner's Solitary Cell open to NGL. If things spiral out of control, you'll need to go back there temporarily to lay low."
Joey's brows knitted tighter—but he exhaled and said,
"Thanks for your help."
"No problem. I trust Kite's judgment. Plus, I took this on as a formal job," Andrei said with a friendly grin.
Killua then spoke up,
"Why not let Joey stay with me and Gon for now? Spina and the others aren't Hunters—if trouble finds them, it'll be a mess. And they've still got tasks Kite assigned them, right?"
Joey looked to Andrei—he didn't have the authority to decide.
Andrei thought it over and nodded.
"Good idea. I can't be seen too much, either. Plenty of bounty hunters know my ability type. If I get exposed, Joey's escape route could be cut off too."
"Let's give him a makeover," Gon suggested.
"New haircut, new clothes, some makeup. With Joey's looks, he can't pass for a girl, but he can definitely fool most people."
"I mean, I don't feel any serial killer aura from him at all. That'll matter to the people looking for him."
Everyone's eyes lit up.
True—the killer's identity was out, but no photos of Joey had spread. Only Pokkle's vague description existed.
So as long as Joey altered his appearance and laid low, his risk of exposure would drop dramatically.
Not long after, Joey took a warm bath, cleaned and redressed his wounds, and got a neat, stylish short haircut.
He donned a sharp suit, paired it with thin-rimmed gold glasses, and sat at a table sipping coffee with an elegance that made him seem like a high-end corporate employee.
That calm, refined aura was so natural, it was hard to believe he'd been a disheveled fugitive just a short while ago.
The only flaw—his missing left hand.
But even that worked in his favor. It became a clear distinction from the image of a whole, intact serial killer. Joey didn't hide it. He let the injury speak for itself.
The others in the room stared at his calm demeanor, stunned. Compared to the bloodied, broken figure they'd brought back, this was like meeting someone new.
"You were really a hunter from the woods?" Killua narrowed his eyes.
"Of course. But hey, no one said a hunter can't enjoy romcoms and anime." Joey put down his coffee, lips curled in a sly smirk, eyes narrowing into a faint smile.
"So hot..." Spina practically drooled. "Hey handsome, can I get your number?"
"Sure." Joey reached into his jacket and pulled out a phone. "I'll call you. You got caller ID?"
"Yup, yup!" she rattled off her number, and Joey dialed. When he saw his number appear on her screen, he silently etched it into his memory.
"Alright, time to move. We're on a tight schedule," Andrei said after checking his watch.
No one objected. Gon and Killua were eager to return to NGL and search for Kite. Spina and the others had their own missions to fulfill.
Everyone said their goodbyes and quickly dispersed.
Andrei didn't follow Joey. Instead, he told him the location of the linked Prisoner's Solitary Cell. If Joey got into trouble, he could escape through it and return to NGL.
Then Joey set off with Gon and Killua toward the train station.
According to Killua, he'd left a mark on the station's signboard. If the mark had been erased, it meant their contact had arrived.
When they reached the station, the signboard had indeed been wiped clean.
That's when a low voice spoke from behind them.
"You two are Killua and Gon, right?"
The three turned around.
There stood a woman with tangled, unkempt hair, wearing a dress and slippers—an odd combination.
But it wasn't just her look—it was the oppressive aura she radiated. Her presence made nearby pedestrians glance at her uneasily, instinctively unsettled by her vibe.
"And him?" she asked, eyeing Joey.
The moment she locked eyes with him, a blush spread across her face from under her wild bangs.
"This is Joey. He's with us, but he won't be joining the test."
The woman nodded.
"Nice to meet you. I'm Palm Siberia. Please take care of me."
Noticing the tension in Killua and Gon, Palm smiled awkwardly.
"Relax. I bet the Chairman didn't tell you any details, right? Come on, let's have a cup of tea. I'll explain everything."
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