HxH: I became stronger even after I died.

 As the clock strikes midnight, the rain intensifies.

Inside the antique shop.

Moro carefully stores away the jade figure. This jade figure is his biggest find recently;

with a little effort, he can sell it for a good price.

The shop's revenue generally works this way. However, most of the earnings go to

Morena Prudo, while Moro is more focused on the residual Nen energy left on

antiques or handmade artworks.

After placing the box containing the jade figure into a cabinet, Moro closes the cabinet

door and glances at the tightly shut front door. He then looks at the wall clock—it has

already passed midnight.

"Saixin should be back soon."

Thinking about his only employee returning, Moro starts boiling water for tea. Saixin is

his sole worker, diligent and obedient, never showing any rebellious tendencies,

making it easy to exploit him.

This morning, Moro had sent Saixin to meet a client, and if all goes well, he should be

bringing back some handmade artworks.

At present, the first ring of his tattoo is fully charged. Although there's been no

noticeable change, Moro plans to continue absorbing Nen energy to see if he can light

up the second ring.

After all, even if antiques or artworks lose their Nen energy, it won't affect their selling

value.

Moro brews tea and pours it into Saixin's thermos before sitting down on the sofa.

Once Saixin returns, he'll check if the items brought back have Nen energy…

And then he'll make a run for it tonight.

He wonders how Saixin will choose—whether to firmly express loyalty or take the

money and leave.

Given that guy's personality, it's probably the former.

Moro smirks slightly as he looks at the door being pounded by rain.

Time passes silently.

Half an hour later, amidst the sound of wind and rain, other noises suddenly emerge.

Moro hears sounds indicating that Saixin has returned and stands up with a faint smile

on his face.

Creak—

The door swings open.

A tall man with robust features casually walks into the shop. It's Saixin.

His black suit is soaked from the rain, and he carries two boxes in his hands.

"Boss, big haul!"

Saixin shuts the door behind him and reveals an excited smile on his rugged face.

Moro discreetly glances at Saixin's right foot as he steps into the shop; his smile

falters slightly.

But he quickly recovers and points to the countertop under the cabinet where he had

prepared tea for Saixin.

"Good job; I made you some tea."

"Hey, boss is always so considerate; no wonder those two sisters next door are head

over heels for you."

Saixin puts down the boxes filled with goods and walks over with a beaming smile.

Moro raises an eyebrow but doesn't pay attention to Saixin's teasing; instead, he

casually asks: "Why are you back so late?"

"The rain was too heavy; I got stuck for quite a while on my way back."

Saixin picks up the thermos and takes a sip of tea.

"Yeah, this rain… is really heavy."

Moro calmly watches Saixin's side profile as he reaches behind his waist to pull out a

handgun. Although both he and Saixin possess Nen abilities, they always carry

handguns with them.

Often times, a handgun can be quite useful.

For instance—at this moment—

Moro suddenly raises his gun and aims beside Saixin.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Three shots ring out in quick succession. The first shot is intentionally fired into empty

space while the next two aim at Saixin's lower back.

Saixin's pupils constrict as he leaps aside just in time to narrowly avoid bullets aimed

at his waist.

"Boss?"

After dodging the bullets, he looks at Moro with confusion written across his face.

What greets him next is Moro closing in with an elbow strike.

Saixin's expression of confusion quickly fades as he raises his arm to block at the last

moment.

Thud.

The collision of their elbow creates a heavy thud sound. The force of their clash sends

visible shockwaves rippling through the air due to their Nen enhancement.

Saixin loses his initial advantage; although he blocks Moro's elbow strike at the last

second, he still gets pushed back.

He retreats until reaching a floor-to-ceiling window; his body doesn't hit the glass but

his outward Nen energy does.

Crash.

Underneath Nen's aggressive force, the entire window shatters explosively, allowing

wind and rain from outside to surge in.

With his back turned to the storm outside, Saixin looks expressionless at Moro who

suddenly attacked him and asks: "How did you find out?"

"I initially just had a question mark in my mind."

Moro keeps his gun aimed at Saixin and frowns: "But now I'm sure."

"Hey."

Saixin shows a somewhat silly smile as he realizes why Moro had intentionally fired

one shot into empty space before attacking him.

Moro furrows his brow deeper and coldly says: "Put away your lousy imitation."

"How frustrating; I thought I was disguised well."

Saixin slowly withdraws his smile and curiously asks: "So what exactly went wrong

that made you notice something was off so quickly?"

"You stepped in with your right foot when you came in."

Moro's eyes turn icy.

His answer isn't a joke.

Because Saixin is an ardent believer in divination; every time he would nervously go for

divination about his fortune one day in advance.

And today after midnight, Saixin's divination result was—

Whether entering or exiting through doors, one must enter with their left foot first;

otherwise they would encounter bad luck for a week ahead.

If you ask why Moro knows this so well,

It's because Saixin diligently shares everything about divination with him daily, trying

to get him involved in that world of fortune-telling.

Unaware of any hidden truth behind it all, Saixin assumes Moro is just brushing him off

as he responds flatly: "Oh really…"

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Suddenly, Moro empties his magazine; amidst loud gunfire, bullets fly towards Saixin.

A hint of anger rises within Saixin as he evades bullets coming directly at him while

simultaneously creating distance between them.

Based on received intel, he knows that this antique shop owner specializes in

enhancement-type abilities; thus after this second attack from Moro—his decision is

to create distance first.

On one hand to prevent Moro from getting close enough again to attack him; on

another hand waiting for backup to arrive.

More importantly—

His transformation ability requires some time and space when it's undone.

Additionally, if not undone then he cannot mobilize 100% of his visible aura either.

Saixin retreats onto the street expecting Moro would pursue him but instead sees

Moro remaining inside after emptying bullets as if that strong desire to attack earlier

was merely superficial.

He's quite conservative and cautious by nature…

Saixin thinks to himself while smiling—this way I can directly undo my transformation

now!

With thoughts swirling around in his mind, Saixin stands under heavy rain raising his

left hand high while rhythmically rotating his index finger while humming a little tune.

Inside the antique shop.

Moro discards his handgun and then observes what appears to be an imitation of

Saixin's behavior; first feeling puzzled before quickly realizing that this guy must be

trying to undo some transformation ability or something similar.

Under his watchful gaze, he sees imitation-Saixin's Nen energy swirling around rapidly.

In just one or two seconds' time—the appearance and physique of imitation-Saixin

undergoes drastic changes.

In its place stands a bald man wearing only shorts with an exposed upper body.

This man is smaller than Saixin by a circle and has various holes of different sizes

scattered across his body.

Looking at this man who has undone their ability causes Moro's pupils to constrict

slightly.

It's…

The Phantom Troupe…

Phantom Troupe Member: Shalnark?