Chapter 118 118 Window to the Soul
"What is it? Did you find something?" Zane turned toward Menchi.
"Yeah. See that person with long hair and the one with the single earring? I know them. They aren't Pro Hunters, but they're fairly well-known Gourmet Hunters. Neither of them usually has such a short fuse," Menchi explained in a low voice.
Matching her tone, Zane asked, "So you think something's wrong with those two?"
"Most likely. They're either being impersonated or controlled," Menchi deduced carefully.
From her observation, both were clearly going for the kill.
That ruled out the possibility that they were just putting on an act.
"Should I stop them?" Zane asked.
If they were strangers, he wouldn't care, but since Menchi knew them, he didn't mind lending a hand.
"No need. I only know them professionally; we aren't close. Besides, if they really are being controlled, stepping in blindly might draw the attention of whoever is pulling the strings. Let's observe a bit longer," Menchi said, waving him off.
She wasn't some naive girl looking for trouble.
Seeing her stance, Zane didn't press further.
The two returned to their tent.
Outside...
Although the conflict was intense, it hadn't reached a life-or-death struggle.
Once things calmed down, the crowd dispersed.
Some returned to their tents, keeping a wary eye on their surroundings.
However, others sought out specific targets.
Like Zane and Menchi.
"Menchi, let's team up to secure the Jewel Lotus Root!"
Still carrying injuries from the fight, the newcomer approached the tent and immediately stated his purpose.
"Stop right there! I have no interest in cooperating. Leave at once!"
Menchi had noticed him the moment he headed their way.
Standing in front of the tent, she barked the order as he approached, even releasing a burst of malice as a warning.
The reason was simple.
This newcomer was the long-haired Gourmet Hunter who had just been in the fray.
Suspecting something was wrong with him, Menchi wasn't just refusing to cooperate; she was on high alert against any close contact.
Nen abilities were diverse and strange.
A mature Nen user didn't need to be hyper-vigilant every second.
But they certainly had to be when facing a clear threat.
Zane stepped out of the tent alongside Menchi.
He stared calmly at the man across from them.
"Wait, I mean no harm. Actually, I found something I want to discuss with you," the long-haired man explained hurriedly, seeing Menchi's defensive posture. Yet, his footsteps didn't stop.
'Just a little more.'
'As long as I get a bit closer, he'll be within range of my Nen ability.'
As he drew nearer to Menchi without stopping, a strange light flickered deep in his eyes.
Menchi wasn't distracted by his words.
Seeing him ignore her warning and continue to close the distance, her expression went cold. She reached back, gripping the hilt of her custom cleaver.
Her blade wasn't just for cooking; it was perfectly capable of cutting down men.
*Swish!*
Menchi was about to strike.
But just as her blade cleared the scabbard by an inch, someone else moved first.
It was Zane.
His figure blurred.
The afterimage vanished.
In a flash, Zane appeared behind the long-haired man.
He pressed a single finger against the back of the man's head.
Nen aura shot out like a bullet.
*Pshhh!!!*
A bloody hole erupted through the man's forehead.
His steps faltered.
From the moment Zane moved to the strike, the long-haired man had no time to react. He collapsed face-first onto the ground, motionless.
But this was only the beginning.
After killing the man with a finger, Zane didn't stop. He raised his hand and summoned lightning from above.
*CRACK!!!*
Under the clear sky, several bolts of lightning suddenly struck down, accurately hitting several people by the lake.
Among them was the other Gourmet Hunter Menchi recognized—the one with the single earring.
"AAAGH!!!"
As the thunder roared, some were charred instantly, while others collapsed with agonizing screams, severely wounded.
"What happened?"
"Lightning? Why is there lightning in this weather?"
"What on earth is going on?"
"..."
The boom of thunder and the screams of the dying brought the others rushing out to investigate.
Ignoring the crowd's reaction, Zane flickered across the ground, appearing before the only person who had survived the lightning strike with heavy injuries.
"I was planning to keep you around for a bit longer, but who knew your judgment was so poor?" Looking down at the scorched figure whose features were no longer recognizable, Zane reached out. A portal opened in his palm, pulling the man into the Munch-Munch Space.
The fact that this person hadn't been killed by the lightning wasn't due to strength, but because Zane had intentionally spared him.
Because this was the mastermind behind the string of assassinations.
The long-haired man and the others were merely puppets controlled by his Nen ability.
To be precise, they had been hypnotized.
[WINDOW TO THE SOUL]:
A Manipulator-type Nen ability. It allows the user to control others through mental hypnosis via eye contact within a certain distance.
Hypnosis is based on the mental strength of both parties. If the target's mental strength is weaker than the user's, hypnosis is easy; if it is stronger, hypnosis is difficult. Furthermore, if the hypnosis fails, the user suffers mental damage from the backlash.
Using the long-range, X-ray, and omniscient vision of his God's Eye, Zane had seen right through the assassin's secrets despite staying in the tent.
Manipulators were common.
However, a mental-based Manipulator ability like [WINDOW TO THE SOUL] was undoubtedly rare.
That was why Zane had specifically kept him alive.
He wanted to keep the man captive until a new Imprint Entry was ready to be harvested.
Figures approached one after another, but none dared to get too close. They could only scrutinize Zane from a distance.
Having secured his prey, Zane glanced at the gathered crowd, stuffed his hands into his pockets, and walked back to his original spot.
"Wait! Was that lightning just now your ability?"
As Zane was about to leave, someone couldn't help but call out.
Pausing, Zane looked back at the speaker.
It was the bounty hunter from before—Eli.
"Is there a problem?" Zane asked in return.
"Uh... no, nothing." Eli had prepared a whole speech, but when he met Zane's gaze, his body stiffened involuntarily, and he began to stammer.
'How is this possible?'
'He hasn't even done anything, and he isn't releasing any malice. So why does my skin crawl just by meeting his eyes?'
Eli's heart was in a state of upheaval.
He had recognized Zane's identity, knowing this man was the Crime Hunter who had been making waves recently.
However, he never expected that a simple, ordinary look from the man would make him feel so pathetic.