Chapter 25: Amitabha
Arthur is certainly different from Biscuit Krueger.
The most obvious difference is in strength. Just now, he was so focused on showing off in front of the girl that he forgot he had just finished a round of training and was a bit tired. So, when he took the knife, his heart skipped a beat. If he didn't have enough aura left to complete 'Shu,' it would be quite embarrassing...
Fortunately, he managed to pull it off with a calm demeanor.
Arthur reminded himself internally, girls can be distracting!
How should I lift this girl's sweater?
In the reserve, near the central buffer zone of the forest, two "Arthur Crows" were pondering this while pecking at the bread crumbs Shizuku had torn and placed in her palm.
Shizuku quietly watched as she fed them.
While sitting under a tree eating, she noticed these two seemingly crow-like birds watching her. Out of curiosity, she waved a piece of bread, and to her surprise, the two crows flew down.
And they just ate without any fear.
Arthur borrowed a bit of Shizuku's bread to feed these two birds under the control of Star Mark, maintaining a "I'm just a curious passerby crow" attitude...
He did consider directly having the crows fly up and tug at the sweater hem, just to confirm if Shizuku currently had a spider tattoo and if she had joined the Phantom Troupe, nothing more.
But doing so carried a small risk of getting killed.
As for using Star Mark to control Shizuku, it wasn't impossible, but there was a small problem, the crows didn't have enough aura, far from enough to create a Star Mark.
Shizuku, having eaten and fed the birds, seemed in a good mood, though her expression didn't show it.
She released her grip, and the conjured 'Blinky' turned into a mass of aura, returning to her body.
"Let's continue looking for the Moon Tiger," Shizuku muttered to herself, heading deeper into the reserve.
You're not hired by that bald official Oliver to find the Moon Tiger, are you? Arthur, controlling the two crows, followed at a leisurely pace. He wasn't in a hurry for now, letting Shizuku get used to these harmless birds wasn't a bad idea... Wait, she's looking for the Moon Tiger?
That's easy.
Release Lumin!
...
As dusk fell, the surroundings grew dim.
Perhaps due to recent poacher activity, management of the Moon Tigers in the reserve had been tightened. As a result, Shizuku wandered almost all day without seeing a single Moon Tiger.
Actually, she did see one! The "Arthur Crows" were a bit speechless because during the day, the Moon Tiger's stripes didn't glow, so it looked like an ordinary white tiger... Shizuku encountered one an hour ago but dismissed it as a regular tiger.
"You are even dumber than Lumin."
Arthur thought this as a moon-white tiger suddenly roared from the forest ahead, leaping out.
What a big beast!
Its body lit up with glowing stripes, shining like jade, with a "king" character on its forehead, eyes full of spirit.
"Roar..."
The Moon Tiger's gaze was fierce and wary, pacing the ground, watching Shizuku for a while before suddenly pouncing at her.
Bang!
Shizuku raised her hand, pinning the pouncing tiger to the ground with one hand.
"Damn, what strength!" Arthur, controlling Lumin's body, was amazed by Shizuku's wrist strength and felt a competitive urge.
Although this wasn't his own body, and his Nen Ability and aura were greatly reduced, basic techniques like Ten and Gyo weren't completely unusable.
Shizuku said, "As a tiger, you're really dumb. Your pounce distance was too short, lacking impact, right?"
At this moment, the already powerful tiger's muscles swelled, trying to push up from the ground despite her restraint.
Shizuku was a bit surprised, but more so by the tiger's glowing jade-like stripes, indeed beautiful!
"Roar!"
Lumin roared, finally breaking free from Shizuku's restraint, leaping back. The previously restrained foreleg twitched uncontrollably, feeling almost broken.
"Is it the survival instinct of a wild beast?" Shizuku summoned 'Blinky,' "I feel like your aura suddenly changed..."
She muttered to herself, holding the snarling vacuum cleaner, seemingly ready to knock out the tiger and take it back for research.
"Roar..."
Lumin seemed to be provoked, opening its mouth wide, limping on one leg to pounce again. This suited Shizuku's intentions, just as she prepared to swing the vacuum cleaner, two cawing crows flew in, pecking and clawing at the tiger's face, using various harassment tactics.
The Moon Tiger, tormented and frustrated, limped away into the forest, seemingly looking back reluctantly, as if saying, I'll be back...
...
In the forest, the Moon Tiger ran on all fours, crossing the reserve, heading back the way it came.
Its foreleg, swollen from Shizuku's grip, had already healed under Star Mark's healing function. Arthur comforted Lumin in the tiger's head, "Alright, you've worked hard. I'll have Menchi make you something delicious later!"
...
Caw caw, the two crows chased away the Moon Tiger, flapping back to Shizuku, one even landing on her shoulder.
Though it seemed like a hindrance, Shizuku didn't say anything, casually dispersing 'Blinky' into a mass of aura.
Arthur, seeing they were familiar enough, didn't hesitate, directly controlling the two crows to approach Shizuku's abdomen, the crow's beak lifting her black sweater hem, wings flapping to reveal it.
Arthur frowned.
Through the eyes of the birds he controlled, he stood on a treetop in the night, watching the group on the north coast from afar.
In the cold moonlight, near the damaged small yacht, Kakin's people had retrieved all the bodies from the nearshore waters, many holding flashlights, examining and photographing the bodies that had been in the sea for a long time.
Babimyna looked at Musse's body, speaking to the other end of the phone, "...Yes, the preliminary identification is a close-range shot to the left temple, no other fatal injuries."
On the other end, First Prince said solemnly, "Musse wouldn't commit suicide unless absolutely necessary. With his combat skills, even if someone pointed a gun at his head, there would be signs of struggle. There's only one possibility: he was driven to desperation! We can even assume he was controlled by a Manipulation Type user. Fearing his existence would threaten me, he chose to end himself. And through this, conveyed the information that 'the enemy is a Manipulation Type user' to me."
"I concur."
Babimyna discussed a few more things with First Prince, then ended the call.
The girl's waist and abdomen were smooth and flat, without a trace of excess flesh or any tattoos, clean and clear.
After lifting Shizuku's sweater hem, Arthur saw clearly in one glance, feeling relieved.
Since she hadn't joined the Phantom Troupe yet, it was manageable.
The plan became clear.
"What's wrong?" Shizuku didn't mind, pulling the sweater hem back up, checking herself, "Am I dirty?"
Of course, the crows couldn't speak, just tilting their heads at her with a dumbfounded look, as if it was just a habitual crow prank.
Shizuku didn't expect an answer from the birds, glancing up at the moonlight.
Having seen the Moon Tiger, she decided to head back.
"Why did you suddenly start laughing?"
Elsewhere, on the streets of East Town, Menchi turned to Arthur, puzzled.
Arthur said, "Can't I laugh if I think of something funny?"
"Why are you staring at me? Have you figured out your ability?" He advised earnestly, "Don't just think about conjuring tools. Conjuration Type often includes body modification and transformation abilities. You could develop an ability to transform into 'Chef Superhero,' maybe..."
"Maybe it'll be strong?" Menchi was curious.
"Maybe it'll be funny. Put the knife down!!"
Menchi put away the knife, suddenly thinking of something, curiously asking Arthur, "You said Conjuration Type includes body modification abilities. Is that the case with the Biscuit Krueger senior you mentioned?"
Arthur said, "How would I know? I don't know which type she is."
Ginta, who had been silent, thought, "Biscuit Krueger is a Transmutation Type, adjacent to Conjuration Type. Maybe... Forget it, better not think too much. Might get hit..."
At that moment, Arthur suddenly stopped, taking a deep breath, his expression not looking good.
"What's wrong with you now?" Menchi asked, hands on her hips, annoyed.
Arthur took a deep breath, pointing to the buildings on the east side of the street, near the coast, "What's over there?"
He looked serious, "Such a strong smell of blood! Could it be a massacre?"
Menchi was speechless, "That's the slaughter dock. It's almost evening, so they're probably processing a new batch of seafood. Of course, the smell of blood is strong! Where are you going?"
"Amitabha! This monk has some matters to attend to, I'll be off..."
(End of Chapter)