Morin didn't answer directly; instead, he asked:
"You and Gon are friends now, so why aren't you helping either?"
"Friends?"
Killua turned his face away. "Who said we're friends?!"
"You two seemed to be chatting quite happily."
"Does chatting happily make us friends?"
"So just because we took the Hunter Exam together, we're friends?"
Morin retorted, leaving Killua speechless. Indeed, along the way, he noticed a subtle sense of distance between him and Leorio and Kurapika.
Well, after all, Morin's strength and mystery far exceeded everyone's imagination, making him seem like a character from another world.
If it were him, upon learning how formidable Morin was, his first instinct wouldn't be to approach and befriend him.
He would stay far away to avoid getting involved in Morin's affairs, as self-preservation would be the most likely course of action.
This wasn't a level he should be dealing with right now.
"Everyone has their own fate. Meeting Hisoka here might not be a bad thing for them," Morin said leisurely.
Thanks to this encounter with Hisoka in the mist, Leorio showed his courage, Kurapika demonstrated his calmness and cleverness, and Gon displayed his innate wild talent and charisma.
This led Hisoka to see them as unripe but promising fruits, with the potential to mature, which is why he spared them.
Otherwise, when they reached Zevil Island, if the murderous Hisoka encountered Kurapika and Leorio, they wouldn't even have the chance to speak before being instantly killed by him.
Then, dreams of being a doctor or vows of revenge would all vanish into thin air.
Morin didn't plan to intervene in this matter; it was their own choice of path, and it also saved their lives.
"Enough about others, what about you?"
Morin turned his head and smiled at Killua. "You're the most talented heir of the Zoldyck family, and your family is quite worried about you."
"Zoldyck... family?" Killua suddenly realized. He hadn't mentioned his background to Morin at all.
"How did you figure it out?!"
Killua was like a slightly bristling white cat. Although Morin had said he wouldn't do anything to him, the crisis awareness instilled by his family since childhood made him feel on high alert.
"The scent of the Zoldyck family on you is unmistakably strong," Morin said casually while admiring the scenery around them.
"The assassination techniques passed down through the Zoldyck family, you've mastered them thoroughly. This can be seen in your movements and posture."
"Rhythm Echo and Silent Step, these two assassination techniques are indeed impressive."
As Morin spoke, Killua's unease gradually diminished.
"If you could tell, it means my training is still lacking," Killua said, slumping onto the backseat sofa. "As my dad says, a true assassin shouldn't let others know they're an assassin."
Though the words were a bit awkward, that was indeed the meaning.
"That's certainly true," Morin nodded lightly. "Until you reach that level, you'll easily expose yourself in the eyes of others."
"Of course, if you become as powerful as your grandfather and wear an assassin's badge on your chest, then there's no problem."
It must be said, Killua's grandfather was not only talkative but also quite flamboyant. He probably had a similarly lively personality when he was young, much like Killua.
It's hard to imagine that Silva, with his icy demeanor, would have such a father and son.
"So, are you really not going to help Gon and the others?" Killua mainly asked about Gon. He was still concerned about Gon, a rare peer he could appreciate and chat with.
"Although Hisoka is on a killing spree in the thick fog, he's only eliminating those he deems unqualified," Morin said. "And while Gon and the others might not be strong now, their qualities are rare, even Hisoka would acknowledge them."
"Acknowledge..."
Killua felt that Morin's so-called "acknowledgment" might not be so simple. The acknowledgment from a fruit farmer has a different meaning from others.
"So, you think Hisoka will spare Gon and the others?"
Killua nodded. "You really have confidence in them."
I'm confident in the original storyline.
Morin shrugged.
Of course, even if the threads of fate have changed, with the inherent strength and talent of Gon and his friends, they indeed possess the ability to earn Hisoka's respect.
"Speaking of which,"
the tool master, Killua, awkwardly addressed him.
"Just call me Morin," Morin said, unconcerned about titles.
"Well, Morin, from your tone, it seems like you know Hisoka quite well."
"Not too much," Morin replied with a smile through the rearview mirror, "Mainly because we come from the same place."
"The same place..."
Killua briefly thought of his mother, Kikyo, and the butler, Gotoh.
They all came from a forsaken place called Meteor City.
For a moment, the two in the car fell silent, letting the vehicle drive through the perilous wetlands.
Strangely enough, despite the many terrifying beasts in this wetland—
like those that only move in thick fog, attacking lost travelers with strawberries growing on their backs,
or the sluggish lazy frogs that hide underground, waiting patiently with open mouths for prey to pass overhead.
the landmine mushrooms that explode when stepped on, breeding frantically on the immobilized prey,
or the deceitful crows that lure people into traps with lies,
the hypnotic butterflies that use their peculiar flight to mesmerize prey, providing live feed for their larvae—
the Wetlands of Smilera are indeed fraught with danger and teeming with monsters.
Yet, not a single beast dared to cause trouble near Morin.
Even when Morin drove over a lazy frog's open mouth, it pretended not to see him.
If Killua hadn't looked back to see the lazy frog devour a group of passing examinees,
he might have thought the creature was dead.
"You seem... not very liked by the beasts?"
Killua found a word for it.
In truth, he thought the beasts might actually fear Morin.
"I've traveled far and wide over the years, and indeed, my hands are stained with the blood of many beasts," Morin said without turning his head.
"Perhaps they sense the heavy burden of their kin's deaths on me, so they avoid approaching."
Throughout his travels across the six continents, Morin had killed many beasts in forests and rivers, either for food or because they blocked his path.
He had sent many on their way. He killed many beasts, but hardly any magical beasts, because the 'magic' in magical beasts signifies intelligence.
Only creatures capable of speech and thought are called magical beasts.
In the Wetlands of Smilera, most inhabitants are just beasts.
No beast dared to act rashly; occasionally, a few blind ones tried to block the way, only to be pierced through by Morin's spatial practice car.
Before long, Morin, with Killua swaying beside him, swiftly traversed the dangerous terrain and reached the destination of the second test.
Viska Forest Park.
Seeing the stone slabs engraved with the park's name, the examinees who had followed Satotz finally breathed a sigh of relief.
When Satotz stopped at the park's entrance, it indicated that this was the final location for the second test.
From the dark underground passage to the swamp of deceivers,
the journey had kept everyone's nerves constantly on edge, offering no respite.
Fortunately, the Hunter Association isn't entirely heartless. Constantly squeezing the examinees, keeping their nerves taut without a moment's relaxation, isn't beneficial for the test.
Therefore, before the second test begins, those who have followed Satotz here are given a period to rest and relieve stress. As for those who arrive later, they can only rely on their own luck.
The Hunter Association provides a chance to rest during the test, but it's up to the examinees to seize it.
Soon, after Satotz paused, more examinees arrived one after another.
Viska Forest Park was the venue for the second test.
In a clearing within the park stood a newly erected factory building, though the architect seemed half-hearted, using old, makeshift materials.
Above the main entrance of the factory hung a clock.
Upon arriving, Satotz immediately glanced at the time,
indicating that the first test had a time limit.
The factory wasn't large, accommodating about a hundred people.
Inside, there was a faint gurgling sound, leaving the examinees to speculate about what lay within.
As time slowly passed and the examinees began to relax and adjust,
Hisoka's figure appeared in their sight.
Not far ahead, in the thin mist, Hisoka carried the unconscious Leorio, a smile playing on his lips as if something delightful had occurred.
Yet, from the faint killing intent and the scent of blood surrounding him, it was clear that in this fog, he had indulged in quite a bit of slaughter!
Among the victims were not only examinees but likely some obstructing beasts as well.