When Joey and the others arrived at the hospital, the first thing they saw was Andre walking out of his ward—fully recovered.
Nanika's healing had far exceeded everyone's expectations.
But what surprised them even more was—Illumi had already left.
The Zoldyck butlers had also begun their return home.
Only Killua and the shy Alluka remained.
Everyone tactfully avoided prying into Alluka's secrets, instead sharing what they'd encountered on the road, and chatting with Andre about everything that had happened while he was "sick."
Joey scanned the room but didn't see Mizayastom.
From Morel, he learned that Ed had been abducted en route, and Mizayastom had left after Killua's arrival to pursue the captors.
Seventy million Jenny.
Not a bad investment.
Joey smirked to himself. Even a Zodiac was working this early in the morning.
As for Ed's disappearance, it likely connected to the ambush of Nob's amateur hunters.
Luckily, Palm, Ikalgo, and Melereon were unharmed.
Joey didn't know how he would've faced everyone if anything had happened.
After all—everything started with him.
Still, despite the relief, doubts lingered.
Was it really a good idea to keep traveling with Kite?
Factions were piling on him like maggots on meat.
He was starting to feel suffocated.
If he could, he'd toss the lot of them into hell.
Now that Ed—his only trail—was gone, Joey could only rely on Mizayastom's intelligence network.
He hoped something useful had surfaced.
Something that would let him move first next time.
They didn't linger long near the temporary hospital.
With vehicles ready, they returned to the hotel.
After an exhausting day, everyone scattered to their rooms.
Dinner to celebrate Andre's recovery would wait for the evening.
Andre still needed basic therapy—both physical and mental.
Whatever Pitou had done to him, it left marks.
Not on the body—but deep in the soul.
When Joey looked into his eyes, he didn't see the same man who'd once charged into East Gorteau.
No confidence. No resolve.
Just darkness.
Fear.
But he survived. That alone... is rare enough.
Joey lay in bed, tossing and turning, sleep eluding him.
His mind raced—battles, movements, potential next steps.
The mysterious sniper, the Kakin princes, the unknown observer who could lock onto him…
Since waking in that lab, Joey felt like he'd fallen into a whirlpool.
Some force was pushing him forward, endlessly, mercilessly.
But where the current led—he didn't know.
Become a Wildlife Hunter with Kite?
Go solo, chase gourmet food and scenery?
Or vanish… live a quiet life somewhere, as a nameless salaryman?
Eventually, sleep overtook him.
But it was not peaceful.
He dreamed he killed the princes and became the next king of Kakin.
That he unraveled the sniper's mystery and joined the Zodiacs.
That he ventured into the unknown, hunting sky-blocking monsters…
He awoke with a pounding headache.
Poured himself a glass of warm water.
At 8 a.m., the doorbell rang.
Joey opened it, surprised to see Mizayastom standing there, arms full of files.
Behind him, a server wheeled in breakfast.
"I was worried I'd disturb you," Mizayastom said, "but it seems you're a man of routine."
Joey stepped aside. "Habit, that's all."
"A good habit."
Once the server took his tip and left, the two sat across each other at the table.
Mizayastom opened his breakfast and slid a thick folder toward Joey.
"Ed's extraction was unfortunate," he said between bites, "but what we pulled from his trail… was more than enough."
Joey raised a brow.
"Sounds like you found something interesting."
Killer Queen materialized, quietly helping Joey arrange the food.
As the Stand faded, Joey sipped his milk and flipped open the dossier.
"So... Ed was tied to Gerrard Martley.
That V5-affiliated merchant?"
Mizayastom nodded.
"Years ago, Ed was Martley's personal bodyguard.
As for the mercenary woman who worked with him—Sandra—her contract traces back to Light Nostrad.
And Light Nostrad, in turn, is backed by Martley."
"Light Nostrad?" Joey frowned. "That washed-up mafia boss?"
"Exactly. Early on, he gained favor with Martley due to a fortune-telling ability.
But eleven months ago, he lost that gift.
The Nostrad family's decline followed."
Mizayastom pulled another document.
A photo of the Nostrad family.
Joey's eyes locked onto the girl beside Light.
Nostrade Neon.
He knew her—a natural Specialist.
Didn't even understand nen, yet could wield it.
But during the Yorknew City incident, Chrollo Lucilfer had stolen her ability, cutting off the family's social ladder.
Still—she was alive.
Meaning that ability might still be in Chrollo's hands.
Joey glanced over the info again, then pushed it aside.
Neon wasn't his concern.
Martley was.
"V5 ties mean his personal security's no joke," Joey muttered, flipping open the next page.
A chubby middle-aged man smiled serenely from the photo, eyes half-closed.
Mizayastom nodded. "His bodyguards are professional Hunters.
His private security? All nen users.
He himself is a nen user, though he's never shown his ability publicly."
Mizayastom's tone turned serious.
"If I were you, I wouldn't pick a fight.
Even if you win—you'd be swarmed by investigations and consequences.
Martley's part of the V5 Free Commerce Union.
If he dies, his successors will hunt you to the ends of the earth."
Joey tapped his fingers against the table.
"I get it.
So—where is he?"
That intel wasn't in the documents.
Mizayastom eyed him, then sighed.
Reached into his coat.
Pulled out another sealed folder.
"Knew you wouldn't drop it."
"I don't want trouble," Joey replied, taking it. "But they keep dragging me in.
If no more of Martley's men come at me, this file stays shut."
Inside were logs.
Martley's routines, movements, sightings.
A map of where he typically stayed.
Joey's eyes narrowed.
He memorized it in seconds.
Then paused.
"You mentioned the Kakin pursuit is ending too?"
Mizayastom nodded.
"The 8th Prince lifted your bounty this morning.
The 4th hasn't, but the Eieie family is tied up managing new narcotics imports.
They're unlikely to send more agents."
"Especially," he added with a smirk, "after you wiped out three of their elite."
"Push it further and the other two crime syndicates might pounce on them."
Joey exhaled.
"That's good.
I was ready to sneak into Kakin myself if they kept pressing."
"No shame in that," Mizayastom shrugged. "But assassinating someone in Kakin's a tough gig alone.
If you need support—Zoldycks are always for hire."
"Thanks," Joey said. "But I'm broke.
You hiring?"
Mizayastom blinked.
"Intern hunter or intern lawyer?"
Joey smirked.
"Hunter."
"Well… a nen-using intern Hunter?
I can offer 500,000 Jenny per month.
Basic benefits.
If you get a Provisional License, that jumps to 800,000.
Performance bonuses on top."
"And if you're licensed—you're looking at 3 million monthly base.
Plus shares, bonuses, and commissions."