Chapter 248 Playing Old Maid

When humans get excited, it shows through their expressions and body language. Whether obvious or subtle, there are always traces to follow.

However, Hisoka is an outlier. When his emotions surged like a raging river, there was no need to search for traces. Not to mention his expression and body language, the Aura that emanates from his body was unmistakable.

It's like... hormones that have condensed into a solid entity.

He never hid his excitement, never suppressed the eruption of his emotions. The kind of interest born from desire was clearly conveyed to Law through his Aura.

Around Hisoka, the other participants were like puppets on strings, moving away from him as if following a predetermined script.

They didn't know what Nen was, nor did they understand the Aura that radiated emotions. At that moment, all they knew was that Hisoka had become extremely dangerous.

They could sense the danger not because they had the sharp instincts of wild beasts, but because Hisoka had amplified that sense of danger to its extreme.

In a short span of time, the area around Hisoka was cleared, leaving him sitting alone as he stared at Law.

"So disgusting…"

Nobunaga shuddered because the Aura that came over was filled with distorted emotions. However, he only placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and made no further moves.

Machi's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly, and her gaze towards Hisoka gradually turned cold. She didn't care about the emotions contained in the Aura, no matter how intense they were.

However, the faint trace of malice mixed within it was something she couldn't tolerate.

Because that trace of malice wasn't directed at her, but at Law.

Squeak…

With cold expression, Machi quietly pulled out a thin thread, releasing a winter-like killing intent aimed solely at Hisoka.

Machi's reaction was indeed extreme, but it was the way she should be.

Whenever someone bared their fangs at those she cared about, she would mercilessly pull out those fangs, even if it meant committing a grave sin. She was like a protective tigress guarding her cubs.

This kind of protective behavior was normal for someone from Meteor City.

For those they accepted and acknowledged, they wouldn't care whether the person was right or wrong, as they would stand on the same side without hesitation.

Compared to Machi's extreme reaction, Sanbica and Buhara were calmer, but their gazes toward Hisoka were filled with vigilance. If Hisoka made any move, they would definitely act.

"Hmm, each one of them is so..."

Hisoka's eyes curved to their limit, his small pupils reflecting the figures of Law and the others, trembling slightly.

He reveled in Machi's icy killing intent, in Nobunaga's subtle readiness to strike, and in Sanbica and Buhara's cautious, beast-like baring of claws.

These reactions, like signals, were picked up by his antenna-like nerves, causing a noticeable reaction in his lower body.

Among everyone, only Law remained calm. When he looked at Hisoka, the emotions revealed between his eyebrows were as if he was looking at an insignificant nuisance.

Hisoka quietly observed Law's reaction, then slowly reined in his Aura, and his boiling emotions gradually subsided.

He never suppressed his emotions. But if he had to, he would find another outlet.

'It's not the time yet…'

Hisoka thought so, which was why he reined in his Aura.

If he wanted to find pleasure in Law, it wouldn't be at this moment, not in this place, but somewhere higher above.

So, not only did he rein in his Aura, he even shifted his gaze to the dull fights happening on the sixteen rings below, as if what had just happened was an illusion.

Everything had come so suddenly and disappeared just as strangely, like the actions of a madman.

Seeing Hisoka's inexplicable behavior, Nobunaga slowly removed his hand from his sword hilt. Machi's thread dissolved into Aura and disappeared, though her brows remained slightly furrowed. Sanbica and Buhara suppressed their Aura, returning to a state of Ten.

The atmosphere, which had been tense for a moment, returned to calm.

Law, who had always remained calm, sighed softly. He felt that Hisoka's sudden shift in behavior was more like the calm before a storm.

However, the current Law wasn't afraid of this so-called storm, or rather, Hisoka's existence is no longer enough to make him sufficiently vigilant.

To put it bluntly, the current Hisoka is probably not even half as strong as Atomu.

After all, Hisoka, as well as Machi and the others, hadn't yet reached the period of rapid growth. Before the original plot began, they still had a long way to go.

Seeing that Hisoka had suddenly quieted down, Law retracted his gaze and turned his head to look at Machi and Nobunaga, and asked, "Have you both registered?"

"Yeah." Machi and Nobunaga nodded at the same time.

Law rubbed his temples and said, "Did you catch Uvogin's bad habits? He didn't come, but you two did."

"Uvogin is here too." Nobunaga said, pointing his thumb toward the passage behind them.

"Then why isn't he here?" Law looked toward the passage entrance.

"When we arrived, there was some commotion at the registration area. For some reason, the people trying to register started fighting. Uvogin thought that was the registration process, so he joined in." Machi explained, while glancing at the silent Sanbica.

Not far away, Hisoka was looking at the ring below, with a red arrow hanging above his head, pointing directly at him.

None of them knew that the chaos had been caused by Hisoka's Bungee Gum.

They continued chatting.

"That guy is really..." Law shook his head slightly, and then asked: "Is everything okay with the group now? You're so free that you even came here to register."

"We just raided the Santa Marino Museum a while ago, so we're on break." Nobunaga said, scratching his cheek.

Machi suddenly elbowed Nobunaga in the ribs, making him look at her in confusion.

'The Spider's activities… have finally begun.'

Law thought silently.

At this time, a familiar voice came from the entrance. It was Uvogin.

He walked in, shouting and waving at them as he strode over.

"Law!"

Uvogin approached and gave Law an enthusiastic hug, then let go, but kept his hands on Law's shoulders and said excitedly: "Come down with me to fight."

Law smacked Uvogin's hands away and said in annoyance, "Is fighting all you think about?"

Uvogin replied seriously: "There is also food."

"Alright, let's wait until you finish your first match. Most of the participants in the lower floors are ordinary people. Don't go overboard." Law reminded him helplessly.

As soon as he finished speaking, a wave of exclamations erupted from the arena. Following the direction of the sound, he saw Hisoka stood on one of the sixteen rings below, while his opponent lay motionless on the ground.

A playing card was deeply embedded in the man's forehead.

The referee looked at Hisoka, who was playing with his playing cards, in horror. But in the end, he was someone who had seen a lot of situations, so he calmly took out a machine, printed a pass, and handed it to Hisoka.

After receiving the pass, Hisoka didn't head for the exit. Instead, under the watchful eyes of the audience, he returned to the stands and approached Law.

Hisoka still carried an aura of lingering killing intent, but his expression was calm.

Machi and the others reacted immediately, and they stood protectively beside Law.

However, Law's reaction was very calm. He looked at Hisoka and suddenly asked, "Do you have enough playing cards with you?"

Hisoka was taken aback, then replied: "I do~"

"Well, give me one then." Law said, holding out his hand. Then, as if remembering something, he added: "Make sure it has the Joker cards."

Hisoka pinched his chin and asked in confusion: "What do you need the cards for?"

"To play Old Maid." Law replied.