Chapter 15: Movements

A Nen user's combat strength depends on multiple factors.

If total aura output and potential aura represent the hardware, then a well-developed Nen ability tactical system serves as the software.

Both are indispensable.

Normally, hardware like potential aura requires time to accumulate — there are almost no shortcuts.

But after Morrow's Death Rewind, this aspect of improvement became the least of his concerns.

Otherwise, he would have simply laid back and enjoyed his final year of life.

Now that he could see an opportunity, he would spare no effort.

Practice after practice…

Some attempts succeeded, others failed.

When his enhanced Shooting Star struck his body, proper defenses prevented swelling or bleeding, but pain was unavoidable.

Yet if this was the necessary path to his goal, Morrow wouldn't hesitate for a second — he would resolutely take the next step.

He only stopped when completely exhausted, collapsing onto his back on the ground.

During the break, Morrow contemplated his next moves.

Starting with small-scale treasure hunting to gather initial funds, he then used that capital to intercept the legendary sword Senro, turning a small investment into 800 million Jenny.

Over this period, he reinvested that money to sweep up several high-value items from his memories.

Some were easy to liquidate — even at slightly lower profits, he prioritized quick sales.

The harder-to-sell treasures had to be stored in bank vaults at exorbitant fees.

After all this, excluding the few rare pieces still in the vaults, Morrow now held 3.6 billion Jenny in liquid funds.

And he had achieved this in less than a month.

If he had slowed his pace, Morrow could have focused entirely on the upcoming Yorknew Auction in two months.

First, aggressively collecting undervalued treasures, then offloading them all at the September auction!

The profits then would have been measured in tens of billions.

But Morrow dismissed the idea.

Money was undoubtedly useful.

Yet for him now, having enough was sufficient.

His fundamental goal remained strengthening his power.

Earning through antique and collectible arbitrage primarily served to charge the Tree Rings.

Morrow raised his right hand, examining the Tree Rings on his knuckles.

Recently, he had absorbed aura from twelve Nen-imbued objects, but the charging progress barely reached 8%.

A full dozen Nen objects provided less energy than Senro alone.

This made Morrow realize a problem — the Second Circle Growth Ring's charging difficulty had noticeably increased.

Senro's single contribution of roughly 4% was only due to its unusually dense aura.

No need to force it…

Muttering to himself, he lowered his hand and closed his eyes.

—--

Thirty minutes later.

Mostly recovered, Morrow got up, tidied up briefly, and donned a cap, sunglasses, and a mask…

Fully concealed, he left the private training range and returned to downtown Yorknew under nightfall.

When selling Senro, the late middleman boss had provided a business card linked to an intelligence network.

Now that Morrow had resolved his identity issues and properly taxed all subsequent earnings,

his clean funds and legally recognized identity streamlined high-value transactions like intelligence purchases — cutting out unnecessary complications.

Morrow dialed the number on the business card to contact an information broker named "Argo."

As soon as the call connected, before Morrow could speak, a mechanized synthetic voice came through: "164 Old Town Street."

The moment the words ended, the call abruptly disconnected.

Unfazed, Morrow put away his phone and headed to the address provided by the synthetic voice.

—--

Old Town Street in Yorknew City was located on the outskirts.

If one were to compare Old Town Street to the city center, the contrast between the upper class and the underbelly would be starkly apparent.

Most residents of Old Town Street were struggling at the fringes of society, burdened by the hardships of daily life.

In such places, drunkards, gamblers, and even drug addicts were a common sight.

The environment was predictably filthy, chaotic, and cramped.

Looking up, the sky was fragmented by a tangled web of electrical wires.

Looking down, the ground was littered with sewage and garbage.

As Morrow entered Old Town Street, the fleeting thought of Kowloon Walled City from a pre-transmigration movie crossed his mind.

The similarities between the two were uncanny.

Plop.

Stepping through the sewage-covered ground, Morrow reined in his wandering thoughts and navigated the narrow alleys, finally locating No. 164 after some effort.

Standing before a rusted iron door, Morrow didn't even need to knock — with a click, the door automatically swung inward.

Not surprised by the automatic opening, Morrow glanced at a button-sized device beside a small lamp overhead before stepping inside.

Beyond the door was a straight corridor, about five meters long.

At the end, a curtained door stood to the right.

Morrow pushed it aside.

—--

Inside, a dim red light washed over the room. There were no decorations — just a row of computers and a desk.

A hooded figure sat on the swivel chair, their back to the entrance, making it impossible for Morrow to discern their gender at first glance.

"You're Argo?" Morrow asked, eyeing the hood peeking over the chair.

Creak.

The chair suddenly spun around.

Morrow now saw the person's gender and face.

A woman — plain-looking, with heavy dark circles under her eyes.

Even under the dim red light, the greasy strands of hair escaping her hood were unmistakable.

"Yeah, that's me."

Argo sat cross-legged on the chair, leaning slightly forward as she scrutinized Morrow, her right hand scratching vigorously beneath her hood.

"You brought enough money, right?"

After confirming her identity, her first question wasn't about the intel — it was about the payment.

Morrow nodded.

Seeing this, Argo cut straight to the point: "What kind of intel are you buying?"

"I need long-term tracking information on this person."

Morrow pulled out a folded hand-drawn sketch of Feitan from his pocket, unfolding it and holding it up for Argo to see.

"Huh…"

Argo took one look at the sketch and immediately shook her head. "Sorry, not taking this job."

"No problem. We can negotiate," Morrow replied calmly.

If Argo hadn't recognized Feitan's sketch, he would've turned and left without wasting time.

But since she had, he was willing to pay more.

Argo frowned, pulling her hand out from under her hood to pick at the dandruff under her nails. "I said, I'm not taking it."

"Higher pay," Morrow said evenly.

Argo shook her head again.

Morrow raised two fingers. "Two billion upfront. More later if needed."

"Deal!"

Argo's expression instantly turned serious as she said, "It's not that I love money, but your straightforwardness has won me over."

"I can see that."

Morrow smiled.

Argo then shifted the topic. "I can take this job, but I have to warn you... every single person who's ever tried to buy intel on the Phantom Troupe's whereabouts has died horribly without exception."

"Thanks for the warning, but that's irrelevant to the deal."

"Tch, fine. Transfer the money then."

"Alright."

A moment later, Morrow paid two billion.

After confirming the payment, Argo nodded in satisfaction and immediately demonstrated the value of the intel fee.

"Last Monday, at 20:06:24, someone posted a bounty within a 'limited range' targeting a specific member of the Phantom Troupe. If you're interested in this lead, I can follow up right away."

"Oh?"

Morrow's eyes narrowed slightly.