Shizuku?
Upon hearing the girl's introduction, Noah couldn't help but be stunned.
Could it be Shizuku from the Phantom Troupe?
Thinking about it, Noah carefully looked at the girl in front of him and found a slight resemblance in her features to the Shizuku he remembered.
In the original story, Shizuku was a member of the A-class criminal organization, the Phantom Troupe. However, she wasn't one of the original members but joined later, replacing the initial Number 8 member, mainly responsible for cleanup and post-mission work.
"It's quite an unexpected encounter," Noah exclaimed.
Shizuku undeniably possessed the qualifications to join the Phantom Troupe.
Noah had never had a good impression of the Phantom Troupe, and since it hadn't been established yet, and she was still in her developmental stage, Noah had no reservations about mentoring this future member.
He wanted to change her fate, make her stronger, and prevent her from being used as a tool, allowing her to choose her own path.
Turning back and looking at the bodies lying in a pool of blood on the ground, Noah felt no emotional response.
In his mind, this was his first time killing, and he had done it all at once. Normally, even if he didn't tremble or feel nauseous, there would be other emotions.
However, Noah had no such reactions, only a sense of calm, as if he were already accustomed to it.
Am I a killer? No, I think these scoundrels deserved it; it must be that.
Noah found an excuse for himself in his mind, intending to bury this incident deep in the corner of his heart and never think about it again.
Noah stood up, and in the distance, Jerl and his two companions had witnessed Noah's "performance."
The last trace of their contempt for Noah had disappeared, replaced by deep awe. They now fully understood the gap between Noah and themselves.
So when they ran up to Noah, they naturally assumed a subservient posture, standing respectfully behind him.
"Her name is Shizuku, and she's with us from now on," Noah casually said as he held Shizuku's hand.
"Yes," there was no unnecessary objection or unnecessary questions. After learning about Noah's strength, the three of them could only accept Noah's decision, with no other possible outcome.
"So, did Ashu manage to resolve the situation over there?" Noah's words had just fallen when the wall of a nearby house suddenly exploded, and a figure flew out from inside, crashing into the wall on the other side of the street.
"Ashu?"
Noah looked closely and saw that the figure was wearing a tuxedo—it could only be Ashu.
Before Noah could think further, maniacal laughter emanated from inside the broken wall.
"Hahaha! Die!"
Immediately after, a figure large enough to be called enormous bent over and walked out of the wall. Upon seeing this figure, Noah and the others couldn't help but widen their eyes.
With a height of three meters, the figure's clothes were already tattered, revealing the massive veins all over its body, bulging muscles like steel, and under disheveled hair were a pair of blood-red eyes.
Now, let's rewind time by a few minutes…
Just after Noah had left to assist Jerl and the others, Ashu had engaged in a battle with a significantly less muscular Rami.
Ashu is a Conjurer-type Nen user. Faced with Rami, who appeared to be using Enhancement Nen abilities, he naturally wasn't foolish enough to engage Rami head-on.
Instead, he deftly maneuvered around Rami, constantly attacking Rami's vulnerabilities and openings.
Although this guy is a Nen user, he doesn't know how to use Nen properly.
'Even the most basic Ren has numerous openings. However, his body is as tough as a rock; it's hard to even stab him with my knife.'
After several attacks, Ashu figured out that Rami was far inferior to him in both using Nen and combat. The only challenge was Rami's incredibly tough body.
Even though Ashu continuously used his knife on Rami, he could only leave tiny wounds on him.
"You're annoying with all this dodging!" Rami, less agile than Ashu, became increasingly frustrated.
Although Ashu's knife only caused minimal damage to him, Rami was well aware of his own limits.
He hadn't fully mastered this magical power called Nen yet, and due to that, if this dragged on for too long, it wouldn't be good for him either.
He had to release a bit more power; as long as he could finish this quickly, it would be fine.
Thinking this, Rami roared, and his aura surged again, forcefully pushing Ashu back.
"You've really provoked me now. I'm going to make you die in a gruesome way." Suppressing the discomfort in his head, Rami took a deep breath.
Then, to Ashu's surprise, as Rami's aura intensified, Rami's body grew even larger.
His powerful muscles burst through his clothing, and in just a few seconds, Rami transformed into a giant standing three meters tall. A pair of lantern-like red eyes sent a shiver down Ashu's spine.
"What kind of monster are you?"
Instinctively taking a step back, Ashu instantly summoned several daggers into his hands.
"Roar!" Rami let out a beast-like roar, and his massive figure shot forward like a rocket, appearing in front of Ashu.
"What!"
Before he could throw his daggers, Rami's enormous fist struck Ashu's chest with incredible force, sending him flying like a missile.
Ashu crashed into the back of a house, then burst through the wall, landing in front of Noah and the others, unconscious and on the brink of death.
"Roar!"
Driven by pure killing intent, Rami charged forward, breaking through the shattered walls. He turned his head and was met with the shocked expressions of Noah and the others.
"Get out of the way!"
Noah immediately grabbed Shizuku and held her close, shouting, then leaped away from the spot. Jerl and the others, hearing Noah's shout, instinctively moved to one side.
Immediately after, Rami's massive figure appeared where they had been standing, and his huge fist smashed into the ground.
"Shizuku, stay here and don't run around." Noah put down Shikuku and jumped, surrounded by a large amount of aura, charging towards the 'giant' below.