Kuro vanished without even a squeak.
Such was the domineering nature of the power of rules.
Otherwise, he would have hurriedly informed Law before disappearing, ensuring Law wouldn't be completely unaware of his disappearance.
At this moment, Law's attention was entirely focused on the energy gauge within the White Smoke Font.
Regarding the energy gauge's function, the White Smoke Font provided no hints, let alone an explanation.
Law stared at the energy gauge, which had accumulated only a shallow layer, feeling a bit bewildered.
'What exactly is this thing?' He wondered.
There was no doubt that Hisoka's resentment was extremely powerful.
Based on previous conversions for increasing Nen Value, roughly estimating, the resentment left behind by Hisoka's death might have increased the Nen Value by about 10%.
However, Hisoka's resentment didn't even fill one-tenth of the energy gauge.
Law's thoughts were immersed in the White Smoke Text, pondering the energy gauge's purpose, 'Was it for unleashing a special move? Or was it like Kuro, a Nen Storage vessel independent of myself?'
Suddenly, his thoughts snapped out of the White Smoke Font as he looked towards Machi and the others, who had already approached.
Because he wore white gloves, even after no longer focusing on the White Smoke Font, he didn't immediately notice the tattoo on the back of his hand had disappeared.
Machi was the first to reach Law. She looked up, carefully examining the flawless human-skin mask.
Abruptly, she extended an arm towards Law, with not a trace of Nen wrapped around it.
Watching Machi's approaching hand, Law didn't dodge. He stood obediently in place, letting Machi grip his right arm.
With such a grip, he would undoubtedly be recognized immediately, given the countless times they had been intimate.
Machi could recognize Law by squeezing his arm, just as Law could recognize Machi by touching her chest.
"You're such a jerk."
After confirming the person's identity, Machi bit her lip, and the hand gripping Law's arm suddenly tightened.
She was genuinely using force.
Earlier, she had closed her Aura Nodes only to show she had no ill intent.
Now, having confirmed his identity, Machi didn't hesitate to release Aura, injecting it into the hand gripping Law's arm.
Law instinctively applied Aura Defense to his right arm, then gave an awkward smile, unsure how to respond to what Machi had said.
Uvogin glanced at Hisoka's corpse, then looked at Law and Machi, scratching his head.
Nobunaga's gaze drifted elsewhere… his injuries had already been treated by Machi.
As for Salin, looking at the human-skin mask Law wore, she said without much concern, "Wearing a mask? Do you really not want to see us that much?"
Law glanced at her, smiling wryly, then used his other hand to remove the human-skin mask.
'Should say I didn't want to be seen by you?'
He thought to himself.
Then, everyone immediately focused on Law's left hand extending from his robe.
"It's healed."
A smile instantly appeared on Uvogin's face, and Nobunaga's expression was the same.
Machi, however, made a move. Originally, she had been gripping Law's right arm, and now she switched to his left.
Looking at Machi acting up, Law smiled. He hadn't noticed before that Machi had such a cute side.
"What about the thing inside?" Salin's concern wasn't the arm's recovery but the Calamity Law had mentioned before.
"It's still there, but it's not a big concern anymore."
"Hmm, that's good."
Salin felt slightly relieved, then glanced at Law's grabbed arm, an amused smile appearing.
There were no intense exchanges of words, no fiery emotional clashes.
This scene before them was how Machi and Law acted when having a tiff.
'If I were Machi, I would have slapped this jerk long ago,' Salin thought.
Law didn't know Salin's current thoughts, and if he did, he would never let Machi follow her in the future.
"Machi..."
Meeting that slightly stubborn gaze, Law organized his words.
Suddenly, he sharply looked to his side. Strands of Nen detached from his arm, floating in mid-air, then transformed into a book emitting white light.
Law saw the white veins on the book's cover now had fine blood threads. He immediately shook off the glove on his right hand, bringing the back of his hand before his eyes. The familiar tattoo was gone.
Law was momentarily stunned but immediately understood the reason.
'It seemed that killing Hisoka had caused Kuro to be forcibly locked back into the book. Consequently, the Nen Beast opposite to Kuro would be born.'
Thinking of this, Law wasn't worried, just relieved.
If he hadn't arrived to rescue them, perhaps Machi and the other three would have died at Hisoka's hands.
As for the promise he made to Kuro, it wasn't really an issue.
With too many white pages, Kuro would be confined. So, as long as he dyed the excess pages black, Kuro would naturally reappear.
Moreover, dyeing pages black didn't necessarily require killing… any insect would do for a page.
The only difference was that killing to dye pages black would make Kuro stronger, while dyeing pages without killing, even if Kuro regained freedom, wouldn't bring any gains.
Given his current relationship with Kuro, Kuro becoming stronger would only benefit him.
However, there was no prison or death row convicts here, no sufficient criminals for him to dye pages black. It was a pity, but there was nothing he could do.
"Law, what's wrong?"
Uvogin looked at the book floating in the air, shining like a light bulb, and asked curiously.
"It's hard to explain in a few words."
"Alright, then don't explain."
Uvogin was straightforward… he never liked long-winded explanations.
At that moment, the white light suddenly contracted. The white veins on the book cover cracked, slowly dyeing the black cover white. The red blood threads separated, gathering in the air above the book.
Under everyone's watch, Nen seeped from the now-white book, rising upward to envelop the blood threads, then twisted to form an outline roughly the size of Kuro.
Soon, the white light faded.
A small dog, entirely snow-white with pitch-black eyes, appeared before everyone.
"A dog?"
Machi and the others' gazes first swept over the white dog's droopy, broad ears, then settled on the black-framed glasses on its face, feeling a bit bewildered.
"Did the black cat evolve?" Looking at the white dog, Uvogin said thoughtfully.
"Idiot, have you ever seen a cat evolve into a dog?" Nobunaga gave Uvogin a speechless look.
"It's a pleasure to meet you all, but please don't call me White Dog."
(T/N: It actually doesn't have a name, just like Kuro was mentioned as Black Cat, but I felt since I've already named Kuro, I might as well call this dog Hakuro, which can means white in Japanese.)
Hakuro floating in mid-air pretended not to hear Uvogin and Nobunaga's conversation. He pushed his glasses up with a small paw, swept his gaze over everyone present, then looked at Law, his expression particularly serious.
Compared to Kuro's hooligan-like voice and tone, Hakuro's voice sounded more refined and gentle.
Law looked at Hakuro. "What you're called doesn't matter, you'll be going back soon anyway."
Hearing Law's words, Hakuro remained very calm, smiling. "Don't be so quick to judge. Perhaps my abilities are more useful than Kuro's? For example, early warning. Right now, a formidable individual is heading this way, and the target is clearly you."
He knew about the deal between Law and Kuro, but he wasn't panicked at all, clearly confident of victory.