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Chapter 390 - 054: Brain Awakening, Chrollo’s Speculation

"Jed, the mastermind behind the Heavens Arena attack and the former leader of the Shadow Organization within the Hunter Association, was once considered a powerful figure of the same era as Chairman Netero."

"Later, Netero wiped out the Shadow due to its extreme and reckless missions. Jed was also killed by Netero, and the entire organization collapsed."

"Because V5 follows a policy of eliminating threats at the root, the descendants of Shadow members were also targeted. Only a few survivors—Gaki, Shura, and Rengoku—managed to escape and later returned with Jed to seek revenge."

"For some unknown reason, Jed came back from the dead, regaining the peak strength of his youth. The three survivors also mastered powerful and extreme forms of resentment-fueled Nen."

Shalnark had gathered all this intel from underground sources and compiled it into a report, which he then forwarded to Chrollo. Most of the information was based on Ronnel's briefing on the situation.

Shalnark himself had no real interest in the tangled web of grudges. His only concern was whether their leader could extract something useful from it.

And, as expected, Chrollo did.

"Came back from the dead due to some strange reason?"

Chrollo fixated on that particular line, his eyes narrowing as thoughts raced through his mind.

He recalled the legends surrounding the role of the Gravekeeper's Grasp.

"Opening coffins, robbing graves… Resurrection from the dead… Could there be a connection?"

Not only had Jed returned to life, but he had regained his peak strength. The three who followed him had also awakened formidable Nen abilities fueled by resentment. Was there a hidden force manipulating all of this?

Chrollo paid close attention to details regarding Jed's past.

Much of his personal history had long been classified by the Hunter Association. Only the most elite hackers—those at the level of Ickshonpe—could possibly uncover such information online.

What Shalnark had managed to find was merely a vague mention that, decades ago, a creature resembling Jed's monstrous manifestation had appeared somewhere in the East.

The location was an ancient kingdom, a civilization with thousands of years of history.

Jed's resurrection, and the place where his last traces had been found…

Too many pieces fit together. Chrollo couldn't ignore the implications.

"Could it be that the descendants used some kind of ability—perhaps a resentment-based Nen—to resurrect Jed? That they exploited his hatred toward the Hunter Association and V5 to set all of this in motion?"

"If Ronnel hadn't intervened, Jed would have occupied Netero's attention. And if the Black Report was released, the entire world could have been thrown into chaos."

"And whoever is behind this would have achieved their hidden goal."

Chrollo's thoughts raced as he pieced everything together.

"A hidden force, lurking in the shadows…

They likely lack the power to act directly, so they resurrected Jed.

This means that they can bring back the dead… but at a cost."

A sudden realization struck Chrollo.

"Ronnel has already defeated Jed. That means these people will inevitably turn their attention to him. To accomplish their goals, they'll need someone even stronger than Jed—someone like Ronnel or his allies."

"If they possess a form of Nen that manipulates the dead… Then they'll soon realize that Ronnel is connected to us."

"In other words, we may already be in their sights."

Chrollo recalled the prophecy he had read not long ago.

'The treasures held by the Spiders will be his coveted prey.'

"If 'treasures' refer to our power, then the Phantom Troupe itself is what they seek to exploit…

"If that's the case, they're targeting the Phantom Troupe because of Ronnel… They desire the power we hold."

"If my assumption is correct, then they're not just reviving the dead—they're controlling them. Twisting their minds, forcing them to act according to their will."

"And in Yorknew City… Uvogin, Nobunaga, Pakunoda… They all died there."

The thought made Chrollo tense.

With a small but noticeable motion, his grip tightened. The paper in his hand crumpled slightly.

The idea of his fallen comrades being resurrected only to be used as mere pawns infuriated him.

But he wouldn't let his emotions cloud his judgment. The irritation passed in an instant, and he quickly regained his composure.

His mind shifted gears, now focused entirely on how to counter this unseen threat.

What Chrollo didn't know, however, was that this "hidden force" he had imagined… didn't exist at all.

It was nothing more than his own misinterpretation.

Ronnel had deliberately omitted certain details—such as the fact that Jed had returned due to his overwhelming resentment and had essentially sold his soul to an unknown force.

After all, that explanation would have been difficult for anyone to accept, and Ronnel had no reason to invite unnecessary trouble.

So he had simply framed it as Jed being resurrected "for unknown reasons."

A reasonable person would assume this was Ronnel's way of acknowledging his own uncertainty.

But Chrollo…

Chrollo was far from a normal person.

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