The Troupe ran into gangsters. This was Yorknew City without the massacre, and the gangsters had serious firepower.
"This is bad, Boss. Won't this make it hard for us to sneak in?" Phinks scratched his head.
"We can kill them all and hope for the best. This place is pretty out of the way. What are these guys doing here?" Nobunaga guessed, holding his sword. "Could it be related to us?"
Razor Clad was watching from the side, waiting to see what would happen.
"Just keep two alive for questioning. Let's move." Chrollo gave the order to kill very easily, still thinking about how short on time they were.
Nobunaga didn't even need to use En to kill these people. He rushed into the crowd and swung his sword quickly, heads flying everywhere.
The others were too fast. The gangsters raised their guns but couldn't see them, so they all aimed at Chrollo, who was standing still.
Some people even aimed at the star-like tattoo on top of Chrollo's head.
Saiki Kusuo: Great, fifteen people aiming at a star. Your tattoo was made for this day, wasn't it?
Chrollo took out his book and started fighting too.
Saiki Kusuo's swaying tail turned and curled up around himself.
He closed his eyes and waited for the gunfire to pass.
From the cries he heard through telepathy, Saiki Kusuo learned that these gangsters really had received a message to ambush them, but they didn't know the people here were the Troupe. They thought it was some important people from the Nostrade family.
The Nostrade family was the gang Kurapika had joined. These people were enemies of the Nostrade family. Maybe Kurapika had purposely given the wrong coordinates to lure them here.
But how did Kurapika know the Troupe would be here at this time?
Foresight? Was it Neon's prediction from before Chrollo stole her ability? Just like Chrollo guessed that Kurapika was in the city, did Kurapika just happen to get a prediction related to location?
It would be too incredible if it was so detailed as to include this street.
...
Inside the Phantom Troupe's base.
"Beep beep beep, beep beep beep."
Killua's phone was ringing.
The Troupe had been waiting for this call for a long time. Shalnark answered right away, waiting for the voice on the other end.
"Is this the Troupe?" The voice on the other end was calm and cold. It was Kurapika.
"Yes. We both have important people from the other side. Let's not waste time," Shalnark said in a light tone, already prepared.
"Okay, let's trade hostages. First, put your boss on the phone."
"I am," Shalnark said.
"Looks like we have nothing to talk about."
The phone hung up.
The Troupe members looked at Shalnark with questioning eyes. He gave a dry laugh.
Shalnark: Looks like I have to tell them that the boss isn't here.
Shalnark called back. They answered quickly.
"Sorry, the boss isn't here. He went to find one of our members."
Kurapika believed it a little and said, "Put Killua on the phone. I need to make sure he's safe."
When trading with evil people like the Troupe, Kurapika had to be as careful as possible.
After confirming that Killua wasn't being controlled, and learning how many Troupe members were currently there, Kurapika gave the Troupe his conditions.
1. Shalnark must be in Killua's sight at all times. If he disappears for even a moment, the trade is off.
2. Shalnark is not allowed to tell the Troupe any information from now on. Everyone except Hisoka is banned from using the phone. Hisoka's phone is bugged. Kurapika will call often to check on the Troupe. If anything goes wrong, the trade will stop.
3. Shalnark must take Killua alone to complete the trade. The spiders inside the base can't leave.
4. Killua can't be controlled in any way during the whole process. If Killua acts even a little strange, it will be seen as Killua being dead, and the trade will be off.
To trade for Pakunoda and Kortopi, Shalnark agreed.
Before finally leaving, Killua said into the phone to Kurapika, "The spider leader took three members with him: the swordsman, the guy covered in bandages, and the big guy. I fought him and he caught me right away. Kurapika, you need to be careful!"
Killua didn't say much, but Kurapika understood what he meant.
The three people Chrollo took with him weren't weak. They might not really be out looking for Uvogin like Shalnark said.
Kurapika comforted Killua, "It's okay. I never believe what those spiders say."
Shalnark was standing right next to them, hearing the phone call. He smiled, feeling troubled. His phone just vibrated, which was Chrollo sending him a text message telling him to protect Killua as much as possible.
Shalnark's smile froze a little. How convenient, he was just about to leave the base alone with Killua. But if danger appeared, he would protect himself first. He couldn't worry about this kid.
Noticing something, Killua looked up and stared at Shalnark's phone, "Your phone rang. What are you going to do?"
Shalnark turned off the screen and put the phone back in his pocket, "It was nothing. It was the weather report I signed up for, telling me it's going to rain..."
He couldn't reply to Chrollo's message. He would have to wait until after they left and have someone else tell Chrollo.
"Let's go, kid." Shalnark led Killua out of the base.
This kid was pretty alert. The boss also said he was from the Zoldyck family, and he had received excellent training since he was little. With this kid watching him so closely, it was hard to send a message without being seen.
And to prevent the kid from escaping, he had to pay close attention to him.
Boss... I hope you can find the chain user's location some other way.
The sky started to drizzle. Shalnark and Killua walked closely, watching each other carefully. Neither of them cared about the raindrops soaking them.
...
"Beep beep beep, beep beep beep."
Shalnark had just left when the phone started ringing again in the base.
Important note: Logged-in users permanently save bookshelf data across devices. We recommend logging in to use.
Because of the chain user's request, everyone else's phones were placed in the center of the base on a stone table. The phone ringing was Hisoka's.
Hisoka had just sent Illumi a message, telling Illumi to pretend to be him and stay in the base. He didn't expect Kurapika to call him so quickly.
It felt like he was doing something bad and was being caught.
"Moshi moshi~" Hisoka answered the phone.
Kurapika didn't waste any words and got right to the point, "Hisoka, has anyone left the base?"
Has anyone? Hisoka glanced around.
A clap of thunder boomed, lighting up the base for a moment. Everyone stared at Hisoka. Machi was standing next to him, her aura glowing. Shizuku had summoned Blinky at some point, and Franklin was sitting high up, his eyes looking down, staring at Hisoka.
- Feitan is gone.
No one spoke, but their intentions were clear in their actions.
Hisoka narrowed his eyes happily and reached out to Machi for a hug, but she gave him a disgusted look.
"Of course there's someone in the base who wants to leave, but they're being stopped. Everyone's eyes are very sharp... Hehehe... It looks like a fight is about to break out... between spider legs..." Hisoka kissed a heart card in his palm, pausing briefly. He didn't look at the three spiders watching him warily.
He wasn't lying to Kurapika. He was the one who wanted to leave. Machi was the one stopping him. He played with the card casually, "Do you want that partner of yours who can hear lies to listen to my heartbeat?~"
"Of course," Kurapika asked warily, because in his mind, Hisoka was very good at lying.
He gave the phone to Melody. After a while, Melody gave the phone back to him.
"It's a very cheerful heartbeat. It sounds like he's in danger, but he's very excited... I can confirm he's not lying," Melody said.
"Okay." Kurapika said. It was unexpected that the spiders were arguing, but it was a good thing because exposing this kind of accident lessened the chance that Hisoka was tricking him.
Looks like Hisoka can still be trusted for now.
In the increasingly heavy rain, Feitan lurked far away in the shadows, following Shalnark and Killua.
Hisoka wasn't lying. The only people left in the base were the ones who wanted to leave. Feitan had left for real right away.
When he had orders from the boss, Feitan obeyed the boss. When the boss appointed Shalnark as acting boss, he listened to Shalnark. But now Shalnark had left, and there was no one in the base that he had to listen to or discuss things with, so of course Feitan would take action himself.
According to the rules of the spiders, he would follow and, if Pakunoda and Kortopi died, he would kill those people to take revenge.
It was a very simple problem. There was no need to discuss it. In his opinion, Shalnark had underestimated his importance to the Troupe, and also followed Chrollo's order to make the hostage exchange go smoothly.
But if he were to judge, if that chain user wanted revenge, he might give up the life of a mere companion. Now the one with their feet tied was not the other side, but the spiders.
...
At the location of the Phantom Troupe's smaller group, led by Chrollo.
After questioning the gangsters and finding out how they came, Chrollo covered his mouth and thought.
"This obviously isn't a coincidence. We can treat Nostrade's actions as the outcome instructed by the chain user. He's probably by the Nostrade family's boss, and he exposed our location to their enemies. The problem is that the location is too detailed. Based on our experience with so many prophecy poems, the coordinates can't have been provided by a prophecy poem. How did he know our location? These gangsters have been waiting here for three hours, which means they only knew the detailed coordinates but didn't know the time. What ability is it?"
"If he provided it, he must be watching us closely. He should know about the commotion by now," Phinks replied.
"Yes, our moves are being watched," Chrollo replied.
He was still thinking. This location wasn't the only way from the base to Yorknew City. With the firepower of these gangsters, it wasn't possible for them to be waiting at multiple points.
"Saiki, what is Kurapika's ability?" Chrollo suddenly asked. The members didn't know who he was talking to.
Why is it about me? Saiki Kusuo lazily waved his tail.
"Can't you answer?"
[I can't.] Saiki Kusuo said very simply.
He was very clearly and openly siding with the Phantom Troupe's enemy, the one who wanted to destroy them, while sitting on the Phantom Troupe leader's shoulder.
He also didn't pay attention to what Chrollo was thinking. His free thinking was too loud to be helpful.
"Boss, who are you asking?" Phinks and Nobunaga looked at each other, then at Razor Clad, whom they didn't know well.
Razor Clad's new name?
Razor Clad:?
Razor Clad: I didn't! I don't know! I'm just a beautiful descendant of a fighting race. I wouldn't change my name.
"Maybe the hints from the prophecy poem... I should have thought of it sooner. A red-eyed guest visits... No, can the words between each prophecy poem connect? Even though there's no benefit for him to do this, is the benefit really important? Is that... overthinking it? For example..."
Chrollo started speaking in riddles, to the point that even Saiki Kusuo, who could read minds, couldn't understand.
The other three continued to stare blankly.
Phinks scratched his head: I'm usually pretty smart. How come I don't know what the boss is doing today? Nobunaga, did you understand?
Nobunaga stroked his beard: It's been a long time since the boss thought to himself like this. Actually he's being considerate of us when he explains clearly. What do you think, Razor Clad?
Razor Clad, who hadn't known Chrollo since he was little: I only know how to follow orders and fight. These ideas in the boss's mouth passed over my smooth brain...
Saiki Kusuo: Let's wait for him to solve the riddle.
"Phinks, you go back to the base," Chrollo's answer finally turned into an order.
"This is just a guess. If there's something that explains how the other side knows our location outside of the prophecy poem, that vow sword is very suspicious. Revisiting the strength of the vow sword, I suspect that Hisoka is still being controlled by the vow sword, causing him to reveal things to the other side."
[Maybe Saiki is also being controlled by the vow sword. I should have realized it sooner. He's been refusing to answer questions related to Kurapika.]
Saiki Kusuo: Psychics aren't that weak.
[Is it possible that Saiki is getting ordered by the vow sword to sit on my shoulder and tell the chain user our location?]
Chrollo glanced at Saiki Kusuo on his shoulder.
Saiki Kusuo scowled back at him.
He did have Kurapika's location, as long as Kurapika was carrying his phone.
"We've gone from the shadows to the light. If I were the chain user, I would have started the trade already. Now, none of the others, including Shalnark, are sending me messages. It's possible that the other side put forward a request that they not be allowed to send information. Phinks, I want you to go back and observe Hisoka's situation, and find a way to give me an answer. Remember, spider legs can't kill each other. As long as Hisoka is still a spider leg, some mistakes can be forgiven."
Chrollo gave an extra warning because, when they agreed to let Hisoka join the group, Feitan and Phinks were both against it.
---------------------------------------
You can read 15 chapters ahead on patre on
patr eon.com/JYouyi