"...This is not a joke. Why give me all 13 pieces? If I just wanted to take them, I wouldn't need to accept your terms."
"You won't steal. Because you hate the Phantom Troupe's actions. Even 'good guys' sometimes use methods that aren't 'good,' but you would never steal like the Phantom Troupe."
Saiki Kusuo pushed the pieces in front of him forward: "Even if you still don't understand who I am, you can't let someone who has lost their powers hold 13 pieces against the Phantom Troupe."
Kurapika's chain was steady, showing that Saiki Kusuo wasn't lying. This was a real trade. He was quiet for a long time, then he pulled his hand back and put away the chain.
"Okay, I will make a promise with you."
"Wait, he doesn't have Nen now, so he can't make a promise." The voice came from behind. Everyone in the room looked back, Kurapika's face darkening.
The person speaking was Chrollo Lucilfer. His right hand placed a moon mark with a "-" symbol in the center on Saiki Kusuo's shoulder, and his left hand naturally reached towards Saiki Kusuo's shoulder, his fingertips barely touching Saiki Kusuo's neck.
Only Saiki Kusuo knew that neither hand actually touched his body.
On the back of Chrollo's left hand was a very clear sun mark, with a "+" symbol in the center corresponding to the moon center.
"Team Destroyer. You still remember this ability, right? If you don't agree, I'll blow him up."
The atmosphere fell into a brief silence.
Saiki Kusuo: Although still, if you wanted to negotiate for more, why am I the one being blown up?
Neon pouted and leaned on the table, repeatedly glaring at Chrollo, then looking at Saiki Kusuo, unhappy.
The red creature waited responsibly for orders.
Kurapika clenched his fists, very coldly: You think I'll believe you two are putting on a show?
A few minutes later, based on some firm positions.
Kurapika and Chrollo had a very complicated but barely polite negotiation.
Some information was revealed during the negotiation.
The Kurta clan held 3 pieces. To enter another's area without directly triggering a siege, Kurapika himself only held 1, and 2 more were held by members of the Kurta clan.
Besides that, the remaining 4 piece holders were all from the Hunter Association.
So few pieces for the Hunter Association.
"The Hunter Association had already collected 5 pieces two weeks ago, but then they were constantly attacked, and they fought a very difficult guerrilla war, and in the end, three pieces were taken away... Wait, those three are all here."
It was obvious who did it.
Kurapika received 13 pieces, so he would have 16 when he went back.
Although 17 pieces were needed to stand in a truly unchallengeable and unbeatable position, the last piece, which had not yet been found, was both important and unimportant, because the Hunter Association and Kurapika were united. Combined, they actually had 13+7, or 20 pieces. No matter if the last piece ended up in the Kakin Kingdom's hands, as long as Kurapika didn't have any accidents, the game was already in a position to be completed peacefully with absolute control.
In order to manage the prison, Chrollo temporarily took back the one piece from the prison. But in the final complicated promise between the two, Chrollo would return the piece soon.
——The complicated negotiation finally ended——
Kurapika: "Spiders and prisons are a good match. Stay in your cell."
But he's the warden, Kurapika.
Chrollo: "Is that the attitude to take with a partner?"
Do you have to start something?
Kurapika: "Partner? Don't flatter yourself. This is just a concession I had to make for the safety of more people. Be careful every moment after you leave the Dark Continent."
Well, ordinary people can always trust Kurapika.
Chrollo: "My conditions seem to include the option to leave first. As the savior, the Kurta will leave last, right? How will you catch me? You young people forget promises so quickly."
You didn't look so relaxed when you were trying to deal with the young person just now.
Well, well.
Saiki Kusuo yawned: Why aren't these two done talking yet? Didn't that lifeline just become air? No, the clock on the wall shows it's only eight o'clock. He's just sleepy too early. Is the longer sleep time necessary during the power recovery period?
"It's getting late. As you can see, this person is now just ordinary."
More than ordinary, he's already an old man.
Chrollo snapped his fingers near Saiki Kusuo's ear.
Saiki Kusuo: I wasn't asleep. What?
"Do you still want to eat?" Chrollo asked.
Saiki Kusuo slowly shook his head.
"Then please take your people and your pet and leave this area with Kurapika. Kold will guide you to the path to the outside."
Was that a notice to leave?
Kold, who had arrived and was waiting at the door, shyly bowed: "I will take you to the exit."
Leave with Kurapika? Safe and reassuring, that's okay.
Chrollo got up and left his seat. Kusuko, who was lying not far behind Saiki Kusuo's seat, was suddenly covered in shadow. Kusuko looked up.
Chrollo took out a collar from his coat pocket and crouched down.
Kusuko: ??
Lifting Kusuko by the back of the neck, Chrollo put the collar on Kusuko's neck.
This action...!
Even though Kusuko held her breath and didn't move, her pulse was still there, and the arteries in her neck were still beating non-stop. Chrollo finally noticed the abnormality while putting it on.
Huh?
Chrollo lifted Kusuko's lowered head, but the next moment, he fell over himself.
Hearing a strange noise, Saiki Kusuo turned back and saw Chrollo holding the robot cat.
Saiki Kusuo: Oh, so he was putting the collar on the robot cat.
Kurapika, making sure Chrollo wasn't up to anything, didn't bother to look again and continued to talk with Kold.
Saiki Kusuo reached out: Give me the cat.
Chrollo held the cat still.
No, to be exact, White Saiki Kusuo Lucilfer was holding Chrollo Cat, not moving.
That's right, it's a soul swap, pulling out and taking over Chrollo's soul. Since he was discovered, he at least couldn't let the original body know about it! He immediately took over!
Chrollo Cat opened his eyes. It was hard to understand everything in front of him, but he immediately struggled.
Saiki Kusuo: "...Hey, Waffle is starting to struggle."
White Kusuo then realized and immediately turned around, hugging the cat with both hands, his back to Saiki Kusuo.
Chrollo Cat hooked the collar of his (White Kusuo)'s chest with his paws, but the robot cat's beady eyes made it hard to express his displeasure. Only the cuteness remained.
Saiki's powers can't be used, the memories of people who know him are different. In this situation, there is someone who uses the same power to take souls, and they are hiding right next to them!
Chrollo Cat: The problem of not being able to use ESP must be related to this person!
White Kusuo: Your expression, you can also read minds, right? Who are you?
White Kusuo: [What kind of freak are you? If you don't want to die, stay still and act like a robot for a few minutes, and I'll tell you everything after!]
Chrollo Cat: Will I believe you?
Suddenly, White Kusuo was kicked.
"Hey, give me back the cat. That's an important tool... What are you doing?"
Even though White Kusuo adjusted his standing position, Saiki Kusuo, who came closer, saw it.
Saw Waffle (Chrollo) biting Chrollo's (White Kusuo)'s arm.
"He attacked me first! I...呸, Saiki!"
Don't add "呸" in front of people's last name.
Saiki Kusuo: "How can a robot cat attack people? Whatever you might think, you must have done something, maybe it can't wear a collar? Give it to me."
"Mew...!"
"It seems like it's time to eat. This, Saiki, I'll solve it myself!" Chrollo (White Kusuo) hugged the cat, covering his mouth tightly, afraid that this guy would speak. He walked towards the door.
Saiki Kusuo looked strange. What's wrong with this person? He suddenly became like this. But taking the cat away is not allowed. This cat is set to follow me, or I don't know what will happen. Kusuke must have added some process to it, and according to his nature, it might explode if it leaves a certain distance.
Saiki Kusuo was about to follow, but was stopped by a hand.
"Let's talk together, maybe the warden just wanted to bring you something to eat and will be back soon." It was Kold who stopped Saiki Kusuo.
No way, no matter how you look at it... Why grab Waffle if he's bringing something? Well, bringing something then… "Will he pack a newly developed Phantom Pudding Parfait?" You have to eat ice cream in the summer.
"Definitely!" Kold replied.
Okay, since you've already left, ordinary people can't keep up with Nen users, maybe he was just afraid of being in the same room as Kurapika? After all, there's still a powerful Youpi next to him.
White Kusuo grabbed the cat and used Instant Transmission soon after leaving the room. Instant Transmission to a single room in the prison, unceremoniously throwing the cat on the ground.
Anyway, the body is that of an ESP user, it won't hurt.
"If you want to live, you better stay still." The cell wasn't big. At night, only a little sparse moonlight came in from the window above, soaking White Kusuo in darkness, which suited Chrollo's body, making every move look gloomy.
Chrollo got up, his puffed-up tail shook twice.
He walked straight out from between the two pillars of the cell.
Goodbye, I'm leaving. What's someone who takes 3 minutes to recharge saying?
White Kusuo: ...
* Again used Instant Transmission to in front of the cat.
"Sorry, I don't have a recharge time." Because he's not wearing ESP suppressers.
Chrollo Cat's expression suddenly became much more serious.
What kind of existence is this person?
5 minutes later, Chrollo was tied to the prison bars in a comatose state, while Kusuko walked towards the upper floor with light and happy steps.
"Bang!" The sound of the door being broken by accident when opening it.
"What's that sound?" The prison guard was alert.
Well, well, you can't completely relax your body right after the soul swap.
Kusuko used Repair after passing through that door with a sweep of her tail. Nothing happened.
The prison guard who rushed over picked up Kusuko: "I know this thing, it's Ms. Saiki's, right? I have to send it over."
Kusuko wagged her tail, telling the prison guard: Prepare a Phantom Pudding Parfait first.
"Yes, King!!"
Chrollo didn't come to see him off before he left. Saiki Kusuo was going to take a look in the kitchen when Kold stopped him.
"The Warden said he has some business to take care of."
Saiki Kusuo thought for a while. Is that so? Chrollo gave instructions to the other dark creatures, asking Kold to pass it on.
Was he upset about telling on the Phantom Troupe? The ending was pretty good.
Well, the action of unhesitatingly using me as a threat just now said everything, right? Forget it, anyway Kurapika will never lose, the ending is all that matters.
"Young Master, let's go." Gotoh opened the door for him in front.
Even in a female body, Saiki Kusuo started letting everyone call him Young Master.
He was becoming more and more aware that if he wanted to live here for a long time, he had to be more confident and prove his existence instead of avoiding it.
Also, what is the clone planning to do?
"Mr. Saiki," Kurapika suddenly said, "If you had let Killua and the others appear earlier... I wouldn't have suspected you."
Well, it would be difficult for Killua to negotiate with you for the things I talked about while slightly standing on the Troupe's side.
"Meow." Kusuko appeared next to Saiki Kusuo.
Saiki Kusuo was relieved and looked down to find a small cup hanging on the cat's neck.
Actually a mini version of Phantom Pudding Ice!
=~=
The small cup was finished in a few mouthfuls. The amount might not be enough for an ESP user, but it was just right for an ordinary person who might get a stomach ache if they ate too much.
Alright, let's go, leave this prison and return to the sunlight.
...
Sunlight, beaches, and swimming areas. Who would have thought that such a wonderful place was somewhere on the Dark Continent, and who would have thought...
"Kurapika, you're back just in time. The elder has something to say to you."
They walked all night and returned at the right time, in the morning. They just got to the beach and didn't feel the free air outside for a few seconds before they met the Kurta people with heavy faces.
Kurapika apologized to them. When he wanted to go alone, Killua stood up.
"I'll go listen too! Can I?"
After Killua stood up, Alluka and Korto followed, Milluki followed awkwardly, and of course the two butlers followed.
Wait. Gotoh stopped and looked at the only person alone in the back.
Saiki Kusuo looked at the sky. Well, this sky is really a sky.
"Young Master, let's go with everyone?"
Very introverted... But, he can't be introverted at this time.
Well, well, I finally got rid of the trouble. I thought I could live an ordinary life from now on.
Kurta Assembly.
"Kurapika, during your absence, the monkey and ox of the Hunter Association had internal strife. I didn't expect there to be dragons and snakes mixed in, the sheep charged into the Kakin Kingdom's territory alone, and the chickens and dogs jumped into the Kakin Kingdom's territory, then there was a fox using the tiger's might..."
Saiki Kusuo: There is no fox in the zodiac.
"I know the general situation. What is the current result?" Kurapika asked.