Chapter 2: The Phantom Troupe Gathers
The Phantom Troupe expanded from its original eight or nine members to thirteen all of them Class A Wanted Criminals.
Each member was assigned a number: Captain Chrollo was Number 0, and the others freely chose between 1 and 12.
Machi chose Number 3.
However, that same year, the Phantom Troupe lost two members in quick succession.
Number 8 was ambushed and killed by the Zoldyck family, known as the world's greatest assassins.
Number 4 was slain by Hisoka.
Although, according to the theatrical version, only Number 4's double was killed but that detail is irrelevant.
Despite losing two members, the Phantom Troupe remained true to its structure of thirteen, following their rule that a spider must have twelve legs.
Thus, recruitment began.
The Troupe's recruitment methods were as unique as they were ruthless.
The first method: anyone who defeated or killed a member could volunteer to take their place.
That's how Hisoka, who killed Number 4, joined.
The second method: Captain Chrollo personally handpicked new members.
Between 1996 and 1999, he found the new Number 8 Kotori, also from Meteor City.
The third method: members could recommend someone, and the rest would decide by vote.
If opinions were divided, they flipped a coin.
In 1999, Nobunaga, the first member, tried recommending the newcomers Gon and Killua, but the proposal failed.
The fourth method: Chrollo could temporarily allow outsiders to join under special circumstances.
Between 2000 and 2001, two of the Zoldyck sons Illumi and Kaluto joined the Troupe this way.
Interestingly, the Phantom Troupe never saw the killing of one of their members by a person or family as a lasting grudge.
Quite the opposite if mutual interests aligned, they were willing to cooperate.
Of course, perhaps it was because the original Number 8 wasn't one of their core members.
If the Zoldycks had killed a mainstay like Uvogin, Shalnark, or even Chrollo himself, their attitude would likely have been very different.
Through these four recruitment methods, the Phantom Troupe maintained a high degree of flexibility.
Meetings were often incomplete it wasn't uncommon for members to go three years without seeing one another.
Hunter x Hunter officially begins in 1999.
But the current date… was November 21st, 1997.
In the original timeline, the new Number 8, Didi, hadn't yet joined the Troupe.
At that time, the original Germain had just killed his broker and begun his solo career as a professional assassin.
Since both hailed from Meteor City, Germain had always been curious about joining the Phantom Troupe.
After a chance encounter with Machi, he volunteered to become a member.
Although Machi didn't particularly like Germain, she remained fair and impartial, recommending him to Chrollo nonetheless.
She hadn't liked Hisoka either yet she didn't oppose his inclusion and even stitched up his wounds after battle.
With Germain's arrival, however, the flow of events took a subtle turn.
Instead of making an immediate decision, Chrollo called for a Phantom Troupe Meeting something that was never meant to exist in the original timeline.
All twelve members of the Phantom Troupe attended, informed of the new member's potential induction.
Germain's shared origin from Meteor City and his mastery of Nen worked in his favor most members approved.
However, Chrollo, trusting Machi's intuition that she wouldn't get along with him, decided to test Germain.
Two trials.
The original Germain passed both with ease.
And so, Chrollo let him go seemingly satisfied.
But that same night…
When Germain returned from his trials, a different Germain had taken his place.
An unexpected shift in fate.
Lost in thought, Germain heard the creak of the wooden door below.
He looked up and saw Machi push open the heavy door and step into the silent bell tower.
He followed slowly, keeping a careful distance behind her pink ponytail.
After climbing a winding stone staircase, they reached the intricate machinery of the clock tower gears and levers now thick with dust and tangled cobwebs.
There, Germain saw a strange gathering of figures some standing, some sitting.
Machi stepped forward to join them.
Moonlight filtered through the cracks in the stone walls, forming pale stripes across the floor a natural barrier separating Germain from the group ahead.
Judging by their presence, there was no doubt:
These were the Phantom Troupe.
He recognized them instantly.
Kortopi (No. 12) hair so long it hid his face.
Uvogin (No. 11) towering, muscular, wild.
Peelback (No. 10) wrapped completely in bandages.
Pakunoda (No. 9) a sharp-featured blonde with a long nose.
Franklin (No. 7) bulky, with ears that stretched past his shoulders.
Shalnark (No. 6) short blond hair and piercing eyes.
Phinks (No. 5) nearly eyebrowless, dressed in a tracksuit.
Hisoka (No. 4) pale face, wine-red hair, painted with stars and teardrops.
Machi (No. 3) his reluctant guide.
Feitan (No. 2) small, masked below the eyes, radiating quiet menace.
Nobunaga (No. 1) tall, with a topknot, a curled mustache, and a katana at his waist.
And finally…
Chrollo (No. 0) in a black coat, cross on his forehead, his gaze sharp and calculating.
Without question, this was a den of killers.
They would use any means necessary to reach their goals whether against enemies or innocent bystanders.
Yet, paradoxically, they showed kindness toward their own, especially to the people of Meteor City often selling stolen treasures to fund charity back home.
No contradiction existed in their eyes; this was simply the Phantom Troupe's way.
Frankly, Germain wanted nothing to do with them.
A natural reaction any sane person would.
For one, revealing that he wasn't the original Germain could lead to unpredictable consequences.
For another, he had no interest in participating in the Troupe's crimes or exploiting innocents unless absolutely necessary.
Yet given the situation, he had no choice but to play along.
He knew enough about the Troupe to realize:
Had he ignored Machi or tried to escape, he'd likely already be a corpse.
Or worse knowing Feitan's fondness for torture, his fate could've been far more gruesome than death.
So, refusal was not an option.
From Germain's point of view, it was simple: he disliked their methods and wanted no part in them.
But from the Troupe's perspective things were far more complicated.
It also tied back to one of the tests he had endured.
As Germain stood there facing the Phantom Troupe, they silently stared back.
A wordless tension filled the air
A minute of heavy, motionless quiet.
(End of Chapter 2)