"Didn't you say before that we could come to you anytime, anywhere if we were hungry?"
Yes, I did say that. But didn't you also say, even if you starved to death outside, you'd never come back to beg me?
Though right now, you haven't begged…
"Of course, you told me beforehand that we should think about what we want to eat before we get here."
While Luke was complaining, Uvogin bluntly declared: "I've thought about it!"
He opened his big mouth wide, almost sticking his tongue out to lick his lips: "I want meat this time!"
"Big chunks of meat!"
"Delicious, fragrant meat!"
Uvogin shouted, his mouth drooling as he did so.
"I want fried rice."
Machi was still very reserved with words.
But this was a rare moment for her.
Before, when she was with Uvogin, she barely spoke.
"Delicious meat and fried rice? I get it..."
It's not that there's no rice in Meteor City, but it's mostly yellow, smelly black, and brown rice.
Forget about wanting a bite of meat; anything with a little heat that won't upset your stomach is a good thing.
After receiving the two commissions, Luke raced through his mind and quickly came up with a corresponding invention.
"There's something like the Gourmet Table Cloth that can create a variety of foods, but it's not as convenient..."
He raised his head and briefly glanced around.
"What are you looking for?"
Uvogin, seeing his expression, asked directly.
"I'm looking for trees."
Luke averted his gaze. "Or perhaps plants."
Clearly, there weren't any plants near this garbage dump.
"Trees? There aren't any here."
While he wasn't sure what Luke's search for trees had to do with their meal, Uvogin answered truthfully: "Except for the church and the outskirts, not even a blade of grass can survive here, let alone trees."
The outskirts referred to the area outside Meteor City, the part that bordered the outside world.
"Then let's go to church."
Luke decided quickly; since heading to the outskirts was risky, they could easily be captured by outsiders.
It turned out that Chrollo and Uvogin's companion, Sarasa, had been captured by those from the outside world on the outskirts of the woods.
And then… She suffered a tragic end, dismembered.
Sarasa's death also triggered changes in Chrollo and the entire troupe.
This led to the birth of the subsequent Phantom Troupe.
Luke felt that it was best to avoid such a dangerous area until he had grown stronger.
"Can we go to church?"
Luke specifically asked before setting off.
"Of course we can. The church doesn't refuse any children."
Machi said calmly: "And it's guarded by the elders of Meteor City. No one will cause trouble there."
Indeed, the church was extravagantly luxurious, standing out strikingly in Meteor City.
To be able to maintain such extravagance in a place like Meteor City, it's clear that they either possess immense power or have a powerful backing.
The church undoubtedly possesses this kind of support.
A portion of the profits the church earns from Meteor City is handed over to the local Council of Elders.
The protection of the Council of Elders allows the church to exist safely in Meteor City.
"So lavish, so rich."
Led by Uvogin and Machi, Luke arrived at the church and couldn't help but sigh in admiration at the magnificent building.
This church, nestled on the other side of the garbage dump, stood in stark contrast to the surroundings.
The more difficult the situation, the better off organizations like this seem to be.
Of course, that wasn't Luke's primary concern.
Fortunately, Uvogin hadn't lied; indeed, there was no shortage of trees here.
Luke, leading the bewildered Uvogin and Machi, searched for a suitable tree.
At this moment, inside the church.
"Hey, you're back, Chrollo."
In the center of the hall, Father Lisores, a curly-haired man dressed in neat, tidy clothes and clutching a bible, addressed Chrollo kindly.
"Here to watch the videotapes and study again today?"
"Mm, yes. I'm here to study."
Chrollo, having escaped safely with his treasure, nodded gently at Father Lisores.
"Just now, when I came in, I saw there were more tombstones outside."
"This world is cruel. Recently, some criminals have infiltrated Meteor City's living quarters, and many children have been abducted..."
Father Lisores sighed softly, speaking with a touch of compassion.
"So, never go out into the outskirts alone."
Children born in Meteor City had no legal identity.
Some outsiders misinterpret this, believing that lacking social status equates to being less than human and being denied basic human rights.
Thus, they believe that no matter what they do to those who are less than human, they will not be convicted.
These people hunt the residents of Meteor City, resulting in hundreds of casualties every year.
And among those victims, seventy percent were children under the age of fifteen...
"I understand."
Chrollo, realizing the severity of the situation, nodded gently.
As he nodded, his gaze casually surveyed his surroundings.
And then…
"Huh? Uvogin?"
Chrollo was slightly surprised when he saw Uvogin outside through the church's glass windows.
In his opinion, people like Uvogin had no regard for so-called faith and piety.
He also always scoffed at places like churches and would never come here.
But why did he suddenly show up today?
"And Machi came along, too, and there's also..."
Chrollo also noticed another equally young and handsome boy standing beside Uvogin and Machi.
In terms of looks, he was almost as good-looking as he was.
Who was that? Why hadn't he seen him before?
Machi and Uvogin always worked together, and he hadn't heard of any new partner.
Is he a new member?
But why wasn't he there when they were chasing them and fighting Phinks and Feitan?
Questions flooded Chrollo's mind.
But his questions didn't last long before Father Lisores interrupted him.
"The screening room is here, Chrollo."
Standing in front of a door, Father Lisores reminded him, interrupting Chrollo's thoughts.
"But someone's already in the screening room. If you want to study, you'll have to do it together."
Has someone already been there?
Chrollo instinctively pushed the door open, and a familiar figure came into view.
"Pakunoda?"
"Oh, it's you, Chrollo."
Sitting on the floor, Pakunoda, with a short buzz cut and already quite tall, smiled and looked up.
"Why are you here?"
Chrollo was surprised by Pakunoda's appearance.
"I heard from Father Lisores that you, Chrollo, often come here to watch videos and study..."
Pakunoda, who hadn't yet developed the hooked, broad nose she would later develop, smiled.
"Is that so? I thought you wouldn't notice!"
Chrollo walked right in upon hearing that.
"It's because the other kids hate Father Lisores's preaching. No one else would come here."
Pakunoda spread her hands, clearly knowing Chrollo well.
"It's only you, Chrollo."
"Is that so? You really do know everything about us. Nothing can be hidden from you."
"That's not the case."
"But you're wrong about one thing, Pakunoda."
"Huh?"
"Besides me, there are still people coming to the church."
Chrollo pointed toward the window of the room on the wall.
Pakunoda instinctively looked in that direction, and just in time, through the window, she could see a scene in the grove below.
"Huh? It's Uvogin, and Machi?"
Pakunoda couldn't help but exclaim at the sight.
Uvogin was a celebrity in Meteor City; every child knew him. Naturally, many also knew his companion, Machi.
But…
"How did Uvogin and the others get here? And, is that person next to them a new member?"
Pakunoda asked curiously.
"So you don't even know Pakunoda..."
Chrollo sighed in mock disappointment: "I thought you knew everything."
"Maybe we'll find out soon."
Pakunoda pursed her lips at this.
Uvogin, Machi, and the suspected new member had, unusually, arrived near the church today, clearly planning something.
At that moment, Pakunoda and Chrollo didn't even bother watching the videotapes.
They simply leaned over to the window, intent on seeing what Uvogin and others were up to.
And it wasn't just Chrollo and Pakunoda.
Near the church, another pair had also arrived.
"Hiss, it hurts!"
Somewhere outside the church, Phinks' face was throbbing as he gasped for air, hoping to ease the pain from the bruises and swelling on his face.
"That bastard, Uvogin, was really going to kill me! Hiss!"
Phinks's facial muscles moved after saying a word, causing intense pain.
But his anger towards Uvogin kept him from cursing.
Each word he uttered was accompanied by a sharp gasp of air.
"Keep your voice down..."
Feitan's foxy eyes leered at him from the side.
"If you speak any louder, the people at the church will hear you."
"Then, forget about sneaking in. We will probably be discovered in a split second."
"... I get it."
Phinks could only shut up angrily.
"Once I get my motorcycle fixed, I'm going to go and beat Uvogin!"
He lowered his voice, but the anger in his words was unbearable.
Earlier, during their fight, Uvogin had wrecked his beloved motorcycle.
While scrap parts could be scavenged from the ruins, scarce materials like an engine could only be found in a place as extravagant as the church.
Although the church had the backing of the elders, and few would dare to cause trouble there...
But it was clear that both Phinks and Feitan were not ordinary people.
They were both lawless and unconcerned with anything.
"We're thieves anyway!"
This duo, thieves at heart, was ready to wreak havoc in this church.
And then, after repairing their motorcycles, they would go find Uvogin and Matchi for revenge!
And Uvogin, the one Phinks had been obsessed with, happened to be in the nearby forest.
But right now, he was almost losing his temper.