The conversation with Kuroro gave Melsi new ideas.
Previously, she had spared Shalnark's life because of his role in the original Yorknew City arc: when Gon and Killua were captured by the Phantom Troupe, it was Shalnark who persuaded the other members to analyze the "Chain User's" style as acting alone, thus concluding the two captured children were unrelated to the "Chain User" and causing the Troupe to release them directly.
Now, though Shalnark was dead, she had unexpectedly found someone who could fill Shalnark's role.
Yes, it was Kuroro.
During the discussion about the commission, Melsi proactively brought up her other younger brother to Kuroro. "...He's my favorite brother, with silver hair and blue eyes like me, 12 years old, and still a child. He's been playing in Yorknew City recently and saw the bounties. He might participate. If he causes you any trouble, please contact me."
Of course, Melsi didn't believe her influence was that significant. The crucial factor was their surname, "Zoldyck." Everyone smart, including the Phantom Troupe, knew that the Zoldycks were not to be trifled with.
Although such a reminder couldn't prevent Killua from becoming a hostage, it at least effectively ensured that "Killua Zoldyck" would not be easily killed.
Gon... a child completely left to fend for himself by "Ging Freecss," one of the world's five greatest Nen users. She hoped his protagonist halo would protect his life. In the original manga, Hisoka and Nobunaga both thought highly of him. With the favor of two "Spiders" and posing no threat to the Phantom Troupe, Gon would likely not lose his life at the hands of the Troupe.
In short, Melsi decided to temporarily detach herself from "monitoring the protagonist trio" to accomplish more important matters.
Neon Nostrade, the daughter of Light Nostrade, the head of the Nostrade family, was a specialist Nen user with precognitive abilities, capable of divining future events within the next month for others.
Because the Mafia had reacted to the auction house attack event in advance, Kuroro learned about someone who could predict the future. Thus, Kuroro approached Neon, stole her Nen ability, and used it to perform divination for the Phantom Troupe members. From the prophecy poems, he obtained crucial information about the "Chain User," changing the future where the "Phantom Troupe would lose half its members."
...She couldn't let Kuroro obtain Neon's ability.
No, it wasn't that she wanted the Phantom Troupe to suffer heavy losses; she was indifferent to such matters, not being a fan of the Troupe. What she cared about was the information that the prophecy poems might contain about her. When she killed Shalnark, she had significantly altered the Yorknew City plot and entered the fray, unable to escape. Having lost control of the original plot, she could only take things one step at a time.
If Kuroro were to obtain Neon's ability, the Phantom Troupe would have the latest version of spoilers, while she would remain clueless.
This was too dangerous!
Melsi no longer expected to be one step ahead of everyone; at least everyone should be on the same starting line!
Melsi's purpose in coming to Yorknew City was only three things!
Fairness! Fairness! And damn it, fairness!
If she prevented Kuroro from obtaining Neon's ability, there were three options for Melsi:
1. Kill Neon, eliminating future trouble.
2. Cripple Neon, preventing her from using divination.
3. Kidnap Neon, preventing Kuroro from contacting her.
Killing Neon now would be too early. Neon was key to the Nostrade family's development and prosperity. Her death would be a devastating blow to the Nostrade family. In the original manga, Light Nostrade became bewildered after Neon suddenly lost her ability, handing over family affairs to Kurapika, who volunteered, leading Kurapika to become the de facto head of the Nostrade family.
If Neon were to die directly, the hopeless Light Nostrade might completely break down and become useless. Could Kurapika still maintain the Nostrade family under Light Nostrade's name? This development would bypass the buffer period of gradually undermining power. The outcome was uncertain.
Cripple Neon. This operation was difficult to control effectively. Melsi, as a professional assassin, focused on quick kills. Crippling someone steadily was not her forte, and attempting unfamiliar tasks could easily lead to problems.
Therefore, she could only resort to a gentler approach: kidnapping Neon?
After careful consideration, Melsi decided to call Killua first, try to persuade him as much as possible, and hope he would stay away from the Phantom Troupe for his own safety.
"Hello?"
"Little Kill."
Although they had each other's numbers, Melsi usually preferred texting. Killua, receiving Melsi's call for the first time in his life, was somewhat surprised. "...Sister?"
"Are you still in Yorknew City?" Melsi asked.
Killua instinctively realized something and exchanged a serious glance with Gon and Leorio inside the room. "...Yes."
"Yorknew City will likely become a 'battleground' tomorrow. In fact, I hope you will leave Yorknew City immediately, but you probably won't listen." If he were to obey elders, he wouldn't be part of the protagonist group. "The following information needs to be strictly confidential. Because it might concern your safety, I'm choosing to reveal it to you."
"Got it." Killua, sitting on the windowsill, changed his serious tone, and a smile bloomed. He swayed his legs back and forth. "I knew Sister doted on me the most!"
Although Melsi knew Killua's over-the-top excitement contained an element of "acting," she decided not to dwell on it given how cute a pampered kitten was.
"In short, the Mafia has commissioned the Zoldycks to assassinate the Phantom Troupe," Melsi said. "To lure them out, they might use bait. Before the outcome is determined, you should avoid both the Mafia and the Phantom Troupe, as you might get caught in the crossfire."
"Mhm!" Killua, who seemed intent on earning money from the Phantom Troupe's bounty, was completely unfazed and still sounded cheerful. "Are you participating, Sister?"
After thinking for a moment, Melsi decided to tell the truth. "I have other work."
"Sister..." Killua's words reminded him. He stopped swaying his legs and narrowed his eyes. "Can you lend me some money?"
"How much do you want?" Melsi asked.
"20 billion."
"..."
Faced with Melsi's sudden silence, Killua was quite thick-skinned, after all, the favored are always fearless. "Then... 10 billion! Lending me 10 billion is fine too! Please, Sister—"
It wasn't that Melsi didn't want to lend the money, but she knew that amount would be useless. In the original manga, the renowned wealthy man, Basho, was determined to buy all the copies of "Greed Island" at this auction, even if it meant liquidating his entire fortune. Miki had specifically prepared over 20 billion to try and bid for "Greed Island," which had a starting auction price of 8.9 billion, but still failed.
Actually, Gon and Killua didn't need to be fixated on obtaining "Greed Island" because they only wanted to enter the game. "Greed Island" was known as "the most dangerous game," and ordinary people couldn't play it. Basho bought "Greed Island" not for himself to play, but because he believed that completing the game could provide a method or item to cure his wife. Years ago, he publicly offered 50 billion Jenny for game completion memory cards online and would periodically recruit skilled "players" to enter the game and work towards its completion. In the original plot, Gon remembered this and, along with Killua, entered "Greed Island" through the player recruitment test.
"No, this would be 'cheating'," Melsi said. "It also defeats the purpose of the 'game.' I believe you can do it. Even if you can't do it alone, don't you have 'friends'?"
You are "protagonists," after all.
"...That's true." Killua quickly accepted Melsi's statement but still asked persistently, "You really, really can't lend it to me?"
"The belief in your heart is your magic."
"...Pfft." Holding the phone, Killua tilted his head back, his voice becoming lazy. "Got it, got it! I'll succeed and show you!"
Although the commission Zoldyck family received was confidential, Killua believed he could share it with trusted friends.
"The news I just got from Sister is that our family has accepted the Mafia's commission to assassinate the Phantom Troupe," Killua told Gon and Leorio. "The results will likely be out tomorrow. To lure the other party, they might use bait, so Sister advised me to stay away from the Mafia and the Phantom Troupe to avoid getting caught in the crossfire."
"Tomorrow?!" Leorio immediately deflated. "We haven't found any clues yet! There's no room for us to intervene at all!"
"Since there's bait..." Gon thought for a moment, his eyes lighting up. "If we follow the Mafia's bait, wouldn't we be able to encounter the Phantom Troupe?"
"Yeah!" Leorio slapped his thigh, enthusiastically agreeing. "Maybe we can get there first!"
"It's not that easy," Killua said with a speechless expression, as if he had expected them to say this. "To attract the Phantom Troupe, what do you think the Mafia will use as bait?"
The Phantom Troupe's reason for coming to Yorknew City was to snatch the treasures at the auction, so the answer was simple: ...
"...Treasures," Gon and Leorio replied in unison.
"Yes, meaning the auction items," Killua nodded. "I think the Mafia will likely hold the underground auction as scheduled on September 3rd to lure the Phantom Troupe into the auction building. At that time, the assassins hired by the Mafia will launch their attacks inside the building."
"Firstly, the Phantom Troupe are thieves, so they will definitely hide their tracks and sneak into the building. It will be difficult for us to find them before entering the building."
"Secondly, entering the building requires a special pass, which is usually possessed by Mafia personnel."
"Lastly, even if we manage to obtain a pass, once inside the building, it means we will be competing with other assassins."
"...No way. Absolutely no way." Killua shook his head repeatedly. "Ordinary assassins are one thing, but competing with Father and the others for prey—it's impossible."
The path of earning money through bounties was likely closed, but they didn't completely give up and still held out hope of capturing the Phantom Troupe before the underground auction that night. After reconsidering, they decided to split into two groups the next day. Leorio would stay at the computer, constantly checking for any clues related to the Phantom Troupe, and contact them via phone if useful information appeared. Gon and Killua would search for buried treasures in the flea market, buy them at low prices, and then sell them at higher prices in more upscale auction houses.
September 3rd.
As dawn broke, Uvogin and Shalnark remained unaccounted for. Kuroro changed the plan. Some members stayed at the base, while others went out to lure the "Chain User." Kuroro alone investigated the "person who could predict the future," intending to steal their ability.
Light Nostrade tricked his daughter Neon, telling her the underground auction was canceled and for her safety, she should leave Yorknew City early.
Before leaving Yorknew City, an indignant Neon went on a shopping spree at various malls.
The most crowded places were the easiest to operate. Once the bodyguards grew tired, Melsi used the same method she used five years ago to take Kurapika. Brushing past, she injected Neon with a paralyzing agent, causing her to enter a state of suspended animation, and then "picked" Neon into her game backpack.
Currently, Melsi still had [Anchor Points]. With a single instant teleportation, she vanished with Neon from the mall, leaving no trace.
Neon's disappearance prompted Light Nostrade to order the security team to search for her with all their might. Based on Neon's attitude towards Light, Kurapika suspected that Neon might have seen through Light's lie and fled to participate in the auction herself. However, before that, Neon, alone, might have encountered other dangers. Light immediately contacted the personnel in charge of the underground auction, requesting the assistance of all police officers in the city.
Six-tenths of the current Yorknew City mayor's campaign funds came from the Mafia. The police chief was cultivated by the mayor since childhood. Neon's predictive ability was well-known within the Mafia, and she was an important figure trusted by some of the "Ten Dons." If it were for Neon, they should be able to request the deployment of all city police officers.
Thus, Kuroro was not the only one holding a photo of Neon.
"..." Kuroro looked at the police officer not far away, who was also holding a photo of Neon.
Although he was a step late, with so many people searching, finding Neon should only be a matter of time, Kuroro thought.
"..." Kurapika looked at the vague, pointing chain.
[Chain of the Ring Finger, Soul Hunter]
This was the chain on Kurapika's ring finger. The end of the chain was a sphere used for tracking and lie detection. When tracking, he would let the chain hang over a map, and the sphere would point to the target's approximate location on the map. When detecting lies, he would let the chain hang in front of the person. If they lied, the sphere would move the chain, causing it to sway.
As for the principle behind the chain's tracking and lie detection, Kurapika, who was accustomed to using scientific and rational judgment, was not entirely clear. At this moment, the swaying of the chain left him perplexed.
To find Neon, besides a carpet search, there was no better method at present.
On the other hand, Leorio obtained information from a passerby who witnessed the Phantom Troupe. After reuniting with Gon and Killua, the three confirmed the authenticity of the information.
Even with Melsi's advice, even after personally witnessing the strength of the Phantom Troupe members, and even understanding that the Phantom Troupe members appearing in public was a form of bait, they didn't want to return empty-handed. At the very least, they wanted to track them and discover their base location. Simply retreating without doing anything was clearly not what a manga protagonist would do. Well, Melsi had actually given up trying to stop them from the beginning.
Gon and Killua had not anticipated the Phantom Troupe's double-tracking strategy. As the saying goes, "When the mantis stalks the cicada, the oriole is behind." Just like in the original plot, they were surrounded by four Phantom Troupe members. Under the immense power gap, they could only surrender.
Along the way, Pakunoda, a member of the Phantom Troupe, questioned them about the "Chain User" and used her Nen ability to probe their true answers, judging them to be unrelated to the Chain User.
Based on the fact that "after Uvogin and Shalnark went missing, the Mafia remained completely silent and didn't use it to make an example," the Phantom Troupe concluded that although the Chain User was associated with the Nostrade family, they were not acting on behalf of the family this time but out of personal vendetta and chose to act alone, likely without accomplices.
"Since they are unrelated to the Chain User, it's fine to let them go," concluded Franklin, a member of the Phantom Troupe.
Shalnark objected, believing Gon resembled Uvogin very much and wanting to recommend Gon for recruitment. Phinks believed Machi's intuition and thought, "They might know the Chain User, but just don't know the 'Chain User's' identity."
"Besides, this silver-haired kid's skills are quite good," Phinks said, recalling his brief encounter with Killua when capturing him. Following Shalnark's words, he suggested, "How about you join the Phantom Troupe too!"
Uvogin and Shalnark had been missing for so long that the Phantom Troupe members had already presumed them dead, leaving two vacancies in the Troupe.
However, Shalnark was indeed serious about recommending Gon, while Phinks was joking.
After Kuroro's phone call with Melsi last night, he had informed all Phantom Troupe members about "Melsi's brother." Killua's silver hair and blue eyes were identical to Melsi's, so the Phantom Troupe members immediately recognized him as the one Kuroro had mentioned. Since there was no special preferential treatment, only basic hostage treatment was guaranteed, the Phantom Troupe members knew this and did not reveal it.
Except for Phinks, who liked to make untimely jokes on the edge of danger.
He said, glancing at Feitan, "Just to fill the 'vacancies,' right, Feitan?"
"Are you serious?" Feitan knew he was joking.
"Little boy, is Feitan also an option?" Kalluto exclaimed, suddenly enlightened.
Recalling how Feitan had almost used torture on Gon earlier, Killua, who had lived in the dark world and was particularly sensitive to dangerous individuals, couldn't help but break out in a sweat, feeling tense in many ways. Unlike Gon, who grew up on the simple Whale Island, Killua was well aware of the cruelties of the dark world and could distinguish the aura of "his own kind."
"..." xn
For a moment, some were speechless, others burst into laughter. The Phantom Troupe's base was filled with a joyful atmosphere.
"Shizuku, this is just a joke," Franklin ended the humorous misunderstanding.
Finally, Shalnark guarded Gon and Killua at the base, awaiting Kuroro's judgment. After all, they were just two children, and one guard was enough. The other Phantom Troupe members set out again to investigate information regarding the "Chain User."
It was dark.
Time ticked by, and there was still no news of Neon. Light Nostrade was as anxious as an ant on a hot pan. He had already utilized all his connections. "There's no news of Neon at the auction checkpoints. Could it be that Neon... Neon... no..."
Neon was not only Light Nostrade's biological daughter but also key to Light Nostrade's family's growth. Light Nostrade couldn't live without Neon. To protect Neon, he had spent a fortune assembling a security detail for her. To please Neon, he tried his best to satisfy her material demands.
As long as Neon could continue to divine, he had no other requests for her.
The Nostrade family's development was too rapid, and many were envious. Previously, a bodyguard made a misjudgment, nearly putting Neon in danger. Although it ended without incident, what about this time? The newly appointed captain of the security detail, Kurapika, was a newcomer bodyguard and relatively young. However, he was a rare professional Hunter, and there was no one better available at the moment.
At a loss.
Neon, usually a pampered young lady, was alone. Where could she go? How could she evade the sight of all the city's police?
Considering the worst-case scenario, had Neon already...
It's over, it's over, it's all over.
"...Boss, Boss." Kurapika's voice pulled Light Nostrade out of his chaotic thoughts.
The security team members were dispersed to search for Neon, while only Kurapika remained by his side, waiting to receive and process information, and to stabilize Light Nostrade's emotions.
Before Neon's disappearance, Light Nostrade had instructed Kurapika to join the temporary assassin team hired by the Mafia to try and earn some credit for the Nostrade family.
"..." The disheartened Light Nostrade had completely forgotten about this.
However, Kurapika's true objective was not this credit, but because this assassin team shared the same goal as him—the Phantom Troupe.
The criminals who massacred the Kurta clan five years ago.
This was Kurapika's closest opportunity to the Phantom Troupe, and it was rare for the entire Phantom Troupe to be gathered. The Phantom Troupe usually only gathered a portion of their members during their activities.
"Although there's no news from the checkpoints, perhaps the young lady has already entered the auction building through some means," Kurapika said. "To avoid any oversight, I believe a site investigation is necessary."
The Mafia had made preparations to counter the Phantom Troupe that night, mobilizing nearly two thousand armed personnel. That place would become a battlefield. Considering Light Nostrade's safety, Kurapika needed to go alone. Of course, this was also what Kurapika wanted.
"The primary mission is to find Neon and ensure her safety!" Light Nostrade repeatedly emphasized.
Competing with professional assassins for credit was now irrelevant in his eyes.
On the eve of the underground auction, the professional assassins hired by the Mafia, Kuroro, Kurapika, and others, all entered the auction building with their own objectives.
Kuroro issued instructions to the Phantom Troupe members via phone, ordering them to launch their attack and slaughter the Mafia guards near the auction building.
Gunfire, explosions, fires, the cries and screams of people, all embellished the scenery of Yorknew City, this sleepless city filled with wealth and sin, into an even more dazzling spectacle.
This was... a requiem offered by the Phantom Troupe members for Uvogin and Shalnark.
The fighting outside the auction building intensified. The Mafia personnel inside the building felt uneasy, experiencing both fear and a reluctance to wait passively for death. Most of them had come here despite the danger to prove themselves and gain appreciation from their superiors.
"Give us weapons!" "Instead of relying on those assassins, why don't we do it ourselves!"
The lobby was in chaos, on the verge of breaking into pandemonium.
...Bang!
A loud noise silenced everyone. They all looked up towards the source of the sound—two figures, one tall and one short, on the second-floor viewing platform of the lobby.
The loud noise was caused by the tall, silver-haired middle-aged man punching the wall. Centered on his fist, the entire wall caved inward, forming a large, web-like crack. This visible, absolute force was enough to intimidate the noisy Mafia personnel.
"I am... Zeno Zoldyck," the shorter elder said.
"The legendary assassin family, Zoldyck!" "Did the Ten Dons even call such monsters?!"
Those who walked in the dark world had almost all heard the name "Zoldyck."
"Now that the enemy has infiltrated the building, several of your hired professional assassins have already been eliminated. Even if you all had weapons, I could kill all of you within 7 seconds—the enemy also possesses similar power," Zeno said. "Those who understand, shut up and stay put. If you want to die, feel free."
First using power, then using prestige, Zeno's words now carried considerable weight. Under his stern warning, the Mafia personnel stopped making a fuss and obediently remained in place.
After resolving the commotion among the Mafia, Zeno and Silva left the lobby and officially began their hunt.
"By the way, why is Melsi here too?" Zeno asked, having spotted Melsi hiding behind a pillar when he was making public threats.
"Don't know," Silva replied.
For this commission between the Mafia and the Phantom Troupe, the Zoldyck family had almost all members deployed, yet Melsi participated in neither side.
"She wouldn't have some strange plans, would she?" Zeno said. "After all, the kid we're going to kill is the one she likes."
"She's probably just here to watch the show," Silva recalled the situation earlier. "She seemed to be in a good mood."
Indeed, Melsi was just here to witness the famous scene from the Yorknew City arc where Silva smashed the wall to show off and physically silence the entire venue, without intending to interfere with their work.
"She's still the same, preferring to 'raise pets' rather than humans," Zeno remarked.
The two stopped by a recently deceased corpse. Silva stepped forward to examine the method of killing.
A single, precise strike, a quick concealment of aura, clearly, Kuroro was a difficult prey.
To find Kuroro, Zeno and Silva decided to head to the top floor first and then use "En" to search from the top floor, floor by floor.
"En" was an advanced application skill of "Nen," allowing aura to expand outwards with oneself as the center, detecting intruders within the aura's range. The range of "En" varied from person to person. Zeno's "En" had a maximum radius of 300 meters, enough to cover an entire floor of the building. While this would save a lot of time, it also placed a significant mental burden.
"...This job is really not worth it!" Despite saying so, Zeno, who was extremely dedicated, complained briefly.
Silva remained silent but had already mustered his fighting spirit.
The hunt began.
At this moment, Kurapika's face was still somber as he watched the conflagration outside the building from the window. The sounds of explosions continuously shook the glass windows. Knowing full well that members of the Phantom Troupe were amidst the chaos, he restrained his desire for revenge multiple times.
He clenched his fists, the cold chain resting against the back of his hand.
No, his abilities were not suited for facing multiple Phantom Troupe members simultaneously. With such a grand display, the Phantom Troupe members were likely all present, and he probably wouldn't have a chance to capture a lone member.
Conversely, the Phantom Troupe members who infiltrated the building were likely few in number.
Moreover, with the Zoldycks intervening inside the building, staying here offered a higher chance of capturing Phantom Troupe members.
...Where exactly was Neon? In the name of the Nostrade family, Kurapika meticulously checked all surveillance cameras but found no suspicious individuals.
He had done everything he could. He had to confirm it himself.
Whether it was to find Neon or to find the "Spiders" who had infiltrated the building, Kurapika had to personally search every floor of this building.
Kurapika's order was the reverse of the Zoldycks'; he started from the first floor and searched upwards.
The Mafia personnel were primarily concentrated on the tenth floor. The other floors were eerily quiet. Kurapika could hear his own footsteps as he ascended the stairs with extreme clarity.
Amidst this repetitive, monotonous rhythm, akin to hypnosis, Kurapika couldn't help but suspect he might be hallucinating.
The poisonous, the only metal existing in liquid state under normal temperature and pressure, mercury, or also known as "quicksilver," and its silvery-white color, identical to its toxicity, left a burning sensation on Kurapika's retinas.
His blood boiled, and the crimson outline of Kurapika's scarlet eyes faintly emerged around his black contact lenses.
He recalled his collaboration with Hisoka, when he had inquired about information on the silver-haired woman among the Phantom Troupe members.
"I don't know her abilities~" Hisoka said. "Because I joined the Troupe not long after, she had already retired~"
Hisoka also didn't know the reason for her retirement.
The Phantom Troupe members were independent of each other, rarely gathering. Hisoka had infiltrated the Troupe for many years, accumulating information about some of the members through his own observations.
Why would a former Phantom Troupe member appear on a battlefield where the entire Troupe was mobilized?!
Was Hisoka lying? No, that would bring him no benefit.
If her appearance had nothing to do with the Phantom Troupe, did she have another purpose?
Years of anger and hatred boiled over, constantly impacting Kurapika's brain nerves. His body moved faster than his thoughts, chasing after the fleeting silver-white flash around the corner of the stairs.