The order had been issued a long time ago. It was the Phantom Troupe's first assembly order in over a year, and it wasn't a mandatory requirement.
The content of that order was: Those who are free, assemble in Yorknew City before September 1st.
The meaning was that those who didn't want to come didn't have to.
Usually, for non-mandatory orders like this, Hisoka was typically absent.
However, today, in mid-January, the Phantom Troupe had assembled early, and not a single member was absent.
Discarded cars were piled up haphazardly, forming small hills four or five meters high.
The smell of gasoline mixed with the odor of rust was quite pungent.
Each member of the Spider was either sitting or standing on high ground, while Machi, Uvogin, and Nobunaga stood on level ground.
It wasn't an intentionally chosen formation, yet it carried a faint trace of a judicial atmosphere.
Chrollo sat perched on a two-meter-high scrapped car. The dilapidated aura surrounding him gave him a familiar atmosphere.
He had once thought that every leg the Spider lost would represent the death of a member.
No matter the cause, only the death of an individual would cause the Spider to lose a leg. He had never considered that one day, a Spider's leg would leave on its own.
'Never thought about it? More accurately, it was a selective, deliberate oversight.'
Chrollo's eyelids drooped. He closed the book with one hand and casually placed it aside, then looked down at Machi, whose expression was calm.
Pakunoda stood beside Chrollo.
As one of the earliest partners, she wasn't as perceptive as Chrollo. Frowning, she said, "Machi, why do you want to leave?"
Uvogin and Nobunaga stood not far from Machi. They looked at her, their expressions slightly complex.
Around them, the other Troupe's members all watched Machi on the level ground. Hisoka, meanwhile, was toying with his playing cards, seeming uninterested in these matters.
In response to Pakunoda's question, Machi chose silence.
The reason for wanting to leave the Troupe wasn't complicated. Setting aside the underlying conflicts she always had with Feitan and Phinks, it was primarily due to Law's tough attitude that left her no room for defiance.
Ultimately, the reason for Law's unyieldingness could be summarized in one sentence: You are my woman.
Machi would not voice this reason. Moreover, Uvogin and Nobunaga did not have a clear intention to leave the Troupe and were still in a state of indecision, so she had no right to force them to quit.
Whether to leave or not ultimately depended on personal will.
Faced with Machi's silence, Pakunoda certainly could have used her ability as a threatening bargaining chip to force Machi to give a reason, but she didn't do so. She just felt puzzled.
In the silent atmosphere, Shalnark, holding a phone in one hand and the other hand on his hip, said, "It's because of that man named Law, right?"
As soon as these words were spoken, several members had noticeable reactions.
Machi, however, remained calm, though her gaze inadvertently fell on Shalnark.
"A guess, or a conclusion?" Chrollo looked at Shalnark.
In the corner, Hisoka's eyes narrowed to slits. The playing cards in his hand suddenly disappeared, leaving only a Joker card.
Shalnark pondered for a moment, then said, "Somewhere between a guess and a conclusion. Just ten days ago, Law became one of the passers of the Hunter Exam 287th. I'm pointing this out not to imply anything, just to give you all some information."
Within the Troupe, both Shalnark and Hisoka possessed Hunter Licenses.
However, Shalnark's role in the group was to handle and analyze intelligence, often collecting information through the Hunter Website.
Therefore, while Hisoka knew nothing about Law obtaining the Hunter License, Shalnark was aware of it.
Hisoka chuckled softly, a glint of killing intent slowly lighting up his narrow eyes. But there was another killing intent, more conspicuous and more impatient than his.
It was Feitan's killing intent, unveiled without any concealment, brazenly laid bare before everyone. Following closely was Phinks's fierce aura.
"Oh, he's shown up, has he?" Feitan's voice came through his skull mask.
Then, the tall and large Franklin asked in a steady tone, "Machi, does your wanting to leave the Troupe have anything to do with that man? You don't need to explain in detail, just answer yes or no."
Among all the members, only Shizuku looked at everyone blankly. She had joined the Troupe later, had not participated in the Kurta Clan's massacre incident, and didn't know about Law or the history between Law and the Troupe.
Seeing the group's atmosphere stir noticeably because of a man's name, Shizuku felt both puzzled and curious.
But being forgetful, she might forget about it after a while.
Faced with Franklin's question, Machi remained silent. She just looked up slightly at Chrollo, who hadn't uttered a word.
The reason didn't matter. As long as Chrollo loosened his grip and said the words of agreement, she wouldn't be standing here.
Chrollo understood this too. He met Machi's gaze, didn't relent, and said calmly, "I want to know the reason. As Franklin said, yes, or no."
This time, however, Machi did not remain silent. She nodded and said, "Yes."
Chrollo's hands slowly clasped together. His eyes showed contemplation, and he unknowingly sank into deep thought.
Hearing Machi admit it, most of the group's members had altered expressions.
That incident had always been a thorn in their hearts. Precisely because of this thorn, on several occasions, it had nearly become a trigger between Feitan, Phinks, and Uvogin, Nobunaga.
Moreover, they had come to real blows several times.
It was an irreconcilable conflict. But afterwards, as Law disappeared from the scene, the occasionally tense atmosphere gradually eased.
However, accompanying Machi's desire to leave the Troupe, news of Law had arrived before them in this manner.
"Do I have reason to suspect one thing?"
Feitan sneered and moved without warning.
His figure shot forth like a ghost. A cold light flashed from under his coat… a drawn blade aimed straight at Machi's heart.
Clang!
The ill-intentioned blade was blocked just in time by Nobunaga's drawn sword.
"You... looking to die?"
Blue veins bulged on Nobunaga's forehead. His usually lazy, listless eyes were now overflowing with killing intent.
With the two sharpest blades in the Troupe crossed in front of her, Machi just glanced at them indifferently, then continued to look directly at Chrollo, who was lost in thought.
"Feitan, Machi is still a member of the Troupe," Pakunoda said sternly.
Uvogin's face turned somewhat ferocious, his aura wantonly surging out.
At the same time, Phinks entered a state of Ken, his cold eyes fixed on Uvogin. However, even he could not approve of Feitan's earlier action.
Although he had held back, it was truly merciless.
Under everyone's gaze, the corners of Feitan's eyes curved slightly. He said coldly, "I just wanted to see if her heart is still there."
He spoke first, then attacked.
This was the leeway Feitan had left, which was why Nobunaga's sword was drawn in time.
As for what Feitan said, it reminded everyone of Law's ability.