Joey had plenty of ideas, but none had time to take shape—because after running just a short distance, a familiar figure blocked his path.
"I was just wondering where you were hiding."
Joey looked at the man standing in front of him—tall, at least 6'3", with short crimson hair and a strikingly handsome face. Hisoka.
Joey wasn't surprised in the least.
After all, it was Hisoka who had launched the first attack on the Phantom Troupe back on Tier 5. It was only natural that he had been tailing them ever since.
The Black Whale was a hunting ground—for both Hisoka and the Troupe.
A place where both sides believed they were the hunters.
And in such a place, once the hunter locked onto prey, they wouldn't let go.
And the prey? Upon realizing someone was after them—wouldn't let the hunter escape, either.
The relationship was fated to end in blood.
"Don't you suspect Morena at all?" Hisoka's eyes sparkled with amusement.
Joey pretended not to hear. Anything involving Morena had more to do with Yoshikage Kira than it did with Joey.
"Honestly, this feels more like your handiwork," Joey said. "Morena is suspicious, sure, but based on the intel I've gotten from her, she hasn't withheld anything—and what she gave was actually useful."
"So, you're saying I'm the one scheming against you~?" Hisoka spun a playing card through his fingers.
"What else would I think?" Joey countered. "Why else would you show up in front of me now, especially knowing what I'm after? What do you want?"
"Straight to the point, I like that." Hisoka dropped the act. "Help me stall the three following behind you. Buy me some time to handle Nobunaga one-on-one."
"You take me for a fool?" Joey rolled his eyes.
He was already avoiding Phinks—why would he volunteer to invite them over?
"You help me, I help you. Mutual benefit. You're only stalling them. Shouldn't be too hard for someone of your talents."
But Hisoka's gaze was drifting—toward the nearby warehouse.
"You've been inside?" Joey's eyes lit up.
His clone was still with the Twelfth Prince, but Hisoka's clone had likely been tailing him the whole time.
If Hisoka had knowledge of that space, that meant he'd explored it.
"Yes," Hisoka nodded. "And what you're looking for is definitely in there. But if you use a clone, you won't get any answers."
That caught Joey off guard.
"Your clone was destroyed in there?" he deduced.
"Mhm. I'll give you intel on what's inside… but will you agree to my request?" Hisoka's smile widened.
"You'll only give it after you deal with Nobunaga?" Joey saw through him and shook his head. "I don't trust you."
"Aw, that hurts, friend." Hisoka shrugged, feigning disappointment.
"Friends don't constantly scheme behind each other's backs. Give me a down payment."
Joey was, in effect, agreeing to the deal.
And Hisoka was right—stalling Phinks and the others was within Joey's abilities.
When it came to harassment, Joey had never met his match.
"Fine. The ones guarding that space? What you call the 'Weapons'—they can also use clones. And… they have a special ability that can nullify clones."
Hisoka delivered the intel cleanly—something of real value.
"Fifteen minutes." Joey set his terms.
"Deal." Hisoka grinned.
"When you're done, don't run off. Head to the same room as before. I still need something from you—I have to go back to Tier 1."
Joey had already been planning to use Hisoka for something else.
Now that he had him, he wasn't letting go so easily.
"That'll cost extra," Hisoka quipped, but he wasn't against the idea.
He wanted a one-on-one with a Troupe member. Joey was the perfect ally.
If he got injured, Joey could heal him right away—far better support than Illumi.
And Joey…
He was delicious.
He'd grown strong enough to stand toe-to-toe with Troupe members.
Hisoka was already entertaining darker thoughts.
His orchard hadn't borne fruit this sweet in a while.
Joey… was ripe.
But not yet.
Hisoka still had plenty of beautiful little dolls to break first.
When he was done with them, Joey would be next—boxed up like the perfect prize.
Hisoka licked his lips, eyes glittering with anticipation.
"Play with the Troupe first," Joey said flatly. "Don't even think about me. I don't want to be fighting you while working with you."
"Kill me, huh?" Hisoka laughed darkly. "Tempting… But haven't you been waiting for the chance?"
Joey smirked. "Now that's unfair. I always thought you were a great partner—especially for the Dark Continent. I've never had the urge to kill you. Maybe just… make you behave a little."
"Cutting off my limbs won't work on me, y'know~" Hisoka warned.
Joey knew.
The guy could reconstitute body parts with his rubber-like Nen.
So dismembering him was pointless.
What Joey needed was a vow—restrictions.
Those weren't easy to come by.
So like Hisoka, Joey also considered killing him.
But Hisoka never left an opening.
There'd been no good chance to strike.
And why kill him?
Because Hisoka was a wild variable aboard this ship.
Getting rid of him would remove a major headache—for both Joey and the Hunter Association.
And there was another reason.
Threat.
Joey felt it.
Like a hungry predator—watching.
Like a panther that could pounce any moment.
Their peaceful partnership was a veneer.
Both knew: sooner or later, they would fight.
The when depended on who spotted the other's weakness first…
Or on when Hisoka decided Joey was ripe.
The initiative lay with Hisoka.
Because in a life-or-death battle, Joey wasn't confident in victory.
His own estimate? Less than fifty percent.
After all, Hisoka knew part of First Bomb's mechanics.
If it couldn't activate fully, then even Weather Report wouldn't secure a win.
Joey couldn't rely on Second Bomb, either.
And Third Bomb wouldn't trigger unless he was in total despair.
Golden Experience could support First Bomb, but not deliver the finishing blow.
And fighting Hisoka too early would only hurt Joey.
He had no reason to make a move—yet.
Hisoka, meanwhile, relished the fight.
Victory wasn't the point.
Satisfaction was.
"Got it. Go find Nobunaga. I'll lead the other three toward the warehouse and keep them busy for about fifteen minutes."
Joey waved him off.
The meaning was clear: Get going.
Once they parted ways, Joey took out a fresh batch of coins.
One by one, he flicked them into the air. Each became a hummingbird, flying toward Phinks and the others.
Then he turned and returned to the warehouse.
The Royal Guard soldiers had mostly massed at the front entrance—where the Troupe had entered.
Phinks, Franklin, and Feitan were still near the front, not yet far inside.
Why?
Because of the Royal Guard's fearless counteroffensive.
Nobunaga had arrived while they were still mustering.
But Phinks and the others came late—giving the guards time to prepare.
And there were three Nen users among them.
Submachine guns, high-caliber pistols, grenades, even rocket launchers—they used it all.
Against this firepower, even Nen users struggled.
But the Phantom Troupe were no ordinary Nen users.
Phinks was calm.
An Enhancer—though not as extreme as Uvogin—small arms weren't much threat unless sustained.
And with his En active, he wasn't on offense.
The real fighters were two:
Feitan—dodging bullets like a wraith, weaving through soldiers.
Franklin—trading fire for fire.
His hands unleashed a constant stream of Nen bullets.
No gun, no shield, no armor could stop them.
The three Nen users among the soldiers? Frozen.
They were ability users—but seeing Franklin unleash his barrage effortlessly made them realize just how vast the gulf was.
So they fled—straight into the warehouse's interior.
Minutes later, the smoke cleared.
Gunfire ceased.
Phinks followed behind the other two, still high on battle.
Behind them, corpses littered the ground.
When Joey and Nobunaga had first clashed, the Royal Guard alerted the Kachia family.
By the time they arrived—they were stunned.
But their young boss, Kent, saw something else in his men's eyes.
Longing—not fear.
Longing for the Phantom Troupe.
His brow furrowed.
This was not what he—or the upper brass—wanted.
He'd known some in the family idolized the Troupe, but this…
If left unchecked, it could spark something dangerous.
Yet clamping down now would only provoke rebellion.
Kent adjusted his glasses.
He understood the truth of the Kakin underworld.
They weren't gangs. They were the king's lapdogs.
All violence required permission.
Every feud had to be approved.
It was bureaucracy masquerading as organized crime.
Even Kent felt smothered by it.
But he knew his role—he wouldn't act rashly.
"Alert the Royal Guard, the Security Division, and the Hunter Association."
He gave the order without hesitation.
Once the messenger left, he led his men deeper into the warehouse.
He, too, was curious about what lay inside.
Especially since, according to his intel, the warehouse housed missiles capable of annihilating nations.
That alone was enough to make him nervous.
A mix of dread and excitement churned in his gut.
If the Troupe tampered with those warheads…
They'd all die at sea.
Yes.
The Phantom Troupe needed to be eliminated. Early.
As Kent pushed forward, Phinks and the others encountered the hummingbirds Joey had sent.
They weren't sure what they meant.
But exchanging glances, they decided to follow them.
Franklin, of course, destroyed each one as they passed.
While they chased Joey—
Hisoka had reached the warehouse's second exit.
There, only one man waited.
Nobunaga.
The rest of the Royal Guard had already been dealt with.
Hisoka didn't sneak—he strolled up confidently.
"Yo~ Long time no see."
Hisoka greeted Nobunaga like an old friend.
Nobunaga tensed the moment he saw him.
He'd been waiting for Joey—he never expected Hisoka.
But then he smiled.
Between the two, Hisoka was the one he truly wanted to kill.
But he didn't underestimate him.
Nobunaga's aura erupted, and he entered full combat mode.
A silent pressure spread—murderous intent, pure and sharp.
Hisoka's aura surged in kind—his expression one of utter ecstasy.
"Mmm… smells good. I'll savor every bite."
And then he vanished.
Nobunaga's half-lidded eyes snapped open.
He crouched low—right hand on his katana's hilt, thumb nudging the blade an inch free.
(End of Chapter)