Hello everyone. I'm Gon Freecss, and we successfully abducted Shalnark and Feitan. Now begins the experiment with Kurapika's Link Chain—we don't actually know how far it can go.
Shalnark felt a dull pain in his abdomen and intense lethargy from drugs. He somehow pulled up his consciousness as it threatened to fall again and lifted his lead-heavy eyelids.
The place resembled a dimly lit infirmary, with his immobile body simply secured to a bed.
The Phantom Troupe's brain wasn't just for show—he correctly understood the situation without confusion, but unfortunately couldn't come up with any breakthrough strategy.
(Based on the damage back then, they've treated me, so they don't intend to kill. Just me alone would be nice, but that's probably wishful thinking.)
Perhaps due to the drugs administered, his body wouldn't move at all. When he surveyed his surroundings with only his eyes, he immediately spotted Feitan, similarly secured to a bed beside him.
"...? Feitan?"
He could tell Feitan was unconscious, but beyond that, something about Feitan's condition seemed off, prompting him to call out involuntarily.
Unlike the power-type Uvogin, the speed-type Feitan had a small, slender physique without unnecessary muscle.
"Huh? No way, a growth spurt?"
But Feitan's body was visibly ripped at a glance, and for some reason his cheeks were slightly flushed with somewhat irregular breathing.
He looked exactly like he'd pumped up and gotten excited.
"Awake, I see. Good morning, Shalnark. Things won't go smoothly for you, but I guarantee you won't die."
When he turned toward the voice he heard, Kurapika—wrapped in a black suit—emerged from the darkness.
"Morning. No coffee for when I wake up? I've got worried family, so it'd help if you let me contact them."
"You'll see them again once this is over—whether that's in a cell or at the bottom of the underworld, I don't know."
While observing the unyielding Kurapika, Shalnark inwardly marveled at his opponent's high level. Though he had no intention whatsoever of losing in a direct confrontation, he understood that depending on time and circumstances, losing was entirely possible.
(Him plus that guy with absurd aura—they're too strong to be Shadow Beasts. Maybe a leader or something?)
He tried to gather information by observing his surroundings and making idle chatter, but no one besides Kurapika appeared, nor did anyone engage in conversation.
He was only watched with eyes that seemed to glow faintly in the dim light, simply observing.
"If you can talk that much, there's no problem. I'm going to drive a binding chain into you now. I'll keep you restrained until we deal with the other Spiders, but after that, you're free to go."
At those words, Shalnark—who'd expected to be interrogated—was caught off guard. He directed a questioning gaze but was ignored as the binding's contents were explained.
"I'll drive this Ruling Chain into your brain. The binding forbids you from using aura and having it touched."
In other words, it prohibited using Nen and exorcism, and depending on the penalty for breaking it, he could remain that way for life.
"Don't worry, I said I wouldn't kill you. If you break the binding, depending on the level, it will gradually destroy the parts of your brain that govern thought."
At this thoroughly sinister punishment, his face twisted as much as possible, and he tried to propose a deal to somehow make him reconsider.
"If you do that, it's the same as being dead, right? I'll give you info on the Troupe, so maybe hold off for a while—"
"The abilities of all Spiders and their current hiding place—we've already obtained those, so is there information beyond that?"
What overlapped was top-secret, impossible information that left even Shalnark speechless.
(There really is a traitor!? And it's not Hisoka—he doesn't know everyone's abilities!)
"Your heart is disturbed. Unless it's information beyond this, the deal won't hold, you know?"
(Bad bad bad! Them targeting me and Feitan was all calculated! They came to cut down our information warfare and one-shot annihilation power! Who's the traitor!?)
Even wanting to break through the situation, his body wouldn't budge from the drugs, and naturally the antenna and phone didn't exist anywhere in sight.
"Seems like nothing? Don't worry, even after exorcism, you'll probably retain about a five-year-old's thinking capacity. When it matters, for your beloved family's sake, you should eagerly sacrifice yourself."
"You bastard! Throw away that thing and come at me! Are you afraid—afraid of me, of us!?"
The chain with a key at its tip raised its head, aimed at Shalnark's forehead, and slowly sank in without resistance.
"Yes, I'm afraid. That's precisely why I'll crush you with everything I have."
"Stop! You bastard! I'll kill you!!"
"Ruling Chain!"
The enraged avenger's second judgment pierced the Spider.
***
After stabbing Shalnark with Ruling Chain, they knocked him unconscious with drugs. Though exhausted from prolonged Emperor Time, Kurapika rested while holding strategy meetings without getting carried away by their initial victory.
"Obviously no good info, but well, we already got the best information possible, so it can't be helped."
As Leorio stated, they couldn't obtain new information from Shalnark and Feitan. Still, they'd learned several things, and it was certain they'd gained harvests beyond just reducing the Phantom Troupe's numbers.
"Kurapika, you okay? You used two Ruling Chains plus an enhanced version of Assassin Chain."
"Immediate combat would be difficult, but if I rest a bit, it'll be no problem. Are you alright, Gon? I absorbed a considerable amount of aura."
"Totally fine! My ability hasn't returned yet, but I can fight without issues."
Feitan's pump-up that puzzled even Shalnark—that was brought about by Assassin Chain enhanced through Emperor Time.
"If this works well, it's more vicious than Ruling Chain, huh? Operation Troupe Muscleheadification."
Killua stated with an indescribable expression: Operation Troupe Muscleheadification.
It was an operation to extract Muscles Mean Power from Gon using Assassin Chain's enhancement ability and administer it to Troupe members excluding Enhancers and Manipulators, just in case.
Abilities administered through Assassin Chain had the characteristic that anyone could master them without issue, albeit with a time limit.
In other words, while Muscles Mean Power was administered, their mastery of Emission, Transmutation, and Conjuration would vanish.
Since Gon included the binding that he could never master Emission, Transmutation, and Conjuration again, if "can never master again" fully applied, there was a possibility of completely nullifying those three systems' abilities even after the time limit passed.
"Obviously I'm not expecting it to work that well, but at least Feitan's Pain Packer can't be used anymore."
Even if Operation Muscleheadification failed, with the Ruling Chain stabbed into Feitan, Pain Packer probably couldn't activate anymore.
Because Feitan's brain had been altered to feel pain as pleasure.
"Man, I thought not killing them was questionable at first, but instead of killing, having effects appear even after exorcism so they can't be treated is seriously nasty. Depending on circumstances, I'd less want to experience this than my brother's ability."
Imagining himself receiving it, Killua rubbed his goosebump-covered arms, with Gon and Leorio nodding in agreement.
They continued restraint since combat actions were still possible, but it wasn't an exaggeration to say Feitan and Shalnark were essentially neutralized.
"Alright, we've rested enough. Let's leave monitoring to the Nostrade Family and talk with Dalzollene. We've stopped him from reporting to the Ten Dons, but we might need the Shadow Beasts' help."
"You're still worried about the prophecy? Why not ask Wing or Chairman Netero?"
Kurapika had stubbornly refused others' cooperation, but after seeing his own prophecy, he'd been seeking the Nostrade Family's help considerably.
To Gon, it seemed like Kurapika was killing himself for their sake, but Kurapika smiled gently, placed his hand on Gon's head, and shook it sideways.
"I was surprised myself, but if I'm the one taking initiative and using others, it doesn't bother me apparently. Though even I find it hopeless that I don't want to ask Chairman Netero-level people for help."
Though he ended with a wry smile, they could tell he spoke from his heart, and not just Gon but Leorio and Killua exhaled in relief.
"Now then, the Spiders will come at us seriously from here. Let's keep our guard up even more."
Each responded to Kurapika's words and took powerful steps toward further victory.
***
At the abandoned building where the Phantom Troupe was hiding, the air was filled with the atmosphere that infighting might erupt at any moment.
"Hisoka!! You're betraying us after all, aren't you!?"
"You're persistent. How many more times does Pakunoda need to read my memories? Honestly, I think everyone should have Pakunoda check them. Though if Pakunoda herself is the traitor, that'd be meaningless. ♠"
"You're mess—"
"Enough, Phinks. Hisoka, stop provoking. Machi, report what happened in detail. Pakunoda, mention anything that concerns you while reading memories."
Half the members, led by Uvogin, cursed the members who'd returned without Shalnark and Feitan, while the other half, led by Pakunoda, affirmed it was the right judgment.
Accompanying this, the most suspicious Hisoka was put in the hot seat, but Chrollo—disliking pointless infighting—stopped them. They reluctantly fell silent and listened to Machi's detailed account.
"A monster with Uvo-level aura plus a chain guy—two of them. I'll ask just in case, but you don't have any idea, right Hisoka?"
"Hmm? I know the chain user, and I've got an idea about his companions. ♦"
Nobunaga's eyes widened, not expecting him to actually know, and Pakunoda hurriedly stopped Phinks, who tried to attack thinking "I knew it."
"Stop! I'm equally guilty in this! I'm sorry, Chrollo. I didn't think it was necessary and didn't report it."
Then Pakunoda explained from her own mouth about Kurapika, who bore a grudge against the Troupe, and his suspected companions, Gon's group. The well-built man who kicked Shalnark was unknown, but at least regarding Kurapika, she was certain and properly reported his detailed appearance.
"So? Why didn't you report it? If you knew, we could have avoided this, couldn't we?"
Phinks, who'd started suspecting even Pakunoda after hearing the report, began interrogating, but Hisoka—as if unable to endure—chuckled, drawing angry stares.
"Tell him, Pakunoda. 'I'm not your mother.' ♦ I thought things had gotten lukewarm lately, but at this level, laughter wells up more than amazement or disappointment. ♠"
"Huh!? What's that supposed to mean!?"
"Kurapika learned Nen not even a year ago—just over six months. I didn't think he could become a threat to us. I'm sorry. If I'd reported when I wondered why Hisoka remembered his name—"
Witnessing Pakunoda genuinely oozing regret, Phinks—who'd been about to explode—fell awkwardly silent.
"Has everyone calmed down a bit? I myself haven't fully cooled down, but at least we know the enemy has enough ability to trip us up. So first, let's calm down."
The Troupe barely regained composure at Chrollo's instruction, but when they tried to start discussions, they immediately stumbled without Shalnark, who usually organized content first.
"Hey, do you think Shal and Feitan being abducted was coincidence?"
"The ones left fighting in that melee were me and Franklin. If they were restraining someone, wouldn't it be the obviously weak Feitan and then Shal?"
To Nobunaga's question amid the stalled discussion, Phinks—thinking it was overthinking—denied it suspiciously, but Pakunoda, who'd been scrutinizing Machi's memory more than the person herself, discovered a shocking fact.
"The guy who kicked Shal wasn't being controlled by Black Voice! At minimum, this person knew Shal's ability!?"
At Pakunoda's discovery, mutual suspicion spread through the Troupe again. Taking this seriously, Chrollo instructed checking everyone's memories, but even then no traitor was found.
Pakunoda herself cleared suspicion by releasing Memory Bomb—a hidden ability she'd only told Chrollo about—which let others read her memories.
"...Hey, does this mean Feitan or Shal is betraying us?"
Phinks's initial fury had subsided, revealing a pitifully dejected figure.
"There's the possibility of being manipulated. It's not confirmed they betrayed us."
Even Franklin himself lacked strength in his voice, and if anything, everyone except Hisoka exuded a heavy atmosphere.
"...Given the enemy's strength, scattering is a bad move. There's even a possibility that manipulated Shal or Feitan could turn enemy. Hey Chrollo, shouldn't we consider retreating?"
It was Machi's overly pessimistic proposal assuming the worst of the worst, but Uvogin and Hisoka objected.
"Don't be ridiculous! Run after being made fools of this much!? I'll stay even alone—I can't back down until I show them hell!!"
"I'm also against retreating. Rather, if you flee here, you'll be nothing but disappointing, and I'll quit the Troupe myself. ♠"
Their reasons were complete opposites, but at least they agreed on opposing retreat.
"I'm staying too. My guts are boiling after seeing them abducted right before me. Like hell I'm running with my tail between my legs!"
"Of course I'm staying. I'm sick of monitoring Hisoka. If I don't move now, I won't feel satisfied."
Phinks and Nobunaga formally declared they'd stay, and Bonolenov silently stood and lined up with the staying group.
"The Troupe's rule is not to be annihilated. If Boss and Pakunoda's group retreat, I'm staying too."
Franklin also brought up the Troupe's rules, implicitly suggesting Chrollo and the non-combatants retreat.
Receiving everyone's gazes, Chrollo contemplated for a while. The moment he raised his face to give his answer, as if timed perfectly, a phone announced an incoming call.
The caller displayed on the screen: from the supposedly captured Shalnark.
"...Who is this? Surely not Shal."
"Haven't you already figured out the name? I'll just say I'm someone who bears a grudge against you Spiders."
Setting aside how they got the password, Chrollo asked the caller's intent.
"Nothing much. I was worried a cowardly insect might panic and hole up in its nest. I thought I'd give you some information."
What was stated with appalling boldness were two things.
One: Shalnark and Feitan were alive, but if even one Troupe member retreated, they'd execute one as an example.
And the other: a complete provocation to prepare a decisive battleground and fight head-on without running.
"We don't think guerrilla warfare will work twice. So rather than let you escape, I contacted you to settle things. Surely the famous Phantom Troupe won't say they're too scared to accept?"
"..."
Chrollo's phone made an unpleasant creaking sound, and those listening around him had auras wavering with anger and humiliation.
"We'll designate the location and time, and of course we'll thoroughly set traps. We'll contact you again once things are decided. That's all."
"..."
About a minute passed after Kurapika's call ended. His face dyed with fury, Chrollo spoke in a quiet, absolute-zero voice.
"No retreat. We're going to slaughter these cocky brats who got a bit lucky!"
The Troupe's roar of determination echoed through the abandoned building—so loudly that the listening Melody involuntarily screamed.
***
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