Chapter 74: HHES: Chapter 74
If Chrollo is unable to make a decision, Nobunaga and the others, influenced by their anger, will advocate for staying and seeking revenge.
If the Troupe stays to seek revenge, Loki can successfully complete his mission, including Hisoka's "date" with Chrollo.
Loki must find a way to capture Chrollo and lure him out of the base.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep! Kurapika's phone rang as he drove back to Yorknew City. He answered, relieved to see it was Loki.
"Loki! How are you?" Kurapika asked immediately.
The phone crackled with the sound of rushing wind. Loki was using Geppo, rapidly approaching Yorknew City.
"I'm fine. What about him?" Loki asked, referring to Uvogin.
Kurapika glanced at the unconscious Uvogin in the back seat. "Don't worry, he's not getting away."
"Good. I'll be there soon. Get ready at the hotel."
Melody and Baise, hearing Loki's name, also relaxed slightly. A phone call meant he'd likely escaped danger. They were curious about the fight's outcome. Even Kurapika was eager to learn the results of Loki's battle with the other Phantom Troupe members.
Seizing the opportunity before Loki could hang up, Kurapika quickly asked, "So... how did it go with them?"
"The fight? I injured three, but I didn't kill them. The Shadow Beasts arrived, giving me time to retreat," Loki replied in a calm, almost nonchalant tone, as if describing a trivial event.
However, Kurapika, Melody, and Baise were astonished. This was the Phantom Troupe! One person injuring three while facing multiple opponents—that's incredible strength. Those weren't easy opponents; they were all wanted criminals. To injure them so easily, especially in a one-versus-many scenario, was remarkable.
Kurapika, momentarily forgetting he was driving, only regained control of the steering wheel after a moment of stunned silence. "You weren't injured?" he asked, his gaze fixed on the road ahead.
"No injuries. They didn't use their abilities; simple attacks couldn't hurt me," Loki replied.
One person holding off the entire Troupe, completely unharmed. Kurapika now found Loki's strength even more terrifying. While Loki had demonstrated considerable power at the Zoldyck family's, it was nothing compared to this. His rate of growth was astonishing.
"See you at the hotel!" Loki said before hanging up.
Kurapika stared ahead, silent and lost in thought. Melody and Baise were still processing Loki's words.
Meanwhile, at the Phantom Troupe's temporary base, Chrollo closed the book in his hands and looked out at the desolate night. The darkness felt heavy; the moonlight, cold. An ominous premonition washed over him, a feeling so intense it was impossible to ignore.
'What's happening? This intense sense of danger... where is it coming from?' Chrollo wondered, his gaze fixed on the outside.
Hisoka, hidden in a corner, stared intently at Chrollo, barely suppressing his own killing intent.
Beep beep beep! Suddenly, the phone rang. Chrollo answered.
Before he could speak, Nobunaga's voice, low and somber, filled the line. "Leader, Uvogin's been captured."
Chrollo's eyes flickered slightly as he glanced at the phone beside his ear. His voice, however, remained steady and devoid of any emotion. "What happened?"
"We encountered a very strong enemy," Nobunaga replied.
"A very strong enemy?" Chrollo repeated, his tone inquisitive.
"Leader, we're almost at the base. We'll explain in detail when we get there," Nobunaga said before hanging up.
Chrollo stared at the phone, his unease surprisingly subsiding. Perhaps the arrival of bad news had somehow lessened his apprehension and sense of impending danger.
Feitan and the others returned to the Troupe's base. As the three of them came into view, the members waiting inside were visibly surprised. A heavy silence fell over the spacious base.
Feitan's half-burned face, the flesh still raw and unhealed, was a horrifying sight. Coupled with his chillingly cold gaze, no one dared to speak, although the shock was palpable. Everyone knew Feitan's strength; the fact that he had been injured to this extent, even while fighting alongside Nobunaga and Machi, was deeply unsettling.
All eyes turned to Chrollo, who slowly rose to his feet, his hands tucked into his pockets.
"What kind of enemy did you encounter?" Chrollo asked, his voice calm yet commanding.
Feitan, his face grim, met Chrollo's gaze, his hatred for Loki intensifying under Chrollo's scrutiny. Having directly confronted Loki and his terrifying attacks, suffering the most severe injuries in the process, Feitan was naturally the most suitable candidate to provide a detailed account of the encounter.
"The enemy was a kid, with a partner, though the partner didn't fight. He took Uvogin," Feitan began, his voice low and measured.
"His Nen was incredibly powerful; the sheer amount was several times greater than mine," Feitan continued, his words painting a vivid picture of the formidable opponent they had faced.
"His ability is flames, with unparalleled destructive power, and his speed is at least as fast as mine," Feitan added, his voice laced with a mixture of grudging admiration and simmering resentment.
"His perception was uncanny; it felt like he could see everything, easily dodging attacks even from blind spots," Feitan concluded, his voice filled with a chilling sense of unease.
A kid with several times Feitan's Nen, a flame ability, and incredible speed. With each detail revealed, Chrollo's brow furrowed deeper, his expression growing increasingly grave.
After Feitan's account, Chrollo fell into deep thought. 'A kid who controls flames...' Such a powerful Nen user was unheard of. Based on his intelligence, the mafia only possessed the Ten Shadow Beasts; where did this formidable individual emerge from?
An enemy beyond their intelligence, a powerful enemy. According to Feitan, he was as strong as anyone in the Troupe, but probably not much stronger. Severely injuring three and escaping using the Shadow Beasts as cover was strong evidence of this.
Of course, it was also possible the enemy simply spared Feitan and the others. However, this explanation seemed illogical; why would they let their enemies go when they clearly held a significant advantage? The enemy killed Shadow Beasts without hesitation; what reason would they have to spare Feitan and the others? If they didn't want to become enemies with the Troupe, why take Uvogin? Clearly, they knew who they were fighting. Therefore, it was highly probable that the enemy's Nen had been severely depleted, forcing them to retreat.
Such a deduction seemed logical and reasonable. Yet, Chrollo felt a nagging sense of unease.
"Leader, we didn't get the auction items, Uvogin was captured, and three of us were injured. The Troupe was completely defeated," Phinks stated, his voice firm and unwavering as he broke the tense silence that had settled over the room.
Boom! Phinks slammed his fist into the stone wall, his face contorted with a mixture of anger and frustration.
"The Troupe has never suffered such a devastating defeat. This is unforgivable. Leave that kid to me; I'll twist his head off," Phinks declared, his voice filled with a chilling intensity.
"Phinks, that kid is my prey," Feitan interjected, his voice cold and menacing, his aura radiating a palpable sense of icy fury. Having suffered a humiliating defeat at the hands of a mere child, Feitan was consumed by a burning desire for revenge, a visceral need to personally exact retribution upon his young adversary.
Phinks glanced at Feitan. "You're injured."
"This is nothing," Feitan retorted dismissively, his voice laced with a hint of arrogance.
"You already lost once," Phinks pointed out, his voice steady and unwavering.
"Hmph! Not this time. I'll find him the perfect grave and bury him for good," Feitan sneered, his voice dripping with menace.
In the next instant, the two men's icy glares locked onto each other, their animosity palpable in the air. The tension in the room escalated dramatically, the possibility of a confrontation between the two powerful members of the Phantom Troupe looming large.
Chrollo watched the Troupe arguing because of Loki.
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