Team Chemistry

"By the way, Chrollo, I have considered what you said earlier..."

"I'm sorry, but in my view..."

"Leaving Meteor City is the best option available right now, no matter how you look at it."

"Of course, if you aren't willing, I won't force you..."

Ian's gaze grew a little more serious as he looked at Chrollo and spoke calmly.

"Because..."

"You weren't the members my team needed in the first place..."

The expressions of the people behind Chrollo shifted slightly at Ian's words.

Chrollo, on the other hand, remained calm and seemed unaffected. He asked in an even voice.

"Did you come to that conclusion because... you're an outsider?"

For some reason, Ian sensed a fluctuation in Chrollo's emotions when he mentioned the word "outsider."

But he didn't dwell on it and simply answered seriously.

"This might be hard to understand, but please believe me. Although I'm an outsider to Meteor City, I'm probably very different from the outsiders you're talking about."

Ian couldn't exactly tell them... he was a transmigrator...

So he said calmly.

"I'm also very unfamiliar with the outside world, but I believe there are more opportunities there."

"In Meteor City, there are too many restrictions and constraints."

Chrollo looked thoughtful when he heard that.

Ian wore a faint smile as he glanced at Pakunoda, Feitan, and the others. Smiling, he said.

"There's a saying in my hometown about a frog at the bottom of a well."

"It describes a frog looking up at the sky from a deep well, thinking the patch of sky above the opening is the whole world."

"But only when the frog leaps out of the well can it truly see how vast the world is and how small it is."

At this point, Ian looked at Chrollo and smiled.

"Chrollo, I think you understand Meteor City's awkward position in the outside world, don't you?"

"Meteor City is a region deliberately forgotten by the world. That's a consensus reached through a tacit understanding among multiple parties."

"If you want to change Meteor City's current situation, simply staying within Meteor City... no matter how earth-shaking the changes here might be, it still won't be possible."

"Don't forget, people outside won't care about anything that happens here!"

"Only by going out into the world is there a chance of finding an opportunity to bring about change."

Ian's words left Chrollo silent.

Uvogin, Machi, and the others, meanwhile, looked in agreement.

Before, if anyone had claimed they could change Meteor City, they would have thought that person was crazy.

But after getting to know Ian, they believed he had that ability.

Chrollo was silent for a long while before he spoke softly.

"It seems Uvogin and the others really have found an excellent companion. I admit it, Ian, you've convinced me..."

"Chrollo?"

Beside him, Pakunoda, who knew him best, was startled and asked hesitantly.

Chrollo glanced at her, a faint smile appearing on his lips as he spoke softly.

"Of course, this decision isn't mine alone to make."

"Feitan, Pakunoda, Franklin, let's hear what you think too. This doesn't concern just me..."

"Whether our group leaves Meteor City is something you need to decide as well."

Not far away, Ian was taken aback by Chrollo's words.

He changed his mind that quickly?

Although Chrollo had said that, his preference would undoubtedly determine what happened next.

The group hadn't yet formed the Phantom Troupe.

But within their small group, Chrollo was already generally accepted as the brains.

Even if they held a democratic vote, the other members would undoubtedly support his decision.

Power didn't arise out of thin air.

It was only through many correct decisions in the past that a leader emerged within a group.

Just as Machi, Uvogin, and the others would support Ian's decisions with both hands, so long as they weren't too unreasonable.

Chrollo held the same power within his group.

A successful leader had to possess foresight, though the members of the group might not need it.

But as a leader, one had to be able to foresee the consequences of a situation's development. Otherwise, one would bring trouble upon the group.

Back on the scene.

"Since you've already made your judgment, Chrollo, I think it would be better to follow it."

Pakunoda was the first to speak. She glanced sideways at Feitan and Franklin and stepped forward.

Pakunoda wore her hair short at the moment, and her gaze was rather sharp.

Unlike the crude art style in the anime, even with short hair and worn-out clothes, her charm was still hard to hide.

She looked more like a cool, glamorous mixed-race woman, with well-defined features and a curvaceous figure. Her washed, form-fitting jeans set off her long legs, leaving much to the imagination.

After her voice fell.

A thin figure beside her leaped straight down.

"Bang!"

Dust billowed up at the foot of the garbage mountain, gradually settling to reveal the figure within.

Dressed in a worn white short-sleeved shirt, Feitan stared fiercely and defiantly at Ian, Uvogin, and the others. Frowning, he shouted.

"Tch! I've had enough of your rambling..."

"You, the guy called Ian, I don't care what Chrollo decided. If you want me to listen to you, it's simple: just beat me into submission."

At this point, his tone turned somewhat cold.

"But if you can't beat me, then get lost and go back where you came from!"

Feitan's arrogant words immediately set off Uvogin's short temper.

"Oh, Feitan, are you asking for a beating?!"

"Have you forgotten I taught you a lesson just a couple of days ago?!"

"Since when did a loser like you dare call yourself the great me in front of me?!"

Uvogin clenched his fists hard and strode forward.

Behind him, Nobunaga followed close on his heels, a long sword in hand. A cruel smile appeared on his lips as he said.

"Hey, Uvogin, leave this guy to me. After all, what he said today has got me all worked up too..."

Uvogin and Nobunaga both stepped forward.

Ian didn't stop them, simply watching the show with Machi.

"Have you fought Feitan before?"

Ian asked Machi curiously.

Machi tilted her head and thought carefully before speaking.

"Uvogin should have fought him before."

"Uvogin rarely loses fights, so Feitan left a deep impression on us..."

"Because he once beat Uvogin. Uvogin beat him afterward, but there really aren't many people their age who can beat him..."

Ian was somewhat surprised to hear that.

He hadn't expected Feitan and Uvogin to have that kind of history.

He glanced at Uvogin's burly frame, then at Feitan not far away, and shook his head, clicking his tongue softly.

Feitan had once defeated Uvogin head-on, despite Uvogin being so much stronger than him.

It had to be said, Feitan Portor's talent for combat really was unquestionable.

Judging by their conversation, it seemed they had already fought a couple of days ago.

Under normal circumstances, Feitan naturally couldn't have been a match for Uvogin and Nobunaga, who had already awakened their Nen Abilities.

Then... why was he provoking them like this today?

Could it be?

At that thought, Ian couldn't help gathering Nen in his eyes... Gyo!

As Uvogin and Nobunaga gradually approached Feitan, there wasn't the slightest trace of fear on his face.

Even though he had experienced the strength of Uvogin and the others after they awakened their Nen just a couple of days ago, he was still full of fighting spirit. He raised his hands, assumed a fighting stance, and sneered.

"Oh, is it going to be two against one?"

"Whatever. It's just the act of cowards..."

"My opponent isn't either of you, but that guy called Ian. Still, I can enjoy myself using you two as an appetizer first!"

Uvogin and Nobunaga couldn't help laughing in anger at his words.

"Feitan, you bastard, who's going two against one?! I'm enough to beat you on my own!"

"Uvogin, step back and leave him to me!"

"Nobunaga, he's my opponent!"

"Hey, you bastard, didn't I just say to leave this guy to me?!"

"I never agreed to that! I'm teaching this bastard a lesson myself today, no matter what!"

As they spoke, Uvogin and Nobunaga started arguing first.

Even Feitan couldn't help scowling at the sight, and he said angrily.

"You two idiots, come at me together!"

"Who'd bully you two against one?!" ×2

Uvogin and Nobunaga shouted in unison.

Just then, Ian slowly walked over.

He gently patted Uvogin and Nobunaga on the shoulders and smiled.

"Sorry, but since he named me as his opponent, let me settle this."

"I thought he was still an ordinary person, so I wasn't planning to fight..."

"But I didn't expect Feitan to be so talented. He's already awakened his Nen Ability too..."

With that, Ian turned to look at Feitan and smiled.

"Am I right, Feitan Portor?!"

His words shook everyone present.

Chrollo's expression remained perfectly calm. He clearly already knew.

"Tch! You noticed? I thought I'd hidden it well enough. I was planning to give you a nice surprise!"

Not far away, Feitan spoke irritably.

A sincere smile appeared on Ian's face as he spoke softly.

"Sorry, I was only paying attention to Chrollo's condition before. I didn't expect to have overlooked you."

"To develop your Nen to this extent in such a short time, with your Ten almost as good as In—there's no doubt your talent is astounding, Feitan."

Feitan frowned at his words, his expression growing somewhat awkward as he said.

"Bastard, you're clearly about the same age as me. Don't talk to me like you're above me!"