I Want Meat This Time!!
"Didn't you say before that as long as we were hungry, we could come find you anytime, anywhere?"
Mm, I did say that, but didn't you also say that even if you starved to death outside, you wouldn't come back and beg me?
Well, they weren't exactly begging now~~~
"Of course. You also said that we should decide what we wanted to eat before coming."
While Mog grumbled inwardly, Uvogin spoke up directly:
"I've already decided!!"
He opened his huge mouth, practically sticking out his tongue to lick the corners of his lips.
"I want meat this time!!"
"Big chunks of meat!!"
"Fragrant, delicious meat!!"
Uvogin shouted loudly, and as he yelled, it looked as though drool was about to spill from the corner of his mouth.
"I want fried rice."
Machi remained as sparing with her words as ever.
But this was already a rare occasion for her to speak.
When she had been with Uvogin before, she had practically never said anything at all.
"Fragrant meat and fried rice? Got it~~~"
Meteor City did have rice and similar foods, but they were generally things like yellowed, rotten black rice and brown rice.
Forget getting even a bite of meat; anything that was still a little warm and wouldn't upset your stomach was considered good food.
Having received the two of their [requests], Mog quickly ran through his thoughts and soon settled on a suitable [invention].
"There is an item like the [Gourmet Tablecloth] that can produce all kinds of food, but it isn't as convenient as the [Gourmet Tablecloth]..."
He raised his head and glanced around.
"What are you looking for?"
Seeing him like this, Uvogin asked directly.
"I'm looking for a tree."
Mog withdrew his gaze. "Or rather, plants."
Clearly, there was not a single plant anywhere near this rubbish heap.
"A tree? There aren't any in this place at all."
Though he did not know what Mog's search for trees had to do with their meal, Uvogin answered honestly.
"Apart from the Church and the outskirts, forget trees—there isn't even a blade of grass that can survive here."
The outskirts referred to the outer regions of Meteor City, the parts that bordered the outside world.
"Then let's go to the Church."
Mog decisively chose the location. If they were careless around the outskirts, they could very easily be snatched away by people from the outside world.
Chrollo and Uvogin's companion, Sarasa, had been captured by outsiders in the woods near the outskirts.
And then~~~
He had met a tragic end, dismembered piece by piece.
Sarasa's death had also brought changes to Chrollo and the entire Troupe.
That was what led to the later birth of the Phantom Troupe.
Mog felt that, before his strength had fully developed, it was best to stay as far away as possible from such dangerous places.
"Can we go to the Church?"
Before setting out, Mog specifically asked.
"We can. The Church doesn't refuse any children who come there."
Machi said calmly, "And the elders of Meteor City watch over that place, so no one causes trouble there."
Mm, the Church was indeed magnificent and luxurious beyond compare.
It stood out more than anything else in all of Meteor City.
And for such wealth to be preserved in a place like Meteor City—
Clearly, either it possessed powerful strength of its own, or it had a powerful backer.
And without question, the Church had such support.
Part of the benefits the Church gained from Meteor City was handed over to the Elder Council.
Protected by the Elder Council, the Church was able to exist safely in Meteor City.
"How extravagant. How rich~"
Led by Uvogin and Machi, Mog arrived at the Church and could not help sighing at the sight of the resplendent, gilded building.
This Church, standing on the other side of the rubbish heaps, formed a stark contrast with those ruins—as different as heaven and earth.
The harsher the place, the better organizations of this sort seemed to live~~~
Of course, that was not what Mog cared about.
Fortunately, Uvogin had not lied. There was no shortage of trees here.
Just as Mog led the baffled Uvogin and Machi around in search of a suitable tree—
Inside the Church at that moment.
"Oh, you're back, Chrollo."
At the center of the hall, Father Zhol, his curly hair framing a kindly face, wore clean and elegant clothes and held a copy of the [Bible] in his arms as he greeted Chrollo warmly.
"Are you going to study by watching videotapes again today?"
"Mm, I am."
Chrollo, who had safely made it here with his gains, nodded lightly at Father Zhol.
"When I came in just now, I saw that there were more gravestones outside again."
"The world is cruel. Recently, some lawless people have infiltrated Meteor City's living areas, and many children have been abducted..."
Father Zhol sighed softly, looking deeply grieved for the world.
"So make sure you never go out into the countryside alone."
People born in Meteor City had no social identification whatsoever.
Some people outside twisted that fact, believing that having no social identity meant one was not human and did not deserve basic human rights.
So they believed that no matter what they did to those who were not human, they would not be convicted.
These people hunted the residents of Meteor City, resulting in hundreds of deaths every year.
And among those who died, seventy percent were children under the age of fifteen~~~
"I understand."
Chrollo also knew the seriousness of the situation and nodded lightly.
As he nodded, his gaze casually swept over the surroundings.
Then—
"Huh? Uvogin??"
Anyway, We're Thieves!!
When Chrollo saw Uvogin outside through the Church's glass window, he was rather surprised.
In his view, someone like Uvogin had always been utterly disdainful of things like prayer and piety.
He had also always scoffed at places like churches and would never come here.
But why had he suddenly come today?
"And Machi came with him too. And there's also..."
Chrollo noticed the other boy standing beside Uvogin and Machi, one with equally youthful and handsome features.
Judging by looks alone, he was almost on par with Chrollo himself.
Who was that? Why had Chrollo never seen him before?
And Machi and Uvogin had always acted together. He had not heard that they had gained another companion to act with them.
Was he a new member?
But during the pursuit just now, and when Phinks and Feitan had fought, why had he not appeared?
One question after another surfaced in Chrollo's mind.
But his questions did not last long before Father Zhol interrupted them.
"We're at the screening room, Chrollo."
After stopping in front of a door, Father Zhol spoke to break Chrollo from his thoughts.
"However, someone is already in the screening room. If you want to study, you can only do it together with them."
Someone was already there?
Chrollo subconsciously pushed open the door. What entered his sight was a figure he found quite familiar.
"Paku?"
"Oh, it's Chrollo."
Pakunoda, sitting on the floor with a boyish buzz cut and already quite tall, smiled as she looked up.
"Why are you here?"
Before you continue