On one hand, they had to snatch the fruits of others' labor; on the other, they had to guard against dangerous Meteor City veterans who might plot against the two of them.
It could be said that the two of them had banded together for warmth, yet their lives had only become more difficult.
Compared to Uvogin, Phinks and Feitan were more like barefoot men unafraid of those wearing shoes. They did not care about this or that.
If there really was something that could change their current lives and make them stronger...
As long as the price was not too severe, neither of them would hesitate in the slightest.
That was precisely why Phinks was cautious about the seemingly simple and lenient condition Mog had proposed.
Such a condition was practically giving it away for free!!
Wasn't this basically the same as when they had asked Mog for food earlier?!
Mog said, no, it was different.
A commission and a request were, strictly speaking, not the same thing!!
When Mog developed the ability Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, he had also gained a general understanding of his Master Inventor ability.
Although he could use Invent by accepting other people's commissions and requests,
he also had to consider the sincerity behind those commissions and requests!!
In other words, if it was merely a commission or favor request without particularly strong intent, the amount of Aura and Nen power needed to sustain Mog's Invent would be greater.
But if it was a request made with great sincerity and a strong desire, the Aura and Nen power needed to sustain Mog's Invent would be reduced considerably.
Simply put, it depended on how strong the requester's desire was.
The stronger the desire behind the request, the less Aura and Nen power it consumed, and vice versa.
If the other party's desire to make a request was strong enough, combined with Mog's Standing on the Shoulders of Giants ability...
With the two abilities stacking together—
Mog might be able to forcibly Invent some incredibly overpowered items that required massive amounts of Nen power and Aura!!
That was why he had used the word "ask" with Phinks instead of "favor."
The desire behind a request was obviously much stronger than something like asking for a favor~~~
"Do we really only need to make a request?!!"
After confirming that there were no additional conditions or costs, Phinks's eyes nearly shone with golden light.
If power like this could be obtained through such a trivial method...
"This is an absolute steal!!!"
Phinks roared inwardly, immediately unable to stop himself from opening his mouth to make a request of Mog.
"Please, Mog..."
Tug tug~
Before Phinks could finish speaking, he felt someone forcefully tugging at his clothes.
Phinks: "Huh?!"
He instinctively lowered his head and saw Feitan tugging on his tattered clothes while giving him a meaningful look.
"What is it?!"
He looked in the direction Feitan was indicating.
Then he saw Uvogin standing there with his arms crossed, pretending not to care while his ears were perked straight up.
Wasn't that obviously eavesdropping?!!
Eavesdropping?!
Phinks froze for a moment before realizing.
Right, Feitan and he had both been amazed and confused when they saw the food Mog brought out.
And Uvogin and Machi had clearly met Mog before.
They definitely already knew that Mog possessed this kind of power.
Putting himself in their shoes, Phinks knew he desperately wanted such power. There was no way Uvogin would not care about it too, right?!
Anyone faced with such miraculous power would definitely be tempted and want to obtain it!!
But when Uvogin fought me earlier, he didn't display any such power at all. I even beat him up quite a bit instead.
That means Uvogin knows this power exists, but he hasn't managed to get it for himself!!
And judging by Uvogin's current behavior, it's probably not that he knows about it but can't learn it. He clearly still doesn't know how to obtain it!!
Mog even told us two people he just met that we could gain this power just by making a request.
There's no reason Uvogin and Machi wouldn't receive the same treatment as us~~~
So that idiot Uvogin probably hasn't obtained this power because he cares too much about his pride, or can't bring himself to ask Mog for it!!
Having sorted through all that information in an instant, Phinks's eyes filled with understanding.
At the same time, the way he looked at Uvogin carried a hint of strangeness, along with... mockery.
Pride? Couldn't bring himself to ask?!
Were those things worth anything in Meteor City?!!
Only learning it for yourself and strengthening your own power mattered most!!
That idiot Uvogin could not even understand something so simple.
Mog, a treasure chest capable of unlocking power, was right beside him, yet he refused to open it for such a ridiculous reason.
It was seriously hilarious~!!
And Machi too. It was one thing for that big idiot Uvogin not to understand the importance of this, but she had gone along with him.
No wonder those two could get along so well~~~
Phinks muttered to himself inwardly.
Well, in this matter alone, Phinks and Uvogin clearly had different attitudes and methods.
Given the environment of Meteor City, as well as factors such as their differing physical qualities and living conditions, it was impossible to say who was right or wrong.
But this did reveal the difference in their personalities and the way they handled things.
This was also why, in the original timeline, after the Phantom Troupe was formed, Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Machi got along better.
Meanwhile, Feitan and Phinks, the pair of them, were inseparable.
And after Chrollo was captured by Kurapika, Feitan and Phinks chose the more rational—or perhaps colder—but more value-maximizing course of action.
Compared to Nobunaga, Machi, and Pakunoda acting on emotion after Chrollo was taken away, the two of them appeared more rational.
Thus, after coming to this realization, Phinks immediately changed his wording.
"Please, Mog, take us to visit your home first!"
Phinks decisively changed his tune. "Since you've treated us to so much delicious food, it's our duty to make sure you get home safely~!!"
The moment he said that, Machi's eye twitched slightly, and Uvogin nearly stumbled.
Escort someone home...
Did he think everyone here was three years old?!!
He obviously did not want to ask Mog about this power in front of me. He did not want me listening in, right?!!
What escorting someone... What a lousy excuse!!
"Escort me home?"
A strange look appeared on Mog's face. "My home is pretty shabby and small. It might not fit so many people."
"It's fine, it's fine~!"
Phinks waved his hands repeatedly. "We mainly just want to escort you home. And once we get there, if there really isn't enough room, we can just find somewhere to stay for the time being."
With a ferocious face full of sincerity, he said, "The most important thing is that you get home safely."
Then, in private, I can properly ask you about this power and make a request for it~!!
Phinks grinned. He could not let other unrelated idiots listen in too~!!
From the corner of his eye, he glimpsed Uvogin's utterly terrible expression, and he nearly began humming to himself in delight.
Watching Uvogin suffer was truly refreshing~!!
"Alright, then come along."
Mog agreed with a smile.
He did not particularly care whether they escorted him or not.
With his newly awakened Nen ability and the Aura wrapped around him, ordinary people from Meteor City could not get close to him.
But just now, Phinks had said, "Please, Mog, take us to visit your home first."
He had said "please"~
Mog had been wondering how to improve his living environment.
Hadn't this ready-made request arrived at just the right time~~~
He Really Has It?!!
Ignoring Uvogin's ugly expression and his silent, curse-filled muttering,
Mog still led Phinks and Feitan back to his residence.
Well, without a doubt, Uvogin and Machi followed along too.
"What are you two following us for?!!"
Outside Mog's home, Phinks glared sideways at Uvogin, who was following them around like a clingy tail.
"If we're escorting him, Feitan and I are more than enough."
Before you continue