A Formal Meeting with Chrollo

Not to mention whether it would be spotted—if it started up and consumed far more electricity than usual...

It was quite likely to attract Father Zhol's attention at the Church.

But if it was during the screening, with the cartoons playing, then using a bit more electricity would not stand out so much.

Besides, if they were really talking about sneaking in, Mog felt that the Church was far from simple.

The fact that the Church could stand so grandly within Meteor City was proof enough.

Not to mention that after Father Zhol discovered Chrollo's talent and found the boy intelligent...

He had been able to directly approach Meteor City's elders and say, "That child named Chrollo is very smart. He loves researching things and takes learning seriously. He will definitely have a promising future."

"His ideas often surprise me. I hope to bring him before the Elder Council and hear what he has to say."

That had been Father Zhol's proposal to Meteor City's elders.

More importantly, Father Zhol could speak face-to-face with Meteor City's elders directly.

That alone was something few people in Meteor City could do.

And after hearing Father Zhol's suggestion, Meteor City's elders had not merely dismissed it. Instead, they had actually considered it seriously.

That was quite remarkable.

What was more, Mog knew...

Father Zhol of this Church was not merely familiar with Meteor City's elders.

He also knew and communicated with certain mysterious figures.

For example...

Miss Renko, the [Embalmer] of [Misty Forest Valley].

After Sarasa died, Father Zhol had contacted the mysterious Miss Renko to handle Sarasa's body.

She had sewn Sarasa's originally mutilated and dismembered corpse back into its original shape.

Such a method had left Machi utterly astonished, and she had then sought out Miss Renko at all costs.

Only after gaining the other's approval had she gone to [Misty Forest Valley] to study suturing techniques under Miss Renko.

Well, perhaps she had also been influenced by Miss Renko because of that.

Not only had she learned astonishing suturing skills, but she had also developed that money-grubbing personality.

When Miss Renko first appeared, quite a few people had guessed that she was Killua's mother, Kikyo.

But after comparing them from every angle, that possibility had been ruled out.

She was simply a mysterious [Embalmer] who lived in [Misty Forest Valley] near Meteor City.

And Father Zhol of the Church could contact someone like her and have Miss Renko handle Sarasa's body...

Mog still felt that the Church ran far too deep, beyond what he could reach for now.

In any case, he would be able to get inside on the day of the screening.

It was better not to alert anyone for the time being...

As for sneaking in beforehand, he would forget about it.

Having made up his mind, Mog slowly closed his eyes and began practicing his [Ten].

Besides relying on [Invention], he could not neglect his own training either.

But training on his own was indeed somewhat difficult.

He still needed proper guidance.

A Formal Meeting with Chrollo

The news that Chrollo was inviting Meteor City's children to watch cartoons quickly spread throughout the entire city.

Many children learned of it and eagerly awaited the day.

And finally, as the date drew near and the children arrived at the Church as agreed...

They saw Chrollo standing at the entrance with Shira and Sarasa, welcoming them.

Even Father Zhol inside the Church held food with a kind and gentle expression, welcoming the children who had come to watch.

Though they were only the lowest-quality flatbreads, the children could watch cartoons and have something to eat.

They were especially excited.

"I never thought he could actually gather so many kids to watch cartoons like this..."

Uvogin, who had also heard the news and specifically come to watch the spectacle, could not help feeling a rare trace of admiration at the sight.

Meteor City was terribly poor, after all. Being able to watch cartoons was an incredibly rare thing for children, enough to make them explode with joy.

However...

"Yo, Chrollo. You took my videotapes, and it looks like you put them to pretty good use."

Uvogin walked straight up behind Chrollo and heavily patted him on the shoulder.

"I've really been looking forward to today..."

He put on a menacing expression. "Looking forward to what happens after the screening ends!!"

Well, although Chrollo treating the local children to cartoons had slightly improved Uvogin's impression of him...

When he thought about how all those cartoon videotapes Chrollo had brought out had been scavenged from Lord Uvogin's turf...

It made him particularly unhappy.

This was basically using my stuff to do this sort of thing~!!

"I've been looking forward to it too."

Chrollo looked especially sunny that day. Even when facing Uvogin, he wore such an adorable smile.

He looked nothing like his usual self, who avoided Uvogin whenever possible.

"Hmph!"

Uvogin snorted and said no more.

Chrollo then glanced past Uvogin and saw a group walking over from behind him.

"Yo, little Chrollo~"

The atmosphere between Phinks and Chrollo was not as explosive as it was with Uvogin.

Well, that was mainly because Phinks robbed Chrollo, while Chrollo only gave him useless things.

One robbed while the other played tricks. Neither of them had really suffered any loss.

Moreover, Phinks was the stronger side in those robberies, so he did not harbor much ill will toward Chrollo.

In fact, after seeing Uvogin like that, he was in quite a good mood and even invited Chrollo.

"If you're still energetic after you're done with Uvogin..."

Phinks flashed a brilliant white-toothed grin. "Come play football with us afterward."

"I haven't played football in ages~!"

"Sure, we'll talk about it later."

Chrollo still replied politely.

Then he noticed Feitan beside Phinks.

That disdainful brow and expression, along with the hairstyle that looked as though it had exploded out of a gas tank...

In one word, perfect!!

Of course, appearances were secondary.

What truly made Chrollo feel differently was...

The vigor radiating from Phinks and Feitan seemed different from everyone else's.

It was not that their bodies had undergone any changes.

It was their mental state.

They were no longer like the other children scraping by in Meteor City, muddleheaded and unsure what to do tomorrow.

They no longer merely drifted through life, risking their lives and using every possible means to fight over a share of resources.

Now, judging by Phinks and Feitan's demeanor...

It was as though they had found some lofty goal and ignited their fighting spirit.

"Is it because of that person?"

Chrollo's gaze fell upon the trio approaching from the rear.

Machi was on the left. Chrollo knew her.

The one on the right was called Nobunaga, and Chrollo knew something about him as well.

But the young man in the middle was a completely unfamiliar face...

After running through everyone in his mind, Chrollo could guarantee that he had never seen this person anywhere in Meteor City.

"You're Chrollo, right?"

When Mog stood before Chrollo, the ten-year-old Chrollo looked him over as well.

Well, this was Mog's first face-to-face interaction with Chrollo.

There was no denying that although ten-year-old Chrollo was not very tall, only somewhat taller than Machi and Feitan, and his features were still slightly childish...

He really did seem to possess a special kind of charm that made children unconsciously willing to gather around him.

"Mog."

"Chrollo."

That was how the two simply got acquainted.

They both tacitly chose not to mention what had happened outside the Church that day.