As for the weak, they would only turn their sights on those even weaker than themselves and vent their frustrations on them.
As for evil people, there was even less need to say anything~
So Mog felt no psychological burden whatsoever when dealing with these guys.
Incidentally, he had also spoken in advance the famous saying from Meteor City that would later spread across the world.
Well, in the original manga, the Phantom Troupe's flashback arc had specifically mentioned this:
"Before Meteor City reached an agreement with the mafia, providing manpower in exchange for safety, there were hundreds of victims every year."
"Seventy percent of them were children under fifteen."
"Later, as its ties with the mafia deepened, one of Meteor City's elders awakened a Nen ability. This gave rise to a vow and formed the Rule of Retribution: a life for a life."
"We reject nothing, but don't think you can take anything from us either."
"A place inhabited by victims whom no one recognized as human. When the whole world gradually came to equate the name Meteor City with terror, the Phantom Troupe was born..."
In other words, that declaration would only appear later, once Meteor City's name began spreading around the world.
And the place where it appeared~~~
Was exactly as Mog had said: the event that would make the world remember Meteor City and deepen that impression—the Homeless Man's Wrongful Conviction Bombing.
About six years from now, a certain country would suspect a homeless man without identification of murder and arrest him.
After verifying his identity, they found that the homeless man had no nationality and no proof of existence in any society.
He claimed to be a resident of Meteor City, but that country forcibly prosecuted the homeless man, who denied the charges.
The court found him guilty without even giving him a chance to explain himself.
Three years later, a drug-abusing serial killer was arrested, and his other crimes were exposed one after another... proving that the homeless man had been innocent.
Immediately afterward, thirty-one people connected to his wrongful conviction—the police officer, judge, prosecutor, eyewitnesses, jurors, lawyers...—were all killed.
As for the method of murder, it was said that they carried switch-type bombs and perished together with their targets, practically committing suicide.
According to eyewitness accounts, they smiled and shook hands with their targets before the bombs exploded.
Thirty-one people in different locations were blown to death at the same time.
And that declaration was left beside the victims' mangled corpses.
The ability responsible for that bombing was also the Paired Destroyers that Chrollo later used in his battle with Hisoka at Heaven's Arena.
Nen ability: Paired Destroyers
Ability description: The backs of both hands bear sun and moon marks. The left hand imprints the sun mark, while the right hand imprints the moon mark. When the two marks touch, they explode. The marks themselves can be applied in an instant, but maximizing their power requires maintaining contact with the target for three to five seconds.
Whenever residents of Meteor City were threatened outside, the elders of Meteor City would use Paired Destroyers to turn their compatriots into bombs and send their enemies a death notice.
In Chrollo's words, in that elder's eyes, humans and puppets were not really any different.
And, coincidentally, Chrollo himself saw things the same way~~~
"Reject nothing, but don't think you can take anything either..."
Inside the elder's room, Elder Babagra was still savoring those words.
"It truly is a declaration perfectly suited to Meteor City~~~"
At last, an inscrutable smile appeared on his wrinkled face.
"Let me see just how far you can go."
"I'm very much looking forward to seeing what you accomplish."
"And if you truly succeed, I guarantee that you will gain rewards far beyond anything you can imagine~~~"
"Mog, where did you go?!"
After Mog and Father Zhol returned to Church, the Phantom Troupe children who had been quietly waiting there immediately gathered around them.
Uvogin, in particular, asked in his usual blunt manner.
"We went to discuss a few matters."
Mog smiled, then looked around and saw the lingering joy on their faces after the performance had ended.
Well, everyone except Feitan.
"All right, there's something I need to tell you next."
He lightly clapped his hands.
"What is it? Just say the word. If I, the great Uvogin, can do it, I'll get it done for you!!"
Uvogin still patted his chest, making his promise with a cheerful grin.
However~~~
When he saw the calm expression on Mog's face, the smile on his own face slowly faded.
And it was not just him, but the other Phantom Troupe members as well.
They, too, noticed Mog's expression and gradually fell silent.
Chrollo looked at Mog's expression, then at Father Zhol, who stood quietly beside him without saying a word.
He seemed to have already realized something.
"I know that everyone longs for the outside world and wishes to spread your works and performances to every corner of it..."
Mog calmly looked at them. "But have you ever considered the dangers of the outside world?"
"More precisely, the people outside who are full of malice."
Seeing the troupe members all fall into thought, Mog continued.
"Without a doubt, there are plenty of kindhearted, decent people outside."
"But there are even more bastards who don't treat people as people, who trample on lives at will, bully the weak, and commit every kind of evil..."
Sarasa suddenly raised his little hand. "Like the group that has been harassing Meteor City lately?"
"That's right."
Mog nodded. "And they're only the tip of the iceberg."
"They abduct children from Meteor City. No one knows what they might do to those children."
"Based on what I know about the outside world..."
Mog paused, but he still spoke honestly. "They will most likely treat those children merely as tools for venting their own desires, such as..."
"Such as satisfying their cruel desire to hurt others, using it to gain pleasure..."
Machi spoke calmly at that moment.
"There are people like that in Meteor City too."
Well, don't let Machi and the others' young age fool you. They had long since witnessed that cruel side of Meteor City.
"So we've already prepared ourselves for such things."
Phinks blew his nose. "If we go outside, we won't go looking for trouble with anyone~~~"
"But if people like that really set their sights on us..."
A flash of violence passed through Feitan's eyes as he spoke, as taciturn as ever. "Then we're not easy prey either."
Before following Mog, the two of them had been a notoriously infamous duo in Meteor City.
Only Sarasa thought they were good people, even asking Phinks to hand out snacks.
Though Phinks and Feitan did have kind sides to them, that was only for their own people.
But when dealing with outsiders with bad intentions~~~
Would they be greeted by their smiles, or by fists in their hands and blades in their grip?!!
Nobunaga said nothing. He merely adjusted the katana at his waist upward; his sword was never far from his hand.
"We won't let those people do whatever they please."
Franklin, the eldest among them, spoke in a deep, resolute voice.
"Or, once we detect their malice~~~"
Shalnark, ever the schemer, thought for a moment. "Could we strike first?"
Pakunoda nodded in agreement, approving of their opinions and ideas.
As far as she was concerned, there was nothing wrong with protecting themselves and the group.
Only gentle Shira looked as though she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"Tell us, Mog..."
At that moment, a savage grin appeared on Uvogin's face. "Who are we killing?!!"
He was not an idiot. Mog had suddenly brought up this subject, so he must have encountered some kind of crisis or problem!!
The great Uvogin had long been prepared for this!!
"Is this related to the recent frequent kidnappings and disappearances of children in Meteor City?"
Chrollo keenly picked up on it.
"Yes, I just went to see the elder..."
Mog nodded slightly. "I learned about Meteor City's current situation."
"I think we can use a group like this to get some practice first..."
Mog's gaze grew slightly deeper.
"That way, we can learn in advance just how intense the malice of these inhuman people outside really is."
"And how we should deal with people like them..."
Beneath the dark sky, dense black clouds shrouded the area.
On the road below, lined with heaps of garbage, a black van was slowly driving along.
Before you continue