The Phantom Troupe's Gathering That Shouldn't Exist on the Timeline

Each member received their own number, with the Leader Chrollo taking 0, and the rest freely choosing from 1 to 12.

Machi chose number 3.

But in that same year, after reaching its peak, the Phantom Troupe suffered decline, losing two companions in succession.

Member number 8 was targeted and killed by the world's number one assassin family—the Zoldyck Family.

Member number 4 was killed by Hisoka.

However, according to the movie version, member number 4 wasn't actually killed—only his substitute puppet was. But that's beside the point.

The Phantom Troupe lost two members, yet they still upheld their minimum of 13, adhering to the principle that "the Spider has twelve legs," and began recruiting new members.

The Phantom Troupe's method of recruiting new members was quite unique and very much in their style.

First: anyone who defeats or kills a member can volunteer to join the Phantom Troupe.

Hisoka, who "killed" member number 4, replaced him in this way.

Second: the Leader Chrollo personally selects new members.

Shizuku, the new member number 8, also from Meteor City, was found by him between 1996 and 1999.

Third: members recommend candidates, and all Troupe members decide together in a gathering.

If opinions clash, they settle it with a coin toss.

In 1999, Nobunaga, member number 1, tried to recommend new members Gon and Killua, but it ultimately fell through.

Fourth: for special reasons, the Leader Chrollo decides on a temporary addition to the Phantom Troupe.

Between 2000 and 2001, the Zoldyck Family's two sons—Illumi and Kalluto—joined the Phantom Troupe this way.

Yes, the Phantom Troupe doesn't treat someone or their family as irreconcilable enemies just because a member died at their hands.

On the contrary, if there's mutual benefit, the Phantom Troupe is very willing to cooperate with them.

Of course, it might also be that the original member number 8 wasn't part of their founding core, so they didn't care much about his life or death.

If the Zoldyck Family had killed a founding core member—like Uvogin, Shalnark, or even the Leader Chrollo—their attitude toward the Zoldyck Family might have been different.

Because of these four methods of recruiting new members, the Phantom Troupe had a high degree of internal freedom, and gatherings were often incomplete.

It was common for old and new members to go over three years without seeing each other.

The story year of Hunter x Hunter begins in 1999, but right now, the time is November 21, 1997.

In the original timeline, the new member number 8, Shizuku, hasn't joined the Phantom Troupe yet.

At this point, Gelman had just killed his middleman and started his solo career as a professional assassin.

Since both were from Meteor City, the original Gelman was very interested in joining the Phantom Troupe.

After a chance encounter with Machi, he volunteered to become a new member.

Although Machi didn't like Gelman, she still adhered to the principle of "handling business as business" and recommended him to Chrollo.

She didn't like Hisoka either, but she didn't oppose his joining and would even stitch up his wounds when he was injured.

But now, with Gelman's appearance, the course of events took a very subtle turn.

Chrollo didn't decide on the spot. Instead, he called a "Phantom Troupe gathering" that shouldn't have existed in the original timeline.

All 12 current members of the Phantom Troupe showed up, having been informed in advance that a new member would be joining.

Being from Meteor City and a Nen user both worked in the original Gelman's favor, so most members agreed.

But Chrollo unexpectedly chose to put Gelman through two trials.

His reason was that he cared about Machi's intuition that she "didn't get along with Gelman."

Still, the original Gelman passed both trials smoothly.

So in the end, Chrollo gave the green light.

But on the night Gelman returned after completing the trials, a new Gelman took his place.

This was probably something no one had anticipated.

Lost in thought, Gelman heard a creak ahead.

He looked up and saw Machi push open the heavy wooden door, stepping into the silent Bell Tower.

Gelman leisurely followed behind Machi's Ponytail, always keeping a distance.

After climbing a spiral stone staircase, they finally arrived before the complex and intricate mechanical parts inside the Bell Tower.

But now they were covered in thick dust and fragile cobwebs.

Here, Gelman saw a group of oddly dressed people, some standing, some sitting.

Machi walked over to them.

Moonlight streamed in through the gaps in the Bell Tower, as if naturally drawing a line at his feet, separating him from the group before him.

Judging by their appearance, there's no mistake—this is definitely the Phantom Troupe.

The 12th member, Kopf, whose hair is so long it covers his face.

The 11th member, Uvogin, built like a towering brute, almost a wild man.

The 10th member, Pakunoda, wrapped head to toe in bandages.

The 9th member, a blonde woman with a high-bridged nose—Pakunoda.

The 7th member, Franklin, a hulking man with earlobes that droop past his shoulders.

The 6th member, Shalnark, with short blond hair and sharp, piercing eyes.

The 5th member, Phinks, dressed in a tracksuit, his eyebrows so faint they're nearly invisible.

The 4th member, Hisoka, with wine-red hair like flames and an unnaturally pale face painted with star and teardrop makeup.

The 3rd member, Machi, the one who brought Gelman here.

The 2nd member, Feitan, a short man with the lower half of his face hidden by a raised collar.

The 1st member, Nobunaga, with a high topknot, a handlebar mustache, and a samurai sword at his waist.

And the 0th member, the Leader, Chrollo, clad in a black coat, his forehead marked with a cross tattoo, his eyes always carrying a hint of scrutiny.

This is an undisputed group of vicious criminals.

When it comes to enemies or irrelevant people, they stop at nothing to achieve their goals, employing ruthless means.

But at the same time, they treat their own—especially those from Meteor City—quite well, often selling off stolen treasures to fund charity work there.

These two sides don't contradict each other; that's just how the Phantom Troupe operates.

To be honest, Gelman didn't want to get involved with these people right now.

From his standpoint, he could be considered a normal person.

A normal person not wanting anything to do with the Phantom Troupe—that's the most natural thing in the world.

As for specific reasons...

On one hand, if he revealed that he wasn't the original person, he had no idea what unpredictable and disastrous consequences that would bring.

On the other hand, unless absolutely necessary, he didn't want to take part in the Troupe's "activities" or harm innocent people.

But since things had already come to this, he had no choice but to keep playing the part.

Gelman had a certain understanding of the Phantom Troupe.

If he had ignored Machi earlier and turned to run, he'd probably be a fresh corpse by now.

Or worse—Feitan had a fondness for torturing others, and that would surely be an experience worse than death.

Gelman couldn't refuse to join now either.

From his perspective, it was simple: he didn't like the Phantom Troupe's methods and didn't want to join.

But from the Troupe's perspective, things got complicated.

This also tied into one of the trials he had accepted.

Gelman studied the Phantom Troupe, and the Phantom Troupe studied Gelman in return.

Both sides maintained a tacit silence for about a minute.

If you're interested in this novel, please keep reading during the new book period (the first month after release). Your reads help the novel get website recommendations—thank you!

The novel contains elements of Bloodborne Curse and Darkest Dungeon, but is primarily based on the Hunter x Hunter world, with modifications. It has a single female lead, minimal romance, and the relationship is planned to develop only in the mid-to-late stages.