Acting as Bait

"Find a fruit more delicious than you are to draw his attention."

Luo Ye's words made Gon and Killua freeze at the same time.

"And I just happen to know where to find a fruit so ripe it's practically dripping."

He pointed at himself.

The smile on his face was dazzling.

Dazzling, with a touch of madness.

"You?"

Killua was the first to voice his doubts, looking at him as though he were insane.

"Are you out of your mind? That's Hisoka. You're going to pick a fight with him? That doesn't sound like something a guy who hates hassle as much as you would do."

The Zoldyck Family's way of thinking was completely rational.

The essence of hunting was to hide, observe, wait, then kill with a single strike.

Using himself as bait and deliberately exposing himself to the most dangerous predator, as Luo Ye proposed, would count as the stupidest form of suicide in any assassination textbook.

"Tsk, you just don't get it."

Luo Ye counted off on his fingers.

"First, it's called efficiency."

He looked at Gon.

"If you practice here a hundred times, what are your chances of success? Ten percent? Five? That's a huge waste of time. My plan is simple and direct. One shot decides everything. It saves us trouble. Isn't that the best choice for someone who hates hassle?"

Killua opened his mouth, but found he couldn't argue.

"Second, and most importantly..."

Luo Ye's eyes lit up, brimming with excitement at the prospect of an unknown challenge.

"What's the biggest source of fun on this island? That freak Hisoka. I've wanted to test this for ages-how far can my ability evolve under his attacks? He's a bundle of experience points delivered right to my door! I'd be a fool to pass that up!"

"But what if he really tries to kill you..."

Gon was still worried.

"Relax."

Luo Ye's voice held absolute confidence.

"He can't kill me. All you need to know is that my ability is very unusual. The harder he hits me, the stronger I'll become. Once he realizes he can't get rid of this strange toy no matter what he does, he'll focus all his attention on me."

He paused.

The look he gave Gon was more serious than ever.

"And that will be your only chance to strike."

Gon felt as though something had struck him hard in the heart.

He understood.

Luo Ye wasn't fooling around. In his own way, he was creating an impossible opportunity for him.

He would use his own body to draw the heaviest fire.

All to buy Gon that one fleeting second.

"I understand!"

Gon gripped his fishing rod tightly. The fear and hesitation in his eyes vanished, leaving only a firm resolve to fight.

"I'll make it work!"

"Good."

Killua accepted the insane plan.

His mind raced as he filled in the details.

"In that case, we need to be clear about our roles."

Killua drew a fresh tactical diagram on the ground.

"Phase one: lure him in. Luo Ye, you're responsible for finding Hisoka and getting him eager to fight."

"Phase two: keep him occupied. Use your special ability to keep him tied down. Make him see you as his only prey, so he can't take any of his attention off you."

"Phase three: the hunt."

Killua looked at Gon.

"Your job is to become invisible. Hide your presence completely, then land that perfect strike at the critical moment."

"As for me..."

Killua's gaze was frighteningly calm.

"I'll be our eyes. I'll stay at a distance, watch how the whole fight unfolds, and judge when Hisoka leaves his biggest opening. Gon, you have to wait for my signal before you act."

The plan was settled.

A hunting plan with Luo Ye as the bait, Killua as the commander, and Gon delivering the finishing blow.

This was no longer a simple hunt.

It was a drama in which three boys would stake everything.

"Well then, my fellow actors."

Luo Ye stretched, his joints crackling.

"It's time to find our number-one spectator."

The three exchanged a glance.

In a blur of movement, they vanished into the dense forest.

The search for Hisoka had begun.