And just like that, Hisoka successfully became a fake member of the Phantom Troupe-Number 4.
Aside from Machi, who treated him with the same icy indifference she showed everyone, the other Spiders clearly had a few complaints about the guy.
Feitan had the biggest problem with him.
In private, even A Luo had suffered Feitan's petty retaliation several times, both openly and behind her back, all because of Hisoka.
Feitan believed they had ended up as comrades with that pervert because she had spilled the beans and brought Hisoka to their doorstep.
A Luo, however, felt she had been wronged more grievously than anyone in history!
If Feitan hadn't run his mouth back then and told Hisoka how to join the Phantom Troupe, Hisoka would never have found that loophole.
He actually planned to join their ranks first, then take his time finding an opportunity to duel their leader one-on-one.
The main problem was that Chrollo was a lunatic too. He knew perfectly well that Hisoka had ulterior motives, yet he had still agreed to let him join.
He really wasn't afraid of dying at all!
A Luo couldn't help recalling Melody's assessment of Chrollo in the manga after Kurapika captured him.
His heartbeat alone had frightened that gentle, kind woman to the brink of a breakdown. In some ways, this guy had to be even crazier than Hisoka!
A Luo was different. She was nothing like these freaks.
She didn't want to die. She had finally stumbled into a chance to live again, no matter how dangerous this world was.
Since she had survived, she absolutely couldn't let this life go to waste!
Besides, she still had her mother from this life waiting for her to come to the rescue!
For her own sake, and for Malena's, she would grow stronger as quickly as possible, then eat well, drink well, live somewhere nice, and lead the life she wanted.
And so, anyone paying attention could see that A Luo, the youngest and weakest among them, had begun training noticeably harder lately.
Following the methods Fan'en Reno had once taught her and combining them with the various ways she remembered the protagonists training their Nen Abilities, A Luo was rapidly improving in corners where no one could see.
Then time slipped by without a sound.
Before long, the year was ending and the new year was approaching.
After spending more than a month holed up in Hisoka's castle, the Spiders finally decided to leave.
A Luo ran off to ask Machi what was going on.
"It's almost New Year's, and the leader suddenly told everyone to pack. Where are we going?"
Machi answered A Luo offhandedly as she packed the little bag she carried every day.
"Hisoka replaced Number 4, Omokage, but the No. 8 position is still vacant. We finally have a lead on a new member. Shalnark just sent the information back to the leader, so I suppose we're going to find them?"
A Luo: "..."
So the reason this bunch had stayed here without budging wasn't that she needed to recover from her injuries, or that they were tired and wanted a break.
It was simply because Shalnark hadn't gotten his hands on the information about the new member yet!
Now that the information was in, these Spiders had decided to leave immediately, without even staying to celebrate the new year?
You really never knew which would arrive first: tomorrow or the unexpected.
That afternoon, the four Spiders took A Luo aboard an airship.
As for Hisoka?
That battle maniac had run off somewhere to find someone to fight. Before leaving, he had merely gestured at A Luo, reminding her to remember what she had promised him.
Wasn't it just to contact him whenever she came across any promising big or little fruits?
A Luo made an OK sign to show she hadn't forgotten their agreement. Yet the moment she boarded the airship with the Spiders, she received a text from Mr. Fruit Farmer, who had already gone who knew where.
"Cutie, I don't just want you to help me find fruit! If it's not too much trouble, please be sure to keep an eye on that big fruit, Chrollo, for me. If you ever get a chance to arrange a one-on-one fight between us, I'll agree to whatever terms you want, cutie! ♥"
A Luo: "..."
Well, then!
Now I've become that perverted fruit farmer's informant and spy.
But a promise from the fruit farmer!
Although this guy was always unpredictable, he seemed to have followed through whenever he promised someone something. He could be considered a man of his word.
Then could I ask him to help me find Malena?
With his strength and money, investigating Malena's whereabouts ought to be faster than having her wander around like a headless chicken, trying her luck everywhere!
She glanced at the Spider's head sitting right at the front, then at Machi, Feitan, and Pakunoda surrounding Chrollo... Things seemed to be getting more and more exciting.
After flying south for three full days, the airship landed near a somewhat underdeveloped city.
The moment she stepped off the airship, A Luo noticed an abandoned mine nearby that had been exhausted by excessive mining.
This place had probably once been a small, resource-rich city that made its living from mining. Now, however, all the minerals had been mined out, leaving only empty mine tunnels and a little city stripped of its vitality and future.
"What are we doing here?"
Not one of the four Spiders answered A Luo, especially Chrollo. He got off the airship first and led the way toward the little city some distance from the mine, with the other three Spiders immediately following him.
A Luo trailed behind them in confusion, walking for a little over an hour.
Chrollo seemed to have come prepared. As soon as they entered the city, he headed straight for a café.
And there, A Luo saw a familiar face.
The café's server was a short-haired young woman who looked about twenty, with an innocent face.
She had a lovely figure and wore a black turtleneck sweater and jeans, along with black-framed glasses and a cross necklace.
More than anything, it was that naturally vacant air and effortless sexiness that made A Luo recognize her at once!
Shizuku.
This had to be Shizuku!
The girl who handled the Phantom Troupe's cleanup work, whose Nen Ability was Blinky.
As it happened, someone was placing an order when they entered.
The customer ahead of Chrollo ordered a cappuccino.
Shizuku stared with her big, liquid eyes. She had only just taken the customer's order, but the moment she turned her head, she forgot what drink he wanted.
The girl was especially forgetful. Once she forgot something, it seemed she couldn't remember it no matter how anyone reminded her.
The customer watched helplessly as the cute girl asked him again what he wanted to drink.
For the sake of her pretty, adorably vacant face, he swallowed his displeasure and repeated himself with extra emphasis.
Less than a minute later, Shizuku forgot again.
After this happened several times, the customer finally lost his temper with Shizuku and slammed his hand hard against the counter between them.
"What the hell is wrong with you, girl?! How many times have I told you? Cappuccino, cappuccino, I want a cappuccino... If you fucking ask me again, I'll twist your head off and kick it around like a ball!"
Before you continue