"What do you think? The Shadow Beasts Force is the Ten Dons' most capable unit, and its members are the people they value most." There was a hint of envy in Dalzollene's eyes.
He was a Hunter, but how much could a Hunter earn in a year?
The Shadow Beasts' standing, status, and wealth dwarfed his own. They might even be heights he could never reach in his lifetime.
Yet Qiao Lun had a chance to enter that stratum. How could he not be envious?
Listening to Dalzollene, Qiao Lun quickly sorted out one thing: in Dalzollene's understanding, the Shadow Beasts seemed to be stronger than the members of the Phantom Troupe!
Was it because the mafia had exaggerated the Shadow Beasts' strength so much that they had become legends in its members' minds?
"All right." Qiao Lun chose to agree.
But he knew perfectly well that even if Light Nostrade managed to attach himself to the Ten Dons, his standing in the mafia would not be particularly high.
As for the position among the Shadow Beasts that Dalzollene mentioned, that was even more of a joke.
Especially since he was not even sure whether the Shadow Beasts and the Ten Dons would still exist on the third, he took Dalzollene's words even less seriously.
But he needed to get into the Semetary Building, so the identity Dalzollene offered was fairly good for him. At least, if the Ten Dons really did invite those two from the Zoldyck Family, he could make contact with them beforehand.
At this point in their conversation, the maid who had left earlier returned, bringing the prepared food with her.
In the end, the boss Dalzollene had mentioned never met Qiao Lun. After the meal, Qiao Lun was taken to the room prepared for him.
Before leaving, Qiao Lun gestured to Kurapika that they would keep in touch by phone.
But not long after returning to his room, Qiao Lun heard a knock. When he opened the door, he saw Feitan wearing exquisite makeup and a sexy strappy outfit that perfectly displayed his curvaceous figure.
"Aren't you going to invite me in?" Feitan's gaze was alluring and seductive.
"No, it's too late." Qiao Lun understood what Feitan meant, but chose to refuse.
It was not that Feitan was unattractive, but that Qiao Lun remained wary of him. In particular, Feitan's Nen Ability would not let him feel safe in the throes of passion, which only strengthened his resolve to turn Feitan down.
Looking at the door Qiao Lun had closed without hesitation, Feitan flushed slightly-not from shyness, but from anger.
He stamped his foot hard, then turned and left.
Kurapika saw Feitan leave, but instead of knocking on Qiao Lun's door, he sent him a message.
"I'm going to meet someone. Do you want to come?"
Qiao Lun took out the pink phone Feitan had given him and opened the message, already having a good idea of what this was about.
"Yes."
At night, Qiao Lun and Kurapika slowly entered an abandoned building. As they walked, both unconsciously used "Gyo" on their eyes.
They noticed nothing unusual until they reached the depths of the building and found a clown sitting with his back to them.
The man had "Ten" around him, an extremely stable "Ten." When he turned, what came into view before Qiao Lun and Kurapika was a handsome face with a touch of sinister charm beneath short, fiery-red hair.
This man was Hisoka, who had been waiting here for some time.
"I came over as soon as the meeting ended." Hisoka's gaze remained fixed on Qiao Lun as he spoke.
But after only a brief look, he raised his eyebrows slightly.
Judging solely by his "Ten," he could not see any potential in Qiao Lun to kill Uvogin.
Yet the fact was that Uvogin and Machi should indeed have died at the hands of this man and Kurapika.
"I don't want to waste words. Tell me about your people first." Kurapika remained thoroughly on guard against Hisoka.
What he meant was also something he and Hisoka had agreed on long ago.
The "your people" he referred to were the Phantom Troupe. From Kurapika's perspective, Hisoka was also one of its members.
Hisoka's Nen fluctuated slightly, and his gaze toward Qiao Lun grew more probing.
Qiao Lun sensed Hisoka's eagerness to fight and took a small step back. "I don't want to fight you just yet."
As he spoke, Qiao Lun brought his hands together, and two Divine Dogs emerged from his shadow to guard his sides.
From the look of them, the two Divine Dogs would immediately lunge at Hisoka and bite if he made any suspicious move.
"And I don't think a summoning-type ability user like me is the opponent you want," Qiao Lun added with a shrug.
Hisoka's eagerness to fight receded. "Boring. I'm Hisoka. And you?"
"Qiao Lun." Qiao Lun did not mind giving his name. He knew what Hisoka's Nen Ability was anyway.
Hisoka nodded slightly. "Back to business. The Spider Troupe has thirteen members. Everyone has a spider tattoo and a number.
"Sometimes members are replaced. You can join the Phantom Troupe by defeating any member. Besides that, the leader also recruits members if we're short-handed.
"Our main activities are robbery and murder, though we occasionally take part in charity work too."
Noticing the impatience in Kurapika's eyes, Hisoka folded his hands beneath his chin. "I joined the Phantom Troupe two or three years ago, replacing number four. My purpose in joining was to fight the leader, but I haven't been able to make it happen. He's very well guarded, with at least two members accompanying him at all times.
"And whenever a mission ends, he disappears without leaving even a clue. So I came to a conclusion: it's difficult to achieve my goal alone."
The corners of Qiao Lun's mouth lifted slightly. Everything was just as he knew it to be.
But he knew even better that, if events followed the manga's normal plot, Hisoka would not achieve his goal in Yorknew City.
However, his purpose in accompanying Kurapika this time was precisely to help Hisoka get his wish. So he was waiting-waiting for Hisoka to propose working together, so that he could join in naturally.
"So?" Kurapika asked.
"I can tell you the details about some of the Phantom Troupe's members, and you work with me. How about it?" Hisoka said simply and directly.
Kurapika's expression grew serious. "Hisoka, let me ask you something. Do you know where the Scarlet Eyes are?"
"Unfortunately, that happened before I joined," Hisoka answered calmly. "The leader likes new things and tires of old ones. Once he loses interest, he sells them. The Scarlet Eyes probably wouldn't be an exception.
"I don't know anything else. The only thing I can say for certain is that, unless the leader is defeated, the Phantom Troupe will keep operating."
Xi Chu Qing Lun Qiao
Soka had not lied.
The core of the Phantom Troupe-or the brain of the Spider-was its leader, Chrollo.
As long as he lived, the Phantom Troupe could replenish its numbers to thirteen at any time. But if he died, the entire Phantom Troupe would fall apart on the spot.
Qiao Lun also understood Hisoka's purpose in saying this: he wanted them to cooperate with his actions and leave the chance to take down the leader to him.
Kurapika hesitated.
But Qiao Lun had already stepped forward. "I can work with you."