Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

"I'm Chrollo, the leader. Since member No. 8 was killed before, I'm currently seeking a replacement."

He ignored Ronnel's wary expression, his attention briefly shifting to the Nen Beast Shizuku held with casual interest.

Many had come out of the streets of Meteor City together. Uvogin and Nobunaga in the troupe had been by each other's side since those early days.

"Looking for a replacement member?"

Ronnel repeated, his eyes flicking toward Shizuku. He shifted slightly, positioning himself in front of her.

According to the Phantom Troupe's timeline, the last time all thirteen members had gathered was in July 1996. That same month, member No. 8 had been assassinated by Silva Zoldyck, and member No. 4 killed by Hisoka, who then took his place in the group. Shizuku was supposed to become member No. 8 by 1999.

But as Ronnel glanced at the calendar, he saw it was September 1997.

Could it be that his interference had altered Shizuku's future, causing the timeline to shift, recruiting new members earlier than expected?

"That's right. I've heard from various sources that your Nen ability involves thought elimination, and I find that particularly intriguing."

Chrollo was straightforward, revealing his intentions without hesitation.

His words made Ronnel's expression shift slightly.

"Interested in me? So it wasn't Shizuku who was scouting me..."

But then Chrollo continued, "Could you tell me more about your ability? It seems related to corpses. Before coming here, I visited the morgue. The expressions on the corpses there matched the one you killed today exactly. Is there some special connection?"

Chrollo's lips curled into a warm smile, but to Ronnel, it felt sharp and invasive.

"Those corpses lacked any residual aura of death or resentment—like vases without flowers, hollow shells. I'm genuinely curious about your abilities."

Chrollo fell silent after that, resting his chin on his hands, simply staring at Ronnel.

He awaited Ronnel's response.

What Ronnel said next would determine whether he would join the Troupe—whether he could refuse.

Chrollo, ever frustrated by being tracked through corpses, saw Ronnel's abilities as a perfect countermeasure.

If Ronnel joined willingly and without ulterior motives, it would work out for everyone.

But if he refused... well, Chrollo wouldn't kill him, but he certainly wouldn't leave without acquiring his ability.

After all, they were thieves.

Chrollo's gaze remained fixed on Ronnel. Behind him, Machi, Shalnark, and Shizuku were watching as well, waiting for his decision.

An unspoken pressure weighed heavily on Ronnel.

His mind raced, weighing the pros and cons of the situation.

"There are only two choices: either join the Troupe or refuse.

If I refuse, knowing Chrollo's character, there's a high chance he'll steal my Nen ability. And with five Troupe members here, Shizuku and I are no match for them.

Shizuku's strength in the Troupe ranks near the bottom—only stronger than Kortopi."

"So the only choice is to join?"

Frustration bubbled up inside Ronnel. The sense of helplessness, of having no options due to his weakness, gnawed at him.

"Though it's not ideal, joining Phantom Troupe doesn't seem to bring immediate harm."

"Phantom Troupe members are high-level criminals with many enemies, but they generally keep a low profile. Even when they caused chaos in Yorknew City, most people didn't realize they were part of the Troupe until later."

"Daily life won't be affected too much. Hisoka and Machi live openly in Heavens Arena. Shalnark and Hisoka even returned after obtaining their Hunter licenses."

"Unless the leader issues a formal call to action, most Troupe members operate individually. And the next full gathering won't be until August 31, 2000. I have nearly two years to strengthen myself before then."

"In Yorknew City two years from now, by following the Phantom Troupe, I'll have access to corpses like Pakunoda, Uvogin, and the Ten Dons' bodyguards and Nen masters. Their bodies alone will be immensely valuable, not to mention the potential profit!"

"As for Kurapika's grudge against the Phantom Troupe, that's none of my concern. I'll be like Hisoka, simply watching from the sidelines. In that sense, joining the Troupe doesn't seem so bad..."

After carefully sorting through his thoughts, Ronnel raised his head, meeting Chrollo's gaze directly.

"It seems you've made up your mind."

Chrollo smiled as Shalnark and the others straightened, sensing the shift.

"Yeah. Joining the Phantom Troupe isn't such a bad deal. I have no reason to refuse."

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