HunterxHunter: I Became Stronger After Death

From Heaven's Arena to the Kukanyu Kingdom—

Under normal circumstances, Moro should have reached his destination a week ago.

However, the unexpected events aboard the airship delayed him until now.

Had he not skyrocketed from Level 7 to Level 22, resulting in a subtle shift in his mindset, coupled with Argo's intel that the Phantom Troupe was still operating in the Kukanyu Kingdom, Moro might have simply turned back to Heaven's Arena.

Now, sitting in the café, Moro's heart skipped a beat upon spotting Hisoka. He quickly averted his gaze.

The other patrons also cast curious glances at Hisoka, but soon looked away.

The older customers maintained a semblance of normalcy, while the younger ones openly discussed Hisoka's tear-shaped face paint and flamboyant pointed red boots.

Their whispers soon gave way to unrestrained laughter.

Hisoka, seated not far from them, undoubtedly heard the mockery.

But he showed no reaction, settling into a high stool by the floor-to-ceiling window. Propping his elbow on the table and resting his chin on the back of his hand, Hisoka gazed indifferently at the bustling street outside.

By the Door

Moro glanced at the group of young customers out of the corner of his eye.

They have no idea they're mocking someone who could crush them in an instant.

Respecting the principle of letting people face the consequences of their own choices, Moro resisted the urge to intervene.

When one of the group made a joke about Hisoka needing a red clown nose, Moro stifled a chuckle and stirred his coffee to avoid imagining the scene.

If he recalled correctly, Hisoka officially joined the Phantom Troupe this year.

Joining the Phantom Troupe

There were two standard ways to join the Phantom Troupe:

Kill a current member and take their place.

While this rule wasn't absolute, it was a common pathway.

Be personally recruited by Chrollo.

Chrollo possessed a stolen ability allowing him to identify individuals who met his specific criteria. This allowed him to target and recruit potential members, ensuring the Troupe maintained its carefully balanced composition.

Chrollo's ability played a significant role in assembling his plans. In the canon storyline, Chrollo designed a set of abilities specifically to counter Hisoka, defeating him with overwhelming precision.

He also used the ability in some fan fiction adaptations, such as "The Nen Exorcist," where he constructed a tailored strategy to eliminate a powerful Nen user. Despite his meticulous preparations, Chrollo's plan ultimately failed, resulting in the Troupe's destruction.

The Troupe's Structure

The Phantom Troupe wasn't a random band of misfits; it was a highly specialized team.

Combat Specialists: Members focused on direct confrontations.Intelligence Gatherers: Individuals tasked with reconnaissance and intel.Support Roles: Those who facilitated complex, multifaceted plans.

Chrollo's recruitment ability ensured the team maintained this balance.

Hisoka's Joining

In the canon, Hisoka joined the Troupe not because Chrollo sought him out, but by targeting the Troupe's No. 4 member.

Although Hisoka replaced the No. 4, he didn't kill them—contrary to what might be expected.

Current Timeline

Hisoka's presence at this moment strongly suggested he was preparing to challenge the No. 4 member soon.

Meanwhile, Silva Zoldyck was pursuing the Troupe's No. 8 member and had likely arrived in Kanda City as well.

It wasn't hard to deduce that Silva's actions might indirectly give Hisoka the opportunity for a one-on-one fight with the No. 4 member.

Moro's Thought Process

Moro lowered his gaze, stopping his spoon mid-stir as fragmented intel fell into place.

Then a thought struck him:

If Hisoka didn't kill the No. 4 member in the canon storyline, could there be a chance for me to intervene?

Would this potential reward—its value still uncertain—be worth the risk?

Moro couldn't help but calculate the feasibility of such a move.

His experience aboard the airship, where he jumped from Level 7 to Level 22, left a lasting impression. The straightforward progression and the bonus Nen slot had been incredibly rewarding.

Moro suspected that as he leveled up further, the system might grant him at least one more significant enhancement.

Even if not, the gradual increase in manifested and latent aura would inevitably amplify his Nen abilities.

His desire to level up had now been fully awakened.

A Decision

Nothing ventured, nothing gained.

Moro's eyes lingered on his coffee as ripples spread across its surface, his spoon lightly tapping the edge of the cup.

Risk and reward go hand in hand.

After weighing his options, Moro decided:

He would adopt a wait-and-see approach, letting the key players—Hisoka, Silva, and the Phantom Troupe—make their moves first.

If an opportunity arose, he would strike decisively. If not, he'd withdraw without hesitation.

This strategy leveraged Moro's advantage: the information gap.

Evening at the Café

The sky darkened as the day gave way to night. The café's clientele ebbed and flowed.

The group of young patrons who had mocked Hisoka finally shifted their attention elsewhere, growing bored of their antics.

From start to finish, Hisoka ignored their taunts, remaining focused on the street outside.

Hisoka's Inner Thoughts

Through the glass, Hisoka scanned the passing crowd with narrowed eyes.

"So hard to choose," he murmured, his lips curling into a faint smile.

The Phantom Troupe—

An enticing new prey.

But Hisoka had no interest in group battles. His true passion was one-on-one combat.

For him, the Troupe was a buffet of potential targets, and he needed to find the one that excited him most.

A Distant Boom

As night fell and the city lights flickered on, Hisoka suddenly rose from his seat and headed for the door.

The group of young patrons, catching sight of the heart symbols on his chest, burst into laughter again as he passed.

Still, Hisoka paid them no mind, pushing open the door and stepping into the cool night air.

Moro waited until the sound of the door chime faded, then glanced toward it with mild surprise.

He hadn't expected Hisoka, despite his quirks, to tolerate such blatant ridicule without retaliating.

Shaking his head, Moro downed the last of his now-cold coffee and prepared to leave.

A Sudden Sound

Before he could reach the exit, a deafening boom echoed from a distance.

The noise silenced the café as every patron froze in place.

Outside on the street, Hisoka also stopped, his gaze snapping toward the direction of the commotion.

For a brief moment, Hisoka's and Moro's eyes gleamed with the same sharp focus.

The Fountain Square

At the city's fountain square, Silva Zoldyck slowly straightened, standing over a corpse with a crushed back.

Not far ahead, Chrollo and several Troupe members stood with cold expressions, their killing intent palpable.

Silva had descended like a meteor, instantly taking one Troupe member's life.

Now, the confrontation was about to begin.

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