The Phantom Troupe, including Alex, Menchi, and Jewel, who jumps excitedly on Alex's head, the thought of stealing treasures clearly exciting her, stand before Chrollo, who briefly explains the location, logistics, and general plan of the upcoming heist.
Jewel... you realize this is pretty much a failed mission? The items have already been stolen... this is just... a slaughter... at least if things go according to what we know.
No! Princess Jewel wants to steal the treasures for her collection.
Can it even be called a collection when she hasn't gotten a single item? Well, it's partly my own fault, so I'd better keep these thoughts to myself... quietly... very quietly....
Chrollo continues, while Shalnark interjects from time to time, adding smaller details to the explanation.
Soulmate... Princess Jewel doesn't like this Peasant clown. He keeps staring at her.
I gotta agree with you, Jewel.
Alex glances at Hisoka, who smiles and then casually waves at him.
"Is there a problem?" Shalnark asks.
"The Princess complains about creepy stares from a certain jester," Alex says, quietly adding, "So do I."
"Cut it out, Hisoka. You'll guard the base," Chrollo orders, causing Hisoka to go pale, his expression now filled with clear regret.
"How... boring... ♦️" Hisoka whispers, taking out a deck of cards and beginning to randomly shuffle them.
Continuing the plan pretty much boils down to the following key points.
Land the balloon a little distance away, using a wide, nearby building as a landing point, its roof offering a perfect opportunity to land close to the venue, which is located underground, built under a seemingly unimportant building.
Dress in suits, infiltrate the auction, and finally take all the items, which is possible because of Shizuku and her Conjuration Hatsu, allowing her to store a large amount of items, while disposing of anyone present or trying to approach.
"How the hell do you even steer a balloon?" Alex questions them. "Aren't you pretty much depending on the wind? This seems like a pretty unreliable mode of transportation. Can't you just buy a small airship? Why are you so stingy?"
"Leave it to an Emitter like me. If the winds are not favorable, I'll think of something," Franklin replies. "A balloon is more suitable for us."
Alex shrugs. "Fine by me... though if one idiot fires at it with a rifle, we're kissing the damn ground."
"That won't happen..." Shalnark says, going slightly pale, before smiling awkwardly, "I hope...?"
"Continuing... Alex and Menchi, right? You, along with your gorgeous spider, are willing to commit, right?" Shalnark asks for confirmation.
I have to....
"I won't participate in any attack!" Menchi outright states, causing Alex to nod, as they've already talked about it beforehand.
There is no benefit in her participating... however...
"Instead, I'll stay close to the scene and listen around. As a Hunter, I've got a few sources about potential moves. I am also merely informing Alex over here... what he does with that information doesn't concern me. So no, I won't have anything to do with you!"
"That is quite acceptable," Chrollo says, slightly perking up, his cold eyes resting on Menchi for a moment, causing her to step back just a little.
"I'll leave and get into position then..." Menchi mutters as she gently touches Alex's shoulder before turning and leaving.
She's got a phone, which she stole, so do I. She can call me at any time. Might be a good idea to have someone on the outside giving me hints. If something feels off... I can flee.
"See you soon," Alex says, appearing confident and unbothered by her departure.
In the end, it's decided that the same members as Alex remembers from the canon plot proceed with their attack on the underground auction, namely, Franklin, Feitan, Shizuku, Machi, Uvogin, Nobunaga, and Shalnark, with the addition of Alex and Jewel. The rest are guarding the base and offering remote support.
"...the balloon seems a little small," Alex can't help but complain.
"I'll keep you close company," Uvogin says, smirking at Alex while cracking his knuckles.
"Seriously, stop it... that's disgusting," Alex mutters helplessly. "Touch me, and I will order the princess to assault you in your sleep. You'll have Arachnophobia for the rest of your life... should you survive. Trust me, there is nothing scarier than that."
Princess Jewel is not scary at all. Also, she wouldn't ever volunteer to approach this smelly Peasant.
Didn't we talk about this? Spiders don't have a sense of smell.
Princess Jewel is a special spider!
That still doesn't change... whatever.
"Huh?!" Uvogin yells, staring angrily at Jewel, even releasing his Aura again. "Did I just hear that spider talk? Did she say I smell?! How dare this damn insect insult me?"
Spiders are not insects!!!
Angrily about the perceived insult, Jewel also releases her full power, Ren, shocking Uvogin with the unexpected force behind it. With 31 points in Nen and her Nen Prodigy Innate skill, her Aura carries a force that easily overwhelms Uvogin's Aura, especially since he once again released less than half of his own, causing him to get visibly intimidated.
This peasant has a bad habit of underestimating his enemies. What a fool!
"Uvo..." Chrollo says, glaring at him. "She has a point. One day you'll die by needlessly prolonging fights and underestimating your opponents."
"Are you that lucky that you only get to fight scrubs that bore you? Really don't form a bad habit, okay?" Alex points out casually.
"I... I'll think about it," Uvogin replies, now looking as if his entire worldview just cracked.
It looks like your existence is growing, Jewel. A select number of people can vaguely perceive your thoughts... even make out what you're saying. Probably only perceptive and powerful ones. Is that related to your growth in stats and levels? Or your delayed evolution... the item your mother left you... It's nearly depleted of power. I'm slightly worried.
Anyway, make sure to only talk to me; this is getting awkward.
Princess Jewel knows, and she guarantees that she can control it! She wants the Peasants to know the truth and grant these poor Peasants the privilege to hear her wisdom, so she is actively trying to communicate with others.
...a little information about that would have been useful.
Princess Jewel is still experimenting for now. She wasn't even sure about it.
"Just ignore her," Alex says, feeling slight disapproval from Jewel. "She's not at a level to fully talk yet... just know that she can understand you and has a very long memory... and an extremely petty personality. As well as a taste for vengeance," Alex adds, grinning slightly.
"Why the hell would you raise such a dangerous pet? No, something like that can't even be called a pet; it's a damn beast," Uvogin complains. "You are more sick and twisted than I thought."
"It's rather cute. She does have a nice color," Pakunoda can't help but admit, smiling at Jewel.
"Yeah... I like her eyes," Machi says, as she and Shizuku approach Alex and stare at his head.
"So pretty..." Shizuku mutters.
❤️
"Oh?" Hisoka perks up. "Perhaps I have more in common with this lovely lady than I thought ❤️."
Perhaps Princess Jewel should think about acquiring a temporary replacement for her usual way of communicating happiness, lest the nearly impossible happen and she be mistaken for a perverted Peasant clown!
Smiling widely, Hisoka looks heartbroken. "How cruel... ♦️and strangely eloquent. ♣️"
"You can play with the esteemed spider later. Get ready, I won't tolerate failure," Chrollo warns them.
"Let's go!" Uvogin roars, raising his hands and laughing loudly, the others casually following behind him.
"Alex," Chrollo says, causing Alex to stop.
"Yes?" Alex asks, approaching the Troupe's leader.
"I want you to focus on anyone targeting us. You don't need to overdo it, but I want you to stay back and only interfere should we be targeted. You'd like to keep your identity a secret, right? This should be in your interest as well."
"Fine by me," Alex replies, nodding. "Jewel and I will take care of any unforeseen enemies approaching. Any amateur Nen user or Mafia member is like a fly anyway."
Nodding, then taking out a book to read, Chrollo wordlessly ends the conversation.
Alex turns around and leaves.
Fucking edgelord. Well, I can't leave yet. Jewel! Listen to me. Relay a message to Chrollo; do it right now. It's time we take control of the situation. We can't just hope the story progresses as we expect; we need to steer it towards our own goals and somehow work out an advantage for us.
Warn him that Hisoka may come up with an excuse to leave, and doing so will be quite harmful and may cut off more limbs from the body than he'd ever be willing to sacrifice. Say that we know him and he can't be trusted, as his only goal is to kill strong Nen users.
Little Leader of the spider, listen to the wisdom of not only the smartest spider, but of the smartest Princess as well. What a great honor indeed!
CUT IT OUT!!
Fine.
Princess Jewel kindly graces you with a warning. The Peasant clown is as vile and disgusting as he is traitorous and dishonest. His only goal is to kill strong people as he seeks to fulfill his twisted pleasures. He may want to sell you out to reach his goal. Trusting him would be most unwise... as it would lead to a loss of precious spider limbs, a terrible tragedy Princess Jewel thinks Chrollo should be wary of.
Chrollo calmly reads his book, not even showing a hint of reaction, despite Jewel's warning.
Good... a little unnecessary showmanship and flair, but I'll take it. While I don't plan to go against the Troupe and want to focus on my mission... it can't hurt to sow more discord, especially if it involves someone like... him. Hisoka is a damn variable I want removed if possible. He might actually target me. Unlike Uvogin, who is kinda honest, he may very well follow through on his threats and openly try to assassinate me when given the opportunity.
Alex quickly walks after the others, who are already walking toward the balloon, making preparations, while discussing the routes and their approach in low voices.
"..."
It turns out that before actually starting the operation, the group heads out into the city to acquire various supplies. Among them are parts for their balloon, which still isn't quite ready, as well as black sunglasses and other accessories to disguise themselves as members of the Mafia.
They spend an entire day preparing, their assault planned for September 1st, at 9 PM, when the Underground Auction starts.
During shopping:
Princess Jewel wants sunglasses as well!
"Too many eyes! You'd need like 10 or 20 sunglasses," Alex immediately denies her request, while Machi and Shizuku, having heard her, approach and begin trying on various sunglasses on Jewel. None of them even remotely fit, making her look increasingly ridiculous with each attempt.
Finally, after trying around ten of them, Jewel settles on not one, but two pairs of sunglasses, both black, one with purple-tinted lenses, the other with blue ones, making her look indescribably strange.
Finally, at around 7 PM, the Troupe lights the gas of the balloon, which slowly begins to fill up with air.
"The auction starts at 9 PM," Shalnark informs them, raising a finger. "Some of us will secure a way out and guard the balloon. Shizuku, we need you to steal our loot. Franklin, you are in charge of... getting rid of unwanted guests. You might clean that up as well, Shizuku; we don't want to leave anything behind. Feitan, should we need some more information..."
"I know," Feitan says, revealing a sickening smile. "I'll help them spit it out."
"What did you talk about with Chrollo?" Nobunaga suddenly asks Alex.
"He suspects something big is going on. If anything unexpected happens, I should focus on countering any potential ambushers," Alex replies truthfully. "Which means I'll leave you to your own devices. I'll follow along, keeping a bit of distance. Jewel and I are experts at sneaking around."
"With that mask, you'll look as suspicious as I can imagine," Shalnark says, laughing. "Might want to switch it with a common ski mask or something."
No... doesn't look as cool and doesn't have the additional effects. It would also make me look like a petty robber.
Finally, their landing destination, the large building, comes into view as there are just 30 minutes left until the auction begins.
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