Chapter 46: Let's Go
Kurapika was stunned.
It was exactly as Kyle had predicted.
The Ten Dons had truly spared no expense, even hiring the top assassins from the Zoldyck family. He could clearly feel the aura from those two. It was completely different from every other killer in the room.
It was an aura refined to the absolute limit, yet it held a terrifying, destructive power. They were on a completely different level.
Meanwhile, in the main hall of the auction house, the lights were soft, and the air was filled with perfume and the sight of elegant guests.
Kyle and Killua had changed into tailored black suits, blending in as the children of some wealthy family.
Their gazes swept the room, seemingly casual, until they both landed—at the same time—on a single figure.
It was a young man in a suit, with dark hair, and a white bandage wrapped around his forehead. He had an elegant air, his eyes deep and calm. He was chatting amiably with a girl in a lavish dress, who had long pink hair.
It was Neon Nostrade.
"Kyle, is that him? The leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo Lucilfer?"
Killua whispered, his voice low enough for only the two of them to hear. Their position was perfect—close enough, but in the quiet, atmospheric room, they hadn't drawn any attention.
Kyle didn't look at him directly, to avoid triggering his intuition. He just watched from the corner of his eye.
Kyle nodded slightly. "That's him. Chrollo Lucilfer, the absolute core of the Phantom Troupe."
"His Hatsu is called 'Skill Hunter.' He can steal other people's Nen abilities and use them as his own."
"He's a terrifyingly dangerous individual—in intellect, power, and leadership."
"Steal abilities?" A flicker of shock passed through Killua's blue eyes.
"Kyle... you got this intel from Hisoka, didn't you?"
As far as he knew, Kyle had never had direct contact with Chrollo. The only explanation for knowing his ability was Hisoka, who Kyle had admitted to making deals with.
Kyle nodded again, confirming Killua's guess.
"Mhm. And you know who that girl is he's talking to?"
Killua shook his head.
"That's Neon, the daughter of the Nostrade Mafia family," Kyle explained. "She's a Specialist with an extremely rare ability to predict the future: 'Lovely Ghostwriter'."
"If I'm not mistaken, Chrollo is getting close to her to steal that ability."
His tone was certain.
"Predict the future?! If Chrollo gets that, won't all of our plans be completely useless? He'll see everything we're going to do!" Killua's expression turned grim.
But Kyle shook his head, a smile of complete confidence on his face. "No, he won't."
"Why not?" Killua asked.
Just as Kyle was about to explain, they saw Neon, guided by Chrollo, excitedly take out a pen and paper. Her eyes went blank. She was activating her ability.
"Lovely Ghostwriter," she mumbled. Her arm began to move on its own, writing furiously.
Chrollo watched calmly until she finished and handed him the paper, which now held a fragment of the future.
He took the paper, his gaze falling on the abstract, cryptic verses:
["Frost Moon's banner has been raised in another world.
You will face an important choice.
Will you join Frost Moon on a new journey with the Troupe,
Or will you wither to clear their path?"]
["A vast sea of legends flows.
In the joy of reuniting with Frost Moon,
You will embark on a new quest."]
["It is an unpredictable sea.
It could be your ruin, or your rebirth."]
["Enjoy the voyage and adventure.
One day, you will meet him."]
Chrollo's pupils contracted.
"Frost Moon... November... the 11th month..." Uvogin's number in the Troupe was 11.
The first piece of the prophecy hit him like a thunderclap.
Uvogin wasn't dead! He wasn't killed... he was sent to another world!
The Chain User... or his accomplice... they have a world-teleportation ability?
The weight of the choice hit him. "Join Frost Moon..." That meant he, and the whole Troupe, might also need to be banished to find him. "Wither to clear their path..." That implied that if he stayed, he might be captured.
The last three stanzas painted a picture of an unknown world full of adventure. "Sea," "voyage"... completely alien.
Countless thoughts flashed through Chrollo's mind. Based on the four stanzas... the first must be for this week, and the other three for the following weeks.
But to avoid the bad outcome, I have to make a choice. If I stay here, I might be captured.
Do I change the plan, or proceed as intended?
For a man who was always decisive, he was, for a moment, silent.
He gently closed his eyes, and unseen by the crowd, a single, cold tear streamed down his face, shocking Neon. She had never seen such a handsome man cry before.
"Are you okay?" Neon asked, concerned.
"I'm fine," Chrollo said, composing himself and offering a small smile. "Your prophecy... it moved me. Thank you."
The smile made Neon blush.
"Kyle, why is he crying?" Killua asked, confused. In Killua's mind, the leader of the Phantom Troupe should be heartless. Crying over a comrade made no sense.
"He just found out Uvogin isn't dead," Kyle whispered. "He's facing his 'choice' right now. If he decides to leave, our entire plan fails. It all depends on what he does next."
Kyle watched intently.
Chrollo just stole Neon's ability. If he lets her go, he's changing his plan. If he knocks her out... it means he's sticking to the original plan to cause chaos, and he's choosing to stay.
He probably wants to test his own strength... to see the 'Chain User' for himself and find out why Uvogin lost.
As they continued to chat and walked toward the main hall, Chrollo, just as Kyle predicted, made his move.
In an instant when Neon wasn't paying attention, he struck, knocking her unconscious.
Seeing this, Kyle stood up and looked at Killua. "Let's go."