"Brother Ryker!"
"Captain!"
Ryker's declaration sent shockwaves through the room.
The Phantom Troupe was a global nightmare. Governments feared them. Hunters avoided them. Entire clans had been wiped out just for crossing their path. They were a calamity that struck and vanished without a trace.
And yet, here stood Ryker, casually announcing he would hunt them down, one by one.
"Captain..." Squala sobbed, wiping his eyes. "I swear, I'll follow you to hell! Even if we die, I'm with you!"
"I'm not afraid anymore!" Basho added, clenching his fists.
Ryker's charisma was magnetic. To these bodyguards, he was no longer just a boss; he was a savior. A beacon of courage in a world of fear.
Melody, however, heard something else.
Thump-thump.
Ryker's heart was steady. Too steady. There was no righteous anger. No burning desire for justice. Just calm, cold confidence.
He's not doing this for justice, Melody realized. He's doing this because... it's a game to him.
She didn't understand it, but she trusted him. Because whatever his reasons, he was the only one capable of standing against the darkness.
"Heh... heh heh..."
Uvogin started laughing. It was a guttural, wet sound.
"Are you trying to scare me? Saying Nobunaga is dead? Saying you'll kill us all?"
He grinned, blood staining his teeth.
"You don't know our Danchou. You might be strong, kid. But the stronger you are, the better. When the Danchou kills you, your power becomes his. The Spider will only grow stronger."
Uvogin wasn't afraid. To him, death was just part of the job. But the thought of Chrollo stealing this monster's ability? That was exciting.
"You mean Chrollo's Skill Hunter?" Ryker asked casually. "It's a neat trick. But he has to fulfill specific conditions to steal an ability. I don't think he's good enough to meet them against me."
Silence.
Uvogin's laughter died in his throat. His eyes bulged.
"Who... who are you?!"
Uvogin roared, straining against his chains.
"How do you know the Danchou's name?! How do you know his ability?! That's impossible! Only the Spiders know that!"
This was terrifying. This boy knew everything. Was he a Blacklist Hunter? An assassin? A demon?
"I told you," Ryker said coldly. "Tomorrow is your funeral. And your friends will follow you."
He turned to Kurapika.
"Kurapika. Gouge out his eyes."
"Huh?"
The room froze. Everyone stared at Ryker.
Gouge out his eyes? That was... barbaric.
Kurapika hesitated.
"Brother Ryker... this is my revenge. I don't want to drag you into this..."
Kurapika was prepared to die for his vengeance. But he wasn't prepared to let Ryker die for it.
"This is my decision," Ryker said firmly. "You are my friend. I help my friends."
Kurapika looked into Ryker's eyes. He saw no hesitation.
"Okay," Kurapika whispered, tears welling in his scarlet eyes. "From today on, my life is yours. Right or wrong, I will follow you."
He walked toward Uvogin, his hands trembling slightly.
"HAHAHA! DO IT!" Uvogin screamed, manic. "You want my eyes? Take them! I ate your clan's eyes! They tasted like candy! Do you have the guts to eat mine?!"
"Even if you cut me into pieces, I won't talk! The Troupe will find you! They will kill your families! Your friends! Your wives! Your children! THE SPIDER NEVER DIES!"
The bodyguards turned pale. Uvogin was a rabid dog, barking until the very end.
Ring-ring-ring.
Dalzollene's phone rang.
He looked at the caller ID. It was hacked. The screen displayed a single name:
The Spider.
"Captain!" Dalzollene yelped, tossing the phone to Ryker like it was a live grenade.
"Hahaha! He found us!" Uvogin cheered. "You're all dead!"
Ryker caught the phone and put it on speaker.
"Hello? Uvogin, are you alive?"
A calm, smooth voice filled the room. Chrollo Lucilfer.
"DANCHOU! I'M FINE! DON'T COME FOR ME! LET ME DIE! JUST KILL THEM ALL! AVENGE ME!" Uvogin roared.
"I see," Chrollo said. His voice softened. "I want to negotiate."
The air in the room grew heavy. Negotiation?
"What do you want?" Chrollo asked Ryker. "Money? Rare items? I will give you anything to release Uvogin. I will even overlook the deaths of my two members."
Two members dead.
Uvogin's face fell. It was true. Nobunaga was gone.
"Oh?" Ryker smirked. "Negotiating with terrorists? How fun."
"Name your price," Chrollo said. "The Troupe has resources."
"Your bounties total over 50 billion Jenny," Ryker mused.
"I'll give you 100 billion," Chrollo countered instantly. "And a guarantee of safety for you and your associates. The Spider will not hunt you."
"100 billion?!" Dalzollene gasped. That was enough to buy a small country.
"Wow, Uvogin, you're expensive," Ryker laughed. "But sorry. I don't care about money."
"DANCHOU! DON'T GIVE HIM A CENT!" Uvogin screamed. "THAT'S THE TROUPE'S MONEY! LET ME DIE!"
"Touching," Ryker said dryly. "The loyalty of thieves. It would make a great movie. Tell me, did you care this much about the people you slaughtered? Did you negotiate for their lives?"
"If money isn't enough," Chrollo continued, ignoring the taunt, "I can offer services. The Troupe can eliminate any enemy for you. We can steal anything you want. Just release Uvogin."
Chrollo was desperate. Uvogin was the Troupe's shield. He couldn't lose him.
"You really want him back, huh?" Ryker asked.
"Yes. We do not abandon our own."
"Fine," Ryker said. "I have a condition."
The bodyguards held their breath. Was Ryker actually going to make a deal?
"Speak," Chrollo said, sounding relieved. "Anything."
Ryker smiled into the phone.
"It's simple."
"Bring me the head of one Spider every day."
Silence.
Ryker's voice dropped to a whisper.
"Start with yours."
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