During the day, Oboro had simply described the various abilities of the Troupe members to Kurapika, but for Kurapika, who hadn't mastered Nen yet, it was simply a fantasy... Because there were other people on the ship at the time, Kurapika couldn't ask questions either.
He understood... That these were words that Oboro had deliberately left for him, and were also related to the secrets of Hunters.
In addition, he was a little emotionally agitated, and his mind was also very chaotic. He was recalling the scene of his clansmen's deaths, so he didn't ask questions in public.
Oboro had left directly... Only saying half of what he wanted to say, was also releasing a signal.
At night... Come find him.
If it had been any of the other three members of the main character group, they definitely wouldn't have been able to understand Oboro's thoughts, but Kurapika could.
Little Kura stayed in Oboro's room all night, and didn't leave until early the next morning. No one knew what he and Oboro had talked about... Only that Kurapika's face was cold, as if he had lost his smile.
Oboro was a Three-Star Hunter... Based on his prior understanding of the Hunter Association, even if it was only one-sided, he understood the value of 'Three-Star'. Oboro could indeed do it, and help him fulfill his long-cherished wish.
A game!
A game of hunting the Spiders...
He... Needed the qualification to enter.
And now, he had become a member of the Fel family, the mafia.
Kurapika finally understood... That he really didn't have any bargaining chips to trade with Oboro. Oboro was helping him... Apart from the so-called borrowing of the book, it was actually more about experiencing a kind of fun.
He was a part of the fun.
"Kurapika, where did you run off to?"
Kurapika hadn't walked far after leaving Oboro's room when he ran into the trio who were already ready to set off. Gon saw him, and immediately ran up, and greeted him.
"What are you doing here?"
Killua frowned.
This wasn't the location of Kurapika's room... But...
Killua's gaze passed Kurapika's shoulder, and looked towards his back. Oboro's room was nearby.
"Your face looks terrible... We're about to arrive at the venue for the third round of the exam." Gon said with concern.
"I know."
Kurapika forced a smile, didn't say anything, and walked directly past the three of them.
"What's wrong with him?"
Gon looked puzzled.
Killua smiled evilly, and pointed to Oboro's room, "Hmph, it's probably that dear Mr. Oboro of yours again... You can go ask him!"
"Oh, you're really going!"
As soon as the words fell, he saw Gon actually go to knock on Oboro's door.
This shocked Killua.
The door opened, and Oboro walked out.
"Mr. Oboro, what's wrong with Kurapika? Hasn't the misunderstanding between you been resolved yet? I've already explained it to him..."
Gon looked up, and asked innocently.
Seemingly innocent... But he was actually probing. This kid's perception was too sharp.
"I told him some secrets about Hunters."
Oboro pretended to be mysterious.
"Secrets?"
Gon was stunned.
"Don't worry, after you become Hunters, and get your licenses, you'll come into contact with them soon enough."
After saying this, Oboro walked in front, "The ship is about to land. Get ready!"
"The guys who are targeted by him don't have good things coming to them... Kurapika must have been hit." Killua secretly moved closer to Gon's ear, and said nervously in a low voice, "I told you before, he's a mafia boss, one of the Ten Elders! Besides being strong, his background is also amazing... A guy like him can't possibly look up to us rookies. In other words, Kurapika shouldn't have any value to him... Or else Kurapika is hiding something from us."
Killua touched his chin, and smiled shrewdly, "However, Kurapika does look pretty good... Maybe..."
He had been played by Oboro before, and had a lot of experience as someone who had been there.
"Killua..."
Gon didn't understand at first, but after realizing what Killua was implying, he scratched his head, and was a little speechless.
"Hahaha... I'm just kidding."
Killua coughed, "Anyway, judging from Kurapika's expression, he won't say what happened..."
"No, maybe it's really possible!"
At this time, Leorio on the side suddenly clapped his hands.
"Idiot!"
Killua rolled his eyes at him.
"Ah!! What did you say?!! You bastard, say it again if you have the guts!"
Leorio had originally been on Killua's side, but he didn't expect that this white-haired kid, who was much younger than him, would turn around and scold him. Leorio immediately jumped up in anger.
"Hurry up!"
Oboro urged from the front.
"Coming!"
Gon adjusted his backpack strap, and chased after him, and didn't care about Killua and Leorio anymore.
...
A dozen minutes later, a total of twelve examinees were standing at the venue for the third round of the exam, which was on top of Trick Tower.
Most of the examinees began to observe their surroundings after landing. From their height, they could easily overlook the forest and mountains below the tower. The scenery was still very spectacular.
Oboro, like Satotz, simply said a few perfunctory words, and then the airship slowly ascended.
The subsequent matters would be handed over to the head examiner for the third round, Lippo.
Beep beep beep...
As soon as the airship started to head towards the final venue, Oboro's phone rang.
It was Netero.
"Hoo hoo... How is it? Are there any good seedlings?"
"There are two extremely outstanding kids. One is the most talented member of the Zoldyck family in history, and the other is Ging Freecss's son." Oboro responded.
"Oh?"
As expected, the old man was interested.
"How do they compare to you?"
"In terms of aptitude alone, they far surpass me..."
"That's a very high evaluation."
Aptitude didn't represent everything.
"Do you want to come take a look?"
"Ging's son..."
The old man murmured.
Oboro narrowed his eyes.
Judging from his tone, compared to the Zoldycks, the Chairman cared more about the Freecss surname.
...
At this time, on the other side, in the Republic of Padokea.
A presidential suite in a hotel in a city.
After several years, the members of the Spiders had reunited again, but only some of them had arrived so far. Other members were on their way, or still had things to do.
"Hisoka just called. He said that he saw Oboro. The current Oboro is already a Three-Star Hunter in the Association, and is also one of the examiners for this Hunter Exam."
Chrollo, who was wearing a purple fur-collared windbreaker, had a conspicuous cross tattoo on his forehead, and had his hair combed back, sat with his legs crossed on the bed. Pakunoda and Machi were standing beside him.
In addition, there were also Feitan, Shizuku, and Bonolenov.
Shalnark shook his phone, walked out of the side room, and reported to Chrollo.
"Hisoka wasn't attacked, which shows that your judgment is correct. In these past few years, Oboro hasn't been paying attention to us at all... He doesn't know Hisoka's identity. Perhaps in his eyes, we're just 'outdated' toys." Shalnark revealed a smile, and very frankly mocked himself.
These words made Feitan, who was on the side, quite unhappy, but he didn't say anything.
The deaths of Franklin and Phinks seemed to have happened yesterday. The malice that Oboro had inflicted on them was deeply rooted in their hearts.
In these past few years, even if they had cultivated desperately, and had frantically improved themselves, they still hadn't been able to forget that scene.
In the hospital, Franklin's dismembered body was wrapped in a package, and blood seeped out, staining the sheets red... Every time they thought about it, it was extremely difficult to breathe.
There was only one way to completely break free from the shackles.
Kill Oboro!
This was the only way. Otherwise, as long as Oboro was alive for one day, the sense of crisis in their hearts couldn't be resolved.
"Hisoka also said... That the current Oboro is very terrifying. He can't see through him at all. However, if we attack together... Our chances of winning are still very high. After all... We're different from what we were a few years ago." Shalnark put his hands on his hips, and emphasized, "In fact, this arrogance of his is actually a good thing for us."
"A Three-Star Hunter?"
Chrollo looked at the static on the TV in front of him, and said calmly, "Don't be happy too soon. Hisoka might have already been exposed. The depths of that man's mind can't be seen through by ordinary people."
"Are you saying that Hisoka's participation in the Hunter Exam wasn't for the license... But that you deliberately sent him over there to test Oboro?"
"How can you be sure that he would be an examiner?"
Machi, who had been leaning against the wall, with her eyes closed, opened a slit in her eyes, and glanced at Chrollo.
She had originally thought that Hisoka's participation in the Hunter Exam... Was partly his own wish, and partly to complete the mission that Shalnark and Phinks hadn't completed back then, and get a Hunter license.
She hadn't expected... That she had been played by the leader.
"I'm not sure if Oboro would be an examiner, but Hisoka joined after we had an accident, so I have to be wary. If he goes to participate in the exam, and Oboro appears... This means that Hisoka's identity is very suspicious, and the two of them might know each other."
Chrollo said calmly.
"Hisoka was arranged by Oboro to join our Troupe?"
Machi was completely awake. In these past few years, the Troupe had been acting in groups of two, and she and Hisoka had been paired up the most often.
"Impossible."
Pakunoda suddenly spoke.
"I tested him... I asked him at the time what his purpose was in joining the Troupe, and Hisoka only answered that it was for fun... His memories also didn't show Oboro's image."
Yes, for the safety of the Troupe, after Franklin's death, every new member who joined had to go through this step by Pakunoda, which was also Chrollo's order.
This showed how much pressure Oboro had created for them.
"This is just a hypothesis, and it's not absolute... Maybe it's really a coincidence. But you all know what height our enemy is at... We were once played by him in the palm of his hand. We must still maintain this kind of premonition." Chrollo said lightly.
"..."
The crowd was speechless.
"Why Hisoka?"
Shalnark looked at Shizuku.
Shizuku had also joined later...
"The previous No. 8 was a Zoldyck hired by the mafia. There was no shadow of the Fel family behind him... There's no need for that person to go to such lengths."
As soon as Chrollo finished speaking, Shalnark suddenly thought of something, and clapped his hands, "Didn't we say that we contacted the Zoldyck family's side? What was their reply?"
Yes, they wanted to ask the Zoldyck family to take action and kill Oboro.
In these past few years, the Troupe had been exploring Oboro's market price... Right now, it was the third time.
The Zoldyck family's price from the previous two times was something they couldn't afford.
The price was outrageously high!
"It's still not working?"
Seeing that Chrollo didn't respond, Shalnark immediately understood.
"What kind of monster is he? The price has been rising all along, which shows that the Zoldyck family's judgment of his danger has also been climbing... Now he's a Three-Star Hunter again. But if he's just a Three-Star Hunter, it wouldn't be like this, right..."
Shalnark exclaimed.
"The Fel family's size is far larger than we imagine. In addition to measuring personal strength, the Zoldyck family's judgment is also based on background, power, identity, and status, among many other aspects." Chrollo explained, "Therefore, I adjusted the content of the employment."
A few members looked at the leader.
"The purpose of our action this time isn't to kill him, but to severely damage the Fel family. It's not realistic to solve him in one go... I'll have the two people from the Zoldyck family hold the target back... To create time for us to massacre to our heart's content."
"I see, slowly eat away at them!"
Shalnark's eyes lit up.
"Is that person... Very amazing?"
Shizuku on the side had been listening for a long time, and suddenly interjected.
"Very amazing!"
Shalnark nodded solemnly, "In the past, two of our members died at his hands, and even if everyone was added together, we wouldn't dare to say that we had the confidence to win against him. In fact, the most threatening thing isn't his strength, but his mind! Back when No. 7 died, Oboro himself still had extremely serious injuries. He simply used layout and psychology to severely damage us... There's also the leak of information. We don't know anything about his situation, but he knows us very well."
"But don't worry, the situation should be different now... Although we haven't been involved in the Fel family's territory for so many years, we have always been collecting information about this mafia."
"Moreover, I think that after so long, the gap between our strength and his has also narrowed a lot."
Three-Star didn't symbolize strength.
"Oh..."
Hearing this, Shizuku nodded slightly with a dazed look.
She obviously still didn't quite understand, but she had a general understanding.
"Pakunoda."
Suddenly, Chrollo called out.
"After Hisoka returns to the team, use your ability to test him again... Change the way you ask questions, and directly ask him when he met Oboro."
"Alright."
Pakunoda responded.
Was it at this year's Hunter Exam, or even longer ago?
If it was the Hunter Exam, then there was no problem.
A few years ago, Pakunoda's method of questioning Hisoka had been a little off... But given the situation at the time, although she was vigilant, she didn't completely suspect him.
In addition... The members had soon dispersed to act, and hadn't reunited all along.
And now... Hisoka was participating in the exam, and Oboro had become an examiner in a bizarre turn of events... Which made Chrollo have to delve into it.
____________________
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