After learning Amos's whereabouts, Kisho's mood lifted as well.
He swung the bag in his hand, walking toward the Phantom Troupe's base.
All of a sudden, he noticed a building, and his steps came to a halt.
His gaze shifted to the noticeably taller structure, to the peeling signboard above its main entrance.
"How unexpected, there's actually a library."
Kisho muttered to himself, then shook his head.
"...Amos did tell me that there's a library in District One of Meteor City."
He smiled.
"Well, if there can be things like churches here, then having a library isn't really something to be surprised about."
He silently looked at the library and slowly walked toward it.
"It's still early. No rush to go back—besides, even if I go back now, there's nothing to do anyway."
"Might as well go in and see if there's any information about Black Calamity Island. It's something I need to investigate sooner or later; even a tiny clue would be good. No need to wait until after the Troupe's mission."
Thinking this, he headed toward the library.
The library had three floors. The interior space wasn't large, and the facilities were quite old, but considering this was Meteor City, it was already a rare sight.
Just as he was about to pass the counter, Kisho was stopped by the front desk staff.
The staff member was a woman in her early twenties, with long black hair draped over her shoulders. She looked Kisho over, then spoke in a flat, emotionless voice.
"If you want to read inside, you need to register your name first and get a library card, and pay a fee of two thousand Jenny. If you want to borrow books, each book requires a borrowing fee of five thousand Jenny and a deposit of five thousand. If it's not returned within ten days past the due date, the deposit will not be refunded."
Kisho's eyes widened.
"Why is it so expensive?"
Even though he didn't have much concept of money, this price still shocked him.
The young woman scoffed at his question.
Just as she rolled her eyes and was about to speak, Kisho heard a cool, calm voice from behind him.
"Because here, books are luxury items among luxury items."
Kisho: "...That's true."
"No—wait!"
He suddenly turned around and saw someone who should have been quietly reading at the base appear here instead.
"Why are you here?!"
"Returning books. Is that strange?"
Chrollo showed no apology for startling his subordinate. He stacked three books on the counter, gave the staff member a gentle smile, and said warmly.
"Sorry to trouble you."
Kisho watched in silence as the previously icy-cold staff member put on what she clearly thought was her most beautiful and standard smile, speaking in an overly sweet voice.
"Of course, sir. Please wait a moment~"
Kisho: "..."
Heh. Women.
"Why didn't you ask Shalnark to return them for you?" He looked at Chrollo in confusion. "Wouldn't that save you a trip?"
"Because there are still books I want to borrow." Chrollo smiled faintly. "Describing the titles one by one to Shalnark would be too much trouble."
Kisho pouted, grumbling internally.
"Hearing you say the word 'borrow' really feels weird."
Chrollo smiled.
Because this was the only library in Meteor City. If he used the word "steal," the library would disappear very quickly, and then there would be no more new books.
...That would be a net loss.
"Sir, here is your refunded deposit~"
The staff member's voice sent goosebumps all over Kisho.
The leader, however, accepted it smoothly with a slight smile.
"Thank you."
He casually picked up several ten-thousand-Jenny bills from the counter and looked at Kisho.
"Aren't you going in?"
He stared into the boy's dark blue eyes.
"You came here because you're looking for a certain book, right?"
Kisho's forehead twitched.
"Even if that's true, do I really look like someone who loves reading?"
Chrollo smiled.
"More like someone who loves comics and novels."
Kisho: "..."
Annoying leader.
"His deposit." Chrollo placed a bill in front of the staff member behind the counter. "For the registered name, write Noah Barton."
Perhaps because she saw that the two knew each other, the staff member's attitude toward Kisho improved.
"Alright~ I'll handle it for you right away."
A moment later, Kisho held a paper card in his hand, veins popping on his forehead.
"Two thousand Jenny for a single card... Honestly, the person who runs this library is the real robber. This is no different from being robbed!"
Chrollo walked forward at an unhurried pace.
"Most people in Meteor City don't have identity records, so this card is used as a substitute for recording personal information."
He looked at Kisho, who was following behind.
"Considering the risk that borrowers might not return books on time, it's reasonable for it to be expensive."
Kisho gripped the card.
"...Oh."
The two passed through the railings one after the other and entered the reading area.
"What kind of book are you looking for?" Chrollo turned to look at Kisho, an inscrutable emotion flickering in his black eyes.
Seeing the hesitation on Kisho's face, he smiled.
"If you don't want to say, there's no need to force yourself."
Kisho frowned.
Tch. The person in his memories definitely wasn't someone who would say things like "no need to force yourself."
He spoke slowly.
"No—it's just that I'm looking for information about an island called Black Calamity Island."
"Hmm..."
Chrollo habitually raised his hand to his chin, falling into thought. After a moment, he shook his head at Kisho.
"I'm afraid I'll disappoint you. There's nothing here about what you're looking for."
Kisho stared at him in shock, then at the densely packed bookshelves nearby, and the equally dense shelves on the second floor, before finally returning his gaze to Chrollo.
"—How do you know? Have you read all the books here?!"
"I wouldn't say I've read them all. I've just browsed the catalogues."
Chrollo replied calmly.
"I've never seen that place name in any written records—at least not in the travelogues or illustrated guides available here."
Kisho fell into thought.
Logically speaking, Sains had been in such miserable shape that night; he probably wouldn't just make up a name to deceive him.
"If you really want to check, you can ask Shalnark to search through the Hunter website."
Chrollo offered the suggestion sincerely, but didn't forget to add.
"Though, for searches outside of missions, his fees are quite high."
"...I want to ask a question."
Kisho finally snapped.
"If everything costs money, can my badge charge a fee too?"
Chrollo blinked, then answered seriously.
"Sure. If any members need it outside of missions."
"...Who would need it outside of missions?!"
Kisho raised his voice—then lowered it.
"Damn it, I need to find something to charge for too."
"Heh~"
Chrollo gave a polite laugh, signaling that the young member was free to do as he pleased, then strode toward the bookshelves with his long legs, tossing out a command that didn't quite sound like one.
"Let's go back together later."
Kisho: "...Okay."
Annoying as he was, Kisho still trusted Chrollo's judgment.
Since there was no need to look up information, and the two-thousand-Jenny library card couldn't go to waste, Kisho wandered through the shelves, picking out books that caught his interest.
It wasn't until the sun was about to set that Chrollo came over with several books, dragging away a member who looked reluctant yet firmly refused to spend money borrowing books, and left together.