"Uvogin dropped a jar while carrying booze. That's what started the fire, right?"

"Enough already, you two. The red-eyes have escaped. The boss still wants to see…"

No doubt about it. It was the Phantom Troupe. The guy beside him was the leader of the group that wiped out an entire village and stole their eyes.

"Well, the boss wanted to see a red-eye alive. You've got to piss them off a bit, and maybe kill a few to make it work."

Alive?

"With a fire that big, at least a couple people would've died, right?"

"Of course. More than just a couple…"

—End of Kurapika's illusion—

Kurapika: [That fire took so many lives. It destroyed the homes of our Kurta people, left us scattered and homeless. My mother too… I was the only one who saw the arsonists that night—each of them had spider tattoos! I never told the others, but I swear I'll never forgive them!]

Saiki Kusuo, shocked: [Wait… you guys didn't actually kill anyone?]

"What?" Chrollo was confused.

[Where'd you hear that? We kill people almost every day—though I don't usually do it myself.]

[So, when the Troupe went to the Kurta Clan, you didn't kill anyone—just started a fire?]

"...Yeah, the fire was an accident, but it was our fault. After that, the Kurta Clan went into hiding." Chrollo recalled.

"Why would we massacre them? You're the one who told me—the red eyes look best when they're still in the body." Chrollo shoved his hands in his pockets and thought back.

[That day, I remember seeing a blonde kid with really pretty eyes. And their powers got stronger when the red eyes were activated. For a second, I thought Saiki might actually be one of them.]

Saiki Kusuo: Why would I be related to the Kurta Clan?

Just because I asked a question? That's what made you suspicious?

Anyway, it seems things turned out better than they could've. Kurapika still had people he could rely on, and the Phantom Troupe didn't go around cutting out eyes.

[You didn't spare the Kurta Clan just because of that, right?]

"With someone like you, it's better not to make enemies."

Even if you didn't make me your enemy, Kurapika absolutely hates you. You're the last person he'd let off—the leader of the arsonist group.

"Why do you even know all this? Did something happen?" Chrollo looked behind him. "Now that you mention the Kurta Clan… your brother's group of friends included a blond kid who looked kinda familiar."

[Yeah, yeah. He's from the Kurta Clan. He just got pulled into the illusion a minute ago.]

"So that's how it is." Chrollo looked back. More footsteps and voices were approaching. A thought crossed his mind: [Better kill them now to avoid future trouble.]

No no no no no, don't! What are you thinking, killing the main characters?! Saiki Kusuo stopped him.

In an instant, the air between them shifted.

"If the illusion made him remember this scene, then that person must be the Troupe's enemy. Saiki, are you stopping me?"

[Killua already wants to be friends with them. Alluka's happy too. They'll all try to protect him. If you kill someone, it'll shake my siblings' confidence.] Saiki Kusuo kept a straight face as he gave an excuse.

They stood face to face. Chrollo narrowed his eyes slightly. The Phantom Troupe's way was to wipe out any enemies. There should be no reason—or personal feeling—to let someone go.

This didn't include people who hated them but posed no threat. Still, Chrollo never underestimated anyone. Even kids—because when they were young, they had already killed plenty of proud adults.

And killing Kurapika right now would be quick and easy—no proctors, no surveillance.

There had to be some kind of deal. Saiki Kusuo realized that if he didn't act, Chrollo would definitely eliminate Kurapika at some point during the exam.

Is this what happens when you mess with the plot...? But if he hadn't said that back then, Kurapika would've lost all his people.

[Chrollo, if that kid really tries to hurt the Troupe, I'll step in and help—just once. After that, I won't get involved with either side.] Saiki Kusuo said calmly. [The Troupe probably has as many enemies as us assassins, right? Dealing with every single one would be exhausting. You really think that kid has what it takes to be a threat to you guys?]

The Phantom Troupe needing help from someone else? Chrollo's face didn't show much, but right now, he trusted Saiki Kusuo's strength. No matter how gentle Saiki acted, the fact remained—no one had ever seriously hurt him.

So, if someone that strong wanted this, Chrollo was willing to make this pointless trade.

Of course, if one day he found out Saiki Kusuo wasn't as strong as he thought, he'd kill Kurapika the next time they crossed paths without hesitation.

Chrollo: [Right now, he's not a threat. But if he passes the Hunter Exam, he will be. If you want to keep him alive, stealing his Nen ability later wouldn't be a bad idea.]

Chrollo made a half-hearted compromise and moved on. Saiki Kusuo followed behind him.

A little while later, Killua, Alluka, and the others caught up.

"Huh? Brother Kusuo! What are you doing here?" Killua ran up cheerfully and raised his hand for a high-five. Saiki Kusuo, who had already read his mind, lifted his hand to meet it.

[Took a shortcut.] Saiki Kusuo replied.

"Is there a shortcut up ahead too?" Killua looked at the dark tunnel in front of them.

They'd have to ask Chrollo about that… Wait, huh? Saiki Kusuo suddenly realized Chrollo was no longer nearby—not even close? His telepathy could pick up thoughts within 200 meters, and Chrollo was already gone?

A person should always have thoughts… Saiki guessed Chrollo must've left after realizing Saiki wasn't on the Troupe's side. Fair enough. It's quieter now.

Facing Killua's question, Saiki Kusuo just shook his head.

[Still figuring it out. Could be a dead end. You guys should just follow your own plan and stick with the group.]

"Okay! But Brother Kusuo, you better catch up later!" Killua didn't suspect anything and pulled out a bomb.

…Isn't that my experimental Dango Bomb 4.0?! Hey! That one's super powerful—it'll blow this whole place up! Why didn't you bring the more stable 2.0 version?! Why bring this prototype?!

"Everyone, get back! This thing's got a big blast radius!"

Killua had already pushed the button. In a flash, Saiki Kusuo grabbed Alluka and teleported—because he saw the tunnel was going to collapse. He quickly used his clairvoyance to find the exit and jumped straight to the Lost Mire Swamp with Alluka.

"Boom!!"

The massive explosion didn't hurt Killua and the others, but the wall on the other side took the brunt of it. A lot of people were hit by debris—but luckily, most of them had above-average endurance.

---------------------------------------

You can read 15 chapters ahead on patre on

patr eon.com/JYouyi