Chapter 115: The Gambit Between Chrollo and Kurapika
Illumi fidgeted with his phone, hesitating.
His physical injuries were negligible; by using his needles to stimulate the Zoldyck family's specialized healing techniques, he could restore himself to peak condition in a matter of days.
The real conflict was whether to call in backup for a second attempt on Ronin.
The target's abilities were troublesome, and his raw power was considerable.
With Silva and Zeno currently unavailable for this specific contract, Illumi's options within the family were limited. There were the elders, Zigg and Maha. Zigg's movements were erratic and hard to track, leaving only Maha as a viable candidate.
Chrollo's offer was high enough to tempt even Maha Zoldyck, but success was still not guaranteed.
As his father had noted, this contract was a bad investment, even with the price increase.
Ronin's growth rate had blindsided Illumi.
Furthermore, it was becoming clear that Chrollo knew more about Ronin than he had shared. Working for a client who withheld vital intelligence was a professional headache.
Chrollo checked his phone. Based on the timeline, Illumi should have already struck.
The lack of a report meant only one thing: the assassination had failed.
Elder Ryan should have been an easy kill for someone of Illumi's caliber. The only reason for failure was if Ronin had anticipated the move and replaced Ryan with a clone.
The question was Illumi's status.
If Illumi was alive, he would likely reorganize for a second strike.
Chrollo hadn't shared the intel he got from Hisoka with Illumi. This was intentional. He wanted Illumi to feel the need to call for backup.
Whether it was Maha or another Zoldyck, the next attack would surely put immense pressure on Ronin, perhaps even securing the kill.
This was Chrollo's assessment after seeing Silva and Zeno at the Cemetery Building.
They were in a different league. Stronger than any single member of the Phantom Troupe.
Chrollo suspected that the Zoldyck duo hadn't failed to kill Isley because they couldn't; they had simply calculated the risk of fighting a group of five Spiders and decided to wait for a more efficient opening. They were professionals who hated unnecessary risks.
While Ronin's growth was fast, Chrollo doubted he could stand against a Zoldyck patriarch yet.
As for the strategist beside Ronin? That person specialized in planning, not frontline combat. They were a secondary concern.
And if Illumi had died in the attempt?
The Zoldyck family would launch a full-scale investigation and a blood feud. Chrollo wouldn't even need to pay for the second round of hits; the Zoldycks would do it to avenge their eldest son.
In this operation, Chrollo was milking Illumi's reputation for every drop of value.
Even if the Zoldycks didn't pursue a vendetta for a failed contract, Chrollo lost nothing.
Regardless of the outcome, Illumi's failure confirmed one fact: Ryan was dead, and Ronin was holding his seat using a clone.
If I leak this truth back to Meteor City...
Chrollo paused. A counter-theory formed.
Everything happening now, even if it wasn't perfectly predicted by Kurapika, was likely being exploited by him.
If Chrollo leaked the truth to the Council, the Meteor City extremists would swarm Ronin's position.
But would they succeed?
Chrollo knew the answer: No.
Those fanatics wouldn't coordinate. They would attack in waves, essentially providing Ronin with live-fire training and allowing him to systematically eliminate every troublesome figure in the city.
Chrollo felt a rare sense of frustration.
Ronin was the perfect blunt instrument. Kurapika was the perfect sharp mind. Together, they were a terrifying synergy.
If Chrollo remained silent, Ronin would solidify his grip on the district using Ryan's identity. The "deaths" of Ronin and his team on the freighter would become Ryan's crowning achievement, cementing his status in the Council.
Then, Chrollo spotted the blind spot.
October 1st.
The date Ronin was scheduled to fight Hisoka at Heavens Arena.
Chrollo faced two options:
Go to Heavens Arena and ambush Ronin after his duel with Hisoka.
Return to Meteor City and uproot the "nail" Ronin had planted.
Chrollo chose a third path. He wouldn't do either.
He still hadn't found a 100% counter for Ronin's abilities. If he took the Troupe to the Arena, they might walk into another trap set by Kurapika.
Ronin's ties with Miria and her influence at the Arena, combined with the wildcard factor of the Rock Mercenaries, made Heavens Arena a death trap for the Spider.
In fact, the October 1st match was likely a giant, glowing lure.
Chrollo sighed. In this chain of events, his operational freedom was being squeezed.
Rather than dancing to their tune, he would spend this time focused entirely on one thing: Finding the perfect Hatsu to neutralize Ronin.
Chrollo's reasoning was sound.
After the attack by Illumi, Kurapika's plan had been to use Ronin to bait and destroy the city's extremists.
But when Miria's people arrived two days later and no attacks had occurred, Kurapika realized the plan had stalled. Their identities hadn't been leaked.
"He figured it out," Kurapika noted.
"He" was Chrollo.
Even though they hadn't met in person since the hotel, Kurapika's primary mental opponent was the ghost of Chrollo Lucilfer.
The silence after the assassination attempt proved Chrollo had declined the gambit. It was the smartest move.
Kurapika could guess Chrollo's next move based on Ronin's psychological profile.
Chrollo was a meticulous predator. He wouldn't show his face until he held a winning hand.
Miria was already beginning the marketing hype for the October 1st match.
Kurapika knew Chrollo wouldn't walk into the Arena trap. But where would he go instead?
Would he really let the "Ryan" nail stay embedded in Meteor City's flesh?
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