In this new year, I wish everyone a Happy New Year! Good health to you all.
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At the other end of the city, in a suite of a high-end hotel.
After Hisoka hung up the phone, the smile on his face didn't disappear; instead, it grew more and more brilliant.
He walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, looking at the dazzling city night view outside. His golden pupils flickered with a dangerous light in the darkness.
"Uvogin, Franklin, Shalnark, Kortopi..."
He softly muttered these four names, the corners of his mouth curling into an almost crazed arc.
"All lost contact... Heh."
Almost instantly, he thought of one person.
Leo!
Over the past year, the only man capable of hunting down members of the Genei Ryodan and having a blood feud with them was that man.
Hisoka recalled the battle on Aistan Island, remembered Leo's pure, violent strength, and remembered the final self-explosion...
"It really was... a job well done~"
Hisoka licked his lips, his body trembling slightly with excitement.
He could imagine the brilliance of those battles—Uvogin's violence, Franklin's Nen Bullet storm, Shalnark's manipulation and calculation... and then all of them being crushed by Leo in the most violent way possible.
Too fascinating. Such battles, such slaughter—just imagining it made him so excited he could hardly contain himself.
But in the next second, Hisoka calmed down again.
He remembered the gap between himself and Leo.
In the battle on Aistan Island, although his injuries were lighter than Leo's, that was because Leo had borne the main impact of Kotekinnas's self-explosion.
If it were a head-on fight to the death, his current self was still no match for Leo.
"Still not strong enough~"
Hisoka looked at his own reflection in the glass, his finger gently tracing the cold surface of the mirror.
"This fruit... still needs to wait a bit longer."
He needed to grow stronger, needed to accumulate more combat experience, needed...
Hisoka suddenly thought of something, and his eyes lit up.
Since the Troupe had already noticed something was wrong, then...
"Should I tell him~"
Hisoka tilted his head, as if seriously considering an interesting game.
A few seconds later, he smiled.
This was a good opportunity.
He pulled his phone from his pocket—his finger slid across the contact list, quickly finding that name.
Leo.
This contact information was something he had requested from Machi Komacine after waking up in the hospital.
At the time, he just felt that 'he might use it later,' never expecting it would come in handy so soon.
Hisoka pressed the dial button.
A rhythmic waiting tone came through the receiver.
One ring, two rings, three rings...
Deep within the Shimeile Wetland, Leo had just finished a hunt.
At his feet was the corpse of a swamp crocodile over four meters long, its head crushed by a single punch, dark red blood soaking the muddy pit.
A warm sensation came from the tattoo on the back of his hand.
[Life Energy +18] [Rank: Level 52 (25%)]
He shook the blood off his hands and was about to leave when the phone in his pocket began to vibrate.
Leo frowned.
Not many people knew this number—Sophia, Shizuku, Nico, Wing, Biscuit, and a few contacts from the Hunter Association.
Who would be calling at this time?
He pulled out his phone, pressed the answer button, and put the phone to his ear.
"Hello."
"Mmm~ Leo!"
Hisoka's voice came through the receiver, carrying that signature flippancy.
"How have you been lately?"
Leo's expression didn't change at all.
"Hisoka, what is it?"
"Oh, don't be so cold~"
Hisoka laughed.
"We are partners who fought side by side, after all. Aren't you going to welcome me?"
"That was just a transaction."
Leo's voice was as calm as if he were stating a fact.
"We are not partners. Speak, what is it?"
Hisoka on the other end of the phone seemed to pause for a moment, and then his laughter grew even more delighted.
"You really are direct~ Alright, down to business."
His tone became slightly more serious.
"Lately... you must have encountered members of the Genei Ryodan, right?"
Leo raised an eyebrow.
Hisoka knew? So soon?
But he didn't make a sound, just held the phone, waiting for more.
"Chrollo and the others have already noticed something is wrong."
Hisoka continued, his voice carrying a hint of playfulness.
"Uvogin, Franklin, Shalnark, Kortopi... four people losing contact at the same time. In my view, you're the only one with both the ability and the motive to strike at the Troupe."
Leo remained silent.
Hisoka didn't mind either and continued talking to himself.
"Of course, the Genei Ryodan are wanted criminals; many people want to catch them. However—"
He drawled out the last word.
"—You killed Shalnark and heavily injured several members of the Troupe. Chrollo and the others won't let you go. And I suspect you won't let them go either, right?"
"After all, you are a 'Evil Hunter,' specializing in catching wanted criminals~"
Leo's gaze darkened.
Hisoka's analysis was almost entirely correct. Although this pervert was insane, his mind was terrifyingly shrewd, piecing together the truth from limited information.
"What do you want?"
Leo finally spoke, his voice still calm, but with an added hint of caution.
On the other end of the line, Hisoka's smile almost overflowed from the receiver.
"Mmm~ I only have one small request."
He said, every word dripping with excitement.
"Chrollo—leave him to me."
Leo narrowed his eyes. Hisoka's only purpose for joining the Troupe was to fight Chrollo one-on-one.
Now that the Troupe was under attack, it was an opportunity for him—it could both weaken the Troupe and force Chrollo into a head-on battle with him.
"In return."
Hisoka continued, his tone as light as if he were making a trade.
"I can provide you with information on the other members. I expect Chrollo will soon summon everyone to gather, and when that happens... I will inform you of their whereabouts."
Leo quickly weighed the pros and cons.
Hisoka was untrustworthy; that was for certain.
This pervert could betray anyone at any time for 'fun.'
But he indeed could provide internal information on the Troupe, and his obsession with Chrollo was real—as long as Chrollo was alive, Hisoka would definitely stand in opposition to the Troupe.
Agreeing to it wasn't a problem. Once Hisoka and Chrollo fought to a stalemate or mutual injury, he could then step in to finish them off. In his view, there was a sixty percent chance Hisoka would lose to Chrollo.
Hisoka was too arrogant; he would definitely give Chrollo plenty of preparation time for a duel. Once Chrollo was prepared, his basic win rate would increase significantly.
"No problem."
Leo finally said.
"Chrollo is yours. But the information you provide must be true. If there is any deception—"
"Don't worry~"
Hisoka interrupted him, his laughter full of pleasure.
"I also want to see the Troupe collapse It must be very interesting"
"That's all."
Leo didn't want to say more.
"Don't contact me unless it's important. Goodbye."
He hung up the phone directly.
Listening to the busy tone from the receiver, Hisoka didn't get angry; instead, he laughed even more happily.
He tossed the phone onto the bed and fell back into the soft sofa. With his arms spread wide, his golden pupils stared at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling, a near-mad flame burning within them.
"Genei Ryodan... Chrollo... Leo..."
He softly whispered these names, his voice trembling with excitement.
"I'm so looking forward to it... seeing you all slaughter each other... seeing the Troupe collapse... and then, picking the sweetest fruit with my own hands..."
The light in the suite reflected on his face. That face, painted with a star and a teardrop, appeared exceptionally eerie and dangerous in the play of light and shadow.
Outside the window, the city remained brightly lit.