Leo looked at the "Call Ended" screen on his phone and fell into deep thought.
New members.
The Phantom Troupe had 13 members. 7 were dead, 1 was added, so that left... He calculated quickly.
Excluding the dead Uvogin, Franklin, Shanark, Kortopi, Feitan, Phinks, and Shalnark — that was 7.
Hisoka joined under false pretenses, so he didn't count.
So, the remaining Phantom Troupe members were: Chrollo, Machi, Pakunoda, Nobunaga, plus one more...
"Hmm, assuming the worst-case scenario where the Phantom Troupe added two new members... that makes seven in total."
Leo muttered to himself.
Him, Sophia, and Shizuku—three against six.
Although he was confident in his own strength, and Sophia and Shizuku had been tempered by real combat, the remaining Phantom Troupe members, except for Pakunoda, were all combat experts.
Chrollo's intellect, Machi's intuition and aura threads, Pakunoda's mind reading and memory bullets, Nobunaga's iaijutsu, plus the unknown new member...
"Just in case, to be safe, it's better to find some help."
Leo was silent for a few seconds, quickly searching his mind for potential candidates.
Machi Komacine?
No. With that "Ox" personality, he would definitely insist on taking them alive and putting them in prison.
But Leo had never intended to let these spiders leave alive from the start — the crimes committed by the Genei Ryodan deserved death a hundred times over.
And leaving them alive meant leaving behind hidden dangers.
Gorenou?
Also no. While his ability was useful, his raw strength was lacking.
Senior Brother Wing?
...Never mind, better not disturb him.
Master Biscuit!
Leo's eyes lit up.
As a master of the Shingen-ryu and a Two-Star Hunter, her strength was unfathomable.
Leo had personally experienced her combat power after she transformed — in the face of such absolute power, technique was a joke.
If she joined...
Without hesitation, Leo dialed Biscuit's number.
It rang three times before being picked up.
"Hello, is this Leo?"
Biscuit's voice came from the other end, as crisp as ever, with a hint of laziness.
"Master Biscuit, it's me."
Leo paused.
"There is something I would like to ask for your help with."
"Hmm? Go ahead."
Biscuit's tone didn't change, but Leo could feel she was listening intently.
"For certain reasons, I have a blood feud with the Genei Ryodan."
Leo didn't hide it; he was straightforward.
"I've been dealing with them for a while and have already killed several of their members."
"I just received news that they will all gather in Niujiala City in three days. I want to take this opportunity to wipe them all out."
There was silence on the other end of the line for two seconds.
Then Biscuit's voice sounded, with a hint of surprise and... schadenfreude?
"The Genei Ryodan, huh."
She said.
"That's an extremely dangerous criminal gang. It's said they have thirteen members, and every single one is a murderous wanted criminal. I didn't expect you, kid, to be capable; you actually killed several of them."
Leo didn't explain the details, just said.
"There are about six left now. There are only two companions with me, so the odds aren't high enough. That's why I wanted to ask you..."
"Alright, alright."
Biscuit interrupted him, her tone filled with amusement.
"Since you've asked me, how can I, your master, refuse? I agree."
Leo felt a surge of joy.
"Great! Thank you, Master Biscuit! The location is Niujiala City in the Bartochia Republic."
"Niujiala City, got it. I'll head over there. That's all then."
With that, Biscuit hung up.
Leo held the phone, feeling reassured.
With Biscuit joining, the odds of this raid winning had increased to at least seventy percent.
The rest would depend on the situation and luck.
He walked to the window and looked at the night view in the distance.
Niujiala City.
Three days later.
That place would become the burial ground for the spiders.
Leo turned around and dialed Sophia's number; it was picked up after one ring.
"Master?"
Sophia's voice held confusion.
"It's so late, is something wrong?"
"Tomorrow morning, you and Shizuku will come with me to Niujiala City."
Leo said.
"The Genei Ryodan is going to gather there. We... should go early to make some preparations."
There was silence on the other end for a second.
Then Sophia's voice came, calm and firm.
"Understood. I'll tell Shizuku right away."
"Good. Get some rest, see you tomorrow."
Hanging up the phone.
Leo looked at the night sky outside the window. The clouds had cleared a bit, revealing a few sparse stars.
Two days later, April 19, 1998, Niujiala City, Bartochia Republic.
It was afternoon when Leo, Sophia, and Shizuku arrived in this familiar city. The sunlight was blinding, and pedestrians on the street hurried by, no one noticing these three seemingly ordinary young people.
They chose an inconspicuous hotel on the edge of the city and opened two rooms. Leo had one to himself, while Sophia and Shizuku shared the room next door.
That evening, Biscuit arrived.
She still had that petite and cute appearance, wearing a pink dress with golden pigtails, carrying a small bag, looking like an elementary School student on a field trip. But when she walked into the room, casually put down her bag, and sat in a chair, that invisible pressure began to fill the room.
"Tell me," Biscuit crossed her legs, "the specific plan."
Leo stood by the window, his gaze sweeping over the three people in the room — Sophia sat up straight, Shizuku was quietly flipping through a book, and Biscuit was waiting for him to speak.
"The Phantom Troupe will gather on the night of the 20th."
Leo explained.
"The location is a patch of unfinished buildings in the suburbs. I have an... informant who will leave markers in advance."
"An informant?"
Biscuit raised an eyebrow, looking at Leo with suspicion.
"Hisoka."
Leo didn't hide it; he knew he couldn't keep this from Biscuit.
"His goal in joining the Phantom Troupe is to fight Chrollo one-on-one. He will provide information to me but won't participate directly in the raid — at least not at first."
Biscuit nodded without asking further.
"The four of us will attack directly."
Leo continued.
"I'll lead the charge, using the Super Destruction Fist to destroy their hiding spot first. We'll take out as many as we can in the first wave, and the rest —"
He looked at Biscuit.
"Master Biscuit, leave Machi and that new member to Sophia and Shizuku, and you can provide support from the side. I'll handle Nobunaga. As for their leader, Chrollo... leave him to Hisoka."
Biscuit laughed.
"You kid, you're planning to separate them and take them out one by one."
"Since we're going to strike," Leo said calmly, "of course, it's safer to wipe them all out."
"Fine."
Biscuit stood up and stretched her wrists.
"Then it's settled. On the night of the 20th, I want to see what these spiders are capable of."