"He seemed to recognize me… shouldn't we have taken him with us?" Momoze asked suddenly as they ran, her body carried along by a gust of wind conjured by Joey.
Joey shot her a surprised glance—he hadn't expected Momoze's perception to be that sharp.
Then again, considering the nature of Guardian Beasts, maybe it was precisely her meticulous and observant personality that birthed the big-eyed creature as her ability.
"I know. But he's a small fry. Keeping him around might actually benefit us more," Kurapika answered before Joey could, giving the exact reason Joey had already considered.
That man in the screening room—Joey recognized him at first glance.
Barka Eid, a wealthy merchant from the Kakin Empire. He was someone Joey had deliberately befriended while disguised as Dio, a merchant mingling among Kakin's underground trade circles—specifically those with connections to the Gashya Mafia.
That's why Joey didn't neutralize him immediately upon landing. Otherwise, he would've used Weather Report's ability to knock the guy out—or kill him—on the spot.
Kurapika had clearly thought the same, which explained his explanation: both for Momoze's benefit and to express his own judgment. He delivered it with absolute confidence.
Typical Conjurers—every detail under scrutiny.
Joey internally scoffed but shared everything he knew with Kurapika.
Ever since they boarded the Black Whale, the two had been allied. By now, they were inseparable.
"I made the exit hole above look different from the ones I usually make," Joey said. "I stayed hidden—so all he could see was you escaping with the Twelfth Prince. That'll make you two the targets, but it'll also buy us time. I also left something on him. Maybe he'll bring me an unexpected gift."
Kurapika nodded in understanding. "He may not be a Nen user, so his testimony won't carry much weight. Still, it's valuable intel. Especially since whoever broke into District 12 didn't cover the whole area with En—that gave you a rare opening."
Kurapika didn't seem upset about being thrust into the spotlight. On the contrary, he calmly analyzed the situation.
"Our goal was always our comrades," Joey agreed. "The Royal Army just acted more decisively than we expected. But the fact no one used En to scan the whole area proves this was a rushed op."
"Or maybe the Royal Army doesn't have as many Nen users as you think," Kurapika offered a different angle. "Your actions already posed a serious threat to King Nasubi. In that case, the elite soldiers guarding Deck 1 either mobilized completely or couldn't leave their posts.
"After all, both the King and the vital Coffin Zone have already moved off Deck 1.
"Even if Nasubi's orders were quick, it wouldn't be enough to recall the forces sent below. And the elites left behind couldn't just abandon their posts.
"That means the best they could do was cause a commotion and pressure me into acting. What they didn't expect was you returning so fast and opening a new path between Decks 1 and 2."
Joey fully agreed. That had to be the truth.
"If that's how it is, then the pursuers coming next won't be too strong," Joey said as a clone began to form beside him, infused with a portion of his dwindling aura.
Gold Experience activated, and while running, the clone gradually transformed into Kurapika's likeness.
"This clone will act as bait. We'll head back to Deck 1 and try again to reach Izunavi. Something's seriously wrong with him—we need to figure it out by probing deeper into District 6."
Kurapika glanced at the Joey clone now wearing his face. He understood.
He was starting to get a rough grasp of Joey's power.
Chaotic. But absurdly strong.
That was Kurapika's honest opinion. And from that, he deduced something else—Joey was just like him. Someone who preferred to do everything alone, even if it meant paying a high price.
Highly self-reliant.
Kurapika briefly thought of Gon, Killua, and Leorio. If not for them, he would've remained alone.
Maybe that's why, despite Joey's bizarre habits and independence, Kurapika had come to trust him.
They were cut from the same cloth.
"We won't have much time. The Royal Army on Deck 2 will soon learn we're here. And this next wave won't be a rushed formation," Kurapika warned.
He didn't mention that the clone lacked Momoze, which might tip off someone sharp enough.
But that couldn't be helped. Kurapika couldn't clone himself, and Joey's clones could only mimic one person at a time.
"Yeah—buying time and gauging the enemy's strength. Plus, delaying them from finding our path up buys us even more," Joey said with a grin. "That route leads both up and down. But it means the people we knocked out or tied up below will have to stay that way a bit longer."
"They're lucky to still be breathing," Kurapika replied flatly.
In the world of Hunters, lives were cheap. A few nobodies dying wasn't even news.
That went for Killua and Kurapika. Probably only Gon would object.
Joey didn't want to argue. He just didn't want to become someone who didn't value life at all.
Besides, those people wouldn't pose any threat even if they were rescued later.
Once the clone fully became Kurapika, it split off.
Joey, Kurapika, and Momoze reached the room with the hidden passage to the upper deck within minutes.
After minimal prep, they re-entered the VVIP zone.
At the same time, Nasubi Hui Guo Rou arrived at the passage between Decks 2 and 3 and received an update from Deck 1:
Kurapika had taken Momoze and escaped to Deck 2 through a pre-dug tunnel.
"Nothing's going smoothly lately," Nasubi muttered. But his face was a blank slate—no telling what he was really thinking.
Nugui stood beside him, silent, awaiting orders.
"Send an elite squad. I want Kurapika and Momoze caught before noon."
Nugui bowed low. "Understood."
"One more thing. That witness—dispose of him. I don't want him spreading useless information. If he already talked, investigate the army."
"Your Majesty…" Nugui hesitated.
"What?" Nasubi's slitted gaze slid toward him.
"He was taken by the Bureau of Justice," Nugui said, bracing himself.
"Justice Bureau?" Nasubi's brow twitched.
"From the Voyage Bureau, apparently. He seems to have connections."
"Seems?" Nasubi's aura flared, black hatred spilling outward. "Investigate the army. Can't even suppress this kind of news? And you let Justice Bureau take him? This is my ship."
The black aura surged.
Nugui trembled.
Nasubi's voice cut again—cold as ice: "I never want to hear the word 'seems' again."
The dark face of a Guardian Beast loomed inches from Nugui's bowed head.
But then Nasubi snorted, and the aura dispersed like smoke.
…
Barka had pulled every string to escape the Royal Army's grasp.
Luckily, he had connections. He reached someone in the Justice Bureau and used money and favors to dodge confinement.
As he was escorted away, his only thought: Still alive.
As for the woman who'd been caught with him—he'd already forgotten her.
She didn't matter.
Once at the Bureau, he was quickly released. He didn't linger—he beelined for the VVIP zone on Deck 1.
He knew death still lurked close. Only one man could protect him now: Gashya family leader Yatsuhana.
Having contacted Yatsuhana in advance, Barka faced no resistance entering his suite, escorted by the Royal Army.
"You saw the Twelfth Prince?" Yatsuhana asked directly, his scarred face deadpan, a wildcat snarling in his lap.
"Yes," Barka nodded solemnly.
"And?"
But Barka had nothing else to offer. He'd seen only Momoze.
Yatsuhana sighed. "That's all you've got? You think that's worth anything?"
He let go of the cat and poured them both drinks.
"As a merchant, cooperating with the Royal Army might've spared you. But now? You're alive, yet as good as dead."
He pushed the glass to Barka, who began trembling.
"You might still have time. Drink, and leave."
"Why? I have money—so much money! I just want to live!" Barka's face twisted with panic.
He didn't understand—he'd just picked the wrong time to fool around with a woman. How had things spiraled this far?
Yatsuhana frowned, twisting the ring on his finger.
"You boarded this ship with that level of awareness? Even if I saved you now, you'd still die. Give it up."
The door slammed open.
Royal soldiers with guns entered.
Barka tried to protest, but before he could, a bullet punched through the back of his skull.
Yatsuhana hadn't moved a muscle—completely unfazed.
…
"Well, that was an unexpected bonus," Joey muttered, hearing the gunshot through his earpiece.
He hadn't expected Barka to reach Yatsuhana's room.
Unlike the upstart Aiyi family's new leader Morena, Yatsuhana was an old-school boss—he didn't even know about Nen.
Which meant he never noticed the ladybug Joey had placed on Barka's body. It crawled right to Yatsuhana's feet after the kill.
"You sure you're ready?" Joey asked, confirming the bug's safety and turning to Kurapika.
"Yes. I know Izunavi's ability and how to assist him. I'm the best choice for this contact," Kurapika replied.
"Fine. I won't fight you for it—and honestly, I'm too wiped to go myself," Joey admitted.
He needed rest.
Plus, his Gold Experience insects had already been used far too much in District 6.
Using them again would just be throwing them away—especially after that last massacre.
Still… Kurapika didn't have infiltration-type powers, did he?
Joey couldn't help but worry.
Coughing again. No sleep. These damn soldiers… give me a break already!
(End of Chapter)