When Pakunoda returned without Chrollo or a real explanation about what was actually going on, the situation became tense again.
Unfortunately, she was simply unable to explain what was going on, as she was already under Kurapika's Judgement Chain. If she shared any information about him or what happened with Chrollo, who also is under a Judgement Chain, her heart would be crushed by the Nen chains around it.
At least she still could use her Nen; Chrollo could no longer use his Nen abilities or talk with any members of the Phantom Troupe. Kurapika's Judgement Chain is quite the useful ability; unfortunately, Harry's Devour couldn't distinguish between foreign Nen and Nen belonging to a Nen user.
His ability just sucks everything in, or he could also be a powerful Nen exorcist. After all, he had already confirmed that the original user of a Nen ability couldn't sense the Nen inside his dimension, Lost Space. And most importantly, all Nen is neutralized so that he could freely interact with it.
Luckily the situation quickly calmed down as Harry coughed, and both Feitan and Phinks, who were both ready to fight over this matter, took a quick glance at him, remembering what they had discussed earlier.
In the end, Franklin broke it even clearer down; the exchange was even in the worst-case scenario, better than the real worst-case scenario. Because the death of all members of the Spider was the real worst outcome they could have.
A controlled exchange between hostages was far more predictable than a scenario where they tried to ambush Kurapika. Where he could possibly escape and take the spider out later, one by one. And Harry knew Franklin had the right idea.
After all, Kurapika was smart. He had set up the exchange in such a way that he was unapproachable and could easily escape by using airships on the top of a mountain. Before he even would land, he would ensure that this wasn't an ambush.
Pakunoda left in the end with both Gon and Killua, even though Feitan and Phinks and some other Phantom Troupe members weren't exactly happy about the idea. But both Franklin's and Harry's warnings made a ton of sense.
———
"Where is Chrollo?" Phinks asked once Pakunoda returned while holding her six-shot revolver amongst her delicate fingers, "Your gun…?"
Almost every still living member of the Phantom Troupe was now present; only Hisoka's clone had gone out a while after Pakunoda had left with Gon and Killua. Or rather, Illumi, disguised as Hisoka, had sneaked out after receiving the confirmation that he no longer had to keep up his disguise.
Now it was just Pakunoda without the hostages or Chrollo standing in front of the gathered group, holding her weapon, replying, "He can't come here."
As expected of the more hotheaded member, Phinks growled, "Is that supposed to be a joke? You better explain now!"
She remained unbothered by his anger as her eyes began to wander over the members, while calmly stating, "I will."
"And if we don't like what we hear…" Phinks threatened coldly with Feitan standing ready beside him.
Pakunoda began to concentrate her Aura around her while readying her gun. "I know. I will."
Her eyes wandered over six particular members of the Spider: "Phinks, Feitan, Machi, Franklin, Nobunaga, and Shalnark. Will you trust me and accept this?"
The six remaining founding members of the Phantom Troupe besides her. Aiming her gun at them, she had a small smile on her face.
"Paku…" Machi muttered worriedly.
"What the… So he does control her!" Phinks growled, ready to jump into action.
"Phinks!" Nobunaga interrupted him, "Trust her! It's Paku."
For a moment her eyes landed on Harry, and they widened as he still had an unbothered smile on his face. She had already shot off her gun, and this was the last thing she saw as she dropped lifeless towards the ground as the six bullets left her gun.
As the memories she stored inside her bullets impacted the six members of the Phantom Troupe she had aimed at, the wrapped Nen chain around her heart had crushed it.
Harry had vanished from his seat and appeared beside Pakunoda as he caught her body.
'You should have ordered that as soon as she tries to tell someone or as soon as Chrollo tries to remove the chain, it would go off. That would have prevented him from becoming free for a long time. Although there is still Hisoka, who already knows. But the Phantom Troupe wouldn't have. A beginner mistake, or a plot hole?' Harry mused as he looked at the lifeless body he now held in his arms.
Purple Mist wrapped around her body as she vanished inside his inventory.
"What are you doing with her?" Machi growled as she and the five others had processed the memories, now looking at her and, by extension, him.
"Preserving her body inside my dimension. Time is frozen there." Harry replied calmly.
"She died?" Shizuku asked, her voice still neutral, but there was something more to it, remembering that he said only dead things could be inside his inventory. "How did it happen?"
"Probably that Sword of Judgement from the Fortunes. A conditional Nen ability most likely. One that she broke the condition off." He mused as he looked at the Six who had received the memories, not wanting to share more information.
"I'll explain all of it." Phinks said, looking somewhat like most of the others who received the memories, "Now we know everything."
———
That was pretty much what he had expected was going to happen. Cold steel pressed against his skin as a trickle of blood began to fall down his skin.
After explaining everything, the Spider decided to stay in Yorknew City, using it as their temporary base, to find a way to remove the Nen Kurapika had placed on Chrollo.
After all, the existence of Nen Exorcists wasn't a big secret for expert Nen users, but they are still hard to find since they are so rare. And Nen users keep their abilities a secret, since the majority are limited to not more than a handful.
Making finding a Nen Exorcist even harder.
Technically, Harry could solve that problem quickly as he knew where to find two. There is one in the Hunter Association, the only one of the whole Association. She would be pretty well protected with how rare her ability is.
But the other one wasn't as well protected; in fact, he should be already in Yorknew City or will be soon. Still, Harry didn't help, since Chrollo being back in the Troupe so soon would hinder his plans.
Since this was technically an issue between the Troupe and Kurapika, he was also not breaking his deal for joining the Troupe.
In the end, the Troupe had decided that splitting up again into smaller groups, like they always did between bigger jobs, was counterproductive. They remained together to solve that problem and find the Nen Exorcist.
And Harry ended up with a knife at his throat as soon as he reached the outside of his goal, as he got pulled into a side alley.
"Why did you join them?" A cold voice asked from behind him.
"Hello Kurapika, how have you been? Would you kindly lower your knife so we can talk like civilized people? After all, you don't believe that I am truly a member of the troupe, or you would have used your Chain Jail." Harry said while remaining calm and polite.
Such a reaction was pretty much what he had expected.
"How do you know that? Did Gon, Killua, or Leorio tell you about the conditions of my ability?" He gritted out as he lowered his knife, pushing Harry harshly against the wall, his eyes glowing scarlet.
"Shouldn't you calm down? Someone could notice your eyes." Harry said nervously, not really wanting to cause him to lose his lifespan; after all, for every second Kurapika was in his Emperor Mode, he lost 1 hour of his life. Although Harry wasn't sure whether Emperor Mode was always activated while having Scarlett Eyes.
"Answer my questions!"
"Multiple reasons. I was completing my job. Chrollo, the leader of the Troupe, has the ability to steal other Nen abilities, and he had stolen Neons." Kurapika's eyes widened. "Don't worry. He no longer has it, as it was part of the deal of me joining the troupe. Just tell the boss to give me a good bonus on my pay, and that this concludes my contract. As for the other reasons, by being with the troupe, it's easier for me to get my hands on some things that I need. That's all I will say to that. I won't be going Murder Hobo or massacring innocents."
"And how do you know about my ability?"
"You confirmed it just now. The others didn't tell me anything. I just guessed it. You never used that ability, even though it's so powerful in any other situation than capturing a member of the Phantom Troupe. And you didn't capture me with it just now, even though it would be perfect. So a condition for your ability must be that it's just usable against Phantom Troupe members, and a harsh one. Or you would have used it just now, even though you weren't sure whether I was really a member. Now happy? Can we go in? There is nothing you could do to change my mind."
Kurapika remained silent for a while, staring at him with these scarlet red eyes. "Fine. But if I hear you slaughter innocents, or do something unspeakable, I will hunt you down myself."
Harry wasn't planning to become a mass murderer, well, not technically. Even his Devour: Essence had only been used against humans that were either killers or ready to harm innocents like the three weaklings at the Heavens Arena.
How powerful could he become by sucking everyone out? After all, every living being had Aura even if not awakened, and a part of their capacity would be added to his own. He could become a literal Nen god before anyone even realized that he was responsible for so many deaths.
But he had principles, even though he was ready to dirty his hands and not hold his punches against his foes. He wouldn't go on a murder spree or become outright evil. Having thought a lot about himself, with his broadened perspective. He considers himself morally gray. Ready to bend his own principles from time to time.
He nodded, and Kurapika let him go. "Now how about we see how Gon and Killua are? There is a knife I have to pick up!"