"We figured that out a long time ago."
Phinks said while eating a piece of pork elbow.
"Feitan and I already learned how to play the world's little game back in our first year out."
He tore off a chunk of meat with his teeth while mumbling.
"No, it's not the same."
Shalnark shook his head vigorously. "The rules of your game are not the same as what I see."
"The higher levels of this world still operate under their own set of rules."
Shalnark saw it clearly.
What Feitan and Phinks understood was the law of the jungle on the dark side of this world, the essence of the survival of the fittest.
What Shalnark saw, however, was another set of rules being practiced beneath the surface of civilization.
"Of course, ultimately."
Shalnark's gaze grew firmer. "What we have to rely on is..."
"Our strength."
Chrollo, standing nearby, suddenly spoke up, uttering those two words.
"That's right!"
Shalnark looked at Chrollo, who stared back.
The two of them laughed simultaneously.
Not only was Shalnark perceptive, but Chrollo also possessed a keen eye for the world.
"After this incident is over."
Shalnark said with resolve. "I'm going to travel around the world and take a good look!"
"Ah, there's nothing much to see out there."
Uvogin, gnawing on a large bone, overheard these words and mumbled.
"They're just a bunch of annoying garbage."
"Even if they're garbage, they need to be dealt with appropriately."
Chrollo laughed along: "I actually think the world right now might be quite interesting."
If you look at the world from a different perspective, then the insights you gain will inevitably be different!
They are no longer the Phantom Troupe, who knew only about killing and chaos.
Under Luke's influence, their minds were beginning to evolve, growing deeper and more reflective.
"After this incident, do we have any further actions, captain?"
Shalnark asked Luke seriously and formally.
"No."
Luke replied casually before taking a bite of dessert.
"After this, everyone acts freely."
He glanced at Machi, who was quietly but swiftly devouring her sweets beside him.
Machi's fondness for sweets was unmistakable.
It seemed many transmuters had a sweet tooth: Killua loved chocolate beans, Hisoka loved gum and candy, and Machi loved desserts.
"Also."
Luke offered a suggestion: "We're still short on members. If you have a suitable applicant, you can invite them."
"Then contact me. After testing them, I'll let them draw a suitable card."
"Of course, if you unfortunately die out there."
Luke was blunt: "The group's progress won't stop, and your numbers won't be sealed."
"When we meet suitable people in the future, they will inherit your numbers."
"You should be mentally prepared for that."
Hearing Luke speak so seriously for once, everyone nodded cooperatively.
"If you ask me, if I really die, forget the number, my entire inheritance can go to them..."
Then he grinned: "Though, I don't actually have any inheritance."
Uvogin cracked a dry joke, albeit one that wasn't particularly funny.
"If we're planning an operation, I'll contact you by phone."
Luke continued, ignoring the idiot at the side. "Unless there are special circumstances, all the members must attend group activities."
"And when I'm not calling for your participation, you can do whatever you want."
"Even if you blow up a country, I'll cover it."
Luke imitated Uvogin and cracked a dry joke: "You can also form your own groups. I won't hinder you in any way."
"As for the specific time I'll call for a group operation, well..."
Luke chuckled: "That depends entirely on my personal mood."
Other members: "..."
"So basically, you will call us to gather whenever you feel like it, with no pattern at all?"
Uvogin muttered under his breath: "Isn't that a bit too willful?"
You're the type who loves to mess around, and you have the nerve to call others willful...
Everyone glanced at this idiot who couldn't even keep his voice down.
Or rather, it was considered a whisper in Uvogin's eyes, but in reality, everyone could hear it clearly.
"That's fine."
Feitan and Phinks didn't care at all. "This is a good opportunity to have some fun.
They don't like being constrained or restricted.
The gathering rules set by Luke are just right for their free-spirited nature.
Shalnark and Chrollo were even more indifferent. They simply wanted to explore the world more and better understand it.
Pakunoda never had many of her own opinions.
She usually went with the flow when she followed Chrollo; now that she's following Luke, she doesn't mind it at all.
"Finding more companions…?"
Franklin fell into deep thought. He was the only one who immediately began seriously thinking about the Phantom Troupe's future and suitable recruits.
"There were some promising-looking guys in Meteor City before."
"I just don't know how good they are."
Franklin had already entered full-on responsible big-brother mode, dedicated to the Phantom Troupe's well-being.
He really did care. How touching.
"Great! Now, I have time to really hone my skills."
Uvogin said cheerfully while rotating his arm with excitement.
He even boasted excitedly to Machi beside him: "I'm planning to hone my right straight punch!"
"One day, my punch will be more powerful than an atomic bomb!!!"
He boasted so much that Nobunaga couldn't help but scratch his own ear.
He knew Uvogin wasn't just spouting nonsense; this guy genuinely believed he could train his punch to that level of power.
Still, hearing that made him feel unbearably itchy inside, itchy enough to want to draw his sword and slash him once, though thankfully, he restrained himself.
Instead, Nobunaga turned toward Machi, who was being pestered by Uvogin.
Nobunaga asked curiously: "What are you planning to do next, Machi?"
"Make money."
Those two concise words tumbled out of Machi's mouth.
"I think you mentioned before a place where you can both fight and make money, right?"
"Are you talking about the Heavens Arena?"
Nobunaga thought for a moment. "It's certainly quite nice."
"But I think, with your skills and abilities, just going there to fight would be a bit of a waste."
"Yes, I understand."
Machi nodded slightly. "So I'm not going on stage."
She thought of her master, Ms. Renko, who made a fortune collecting and sewing up corpses.
A gleam of brightness began to gleam in her eyes.