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Chapter 86: Chrollo's Decision
The intelligence Shalnark brought back from Southern Piece confirmed Chrollo's suspicions.
The pair of Scarlet Eyes scheduled for auction at the Southern Piece Auction House tomorrow had been temporarily withdrawn; they had been purchased privately by one of the Ten Dons.
Since Chrollo already knew about Ronin and Kurapika's maneuvering, he naturally deduced that the person who obtained the eyes was Ronin, who had assumed the identity of a Ten Don. Furthermore, with the status of a Ten Don, Ronin could easily sweep up the remaining two pairs of Scarlet Eyes from the black market auctions as well.
Chrollo briefly considered using Shalnark's Black Voice. Could they capture a Ten Don, manipulate him, and thereby seize his status and influence?
The answer was no.
He had already realized the key to Ronin and Kurapika's impersonation. Ronin possessed the ability to create clones, and those clones could alter their appearance, meaning Ronin could physically transform into a Ten Don.
Thinking of this, Chrollo's gaze shifted to Bonolenov. There was room for a similar operation there. But such a method didn't align with the philosophy of a thief. Moreover, Bonolenov was currently in a wretched state; surviving was his priority, so finding a way to heal him came first.
Besides, controlling a Ten Don offered little real benefit to the Phantom Troupe. Money? They had it. Channels for intelligence? They had those too. Status? The identity of a mafia boss was less intimidating than their status as A-Class Wanted Criminals.
So, the idea of impersonating a Ten Don was dismissed from Chrollo's mind.
"We've fallen into a passive position," Chrollo mused.
From the moment they arrived in Yorknew City, it felt as though they were being led by the nose. Even this sudden assault had been a trap set by the enemy. In the end, even after ambushing Ronin, they were forced to retreat when the mercenaries flooded the battlefield. The enemy had deployed their pieces one step faster than he had, seizing the initiative.
Although Kurapika seemed somewhat naïve, Ronin's strategic planning was on a completely different level.
What Chrollo still suspected was the mechanism behind the transformation of the Scarlet Eyes into those new eyes of Ronin's. Was it a "Divine Artifact" as he had hypothesized, or was there another cause? The "Divine Artifact" theory was primarily born from his recent exposure to that specific type of power, so his judgment might be biased.
If it was another reason, it likely lay within Ronin himself. Was it related to those eyes—eyes that had completely transcended the scope of the Scarlet Eyes and emitted an even more ominous aura?
"If Ronin understands our abilities because he saw us during the massacre of the Kurta Clan, that would be one explanation. But he seems intimately familiar with every single one of us. He even understands the Troupe's behavioral patterns. That is highly irregular."
Chrollo sensed another anomaly.
"I plan to go to Nancha City again to investigate," Chrollo announced, deciding to temporarily stop chasing Ronin's footsteps. He needed a deeper understanding of the Kurta Clan. He also needed an ability that could counter Ronin's power. Since Ronin's strength stemmed from his eyes, an ability that targeted vision would be critical. It was a pity Omokage had died during his solo action; his ability would have been the perfect counter to Ronin.
"Are we not going to continue investigating the Scarlet Eyes?" Shalnark was surprised by Chrollo's decision.
If Chrollo left, at least two members would have to accompany him. That would leave only seven members. Without Chrollo's command, Shalnark didn't feel confident leading them against Ronin. Shalnark felt his own computational ability was insufficient; the strategist on Ronin's side was sharper than him. Only Chrollo could consistently see through Ronin's secrets and find the crux of the matter. Furthermore, cracking the isolation ability Ronin had used to kill Uvogin would require Chrollo's presence.
"Yes," Chrollo nodded. "We can let Ronin have all 16 pairs of Scarlet Eyes outside of Kakin. We only need to guard the final 11 pairs. From now on, we need to be wary of being ambushed by them, rather than actively trying to ambush them. Wait for my return!"
Chrollo sensed the danger of continuing to pursue Ronin. Ronin's side already held the advantage in tracking down the remaining 16 pairs. It was better to change tactics, minimize losses, and wait for an opportunity to turn the tables.
Yes. Turn the tables.
The Phantom Troupe was now the underdog. Chrollo was certain of this. As Ronin acquired more Scarlet Eyes, the gap in strength between the two sides would only widen. Currently, Ronin could likely defeat any single Troupe member in a head-on fight. If he obtained two or three more pairs, he might be able to handle two or even three members simultaneously. If Ronin managed to acquire all 16 pairs, his strength would reach a level that was impossible to calculate.
Chrollo didn't say more. He knew many in the Troupe didn't agree with his decision, but he wouldn't try to persuade them further. The Troupe was not his dictatorship. The purpose of the Troupe wasn't for him to rule, so if the members truly wanted to act, they had to be prepared for the consequences.
Chrollo left with Pakunoda, Kortopi, and Franklin.
After Chrollo's group departed, the remaining Troupe members didn't disperse immediately.
"I still plan to collect a pair or two of Scarlet Eyes. Even if it only slightly limits Ronin's power growth, or serves as a bargaining chip, it's worth it," Machi said. Her gaze fell on Shalnark. "I need your ability. Only you can find the suitable Scarlet Eyes without leading us into an ambush."
Nobunaga silently walked to stand behind Machi.
Bonolenov spoke up as well. "Shalnark, I need your previous intelligence."
Shalnark nodded to Machi first. "I'll help. My thoughts align with yours. As for Bonolenov... the key to healing your injuries lies within Greed Island."
"I'll take you there," Feitan volunteered. "We'll just snatch the game directly from Southern Piece. Besides, didn't the Danchou say Ronin might be interested in Greed Island? What about that?"
"That judgment might have been wrong at the time, but we should still be careful," Shalnark warned.
"Don't worry," Phinks stepped forward. "I'll go with him."
Thus, the remaining ten members of the Troupe quickly divided their tasks.
As for the death of Isrli, it didn't impact the Troupe's operations at all. Shalnark, however, was still thinking about the person who had emptied the Ten Don's treasure vault earlier. Now that the Troupe had so many vacancies, if that person's strength was decent, perhaps he could recommend them to Chrollo to fill a spot. Given the unique nature of that person's abilities, it wouldn't matter much if their combat strength was slightly lacking. At the very least, their ability could be added to Chrollo's arsenal.
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