"You damn bastard! Do you not understand your situation? Where did you hide the auction items?!"
Dalzollene was furious.
The Yorknew Auction heist was a disaster. As the head of security, this was a stain on his professional record that would never wash out. He needed those items back.
He drew his knife and stabbed violently at Uvogin's crotch. He wanted to teach this arrogant thug a lesson in humility.
CLANG!
The blade shattered.
It was like stabbing a diamond anvil. The shockwave traveled up Dalzollene's arm, nearly breaking his wrist.
"Wh-what...?"
Dalzollene stared at the broken hilt, sweat beading on his forehead.
He remembered now. This man, even bound and broken, was a monster who could punch craters into the earth.
Kurapika's expression darkened. He sensed Uvogin's aura. It was calm. Steady. Despite knowing he was about to be tortured, his Ten (Nen shroud) was flawless, making his skin harder than steel.
"Heh. See the difference?"
Uvogin sneered, looking down at them like a lion looks at mice.
"When I get out of here, I'm going to kill every single one of you. I'll snap your bones one by one. You'll beg for death, but I won't give it to you."
He looked at Squala, Basho, and Melody.
"I've memorized your faces. Your friends. Your families. Everyone you love dies."
BOOM!
A wave of bloodlust exploded from Uvogin. It wasn't just Nen; it was pure, concentrated malice. The bodyguards felt like they were standing in front of a predator that had just snapped its leash.
Squala dropped to his knees, shaking. Melody turned pale, her heightened hearing picking up the steady, terrifying rhythm of a killer's heart.
"You... you're crazy! You're the prisoner here!" Squala screamed, his voice cracking with fear.
"We didn't take the goods," Uvogin said calmly, ignoring Squala. "Someone got there before us. Probably your 'Captain'."
"Liar!" Dalzollene shouted. "Captain Ryker was handling security!"
"He's trying to divide us," Baise said, trying to keep her voice steady. "Don't listen to him."
"Believe what you want," Uvogin shrugged. "When we arrived, the vault was empty. There was a Shadow Beast corpse inside. Someone framed us. Either your Captain or the Shadow Beasts themselves."
Melody froze.
She listened to his heart. It was steady.
He's telling the truth.
"He... he's not lying," Melody whispered.
The room went silent.
If Uvogin was telling the truth, then they weren't administering justice. They were kidnapping a man who, in this specific instance, was innocent of the theft.
Dalzollene hesitated. Are we... the bad guys here?
Kurapika stepped forward, his eyes cold.
"What about the guests? There were colleagues of mine in that hall. Answer me."
Kurapika saw through Uvogin's tactic. Uvogin was trying to break their resolve. But Kurapika didn't care about the theft. He cared about the massacre.
Uvogin frowned. He could have lied. He could have played the victim. But Uvogin was Uvogin.
"Ah. Them?" Uvogin grinned. "They're dead. I gave the order. Bodies are probably ash by now."
BAM!
Kurapika's fist slammed into Uvogin's face.
Blood trickled from Uvogin's nose.
"Strong!" Dalzollene gasped. Even the Captain's friend is a monster? He broke Uvogin's defense with one punch!
"You killed them... just because you felt like it?"
Kurapika's eyes glowed scarlet. The rage he had suppressed for five years boiled over.
"Calm down, Kurapika!" Melody shouted, playing a soothing tune on her flute.
But Uvogin wasn't done. He saw the red eyes.
"Oh... Scarlet Eyes? You're a Kurta survivor?" Uvogin laughed, spitting blood. "I remember your clan. Their eyes were so pretty when we ripped them out. I think I even ate a few."
SMASH!
Kurapika lost it. He straddled Uvogin and rained punches down on his face.
Thud. Thud. Crack.
Uvogin's teeth flew out. His face swelled. But he kept laughing.
"Stop! Kurapika! He wants you to kill him!" Melody screamed.
"That's enough, Kurapika."
A calm voice cut through the chaos.
Everyone froze. They turned to the doorway.
Ryker stood there, leaning against the frame, looking like he just came back from a stroll in the park.
"Captain!" Dalzollene exhaled, the tension leaving his body.
Kurapika stopped, his fist hovering over Uvogin's bloody face. He took a deep breath, the scarlet fading slightly.
"Sorry I'm late," Ryker walked over, patting Kurapika on the shoulder. "He said some nasty things, didn't he?"
"Heh," Uvogin mumbled through swollen lips. "It's useless. I won't tell you where the others are. Torture me. Kill me. I won't talk."
Ryker smiled. It wasn't a nice smile.
"Oh, I don't need you to tell me where they are," Ryker said softly. "I already know. I marked them."
Uvogin's eye twitched.
"I didn't come back late because I was lost," Ryker leaned in close. "I was hunting. And I have a new schedule."
"Starting today, the Phantom Troupe dies. One spider a day. Until there are none left."
He stood up, looking down at Uvogin.
"Justice might be late sometimes. But I'm never absent."
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