Why—
Why was Bonolenov of the Phantom Troupe here?
And he had transformed into Sanosuke. This was clearly a calculated, targeted operation.
Watching Bonolenov shed his disguise, Moro's pupils trembled. In an instant, a thousand thoughts raced through his mind. He was certain now: Bonolenov had come specifically for him.
That realization led to darker paths. What had happened to Sanosuke? And if one spider was here, how many more were lurking in the shadows? The worst-case scenario was the entire Troupe moving as a unit, with him as their designated prey.
But—
What was the motive? What was the reason?
Moro had never had even a peripheral interaction with the Troupe. Was this a whim? Had they set their sights on his antique shop?
Unlikely. The shop's value didn't even register on the scale of Yorknew City's wealth. For a group that dared to steal every single item from a world-class auction, his little store was pocket change.
A whim? Even less likely. If it were a mere impulse, they wouldn't have gone through the trouble of neutralizing Sanosuke first and using a transformation ability to ensure a flawless ambush. This was a plan. This was an execution designed for a 100% success rate.
And the person within the Troupe obsessed with such meticulous execution...
Chrollo Lucilfer.
The absolute worst possibility. It meant that besides Bonolenov, he was likely facing Chrollo and his shadow, Pakunoda.
Danger didn't begin to describe it.
Stay calm, Moro told himself. Think. Why the Phantom Troupe? There was no point in digging for the "why" right now. The only thing that mattered was the "how"—how to survive this trap.
Moro suddenly retreated. As he passed the front counter, he snatched a heavy glass ashtray.
In the wind and rain, Bonolenov watched Moro's movements with indifference. Now that his cover was blown, he felt no rush to attack. He had failed the initial setup Chrollo had requested, but the ultimate result remained unchanged.
"Hmm?" Bonolenov's eyes narrowed.
A dull thud echoed from within the shop, followed by the instant death of every light. The building was plunged into total darkness. Bonolenov realized then that Moro had grabbed the ashtray not as a weapon, but as a projectile to smash the main breaker box at high speed.
But what use was darkness to a Spider? Bonolenov remained motionless, a silent sentinel in the storm.
Inside the pitch-black shop, Moro looked toward the back door. He could feel it—a surging, violent bloodlust, completely unmasked.
He was cornered.
Moro took a long, steady breath. He had deduced Chrollo and Pakunoda were nearby, but it was clear the numbers were higher than three. He had no intention of facing the monster at the back door. Instead, he forced his nerves to settle and stepped out through the shattered front window onto the street.
In that short span of time, three more figures had appeared on the rain-slicked pavement.
The man in the center had short black hair and a purple cross tattoo on his forehead. His eyes were deep, dark abysses, and his calm expression held a trace of chilling detachment.
To his left stood a tall, curvaceous woman with blonde hair. Her cold beauty was sharpened by a prominent aquiline nose.
To his right was a blonde youth with a baby face and bright green eyes, a playful smile plastered on his lips.
Chrollo, Pakunoda, and Shalnark.
Moro recognized them instantly from their distinctive features. His heart sank like a stone. Chrollo stood with his hands in his pockets, looking at Moro as if he were looking at a piece of inanimate debris.
Beside him, Shalnark rested a hand on his hip and chirped, "Alert and decisive. It seems he knows who we are..."
"Let's just restrain him first," Pakunoda said, her arms crossed beneath her chest.
Chrollo remained silent. He raised his right hand, swirling Nen began to gather in his palm.
Watching the movement, Moro's eyes turned cold and hard. He spoke without a hint of tremor in his voice:
"The Phantom Troupe... you've certainly given me a lot of face. But you and I have never had any contact, direct or indirect. Why this?"
Chrollo's eyes were like stagnant water. He said nothing. The other members showed no inclination to answer either.
No dialogue, then...
Moro took a deep breath, his mind working at overclocked speeds to find an opening.
At that moment, Chrollo activated his ability.
[Skill Hunter]
A book with a red handprint on the cover materialized in his hand. The pages flipped rapidly through the driving rain. When the book stopped, a monocle attached to a golden chain appeared in Chrollo's left hand.
Moro's eyes flickered with a complex emotion—a mix of relief and fury.
That monocle was Sanosuke's Conjured ability. The fact that Chrollo had stolen it meant Sanosuke was still alive. But knowing the Spiders, "alive" likely meant he was in a state worse than death.
Chrollo held the monocle but didn't put it on.
"Wait," he said softly, stopping Bonolenov, who was about to lunge.
Initially, Chrollo had Conjured the monocle to rattle Moro's composure, creating a psychological opening to ensure a clean capture. But something was wrong.
Moro's reaction contained not a shred of surprise or confusion.
When a person sees a friend's unique ability being used by an enemy, even the most disciplined mind should show a flicker of "How?"
But Moro didn't show shock. He didn't show confusion. Instead, Chrollo saw...
Relief?
Why relief? Chrollo quickly deduced that Moro realized the owner of the ability must be alive. But to make that judgment instantly, one would need to understand the mechanics of his Specialist ability, Skill Hunter.
This was becoming interesting.
"Moro, is it? As you said, we have never had any contact," Chrollo stated, his tone shifting to one of quiet inquiry. He looked at the boy with a spark of genuine curiosity.
"But your reaction tells me something else. You... understand my Nen ability."
It wasn't a question. It was a verdict.
Hearing Chrollo's words, Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Bonolenov all looked visibly surprised.
"..."
Moro remained silent, his heart pounding. Chrollo had caught a momentary flicker in his expression and confidently pinned him down. This was the man he was dealing with.
Moro suppressed the chaos in his mind. He fought the urge to look at Pakunoda. If there was still a chance to escape, it lay in one thing:
Information.
Moro was almost certain Pakunoda had used her memory-searching ability on Sanosuke to dig for intel on him. And that intel contained one critical, beautiful error.
In Sanosuke's mind, I am an Enhancer.
But in reality, I am an Emitter.
The gap between their expectations and his reality was his only way out.
Author Notes:
Sanosuke: Consistent with the previous chapter, replacing "Saixin."
Shalnark: Kept as is, as it's the established Hunter x Hunter character name.
Inu: (Previously used for the dog-masked man) Not present in this scene, but noted for consistency.
Skill Hunter: Used the standard English localization for Chrollo's "Daidouki no Gokui."