Milluki, you already ate my share, and now you're having a midnight snack? Is the food at home really that bad? You look like you've never eaten before.
Blowing on the hot oden in front of him, Milluki didn't notice Saiki Kusuo's arrival until Kusuo put a hand on his shoulder.
"Wah, Brother Kusuo! You're here!"
[Yeah yeah, if you gain too much weight I'll get blamed. So many skewers—just eat one of each, okay?]
"But a lot will go to waste!"
[Leave the extra to me.] Saiki Kusuo reached out without giving him a choice, helping Milluki solve the problem.
After finishing their late-night meal, Saiki Kusuo finally filled his stomach too. With Milluki, who still wanted more food, he teleported to the hotel they had booked.
The auction was already paused for the night, but Yorknew City after dark was far from peaceful…
Kurapika and Melody returned to Miss Neon's side.
In an abandoned building, Chrollo and the others waited until after the set meeting time for Uvogin to arrive.
The Troupe members were restless.
"Uvogin may be strong, but it's not impossible for him to lose one-on-one, especially if his ability is countered…" Chrollo sat in the center of their gaze, thinking aloud in fragments.
His calm words settled the uneasy members. A spider's legs only needed to follow the head's command.
"Here's what we'll do: if Uvogin still hasn't returned by dawn, we change our plan."
The wind blew out the candle beside Chrollo. He closed his eyes, and the spider fell into shallow rest, waiting.
The next day, in daylight.
The Phantom Troupe still hadn't seen Uvogin. Chrollo told Machi and Nobunaga to go out, while the others stayed at the base, waiting for Uvogin's return. Then he left with Phinks, Pakunoda, and Shalnark.
"If you notice anything suspicious, do whatever you need to." Chrollo instructed Machi and Nobunaga before leaving.
"Boss…" Phinks spoke from behind him once they had gone a little further, "Nobunaga doesn't seem calm right now." He might rush too fast after clues, or kill someone in revenge. There should be a better choice—Machi won't be able to hold him back.
"You're worried?" Chrollo's slicked-back hair gave him a sharper, more commanding look than when it was down. Even with Uvogin missing, he was still the calmest in the group. "I said that on purpose. Machi should understand what I mean. As for Nobunaga, I had to order him like that so he would calm down and stay in his best state."
"Boss…" Phinks opened his mouth, then closed it again. He could understand Nobunaga's feelings. If it were Feitan who hadn't shown up till now, he would want to rush out and catch the suspect himself too.
So it was impossible to just stay quietly at the base. Even if it was an order from the leader, they would still feel unhappy inside.
"Phinks, Pakunoda, have you two improved at all in the past three years?" After a short silence, Chrollo spoke.
This was the first time the Troupe had acted together since three years and two months ago. They hadn't gathered in all that time, but Chrollo believed everyone had been getting stronger.
The question from the leader sounded pointless, but Kikyo knew he was leading into something else—was their mission about to begin? Phinks sighed. Forget it, just follow the leader's orders.
"Phinks, Pakunoda, follow Machi and Nobunaga. Don't let them notice you," Chrollo said.
What? Phinks was shocked, and even Pakunoda looked surprised.
"That's why I didn't have Feitan take Nobunaga's place. Both Nobunaga and Machi look like people who aren't that strong, and they're also good at hiding their presence. They're not the type who will quickly notice you two following them." Chrollo put his hands in his pockets and glanced toward where Nobunaga and Machi had left.
"To trick the enemy, you first have to fool your own people. If someone is tracking Nobunaga and Machi, everything will be exposed right before your eyes. Go."
The right choice is always the one that fits perfectly. Watching Phinks and Pakunoda's figures fade away, Chrollo left together with Shalnark.
Their task was to investigate and approach the one who could see the future. If their moves were predicted, they wouldn't be able to steal the treasures. Finding that fortune-telling Nen user was their top priority. Whether to kill them or steal their ability, Chrollo would decide on the spot.
At eight in the morning, Saiki Kusuo slowly got up. Milluki was still sleeping in. Saiki Kusuo ordered breakfast for two and kept planning as he ate.
Kurapika was still at the hotel for now. If something unexpected happened, Kusuo could just watch with clairvoyance.
So could he just slack off now? No, not really. He still needed to keep track of how things were changing. He had two options:
One, go find Killua and Gon. In the end, they would meet up with Kurapika and deal with the Troupe together. If he followed them, he might get to hear their plans directly.
Two, go find the Phantom Troupe and see what they were doing.
…
Saiki Kusuo dialed Killua's number.
"Hello? Brother Kusuo?"
Saiki Kusuo suddenly appeared behind Killua.
His presence was noticed instantly.
"Wha—!? Brother Kusuo, how did you just show up like that?"
[Nothing special. Just teleportation.]
By now Killua had already learned Nen. Saiki Kusuo no longer had to hide it, even though his powers weren't really Nen.
"Ah—now I remember. Brother Kusuo's Nen ability! So sneaky! Illumi and Brother Kusuo, even Milluki and Kurt, all know Nen, right? Why was I the only one kept in the dark?!"
If you spent time with more than just Alluka, and paid attention to the rest of us, you wouldn't have been fooled so easily.
Facing Killua's glare, Saiki Kusuo looked away. Yare yare, it was all the family's decision. He was just playing the quiet, obedient kid.
Killua stared at him for a long time, then turned his head. "I knew it. Brother Kusuo looks like he can't lift or carry anything, but somehow he managed to take Alluka down the mountain without making Nanika grant a wish…" [When Alluka said that, I thought it was just a lie.]
Just going down a mountain. I'm not that useless.
Anyway, what are we supposed to be doing right now?
Saiki Kusuo looked around and saw they were at a flea market selling antiques—some real, some fake. Oh, so that's why they came here, to hunt for bargains and make money?
"Brother Kusuo, are you also here to buy something at the flea market? But seriously, why did you suddenly show up in Yorknew City?" Killua asked.
Saiki Kusuo: [Yare yare, just taking Milluki on a trip.]
"He's here too?! Where is he?!" Killua looked around in shock. "That guy never leaves the house except for missions! Such a shut-in!"
Caught on, huh? You really do care about Milluki.
But honestly, most of the family never leaves the house unless it's for a mission. You're the only one who actually likes to go out traveling, Killua.
[Milluki's still at the hotel, sleeping in.]
After some small talk, Killua finally started explaining what he and Gon were up to.
"You're definitely going to be shocked when you hear this! Brother Kusuo, Gon and I need to make at least 10 billion!" Killua put his hands in his pockets, walked side by side with Kusuo, held up one finger, then another in a peace sign. "Ten billion is just the start! At minimum, we'll probably need twenty billion!"
Not even fifty billion would be enough, Killua.
His goal was the same as Milluki's—a Greed Island game console. Maybe Kusuo should just tell Killua about Milluki's goal too. Even if neither of them could buy it, at least they'd have company.
"You think it's crazy too, right? But Gon insists we have to get it! Ten billion, he's never even seen that much money and still dares to say it out loud!"
Saiki Kusuo lowered his head, popped a piece of chocolate into his mouth, and listened to Killua ramble on.
Back then, Silva must have been just as surprised. At home, he had never seen Killua smile so brightly.
"To make money, we really tried all kinds of ways! Brother Kusuo, want to take a guess?"
[Then I'll guess you tried finding cheap antiques first.] The answer was obvious.
"Earning 10 billion isn't that easy!" [During the day we searched antique markets for real treasures, at night we arm-wrestled on the streets to earn small change. But those were just side earnings. To make big money, we even planned to track members of the Phantom Troupe—selling intel or even catching them would… wait, are we even allowed to tell Brother Kusuo this? The family said we're not supposed to mess with the Troupe!]
Killua suddenly grew alert.
Too late—he already heard it. But I'll help you keep the secret. Saiki Kusuo looked into the distance. On the other side of the street, a kid came running and bouncing toward them.
"Killua—eh? Killua's big brother!" Gon shouted as he ran over, waving at Saiki Kusuo too. "Long time no see!"
[Long time no see.]
Saiki Kusuo replied, but his senses suddenly picked up something behind him to the right.
A stack of tall boxes had been knocked over by a child and started falling. When Saiki Kusuo turned his head, the kid was right under them, his inner voice screaming in fear.
"Bang!" Saiki Kusuo raised his hand and blasted the boxes away.
It was an easy move, just like how you wouldn't go out of your way to clean up all the world's trash, but might still bend down at some moment to toss a piece into the bin.
"Killua's big brother!" Gon's cheerful voice rang out again. What was this enhancer-type kid going to say now?
"Long time no see!" Gon said with a bright smile. But almost at the same time, another scream rang out from behind to the right.
[Long time no…] Wait. Something's off.
Looking at Gon in front of him, then at the scene playing out again, Saiki Kusuo's psychic brain instantly realized the truth.
This was a time loop!
When psychic powers get unstable, strange things like this can happen. The solution was simple—just space out.
Saiki Kusuo raised his hand and pulled the child to the side with telekinesis so the boxes wouldn't crush him.
Space out… space out…
[Ahhh! Glass! The glass shards are going to hit me!!]
What? Saiki Kusuo snapped back to attention in shock and quickly shielded the child.
"Killua's big brother!" Gon's voice again.
This time, Saiki Kusuo didn't spare Gon a single glance. He lifted the boxes straight up and stacked them back neatly. But the loop was very short—he spaced out right away.
"Killua's big brother!"
Tch, too short this time.
"Why are you ignoring me? Long time no see, long time no see!" Gon tilted his head back, waving in front of Saiki Kusuo's eyes.
Looks like the loop had already ended.
[Yeah, yeah, long time no see.]
With clever use of Gyo, one could find antiques from long ago.
Saiki Kusuo didn't plan on helping. He just strolled along slowly behind Killua and Gon, watching the two kids bounce with energy.
His own way of telling real from fake antiques was very different.
"Hey kids, want to take a look at this?" [Heh, these kids look like easy marks, especially that spiky-haired black-haired brat!]
Mister, you've got the wrong read—an enhancer's instincts are the hardest to fool.
"No, because none of the stuff you're selling is real." Gon said bluntly.
"Even if you can't see antiques with Gyo, they might still have some small value… Come on, Gon, we've pretty much looked through this whole market."
"But I think this guy is trying to trick us."
"Huh? Why?"
"I don't know. I can just feel it."
"Oh, then I'll trust you! Gon, let's keep looking ahead!"
The two kids' conversation didn't care one bit about the man's feelings. His face froze as he held onto his fake antique and half-baked sales pitch, stuck in place. Saiki Kusuo, hands in his pockets, walked right past.
See, that's the scary part about Enhancers.
The relaxed time lasted until Saiki Kusuo took the two kids out for lunch—about two thousand jenny per person. The rare treat was only because he overheard that young master Killua was fine with just sharing a simple two-thousand jenny meal with Gon to fill his stomach.
If the butlers who raised Killua heard that, they'd be in tears.
"Beep beep, beep beep!"
Just as the meal was wrapping up, Killua's phone suddenly rang. It was Leorio.
[Someone is selling the Phantom Troupe members' location info! But… they want thirty million!]
"Buy it! We can afford thirty million now. If we're stingy, we'll miss the bounty!"
[A man and a woman… only two people, we can give it a try!]
Don't try it! The Phantom Troupe isn't something you can just "try" against! Why can't you treat every one of them with the same fear you have for Illumi?
[Oh, and we can't let Brother Kusuo know!] Killua's inner voice.
Yare yare, I already know.
[Anyway, Brother Kusuo only ran into us by chance while shopping. Just think of some excuse to brush him off…]
That's hurtful. I came all the way here through the network just to see you.
"Killua, what did Leorio say on the phone?"
"Shh! Gon!" Killua's eyes went wide. Maybe because of their bond, Gon, though confused, didn't press further and quickly covered his mouth.
[Oh no, that reaction is way too suspicious. Brother Kusuo definitely knows we're hiding something! But Brother Kusuo isn't that nosy. If we just distract him somehow…]
Oh? Saiki Kusuo had been thinking of leaving politely like a caring older brother, but now he decided to stay and see what excuse Killua would come up with.
"Um, Brother Kusuo, there isn't a single dessert shop nearby!"
What's this, you want dessert after lunch?
"I heard there's a super famous dessert shop on the east side of the city!"
That's actually pretty tempting.
But from his thoughts, it was just something he once overheard someone say in passing. You remembered it because you wanted dessert yourself, didn't you? You haven't even tried it, yet you're recommending it to me.
Facing Killua's big eyes, Saiki Kusuo looked away. Kids with Enhancer traits were always good at hiding their emotions. At least, none of that nervous expectation showed on Killua's face.
Just before Killua could feel let down, Saiki Kusuo spoke: [Yare yare, then I guess we'll have to give it a try. We are here on vacation after all.]
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