"After all, in my opinion, anyone who wants to cause trouble in Meteor City isn't a good person."
Luke, walking ahead, shrugged: "And they're not powerful either."
Well, what kind of good or powerful person would go out of their way to attack a deserted place like Meteor City?
Strong people, faced with anger and humiliation, will only strive to become stronger, drawing their swords against those more powerful than themselves.
Weak people, on the other hand, will simply turn their attention to those weaker than themselves, venting their anger.
Evil people, needless to say, are even more deceptive.
So, Luke had no problem attacking these guys.
Incidentally, he also prefaced the famous saying that would later become widely circulated around the world.
Well, in the manga, the troupe's flashbacks specifically mentioned this.
"Before Meteor City reached a cooperation with the mafia, offering manpower in exchange for safety, hundreds of casualties occurred every year."
"Seventy percent of them were children under fifteen."
"Later, as ties with the mafia deepened, one of the elders of Meteor City awakened Nen. From that came an oath, forming the rule of retaliation: a life for a life."
"We accept anything you leave here, but don't try to take anything from us."
"In a place where victims, not recognized as human, lived, when the world gradually equated the name Meteor City with terror, the Phantom Troupe was born…"
In other words, this declaration would not emerge until later, when Meteor City's name began spreading across the world…
As Luke had said, something needed to be remembered and deeply impressed upon the world.
Like the homeless man's wrongful conviction.
(T/N: Can skip.)
At that time, a certain local police officer arrested a homeless man on the charge of murder.
After verifying his identity, it was revealed that the homeless man had no nationality and no proof of social existence.
He claimed to be a resident of Meteor City. The police officers forcibly prosecuted him despite his denial of guilt.
Then the court convicted him without giving him a chance to explain himself.
Three years later, a drug addict was arrested, and his remaining crimes were gradually exposed... Proving the homeless man's innocence.
Following this incident, police officers, judges, prosecutors, eyewitnesses, jurors, and lawyers... the 31 people involved in his wrongful imprisonment were killed.
Regarding the method of the murder, it was said that the killer carried a trigger-type bomb, intended to kill himself and his victim simultaneously, a near-suicide.
According to eyewitness accounts, they smiled and shook hands before the bomb exploded.
Thirty-one people, in different locations, were killed simultaneously.
And beside the incomplete corpses of the victims, the declaration remained: "We accept anything you leave here, but don't try to take anything from us."
(T/N: Continue here.)
The Nen ability behind this bombing was the same one Chrollo used during his battle with Hisoka in the Heavens Arena.
Nen ability: The Sun and Moon
Ability description: On the backs of the hands are marks of the sun and the moon. The left hand imprints a sun, the right hand a moon. When the two marks come into contact, an explosion occurs. The mark itself can be stamped instantly, but to maximize its power requires maintaining contact for 3–5 seconds.
When residents in Meteor City are threatened by outsiders, the elder uses Sun and Moon to transform their fellow comrades into bombs, delivering death notices to the enemy.
In Chrollo's words, in the eyes of that elder, there's really no difference between humans and puppets.
And coincidentally, Chrollo himself sees things the same way.
"We accept anything you leave here, but don't try to take anything from us…"
In the elders' room, Elder Veyron was still pondering these words: "It's truly a declaration perfect for Meteor City…"
His wrinkled face finally broke into a barely discernible smile.
"Let me see how far you can go."
"I'm very much looking forward to seeing your achievements."
"And if you truly succeed, I promise you'll gain far more than you can imagine…"
…
"Luke, where have you been?!"
After Luke and Father Lisores returned to the church, the members of the brigade who had been quietly waiting there immediately gathered around.
Uvogin asked casually.
"I went to take care of something."
Luke smiled and then saw the joy still lingering on their faces after the performance.
Well, except for Feitan.
"Okay, now I have something to tell you."
He clapped his hands lightly: "Whatever it is, just tell me. As long as I, Uvogin, can do it, I'll do it for you!"
Uvogin continued to pat his chest and cheerfully promised.
But… When he saw Luke's calm expression, his smile slowly faded.
And not just him, but the other members of the brigade as well.
They also noticed the look on Luke's face and gradually quieted down.
Chrollo observed Luke's expression, then glanced at Father Lisores, who stood silently beside him.
He seemed to have realized something.
"I know everyone yearns for the outside world, eager to spread their works and performances to every corner of the world…"
Luke looked at the crowd calmly: "But have you ever considered the dangers of the outside world?"
"To be more precise, it's those malicious people out there."
Seeing the thoughtful expressions on everyone's faces, Luke continued.
"It's undeniable that there are many kindhearted and decent people out there."
"But there are even more who trample life, bully the weak, commit every evil, and treat humans as less than human…"
Sarasa suddenly raised her hand: "Like the outsiders that recently invaded Meteor City?"
"Yes."
Luke nodded: "And that's just the tip of the iceberg."