"Captain?!"
Luke raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, that's right. Aren't we a team?!"
Uvogin said matter-of-factly: "Then, as our leader, you're of course our captain."
"That's right!"
Phinks agreed: "From now on, Luke, you're the captain of our brigade!"
Feitan said mutteringly: "We will all call you captain too."
Nobunaga raised his sword and nodded repeatedly. So after all this trouble, I'm the future leader of the Phantom Troupe?!
Luke was silent for a moment, then turned to look at Chrollo.
He saw a look of agreement on his face.
"What do you think, Chrollo?"
"Huh? Me?"
When his name was called, Chrollo was startled at first, but then he immediately reacted and said with a smile: "I don't have any plans to leave yet. The books Elder Veyron gave me, after reading and digesting them, will be enough for me to read for a long time."
"Also, I plan to sort out the order and system of Meteor City. It will take a year or two, so I won't be thinking of leaving for the time being."
"Only by thoroughly understanding everything here can we avoid being overwhelmed when we enter the outside world."
"Shalnark and I share this view."
He spoke seriously, clearly, with his own plans in mind.
Shalnark would also stay here with him to learn knowledge, rather than venture out.
Though currently, Shalnark is not here to share his view.
He had gone to the restroom.
Luke: "..."
Actually, I'm not asking whether you wanted to leave or not.
He turned again and looked at Franklin and Pakunoda, the other members who had also learned Nen.
"Then, while we're gone, I'm entrusting you with their safety."
"…"
Franklin and Pakunoda solemnly agreed: "We promise to complete the mission, captain!"
Luke: Alright, captain it is.
He shook his head, not dwelling on it, but instead gave his first order as captain: "During my absence, Chrollo will be the one in charge."
"From today onward, he is our vice-captain. If I'm not here, everything will follow his arrangements."
"Do you understand?"
"Yes, captain!"
Everyone responded in unison.
"Very good."
Luke nodded with satisfaction, then looked at Sarasa, who had an eager eye, and the silent Sheila.
"You're still too young; the outside world is too dangerous. You'd better stay here in Meteor City for now. Once you've learned Nen, we won't stop you from exploring outside."
Luke first comforted Sarasa, then looked at Sheila.
"Is there anything you want to say?"
Sheila looked up, meeting Luke's encouraging gaze.
She recalled that day when Luke had spoken to her.
From Luke, she learned many things she had never known, understood, or thought about before.
After their conversation, she had thought deeply about her dreams and her companions, and finally reached the answer she wanted.
Now, seeing Luke's gentle smile, Sheila mustered her courage.
"Well, I…"
"You can just go directly."
Sheila had just opened her mouth when Uvogin interrupted her.
Along with this, her hard-won courage and emotions were swept away.
But these feelings weren't needed anyway.
"We all know it."
Pakunoda also smiled.
"You love reading that book the most!!"
Sarasa's little face showed reluctance, but she forced a smile, trying to look mature.
Clearly, she had realized something.
"We're the Star Travelers' Brigade!"
Shalnark, returning from the restroom, also grinned.
"The so-called brigade…"
Franklin said seriously: "It's literally a path of traveling outside."
"That's right!"
Phinks nodded vigorously.
Feitan whispered: "We're all on the path of performing, and you, you've already started performing your own part."
Nobunaga, for once, offered a rather artistic remark.
"You've actually already gone a step ahead of us."
Machi said softly.
"But…"
Chrollo's little face lit up with a bright smile.
"We're partners of the same team!"
Partners…?
Sheila hadn't known when her vision had started to blur.
She subconsciously reached out to touch her cheek.
She found it was already covered in tears.
"Of course, we're all partners."
Finally, Luke spoke: "We were before, we are now…"
He smiled at Sheila: "And even more so in the future."
Sheila burst into tears.
Her path was destined to be different from the brigade.
Regardless of whether or not the events of Sarasa's storyline had occurred in the original storyline, Sheila's departure was inevitable.
She, with her heart set on becoming a hunter, would not follow the same path as the others.
"At least you're still our partner…"
Machi came to Sheila's side, softly comforting her.
Sheila had already thought things through after Luke had spoken to her, but this moment still filled her with sadness.
Especially since the other members of the brigade still considered her a companion.
"We're still partners…"
Tears streamed down her face as she looked up at the members of the brigade around her.
Finally, her thoughts settled on Luke.
"Always in the future too!!"
The pursuit of dreams will never cease, but it won't hinder their bond as members of the brigade!
Luke wouldn't take Sheila with him, and she wouldn't accept being led by him.
A moment later, she quietly left.
But before leaving, everyone also noticed that Luke had given her something.
"It will protect and guide you."
Luke smiled and said to her: "If you ever want to see us, just use it to find us."
Sheila carefully and solemnly put the things away: "I will."
Luke's figure was reflected in her eyes: "Thank you, Luke."
"If you really want to thank me…"
Luke chuckled: "Next time we meet, tell me about your journey."
They would definitely meet again one day.
And so, Sheila became the first member of the Star Travelers' Brigade to leave.
Everyone understood and supported her decision, silently blessing her in their heart.
And Sheila's departure seemed to mark the beginning of the brigade's impending separation.
The others had also made their preparations, and Luke had no intention of taking Machi with them.
However, Luke also gave her the ticket to Kirimori Valley that Elder Veyron had given him earlier.
The right place still needs the right person.