"This group is the same group that dismembered Sarasa in the original timeline, right?"
In the manga, the Clean-Up Rangers dubbing only lasted eight episodes.
Later on, when there weren't enough episodes, Sarasa decided to search the nearby forest.
"If I find them, everyone will be surprised, right?"
"I didn't tell anyone, but I saw lots of tapes dumped near Uga Forest's junkyard, and I've already memorized the universal script for Clean-Up Rangers."
At that time, Sarasa felt relaxed, humming a song as she entered the forest.
Then, she encountered the man covered with tattoos and his group.
Shortly afterwards, Sarasa was dismembered, her body wrapped in a cloth bag, and hung from a nearby tree.
Later, Chrollo and others found her amidst the pouring rain. Uvogin climbed a tree and retrieved the sack.
Inside the sack was Sarasa's dismembered body and a note nailed to her head.
The note contained some unpleasant words.
Uvogin, unable to read it, clutched Chrollo's clothes and begged to know what it said.
Chrollo's eyes were numb, and he said: "Even if I die… I will never say it."
Then, in the pouring rain, the group of children huddled together, weeping.
When Uvogin was about to go on a quest for revenge alone, Chrollo said something very meaningful to him.
"Uvogin, can you wait for me for three years?"
"Before I turn fourteen, I'll prepare everything. I'll build my strength and improve Meteor City's systems…"
"So that from now on, there will be no more victims like Sarasa. We must be ready to dedicate our lives to this."
"In three years, I will kill countless people…"
It was at that moment that the kindhearted Chrollo vanished forever.
The only one left was the future leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo Lucilfer.
His name, Chrollo Lucifer, was inspired by the biblical figure of Lucifer.
Lucifer rebels against god and symbolizes evil, an image that coincides perfectly with Chrollo in the manga as the ruthless leader of the Phantom Troupe.
The name Chrollo has two meanings in Japanese.
The first is Black Silk, referring to his appearance in a black coat; the second is center, implying his role as the head of the spider.
It could be said that Chrollo's fate was determined from the moment he was created.
But now…
Luke glanced at him, then tossed him the camera the driver had brought down.
"These are things they filmed on some of the children before…"
Chrollo had just taken it when he heard Luke's somewhat intense voice: "Show it to Uvogin, Phinks, and the others."
"Let them see the wickedness of people outside."
"As for Sarasa and Sheila…"
Luke stopped talking at this point, and Chrollo understood his meaning.
"Let us bear the consequences of such cruelty."
Chrollo murmured, then instinctively looked at the footage on the equipment.
What kind of scene could make even someone like Luke seem to lose control of their emotions?
And then… Chrollo's pupils shrank sharply; his face turned ashen with unprecedented severity.
"What's wrong with you, Chrollo?!"
Uvogin, who had been keeping an eye on the situation, also came over and glanced at it subconsciously.
"Is there… Something in this footage that's…"
Soon, the forest fell silent again.
And then…
"These beasts!"
Uvogin's furious voice echoed throughout the forest.
"I'm going to kill them!"
When everyone returned to the dilapidated warehouse…
"You're back!"
Sarasa, who had been waiting impatiently, immediately greeted them upon seeing their return.
"What's going on?!"
"Nothing, everything's been taken care of."
Shalnark replied in a slightly weak voice.
Huh?!
Machi, standing behind them, raised her brows slightly. Then she saw Uvogin seething with anger, Phinks looking glum, Feitan's gaze filled with bloodlust, Nobunaga gripping his sword tightly, and Franklin with his head down, brooding…
Though the others didn't appear injured, their condition was clearly not good.
And…
"Where are Luke and Chrollo?"
Sarasa, not seeing them, asked curiously.
"Also, what's wrong with you all?!"
She had noticed her companions' moods and asked hurriedly.
"Luke and Chrollo took those outsiders to see the elders…"
Pakunoda came to Machi's side and whispered: "They plan to hand those two people and the filming equipment they have over to the elders…"
"Filming equipment?!"
Machi grasped the key point sharply.
"Yes, those guys filmed some terrible footage. Although Sheila and I haven't seen it, Uvogin and the others seem to have seen it…"
Pakunoda explained the whole story to Machi while Sheila came to Sarasa and explained what happened.
"So, the content on that equipment…"
Machi was silent for a moment, then carefully considered her words: "It must be very disgusting, right?"
She herself wasn't sure if she could imagine what that scene would be like.
But from the way Uvogin and the others were acting, she knew the content was definitely not good.
"If they hadn't stopped me, I would have torn off those two bastards' heads long ago."
Still fuming, Uvogin muttered: "Those guys don't deserve to live!!"
"Although I don't usually agree with you…"
Even Phinks frowned, looking particularly ferocious.
"But this time, I wholeheartedly agree with your decision."
"Are you two idiots?!"
Franklin said in a low voice: "With Luke and Chrollo here, we don't need to act rashly."
"They will come up with a good solution!"
Uvogin muttered something under his breath, while Feitan and Nobunaga just said a few words.
Seeing this, Sarasa blinked.
In this gloomy atmosphere, someone has to do something…
"Um, Machi…"
Sarasa's eyes shifted as she asked curiously: "When did you meet Luke?"
"When…"
Machi was slightly startled.
The others, such as Nobunaga, Feitan, Phinks, Franklin, and Shalnark, even Sheila and Pakunoda, looked on curiously.
"Not that long ago…"
Machi lowered her head, noticing Sarasa winking at her; she instantly guessed her intention.
She calmly went along.
"It was Luke who came to me and Uvogin and asked if we were hungry."
"And then? What then?!"
"And then… After Uvogin said, of course, he was hungry, Luke took Uvogin and me to plant rice seedlings."
"Huh?!"
Phinks turned his head in surprise, looking at Uvogin, whose face had once again turned deadpan.
"I didn't realize you had done something like this before, planting rice seedlings, tsk!"
Phinks, with a look of curiosity, sized Uvogin up and down while clicking his tongue
Uvogin: "…"
"The food I earned through labor, what do you know about it!"
Uvogin snapped back without holding back.
"Labor, really? That word can even come out of your mouth?"
"You jerk!!"
"Stop arguing!"
Franklin intervened irritably, while Shalnark curiously asked another question: "What kind of food did you earn through labor, Uvogin?"
"Food, ahh… it was sticky rice cakes."
Uvogin casually replied: "Back then, we mainly grew glutinous rice, and then had Luke use the Mochi-Maker to make sticky rice cakes."
"Sticky rice cakes?!"
At this, not only Phinks, but even Feitan looked up.
"No wonder. I was wondering why you reeked of sticky rice cake when I saw you that day. I was thinking the sticky rice cake you stole from us couldn't possibly have been kept that long…"
Phinks suddenly realized something, then smirked and twirled his arms.
"Is the sticky rice cake delicious, Uvogin?!"
Uvogin grinned and stood up: "Of course it's delicious!"
He struck a provocative pose, ready to challenge Phinks.
"Delicious? I'll make you remember that taste even better!"
Phinks roared, then lunged at Uvogin.
"You stole my sticky rice cake!"
"I already ate the rice cake anyway, I'm not afraid of you!!!"
Uvogin met him head-on without fear, and the two quickly tangled in a fierce brawl.
Franklin: "…"
Forget it, he's not stopping them. Let them do what they want.
Franklin sat down on the ground with a look of resignation. He wouldn't have to go up every time and yell, stop fighting, to break up their brawl, would he?
Feitan had no desire to join the fight anyway, so the two of them could just wrestle one-on-one and have their fun.
Well, to Feitan, the former was the one who stole his sticky cake, and the latter was the one who dragged him into playing the villain in the first place.
They were both bastards, and he wouldn't help either of them.
In fact, if they both ended up hurting each other, Feitan wouldn't mind taking advantage of the situation.
However, with these two guys making such a fuss, the atmosphere in the warehouse did improve considerably.
"That's more like it. At least nobody looks all grim and bitter…"
Little Sarasa was pleased with her work. Well, even when Uvogin and Phinks were exchanging punches, they all pretended not to see it.
Then, she continued to listen to what Machi said about Luke.
She was genuinely curious.
And it wasn't just her; Pakunoda, Sheila, Franklin, and the Shalnark all gathered around.
Even Feitan moved closer.
They were truly curious about this key figure who had suddenly appeared in Meteor City and brought them all together.
While Uvogin and Phinks were fighting, Luke and Chrollo also found Father Lisores.
First, they asked him to help them send the kidnapped children back to their homes.
Then, led by Father Lisores, they once again sought out Elder Veyron.
"You truly didn't disappoint me."
Elder Veyron looked at Luke with a kind expression: "I didn't expect you to deliver such a remarkable performance in such a short time."
Elder Veyron has already sent someone to collect the drivers, and the man covered with tattoos.
No one cares if they live or die; their fate is already predetermined.
"I look forward to the future you're focusing on."
Elder Veyron's words were double-edged, expressing both confidence in Luke and recognition of his earlier words about focusing on the future, as well as a promise of support.
Luke had proven his ability through his actions.
Now it was Elder Veyron's turn to show the sincerity befitting an elder of Meteor City.
"Are you Chrollo?"
After making his promise to Luke, Elder Veyron looked at Chrollo, who stood quietly to the side.
"I also heard about you from Father Lisores and Luke."
The smile on Elder Veyron's face faded again, and he looked at Chrollo with scrutiny: "I would like to hear your thoughts and opinions on Meteor City."
With Luke in front of him, Elder Veyron actually had little interest in Chrollo.
But since he had come here with him and had been recommended by Luke and Father Lisores, he would give him this opportunity.
"Understood."
Chrollo nodded and stepped forward.
Originally, he hadn't intended to come along.
It was Luke who called him and brought him along.
'I know you have great dreams and ambitions…'
'And if you want to realize them, you'll need the help of the elders.'
'Even if you haven't realized it yet, for the sake of our team's development, earn the respect you deserve.'
It was precisely because of these words that Chrollo followed Luke here.
And now, faced with the opportunity presented by Elder Veyron, Chrollo began to fully demonstrate himself.
"I believe this world is undergoing a communications revolution…"
This first sentence surprised Elder Veyron, who was initially nonchalant.
"People all over the world can connect instantly at the speed of light."
Chrollo analyzed seriously: "Information sent by an individual can be seen by everyone in the world."
"The environment of society will undergo drastic changes..."
Elder Veyron couldn't help but sit up a little straighter.
Chrollo continued: "Those who kidnap the children in Meteor City must have recordings in their hands.
"At the beginning, they said they would leave messages, which shows their strong desire to perform…"
"These guys… If they find an opportunity, or a stage that provides them with a chance to show off…"
"They will be eager to publish their works to the world."
"Evil deeds must be kept secret, and this is also true with new forms of communications!"
"In a world where countless lights carry information back and forth, national borders still exist."
"Passing through the national borders is regulated, so they will definitely look for a backdoor."
"We must prepare this backdoor in advance."