Luke also listened quietly to Father Lisores's introduction. He had actually known the true culprit behind the incident for a long time.
In Chapter 405 of the manga, the television on the Black Whale broadcast the following report.
"Mr. Risnorth, chairman of the Mom's Help foundation, dedicated to aiding unfortunate children, was brutally murdered. The perpetrator has not been caught, and ten years have passed."
"Reflecting on the deceased's achievements, we honor his greatness once more, and public anticipation for the arrest of the perpetrator has heightened the expectations of investigative authorities."
At that moment, Chrollo could be seen walking toward the crowd with his back to the TV.
The chairman of the foundation mentioned on the TV was the true culprit behind the systematic mafia-related crimes against children in Meteor City and the murderer of Sarasa.
He was found and executed by Chrollo and others ten years before the Black Whale departed.
That was 1990.
Just the year before, the incident of the revenge of the wrongly accused homeless man from Meteor City had occurred.
Luke listened quietly to Father Lisores's account.
After he finished speaking, he said: "So, elder, is there anything I can do for you?"
"Elder Veyron wants you to go out and gain experience…"
Father Lisores sighed softly: "Actually, I'm reluctant to let you go so soon."
"But the elder also said that there would be no benefit to confining you here in Meteor City."
"Staying here will only limit your development."
"The world outside is undergoing a wave of change. If you plunge into it, you will grow tremendously."
"So Elder Veyron hopes you can go out and gain experience, to experience the world outside firsthand…"
Father Lisores hadn't said another thing.
That is, according to Elder Veyron, only those who can survive in the cruel world outside can be considered truly grown.
Otherwise, those who die along the way… Well, there's no need to say anything.
"Just to gain experience?"
Luke smiled: "Don't you want me to deal with Risnorth, the chairman of that foundation?"
"There's no need to rush this matter."
Father Lisores shook his head slightly: "Once you grow up and have enough power for revenge, you will naturally be able to do it."
"Elder Veyron is convinced of this, so he told you the true identity of the murderer in advance."
"It can be considered as giving you a good target in advance."
Well, it would be best if Luke and the others succeeded in their revenge, but failure wouldn't matter much.
Anyway, if they really got carried away and went all out to trouble that foundation, and still failed…
Elder Veyron has plenty of tricks up his sleeve to distance himself from the matter.
"I see…"
Luke almost understood: "Then if I go outside…"
"Don't worry about that."
Father Lisores smiled kindly and said: "Elder Veyron already made all the arrangements for you."
Perhaps Elder Veyron was eager to see how Luke and the others would grow outside.
So, on the second day, Luke received his identification documents from Father Lisores.
"Name: Luke, Gender: Male, Citizenship: Republic of Padokea."
Seeing this, Luke couldn't help but look up and glance at Father Lisores.
"Did the elder get this ID for us?"
"Hmm…"
Father Lisores nodded slightly: "Many people who leave Meteor City have joined considerable forces outside."
"And with these forces' tacit approval, these people can provide certain conveniences to Meteor City."
"This time, your ID was produced by Elder Veyron through some organizations in the Republic of Padokea."
"And I heard that this organization seems to be quite formidable, which is why it was so quick and more secure."
A fairly large organization in the Republic of Padokea…
If Luke remembered correctly, there seemed to be a family organization in the Republic of Padokea with deep ties to Meteor City.
And it was a very famous organization in the world.
This made Luke quite suspicious about the source of his ID.
He did know that in the future, Meteor City would collaborate with the mafia.
Meteor City would provide them with talent, and they would be responsible for providing IDs, then exchanging resources with Meteor City.
Now, things were almost there; the initial steps were vaguely visible.
Luke took this supposedly more secure ID and examined it carefully.
Besides the basic information, the rest contained a simple ID number, along with his date of birth, and other common information.
To the public, he would look like an ordinary young man.
Yes, it was indeed very ordinary, hardly noticeable at first glance.
Of course, there was nothing special about it.
"This will be your future ID…"
Father Lisoreser instructed.
"So, you must remember all this information."
"I know."
Luke flipped through it several times, memorizing it firmly in his mind before putting it away.
"Not only yours, but Chrollo and the others' identification documents are also ready."
Father Lisores smiled and said: "It depends on who you plan to take with you next."
Currently, filming for Battle of the Beasts is almost coming to an end.
At the same time, the others' training is almost back on track.
And with Elder Veyron's promise, there would be no remaining issue in Meteor City.
So, Luke had no reason or necessity to stay here any longer.
It's time to venture out and explore the world.
Not to mention, with the popularity of the genius inventor, Dr. Hemerdinger, the character he had created for filming…
If it became a hit in the outside world, and many kids made wishes to Dr. Hemerdinger…
Shhhh, so beautiful.
As for who he planned to take with him…
"So, that's the way it is."
Inside the warehouse, Luke explained the general situation to the others.
"Uvogin, Nobunaga, Feitan, and Phinks, the four of you would come with me."
He distributed the identification documents he had obtained from Father Lisores to them.
"Yes, captain!"
Uvogin grinned excitedly: "I promise I'll kill anyone you tell me to kill!"
"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.