They hadn't yet opened the door when Loki smelled the pungent odor of blood. Kurapika glanced down at the doorknob; it was twisted, violently broken, then carelessly closed. They exchanged a look and slowly opened the door.
The night was dark; the wind, cold. Pakunoda, Machi, Kortopi, and others stared at Chrollo. Chrollo slowly lowered the phone, then turned. A single, glistening tear traced a path down his cheek.
"Uvogin is dead," he said calmly, the fleeting sadness in his eyes instantly gone. Chrollo's emotions never lingered.
Uvogin's death stunned the Troupe members. They knew his strength; few Nen users could match him. They hadn't expected him to be killed.
"Leader..." Pakunoda began, her voice trembling. Fear and unease washed over her; she couldn't mourn Uvogin, feeling a shadow descend.
This oppressive feeling made her uneasy; she wanted to urge Chrollo to stop and leave Yorknew City, but he'd already given orders.
"Nobunaga brought back Uvogin's body and captured two companions. Pakunoda, investigate," Chrollo said, turning away, sitting down, and opening a book.
Meanwhile, Kurapika and Loki left the hotel.
"Shachmono and the others are gone; maybe they were captured. What do we do?" Kurapika asked.
Loki shook his head. "They weren't all captured. If they were hostages, they'd take more. Ivlenkov wouldn't be dead."
"Since Ivlenkov was killed, they didn't want hostages. If they wanted information, one person would be enough. Why take two?" Kurapika said.
"So you think Squala and Shachmono escaped, or only one was captured," Kurapika concluded.
"Could Dalzollene have betrayed us? How else would they find the hotel?" Kurapika asked.
That was possible, but Loki thought Dalzollene was intercepted by the Troupe when he contacted the mafia. That's what happened in the original story. But if so, Dalzollene would be captured. Where were Shachmono and Squala? They needed to be found, dead or alive.
"Don't contact Dalzollene; he's probably captured. Let's find Shachmono and Squala."
Kurapika frowned. "How? We're only two."
"Use Ken," Loki said.
"Ken?" Kurapika looked at Loki, confused. "How large is your Ken's range?"
Loki thought. "I haven't tried my hardest, but maybe 700-800 meters."
'700-800 meters?' Kurapika was speechless. Ken tested control and Nen. Thinking of his few-meter Ken, Kurapika doubted his talent.
"Using Ken tells them our location," Kurapika pointed out.
Loki paused. Using Ken would reveal their position.
"But finding them with just the two of us is difficult."
Finding a few people in Yorknew City would be hard.
Kurapika said, "The mafia. They'll have information quickly."
That was a good idea. "Can you contact them?"
"The Nostrade family has a high position in the mafia. I can do it, even as a bodyguard."
At the Phantom Troupe's base, two Nen bullets killed Squala and Dalzollene. The Troupe members turned to Chrollo. Pakunoda was in front.
"Anything useful?" Chrollo asked, looking up.
"Not much, but something," Pakunoda said, producing a silver revolver. "It's easier to show you."
Bang bang bang! A Nen bullet hit Chrollo's forehead, entering his brain. Nen beasts, flames, Loki—images of Loki filled his mind. Uvogin's cries of "Kill me! Kill me! Kill me!" echoed faintly from a room. This was Squala's memory. Then came Dalzollene's.
Before Chrollo could speak, Nobunaga's Nen erupted.
"Netero's student! Whoever you are, you killed Uvogin; I'll cut off your head!" Nobunaga glared at Chrollo. "Leader, give the order!"
The Troupe stared at Chrollo. Chrollo calmly took his phone, typed a message, and sent it. He waited several minutes. The screen flashed: 'Kill him. Netero's student's head is the best gift.'
Chrollo made a call.
Moonlight faded; a red line appeared on the horizon. On a tall building, two dark figures stood. Below, a burned-out van lay beside a corpse—Shachmono.
"Why is he here?" Kurapika asked.
Loki remembered leaving the three to dispose of Uvogin's body. The burned van suggested Shachmono was attacked while doing so; his body and Uvogin's were taken.
"He was probably disposing of the body when the Troupe found him, killing him and taking the body," Loki said.
"What now? Uvogin's body is gone; Hisoka's plan is..." Kurapika said, disappointed. Hisoka's plan—using Uvogin and Loki to split the Troupe—was good. Even a body would attract some members, but now the plan was ruined.
They'd planned everything, but this happened. They'd had control over Uvogin's fate, but now the Troupe did.
Loki found it strange that Shachmono was still dead, killed the same way as in the original story. Ivlenkov too. Their deaths hadn't changed. Was this coincidence, or was some unseen force influencing the world?
The altered plot seemed to be returning to its original course. Only Baise had escaped death.
Beep beep beep beep beep beep! Loki's phone rang. It was an unknown number. Only Baise, Kurapika, and Dalzollene knew his number. Kurapika was with him; Baise and the others were arranging a new hotel. This call was...
"Hello!"
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