"Hmm?"
Phinks' eyes narrowed as he prepared to lash out, but his aggression halted when he noticed Pakunoda pulling a pistol from her waist.
In an instant, she materialized six bullets, loaded them into the chamber, and aimed the gun at her comrades.
"Hey! Pakunoda, are you really under control this time?!"
The fiery anger in Phinks' tone dissipated, replaced by shock, disbelief, and a hint of worry for his teammate.
"No," Machi interjected, her voice steady and her eyes sharp. "Trust her. That's Pakunoda."
"Machi, Feitan, Franklin, Phinks, Shalnark, Kortopi… do you still trust my bullets?" Pakunoda asked with a calm smile, ignoring Phinks' doubts.
The six names she uttered belonged to members who had joined the Phantom Troupe after its formation. Even Bonolenov—more of a shadowy presence than Kortopi—and Ronnel, the troupe's newest recruit, stood silently on the sidelines, watching the scene unfold.
Feitan frowned at her words, but Machi seemed to grasp the deeper meaning almost instantly.
"Pakunoda, are you saying…"
Both Machi and Feitan were sharp observers, their instincts already piecing together what Pakunoda intended.
Bang!
Before Machi could finish her sentence, six gunshots echoed through the room. The bullets flew directly toward the foreheads of the six named members.
"I did not betray the troupe," Pakunoda said softly.
As the life-draining chains tightened around her heart, she felt a searing pain before everything faded to black. Under the stunned gazes of her comrades, she crumpled to the floor with a faint smile still lingering on her lips.
"Pakunoda!!"
Meanwhile, outside the room, Gon and Killua waited anxiously.
"Is Kurapika okay?" Gon asked, concern evident in his voice.
Killua shrugged, attempting to sound casual. "This is normal. Once all the tension wears off, the body tends to crash. It happened to me too when I first killed someone, though Kurapika's case seems more severe."
Before Gon could reply, the door opened, and Leorio stepped out, his expression serious.
"His fever's still high," Leorio reported. "I gave him some antipyretics to stabilize him. He's not in any immediate danger, but he needs rest."
Gon let out a sigh of relief, though worry still lingered.
"I'll stay and look after him," Leorio continued. "You two should focus on today's auction. Didn't you already get tickets?"
Melody, stepping out behind Leorio, nodded with a kind smile.
"Gon, finding your father is your priority. Leave Kurapika to us. When you return, he'll be as good as new," Leorio assured, pounding his chest for emphasis.
After a brief hesitation, Gon nodded determinedly. "Alright. I'll leave him in your care."
Back at the Phantom Troupe's hideout, a new grave stood beside Nobunaga's.
There was no tombstone, only a crude wooden cross marking Pakunoda's final resting place. The troupe had silently buried her, adding her name to the growing list of fallen members: Uvogin, Nobunaga, and now Pakunoda.
The aftermath of their latest gathering had not been as catastrophic as Chrollo's prophecy had foretold, but the losses were still profound.
Once the burial was complete, the remaining members quickly refocused.
"The next step is finding a Nen Exorcist to remove the chain user's curse from our leader," Franklin declared.
The group dispersed to search for a suitable candidate, promising to regroup once someone was found. But before they could begin their search…
"We're going to the Leiert family first. Nobunaga's death won't go unanswered!" Phinks growled.
Feitan, standing with his hands in his pockets, nodded in agreement.
"I'm in."
Ronnel, standing nearby with an unreadable expression, casually slipped his hands into his pockets and subtly tapped his phone twice, sending out a message.
"Since the Leiert family managed to kill Nobunaga and injure our leader, they must be formidable," Franklin said, rising to his full height.
"Shalnark, Kortopi, Machi, the three of you stay behind. The rest of us will confront the Leiert family."
Without another word, the fighters of the Phantom Troupe departed, vanishing into the first rays of morning sunlight.
At a luxurious hotel owned by the Leiert family, their leader appeared unfazed by the news.
"The Phantom Troupe wants to come after us? Didn't most of them already die?" Leiert asked incredulously, turning to his subordinate, Kay Taylor.
Kay lowered his head respectfully. "They're alive—and they're coming for you."
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