"It seems I need to prepare carefully and gather more information about the cards~," Shalnark mused, his gaze shifting to Phinks, who was enthusiastically slotting a card into the device, and Feitan, who stood patiently in line.
He turned to Ronnel. "Ronnel, are you coming to Greed Island with us?"
Machi and Franklin looked over as well.
"I won't," Ronnel replied with a shake of his head. "I already made plans with Ging. Besides, I can ask him about the situation in Greed Island while I'm at it."
"That makes sense~," Shalnark said after a moment of thought. "We'll need some inside information, so we're counting on you."
"Don't worry. I'll handle it. Just in case there's an open slot left~."
With thirteen members in the Phantom Troupe, their leader absent, three dead, and one having defected, the remaining eight corresponded perfectly to the eight spots available per console.
One by one, the troupe members put on their rings and entered Greed Island.
Machi was the last to go. She glanced back at Ronnel before stepping into the game. His calm smile and unflinching eyes lingered in her mind as she disappeared into the machine.
Left alone in the now-silent room, Ronnel stared at the console's blinking lights, lost in thought.
"If the original timeline plays out, Chrollo will head east, get kicked out by Razor, and eventually contact the troupe through Hisoka to find a Nen exorcist on Greed Island.
"But this time... because of me, they've shifted their focus to the three final cards after clearing the game. With a lineup including the troupe, Biscuit, Gon, and Killua... I wonder how this will change things."
A small smile played on Ronnel's lips as he imagined the chaos his involvement might unleash—a butterfly flapping its wings, creating storms.
Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his phone and typed a short message:
Are you there, Ging? It's Ronnel. I've got some free time. When can we meet?
...
Meanwhile, the Yorknew City auction continued as planned.
After attending a few auctions, Leorio realized that his modest budget was no match for the vast wealth of the Nostrade family, led by Battera. Consistently outbid, he eventually abandoned the idea of purchasing Greed Island and turned his focus to preparing for the upcoming auctions.
At the same time, Gon and Killua, having been deemed unqualified by Wing on their first attempt, were doubling down on their Nen training, honing their abilities under his strict guidance.
During this period, Gon received an unexpected call from Kite, his father's former apprentice.
"Kite, huh?" Gon remarked, sharing the news with Killua. Together, they resolved to meet with Kite once their training allowed.
Elsewhere, Kurapika, still recovering from his grueling battle with the Phantom Troupe, was busy strengthening the security of the Nostrade family. With many bodyguards lost, he temporarily hired two new applicants: Ross and Lisa, who came highly recommended.
After a brief interview and verification on the Hunter website, Kurapika assigned them roles within the family that best suited their Nen abilities. While not directly involved in bodyguard duties, they quickly found their footing in other critical positions.
Grateful for the opportunity, Ross and Lisa thanked their connection, Gon, and set off to join Kurapika on the next airship out of Yorknew City.
At the same time, another airship descended upon Yorknew City, carrying a striking blonde woman in a frilly princess dress and an athletic young girl in casual attire.
"Ah, it's been a while since I've been here," Biscuit remarked, her twin pigtails swaying as she stepped off the airship. "This year's auction is supposed to have a few choice gems~."
"Where's Ronnel?" she added, scanning the terminal.
Before Biscuit could finish her thought, Shizuku, standing beside her, pointed silently toward a familiar figure waiting ahead.
"Found him," Shizuku said softly, her tone carrying a rare hint of joy.
Ronnel noticed them too, a genuine smile lighting up his face. To him, these two were among the most important people in his life.
As they approached, the bustling streets of Yorknew City served as a backdrop for their long-awaited reunion. While the city remained in chaos from the ongoing gang conflicts and Phantom Troupe skirmishes, none of that mattered in this moment of camaraderie.
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