Just as Kai and the others were deliberating their next course of action, the group that had previously escaped in jeeps finally returned to the base camp.
"Master Kuro, something terrible has happened!"
One of the survivors stumbled in, panic etched into his face as he burst into the room.
"What do you mean, 'mourning'?"
A deep, thunderous voice cut through the air.
As the words fell, a man with a towering, bear-like physique stepped forward from the inner chamber. His sheer size was enough to cast a shadow that could easily envelop three people.
"My younger brother left with you. Where is he?"
Upon seeing his subordinates drenched in blood and paralyzed by fear, Kuro's expression darkened. A foreboding chill settled over the room.
"Master Cook... Master Cook, he..."
"What happened? Speak clearly!!"
The man fell to his knees, trembling.
"Master Cook... is dead!!"
A suffocating silence engulfed the scene.
Some present instinctively recoiled in terror, their faces twisted with disbelief.
Everyone knew—Master Kuro regarded his younger brother, Cook, as his reverse scale. Even the slightest injury to him could plunge Kuro into uncontrollable rage. Death? That was unthinkable.
Recalling Kuro's past episodes of fury, the oppressive atmosphere reached its peak. Somewhere in the yard, someone lost control of their bladder, the stench quietly spreading.
Kuro's voice turned icy. "Explain. I want every detail. Do not leave anything out."
More than ten minutes later, through a chaotic blend of overlapping accounts, the full picture gradually emerged.
"Speed beyond the range of human vision... physical strength sufficient to crush firearms... and a chilling, paralyzing fear... Nen?"
Kuro's eyes flickered. As a Nen user himself, he immediately grasped the implications.
These traits were impossible to manifest in ordinary individuals—especially not in four adolescent children—unless they had received highly specialized training.
"Could they be backed by an external power?"
The appearance of four Nen users—children no less—was something beyond the realm of possibility in Meteor Street. No such force existed here. Which meant...
"Investigate immediately. I want to know exactly who these children are."
Though his fury simmered beneath the surface, Kuro remained calm. He was no fool. To survive and thrive on Meteor Street required more than brute strength—it demanded strategy and restraint.
"Brother... your death will not be in vain."
Behind Kuro, a ghostly image of a massive skeleton slowly took form, its presence radiating a dreadful aura.
---
Back at the abandoned hut...
"In the absence of concrete information, our priority must be to stay hidden—to find a place where we can lie low and avoid drawing attention," Kai said, his tone calm but resolute.
"If our enemies are indeed connected to the Elder Council, then given our current strength, a direct confrontation would be extremely unwise."
Kai shared his suspicions with the group. By this point, it was clear the adversary was likely affiliated with the highest echelons of power in Meteor Street. The elders were neither naive nor weak. The odds were stacked heavily against them.
Few against many. Weak against strong. Recklessness would only bring ruin.
Nobunaga, naturally cautious, nodded in agreement.
Uvogin spoke up, "If we're looking for intel, we should talk to Chrollo. That guy has contacts all over. He might know something."
Chrollo Lucilfer—the future leader of the Phantom Troupe—was two years older than Machi. Known for his composure and near-immunity to external influences, Chrollo possessed an insatiable desire for anything that piqued his interest.
Once he set his eyes on something, he would stop at nothing to claim it—even at great cost.
His faults were well-known, but so was his immense charisma. Among the many villains in Hunter x Hunter, Chrollo stood as a fan-favorite.
"Have you encountered the other Troupe members yet?" Kai asked, subtly. He had avoided inquiring about them earlier to avoid raising suspicions.
Now it seemed that the rumors online were true—the original seven members of the Troupe had known one another since childhood.
Machi offered a pragmatic suggestion, "We need to relocate. If the enemy really is tied to the Council, it won't be hard for them to find and track down a few kids."
She wasn't the only one. Nobunaga's and Uvogin's residences had also become unsafe.
As for hoping that the enemy wouldn't retaliate or wouldn't be able to find them?
Heh.
Children raised on Meteor Street never placed their lives in the hands of hope.
Kai stepped forward, "We'll need a spacious area—one that allows me to train you all further."
"What you've learned so far is merely the foundation. To become truly powerful, you must master the advanced forms of Nen."
Zetsu, In, En, Ken—and most crucial of all—Hatsu.
These were the essential techniques that transformed Nen users from novices into formidable combatants.
Without them, no matter how solid the basics, you'd be crushed by any seasoned opponent. Perhaps you could overpower another rookie—but against a real master? You wouldn't last a minute.
"It's decided then," Nobunaga said. "With Kai supporting logistics, we can stay off the grid for a long time."
"I'll contact Chrollo. You two find a secure location to hide."
Nobunaga, the eldest among them, naturally took charge of the emergency response.
"Once you're done, leave a message under the tire of the abandoned truck near the sixth garbage mountain. I'll find you when the time is right."
"Got it!" the others replied in unison.