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Chapter 97
🕑 Added 2024-12-06 15:27:37 +0000 UTCTL: We reached 77 chapters ahead of Webnovel. The last 3 chapters will come tomorrow. From there, it will be one chapter daily.
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This marked the complete lineup of the first-generation Phantom Troupe!
Among them, seven were original members, with five joining later.
“It’s been three years since we last gathered, and this is the first time since then. Everyone has grown so much.”
Chrollo’s voice was calm yet filled with a subtle warmth.
“I won’t waste words. The reason for calling everyone here this time?”
His expression grew serious.
“One of the reasons is someone from our Meteor City.”
Background: A Tragedy in the Outside World
In 1990, a decade before the official start of the main story, an incident unfolded in a distant country.
A brutal murder had taken place. After an investigation, a homeless man—without identification—was arrested as the primary suspect.
Upon verifying his identity, authorities discovered that he had no nationality or social record. He claimed to be from Meteor City, a place known to outsiders as a 1,500-year-old wasteland where discarded things were left to rot.
In official records, Meteor City was considered a no-man’s-land. Even abandoned children who grew up there were not registered with national ID numbers or biological data.
The homeless man, having no evidence to prove his innocence, was unfairly convicted in a court system that offered him no chance to defend himself.
Three years later, a drug-addled serial killer was caught, exposing crimes that included the murder for which the man had been falsely accused.
Although the homeless man was posthumously proven innocent, it was too late.
In the years following the revelation, all 31 individuals involved in the wrongful conviction—including police officers, judges, prosecutors, witnesses, jurors, and lawyers—were assassinated.
These assassinations were meticulously executed, reportedly involving bombs strapped to the assassins. Witnesses claimed the perpetrators would smile, shake hands with their targets, and then detonate the devices, killing both themselves and their targets.
“This incident is one of the reasons for our gathering,” Chrollo explained after recounting the story.
“Ah, so it’s about someone from Meteor City potentially being wrongfully convicted?”
Uvogin stroked his stubbly chin thoughtfully.
“But that homeless man doesn’t have anything to do with us, does he?”
Uvogin’s words were blunt, but others nodded in agreement.
“In Meteor City, it’s every person for themselves. Why would we suddenly work together to help someone outside?”
The Troupe had no obligation to act as justice-seekers. Their purpose had never been to uphold fairness or morality.
“I understand your concerns,” Chrollo said, his tone steady.
“Our main objective isn’t the homeless man. I mentioned his case because it intersects with our true mission—an operation in the royal capital of the Mosibia Kingdom.”
The Mosibia Kingdom was home to an extraordinary treasure coveted by Chrollo: a relic composed of the Seven Great Colors of the World.
Chrollo turned to Uvogin and Nobunaga.
“That homeless man was the one who informed us when you were captured by the elders in Meteor City. He ran to alert us, risking his life.”
Hearing this, Uvogin and Nobunaga exchanged glances.
“Got it,” Uvogin said, his voice firm. “When we get to the capital, I’ll check on his situation. If he’s truly innocent, I’ll break him out.”
“Same here,” Nobunaga added with a nod.
The Troupe’s mission was thus settled:
Primary Goal: Steal the royal treasure of the Mosibia Kingdom.
Secondary Goal: Investigate and possibly rescue the wrongfully accused man.
“By the way, how did you learn about this treasure, Chrollo?” Morin asked curiously.
“The elders of Meteor City told me,” Chrollo replied calmly.
Hearing the mention of the elders, Uvogin and Nobunaga grew restless. They had unsettled scores from their last departure, where they had demolished one elder’s house but hadn’t felt fully satisfied.
“Relax,” Chrollo said with a faint smile. “It wasn’t the elder you fought with. Meteor City has more than one elder.”
The Royal Treasure: Seven Great Colors of the World
When Machi asked about the treasure, Chrollo’s eyes lit up.
“It is a relic forged from several of the Seven Great Colors, the most beautiful natural phenomena in the world,” he said.
These legendary colors included:
Scarlet Eyes: A rare trait of the Kurta Clan. When emotionally heightened, their eyes turn a vivid red that remains eternally vibrant upon death.
Prismatic Egg: A mysterious beast’s translucent egg, its surface reflecting a myriad of unpredictable colors.
White Fire: A fish known as "White Fire" lives in the polar oceans. When alive, its body emits an unparalleled white flame upon ignition.
Crystal Vine: A transparent, gem-like plant growing on dormant volcanoes, its crystalline appearance resulting from sulfuric absorption.
Liquid Ore: An ancient, semi-mythical material with properties of molten metal. Extracted ores solidify quickly but retain a glowing blue hue.
Onyx Featherbone: Toxic avian bones resembling black crystals, sourced from a nearly extinct bird species with fewer than 200 known survivors.
The seventh color remained an enigma, its identity lost to history.
According to legend, the royal treasure of the Mosibia Kingdom was crafted from multiple Great Colors, making it an unparalleled masterpiece.
With the goal clarified, the Troupe began preparations to head for the Mosibia Kingdom’s capital.
"Wait a moment!!"
Uvogin suddenly halted everyone in their tracks.
He clenched his fists tightly and grinned widely. "It’d be too boring to just head straight to the mission like this!!"
"Do you have an idea, Uvogin?" Chrollo asked calmly.
Uvogin laughed loudly and punched a nearby rock, shattering it into pieces and forming a smooth platform. The sheer force and precision of his nen-infused punch left everyone momentarily stunned as they dodged the flying debris.
"Let’s do this!!"
Uvogin sat cross-legged at the edge of the makeshift stone platform, slamming his right elbow onto it.
"Let’s arm wrestle!" he exclaimed, brimming with enthusiasm.
"Arm wrestling…"
Everyone glanced at Uvogin's massive arm, which was almost as thick as a normal person's waist.
"You're doing this on purpose, aren’t you?" Feitan gave him a sideways glance.
"I’ve been waiting for this for a long time!" Uvogin admitted with a laugh. "I just want to see how many of you in the Troupe can match me in pure strength!"
You mean to say, how many people can actually beat you, right?
The other members silently rolled their eyes at Uvogin’s not-so-subtle provocation. Still, the idea of an arm-wrestling contest sparked their interest.
"Sounds fun!"
Finks, a fellow Enhancer who had just recently recovered his energy, stepped forward.
He darted to the platform and placed his elbow on the stone with a confident grin. "I’ll go first!"
"Alright!!"
Uvogin's grin grew wider, his eyes sharp with anticipation as he clasped hands with Finks.
The rest of the group gathered behind them, watching as the two locked hands and began their match.
Veins bulged on their arms and foreheads as they both gritted their teeth, exerting all their strength. Their fierce gazes met, each man unwilling to back down.
The sheer force of their struggle caused cracks to spider across the stone platform beneath their elbows.
Finally, with a loud boom, the platform collapsed entirely.
"Hahaha! I won!!"
Uvogin roared with laughter, his spirits soaring.
"Damn it, I was so close!" Finks muttered grudgingly, shaking his hand.
Annoyed though he was, Finks accepted his loss gracefully.
"Next!!"
Buoyed by his victory, Uvogin waved his large hand grandly, his confidence brimming as if he were holding the world itself in his grasp.
"The platform’s already destroyed," Feitan pointed out, glancing at the sky. "Let’s continue on the road—we’ve got plenty of time."
"Fine by me."
Even Uvogin, ever competitive, agreed as he adjusted his wild, spiky hair.
With their impromptu competition postponed, the thirteen Troupe members resumed their journey, heading together toward their destination.
Destination: The Royal Capital of Mosibia Kingdom
The Mosibia Kingdom's capital lay close to the city of Banbaro, a strategic location chosen by Chrollo for the gathering.
The proximity of the capital to Banbaro was no coincidence; the kingdom likely hoped to reap the benefits of Banbaro’s economic boom.
Indeed, Mosibia’s royal capital had developed considerably in recent years, but its hidden corruption and filth far surpassed that of Banbaro.
As the seat of the monarchy and a hub for nobles and officials, it was a place where all manner of dark and shameful deeds occurred.
Meanwhile, a question lingered:
How had the homeless man—without identification—managed to cross from Yorubian Continent, where Meteor City was located, to the continent of Ejin, where Mosibia lay?
Had he smuggled himself across?
Elsewhere: A Shadowy Room
In the dimly lit alleyways of the royal capital, hidden within a wall’s pocket dimension, came a muffled thud.
"Yes!!"
Uvogin’s boisterous laughter echoed as his massive arms swung triumphantly through the air.
"This makes me the undisputed champion!!"
By the time they reached the royal capital, the arm-wrestling rankings had been decided.
As expected, Uvogin claimed the top spot. His raw strength, reinforced by his Enhancer abilities, left no room for debate.
The runner-up was Finks, also an Enhancer, who proved formidable but couldn’t surpass Uvogin.
The third place went to Morin.
When wrestling against Uvogin and Finks, Morin didn’t push himself to the limit, holding back despite appearing to exert full effort.
Fourth was Franklin, followed by Feitan in fifth, Machi in sixth, and Chrollo in seventh. Eighth place went to Shalnark, with Nobunaga in ninth, Shizuku in tenth, Pakunoda in eleventh, Kortopi in twelfth, and Bonolenov last.
It was clear that Pakunoda and Kortopi had also held back.
Pakunoda, after extensive training with Morin and Biscuit, had undoubtedly improved her strength, even though it wasn’t her forte. As for Kortopi, he was like a snake—quiet and unassuming until he struck unexpectedly.
While Uvogin celebrated, the others occupied themselves with their own tasks.
Feitan and Chrollo quietly read books, Nobunaga polished his blade, and Machi tallied their potential earnings from Heaven's Arena.
Finks, Shalnark, and the newer members like Bonolenov curiously explored the extradimensional room conjured by the "Door to Nowhere."
Even the newcomers admitted that this secure space was an ideal meeting place for the group.
Meanwhile, Morin stood in front of a black-and-purple machine mounted on a stand, arms crossed as he observed it.
"Found it."
In the center of the machine, a hexagonal screen displayed a dark prison cell.
Item: Spy Combination Device
Effect: A spy tool resembling a human face. Pressing the button at the top and saying the name of the target activates it. Once activated, the eyes and ears detach to search for the target, hiding as they move. The eyes transmit visuals, the ears transmit audio, and both are displayed on a hexagonal screen resembling a mouth.
(This tool is from Doraemon, originally used by Nobita to gather dirt on Suneo by spying on him.)
Morin used the device to locate the vagrant they were searching for.
In no time, the tool identified the man's location in a prison. Judging from the footage on the hexagonal screen, the man seemed to be in poor condition.
After observing for a while, Morin commanded the spy’s eyes and ears to locate others connected to the case—such as the prosecutor, judge, lawyer, witnesses, and jurors.
Once their locations were pinpointed, Morin put the device away.
"Chrollo, when will we begin the operation? I’d like to step out briefly. Will it interfere with our plans?"
"Tonight is fine," Chrollo replied while flipping through a book. "Tomorrow night, the Mosibia Kingdom will hold a grand birthday celebration for their queen mother, who is over 90 years old.
"That celebration will be when the kingdom’s treasures are displayed. That’s our best opportunity to strike."
"Tomorrow night, then. Tonight and tomorrow during the day should be plenty of time."
With Chrollo's approval, Morin prepared to leave.
"We’re coming too," Nobunaga and Uvogin insisted, determined to tag along.
After all, it was the vagrant who had brought them valuable intel, so they felt obligated to assist.
"I’ll pass," Machi said.
Usually part of the trio with Nobunaga and Uvogin, Machi hesitated when she noticed Pakunoda watching Morin with a faint smile. Feeling a bit uneasy, Machi decided not to join the group.
"Alright, we’ll head out first," Morin said, pretending not to notice anything.
After bidding farewell to the group, Morin, flanked by Uvogin and Nobunaga, stepped into the outside world.
Just as they were about to leave the room, Morin paused.
"By the way," he said, turning to the others. "Staying cooped up in here must be boring. Let me leave you with a fun game from my homeland."
"A game?"
Feitan, Finks, Shalnark, Machi, and Pakunoda looked over with curiosity.
Morin, Uvogin, and Nobunaga followed the coordinates provided by the spy device, heading toward the prison where the vagrant was held.
As they walked, the festive atmosphere of the royal capital was impossible to ignore.
With the queen mother’s birthday celebration approaching, the city was alive with cheer.
Banners and decorations adorned every street and alley, while various celebratory processions—featuring singers, drummers, and royal performers—filled the air with energy and excitement.
