The enemy Nobunaga faced was unlike any he had encountered before.
This suggested one of two things: either the Chain User had accomplices, or someone else entirely had entered the conflict between the Phantom Troupe and the Chain User.
But…
Pakunoda glanced briefly at Killua and Gon, who were sitting quietly, their expressions unreadable.
From their memories, she had only gleaned the words "darkness" and "seven o'clock action."
Nothing else of importance.
This indicated that Chrollo's capture and Nobunaga's death had been unplanned events—improvised yet executed with precision and power.
But why couldn't she uncover more through their memories?
The person who killed Nobunaga couldn't have been Kurapika or any of his allies. Pakunoda had already extracted all relevant information from the bodyguards. There was no sign of this person in the bodyguards' ranks.
As for the two kids, Gon and Killua… their memories revealed no clue. The strongest individuals they had ever encountered were Killua's family—the Zoldycks—and Ronnel.
Pakunoda's eyes flicked to Ronnel, then away again.
Ronnel? That's impossible.
He had no motive, and his stance was in direct opposition to Nobunaga's. Besides, when the blackout occurred, Killua was the one who adjusted most quickly to the darkness.
Pakunoda dismissed the thought. Machi and Kortopi seemed to share her conclusion. It was far more plausible to suspect the Zoldyck family of being involved than one of their own.
"Nobunaga's wound…" Machi's voice broke the tense silence.
"What about it? Did you notice something unusual?" Pakunoda asked.
Machi nodded, her sharp eyes gleaming coldly. "Yes. When I was about to stitch him up, I noticed something… familiar."
"What do you mean?"
"The wound on Nobunaga's neck—it's eerily similar to the injury the boss sustained when his arm was severed."
Kortopi frowned. "So the person who killed Nobunaga is likely the same one who attacked the leader?"
"Exactly," Machi confirmed.
Pakunoda's eyes widened slightly. "Someone capable of killing Nobunaga in a single strike… If it's the same individual who injured Chrollo, then it must be that mysterious figure from the underworld. There's no one else in Yorknew City with that level of power."
She sighed, frustration evident in her tone. "We've been so focused on the Chain User that we completely overlooked another, more dangerous adversary. How careless of us!"
Machi's expression hardened. "So… is someone else targeting the Phantom Troupe?"
Gon and Killua, though clueless about the bigger picture, were piecing together bits of information from the conversation.
At least now they understood one thing: the person who killed Nobunaga wasn't Kurapika. Another group was involved, one that was also at odds with the Phantom Troupe.
But who?
"If this is the case, the culprit is likely still in hiding. Gon and Killua are still under surveillance, so we can't act rashly," Ronnel said, his tone calm but firm.
Pakunoda nodded. "Agreed. Let's wait for Feitan and Phinks to return. And Machi, until we understand the situation better, let's stick to our usual protocol."
Ronnel's sharp gaze swept over the group before landing on Machi.
"Besides, Shalnark is already on his way. He's looking into the details of this mysterious individual. Once he arrives, we'll know more," Machi added, putting away her phone.
She handed her thread to Kube and knelt by Nobunaga's body to continue stitching him up.
Ronnel handed Killua to Pakunoda, instructing her to double-check his memories for any overlooked details.
Killua didn't resist. He knew that as long as Kurapika held Chrollo hostage, the Troupe wouldn't harm them—at least for now. In some ways, this plan could be considered a success.
The hall, previously bustling with chaos, had fallen silent. The only sound was the soft shhk of Machi's thread pulling through Nobunaga's flesh.
Leaning against a pillar, Ronnel observed the subdued scene. His sharp gaze shifted to Gon and Killua, who sat motionless on the floor.
Ronnel closed his eyes briefly, recalling the moment of the blackout.
At precisely seven o'clock, the room had plunged into darkness. Acting immediately, he summoned his Double.
Splitting his Nen into two tasks, the clone attacked Nobunaga while his main body subdued Killua. The synchronization was flawless.
In the cover of darkness, Ronnel's clone delivered a precise strike with Tiger Bite Fist, instantly breaking Nobunaga's neck.
(T/N: Ability of Kastro. Enhances the strength of his hands, places them imitating the claws and fangs of a tiger, and attacks the enemy with incredible strength)
The attack was perfect. The clone dissipated, and Ronnel seamlessly resumed control of his body, securing Killua as if nothing had happened.
Nobody suspected a thing.
Now, as he surveyed the quiet aftermath, Ronnel couldn't help but reflect on his decision. It was time to make his own move.
Relying solely on Kurapika wasn't enough—things needed to progress faster. The blackout had provided the perfect opportunity, and Ron had seized it.
If only he had more time, perhaps Machi could have joined Nobunaga in death.
But Nobunaga was the priority.
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