Hello everyone, Gon Freecss here. The sheer normalcy of Yorknew City is throwing me off. It goes without saying, but there are no Mafia in sight, just regular people. It's overflowing with the kind of peace that really feels like the "other side" of the story.
Gon's group was relaxing at a café terrace not far from their hotel, taking a late-morning break.
They had spent the early morning setting up cameras and other surveillance at the potential hideouts they had selected, and were now discussing what to do next.
"Hey, why'd we set up the cameras so far away? Shouldn't we at least put them near the entrances?"
"You idiot, Leorio," Killua snapped. "What happens if we get found out by the one who's super good with machines? We already know all the members are coming. All we need to do is confirm which place they use as their base. This is enough."
Leorio, having his question shot down, asked another he'd been wondering about.
"Speaking of, how'd you narrow it down to those three spots? I thought you didn't go inside because of the one who reads memories?"
"Me and Gin used our noses to confirm that no one has gone in or out for the past month," Gon explained. "They wouldn't use a place people visit often as a base, right? If they had to kill anyone, the risk of being discovered would just go up."
"...I get Gin, but is your nose really that good too, Gon?"
"I can easily tell you how many people in my line of sight are wearing the same perfume as you."
"Eeeh..." Leorio trailed off.
"Seriously, I had nothing to do," Killua grumbled. "We'd just do a quick lap from a distance and it'd be, 'Okay, next!'"
"A splendid scouting ability," Kurapika noted. "With Gon and Gin, tracking will be no problem."
Leorio, half-laughing at this new discovery of Gon's abnormal talents, turned his gaze to the weapons that had recently arrived for Killua.
"We've got less than a week, if that. Think you'll manage? I can't imagine you can master those so quickly."
"It'll be easy. I mastered all these kinds of 'toys' a long time ago. I just need to get the feel for it again, no problem."
As he spoke, Killua performed various tricks with the weapons he'd been rolling in his hand: a pair of yo-yos that each weighed 50 kilograms. He handled them so lightly their weight was unimaginable, but it was a deadly game; they would easily kill any normal person they struck.
"Your brother Milluki made those, right?" Gon asked. "He also told us about Greed Island. Are you sure he didn't need any kind of information fee?"
Inside the box from Ging that they had opened on Whale Island was a memory card for a game called JoyStation. In exchange for the Greed Island save data on it, Killua's brother Milluki had provided him with information on the game and these yo-yos.
"It's fine, it's fine," Killua said. "It wasn't just any save data; it was one prepared by the developers. Even as a copy, I should be the one getting paid extra."
"Hmm, I really don't think the data was that special..."
Gon, who knew the contents of the tape, said as much, but in truth, a save file from Ging himself would undoubtedly be worth a fortune, regardless of the content. To this group, he was a deadbeat father who had abandoned his responsibilities, but to the world, he was a top-tier Hunter who had achieved incredible things.
"Well, if Killua's brother isn't complaining, who cares?" Leorio said. "It's always better to have more money."
"Leorio's phrasing aside," Kurapika said, "value is also determined by how satisfied the buyer is. Don't worry about it too much, Gon."
Leorio had supposedly earned a fortune at Heaven's Arena, but his sense of money hadn't changed, for better or worse. During their shopping trip the other day, he had haggled at every single stop, making Kurapika blush with embarrassment.
"Anyway, we can deal with that pig and Greed Island after this is all over. More importantly, let's talk about what's next."
Killua put away his yo-yos, bringing the conversation back on topic. The group refocused on the Phantom Troupe.
"My Dowsing Chain couldn't confirm the Spiders' presence this morning, either," Kurapika said. "I believe we should lay low for now, rather than move around and risk an encounter."
"But, like we talked about at Heaven's Arena," Leorio argued, "if we're going to strike first, shouldn't we do it before they're all gathered? If we outnumber them, there's no way we lose, right?"
"If we do that, we might not be able to wipe them all out, and some could escape," Killua countered. "If we're thinking about our own safety in the future, isn't it better to take the risk and deal with all of them now?"
Amidst the bustle of the crowd, they avoided the words "Phantom Troupe," but otherwise pretended to have a normal chat so as not to stand out. And so, the same problem that had existed since before Heaven's Arena brought them to their usual impasse: risk everything for a total wipeout, or play it safe and focus on whittling them down.
"You guys are still split, huh," Killua said. "I get Leorio, but it still feels weird to me that you're on the 'whittle them down' side, Gon."
"I get both sides of the argument. That's why I think I, as the strongest one, should be the brakes. If you just keep the accelerator floored, you'll just get into an accident when it really matters."
They continued to hash out their plans, adding their new knowledge of Yorknew City's geography to their previous discussions.
Just as they were discussing the likely auction venues and what the Troupe might do after stealing the items, a man approached them.
"S-sorry, I... I want to ask you something. C-could I have a moment of your time?"
It was Squala, sweating profusely and trembling like a lost puppy.
***
A short time earlier...
Squala and Melody, who had arrived in Yorknew City the day before, were scouting the area, pretending to walk their dogs.
Three small dogs led Melody, who was focusing on listening to the surrounding sounds. Two large dogs, held by Squala, kept their heads on a swivel, scanning for the slightest anomaly.
(Just like the briefing said, almost no Mafia around here. Considering the public safety and the distance to the shopping malls, this might be the best location,) Squala thought. This area, near the center of Yorknew City, was highly developed, prioritizing its public-facing side for civilians over its underworld side for the Mafia.
(Aah, on a nice morning like this, I wish I was walking with Eliza. Maybe I should quit this job. The pay is good, but there's a limit.)
Perhaps because he was letting his guard down, walking with Melody and the dogs who had better scouting abilities than him, Squala was idly thinking about his girlfriend and his job when his dogs suddenly stopped. He stumbled, bumping into them.
"Whoa, sorry, sorry... Melody?"
He followed the dogs' gaze and saw Melody, standing a few paces behind him.
"Squala," she said, "it seems we've stumbled into something much bigger than we thought."
Melody closed her eyes, pressing her hands to her ears to concentrate. A cold sweat broke out on her face, which was growing paler by the second.
"Let's go to that plaza up ahead. If we get that far, I'll be able to hear more than just their conversation."
"Ah, uh, okay. Just give me the gist of what you heard. Depending on what it is, I'll call the Captain."
Her unusual state snapped Squala to attention. He took out his phone, and Melody told him what she knew so far. He was dumbfounded.
"It's a group of four. They're talking... about the Spiders attacking the auction."
"...What? The Spiders? You've got to be kidding me."
"I can hear them clearly now. They aren't doubting it at all. I don't know where they got their information, but they are convinced that the Phantom Troupe—all of its members—are targeting the auction."
"No... way..."
Squala reached the plaza, sat on an empty bench, and immediately called Captain Dalzollene. He briefly explained the situation and was ordered to observe, and, depending on the situation, to make contact.
"Damn it! I thought this was going to be a vacation, but I drew the short straw. How does the group of four look, Melody? ...Melody?"
Getting no reply, he looked at her suspiciously. Melody was now incomparably paler than before, and his dogs were cowering, tails tucked completely.
"H-hey, what's wrong!? Did they spot us!?"
"No, that's fine... but, I'm sorry. I think I listened too deeply. The dogs... perhaps the wind shifted and they caught their scent."
At her words and the state of his dogs, Squala swallowed the "you're kidding me" he'd already thought several times that day. His prized dogs, trained using his Hatsu, were conditioned to face down even armed opponents without a trace of fear.
(And they're in this state? And I've never seen Melody look like this!?)
Squala began to feel a deep anxiety about what kind of people this group of four could be, who were still too far away for him to even see. As if to hammer the point home, Melody told him what she'd heard, and that, based on their personalities, they should make contact.
"Looking at you right now, I don't feel 'okay' about this at all."
"Again, I'm sorry. I got curious and dug deeper than I should have, and I'm just scaring myself. It's my fault."
"Well... I'll trust you. But please, have at least one dog come with me. I really don't want to talk to the wrong people by mistake."
Squala managed to get the oldest dog to its feet. He had Melody point out their general location and told her to wait, just in case.
"They really do seem like good, kind-hearted people, so don't be too on guard," Melody called after him. "Especially the tallest one. He's a mass of conscience, without a doubt."
With those words at his back, he headed for the café. When the terrace came into view, he could see the group of four. They blended in well, but they were all maintaining Ten.
(What the? They're mostly kids. If anything, the big guy looks the most dangerous...)
His relief was short-lived. The dog that had followed him collapsed, refused to budge, and began to whine pitifully. Squala, who had developed his Hatsu precisely because he loved dogs, couldn't force his terrified animal any further.
"I get it. You 'wait' here. I'll be right back."
He lightly tied the leash to a nearby fence and walked toward the group alone. Melody had also overheard that they were looking for Mafia contacts, so he approached casually, figuring he could just use the Nostrade Family name.
The instant he stepped into Gin's warning range, an irresistible terror dominated his mind.
(...What? No, wait a second.)
His head had snapped down instinctively. He forced it back up. His eyes met those of a small animal staring at him from the feet of the black-haired boy.
(...Ah, Eliza. I think I might die here.)
He'd been spotted. Escape was impossible. Resigning himself, Squala forced himself to show no hostility, approaching one slow step at a time.
He had a feeling they knew he wasn't a threat... or perhaps they just didn't consider him one. He wasn't sure if that was just his perception as a dog-handler.
"S-sorry, I... I want to ask you something. C-could I have a moment of your time?"
In that moment, a new verse was written in the story of Squala, the man who had conquered his fear and sworn to find a new job.
***
Afterward, Gon's group met up with Melody and the other dogs. Since it was too large a group, they all relocated to Squala and Melody's hotel. While Gin was busy teaching Squala's pack of dogs their new place in the pecking order, the humans were on a speaker call with Dalzollene, discussing the auction and the Phantom Troupe.
"...Are you certain the auction is the target? You're Pro Hunters, but isn't it possible you were fed bad information?"
"I will say it again: for us, this information is one-hundred-percent true," Kurapika said, his voice cold. "It doesn't matter whether you believe it or not. You are the ones who contacted us. This pointless questioning is a waste of time, is it not?"
"...My apologies. You're right. To doubt your judgment would be to doubt my own, as I was the one who sent them. This is an empty promise until I report to the big boss, but I will state that the Nostrade Family wishes to offer its full cooperation."
Kurapika's eyes widened slightly in surprise, but Squala and Melody, who knew their captain, were even more shocked.
"A-are you sure, Captain!? I'm the one who brought this to you, but to go this far for people we just met today..."
"Don't make me repeat myself. I am the one who authorized you to act on your own discretion. Therefore, your judgment is my judgment. More than that, if the entire Phantom Troupe is truly gathering, this will not remain a 'Nostrade-only' problem."
"We are of the same opinion," Kurapika said. "We predict the Spiders' target is everythinglisted in the auction. If that's the case, the Ten Dons, and every Mafia family participating, will be made to look like fools."
Squala and Melody were just beginning to grasp the scale of the situation when they heard Dalzollene laugh quietly on the other end of the line.
"The Nostrade name has grown significantly thanks to the boss's steadily increasing fans. If we repel the Phantom Troupe here and save the auction... our future glory will be limitless. Kurapika, was it? Tell me how many soldiers you require. We have many Nen users, including these two. I will prepare however many you wish."
"Then I will be blunt," Kurapika said. "The military strength we require from the Nostrade Family is zero. If you will allow us to 'hire' these two as our scouts, everyone else will just get in the way."
Squala and Melody were left speechless for what felt like the dozenth time. They heard what sounded like a phone creaking in Dalzollene's grip as they watched Kurapika, who was staring at the phone as if testing its owner.
Finally, a single, deep breath came from the other side. After a moment of silence, Dalzollene replied.
"Understood. I'm sure it will be fine, but... do not use them too recklessly. Their combat power isn't high, but both of them possess irreplaceable abilities."
"Of course. We appreciate your cooperation. You must have your own meetings. We will return to our base. Contact us if anything changes."
Kurapika stood up and, gathering the other three and the one animal (who had started playing with the dogs at some point), exited the room.
Squala and Melody were left behind, steeped in an awkward silence that lasted a full three minutes. When Dalzollene's voice finally came, it was surprisingly calm.
"I have many things I'd like to say, but for now... good work. I will contact you later. You are to follow their orders. Do not worry about our protection detail unless it's an absolute emergency."
"Understood... Uh, are you sure, Captain? It felt like he was looking down on the Nostrade Family."
"Hmph. Then let me ask you, Squala, since you faced them directly. What would you do if I told you to make them pay with the Family's full power?"
"I'd run for my life."
A massive sigh echoed from the phone at Squala's immediate answer. Dalzollene said that his exchange with Kurapika had more or less set the course.
"He was essentially warning us not to make any big moves. They must be planning to use guerrilla tactics. The fact that they want scouts over soldiers proves it. Besides, a report will go to the Ten Dons via the big boss, but given the situation, they won't be able to make a move until something actually happens."
"Hah, I see... But still, wouldn't it be better to have more hands on deck?"
"Don't be an idiot. He said our soldiers, and even our Nen users, would just get in the way. That means even they aren't guaranteed to win. Sending ants against an enemy like that... they'd just be crushed without their opponent even noticing."
At this, Squala felt as if his life, and the lives of his dogs, were flickering like a candle in the wind. He mumbled an excuse and stumbled off toward his bed.
"...Melody. Do you have any idea how strong they are?"
"To be honest, they are far beyond any level I can sense. But... I believe even the weakest one, Leorio, is likely stronger than you, Captain."
"I see. The plan is as I said. I will not call from my end unless something happens. You are to report at least once a day."
"Understood."
Melody stared at the disconnected phone for a while, thinking about something she had debated saying, but ultimately kept to herself.
(That black-haired boy... Gon, was it? What in the world is he?)
By listening carefully, she had sensed Gon's abnormality. It was a different kind of strangeness from his pet, which seemed to be miniaturized and had an unnatural density.
(His entire body, not sparing even his heart, was perfectly controlled... like the regularity of a metronome.)
It was a sound impossible for a living being.
The discrepancy between his human appearance and the mechanical sound that echoed from him caused Melody immense stress, to the point of fear.
(And what's more... did he know about my enhanced hearing? The other three were surprised, as they should be, but he... he wasn't surprised at all.)
Melody's hearing, a combination of her past and her Nen ability, was superhuman, allowing her to hear conversations at distances that defied visual confirmation. It was a unique trait that would have shocked Leorio, Kurapika, and perhaps even Netero.
(He's the first person I've ever been unable to read with sound... but I'm sure he's a good kid. This probably isn't worth reporting, is it?)
Melody had absolute faith in her ears, and those ears had judged Gon's three friends to be trustworthy.
(It's okay. Even if our opponent is the Phantom Troupe, I'll just do what I can do.)
Hearing the sound of Squala falling fast asleep, Melody decided to lie down as well, even though the sun was still high. The mental exhaustion of the day pulled her instantly into unconsciousness.