"Yes, yes!" Alluka suddenly stood straight, like it was muscle memory.
"Indeed, brother really likes you, Alluka. Your drive to improve, even from a starting point of nothing, is worth praising." Illumi clapped once and walked toward Alluka. "Just right, Milluki needs some training too. You two can play this game together. He'll be thrilled."
Illumi turned to Milluki. Those dark eyes narrowed. Others might not feel much, but Milluki, caught in the line of his focused gaze, shivered all over.
—[Female ghost! The one from that anime xxxx!] That was what Milluki thought in his head.
"Milluki, you won't let Alluka beat you, right?"
Milluki wailed inside but could only say out loud, "Of course, of course, big brother!"
With Milluki and Gotoh to keep Alluka company, Alluka could play normally even without the book's magic.
"Go gather some info on this city. Find out what you can earn best. Come back and tell me which cards are rare and which are common. That's it." Illumi gave the order, and the three kids left right away.
The kids gone, only the adults remained in the room.
Just right, the four each took a seat.
"Being a big brother is tough, huh, little Illumi."
"It's what a eldest son should do." Illumi toyed with a needle in his hand while thinking. On one side, he considered what unique training the three kids could get on Greed Island that they couldn't elsewhere. On the other, he pondered Killua's location.
It really was hard work, but Illumi enjoyed it.
Hisoka shuffled the cards. No need for special Nen moves. The cards arched like a bridge and danced in Hisoka's skilled hands, scattering around. A few faces showed in the spin, and the final spots for several cards landed evenly in front of everyone.
"Little pink one? How far along is Chrollo's Nen removal?" Hisoka sorted the cards before him, facedown toward himself but slid right up to Illumi. He also twisted his head to ask Saiki Kusuo.
Illumi got Hisoka's point without a word. He drew a card, sorted his own pile, glanced at it, and held it up toward Chrollo.
Why is this old maid game going so smoothly? Let me ask, I haven't been pulled into it, have I?
[I don't know. Within a year, maybe.]
"Too vague~ Would a Zoldyck be this slow? Little Illumi, your brother is slacking off." Hisoka had come here to catch the moment Chrollo got his Nen back. With the troupe members away, it was the perfect time for a fight with Chrollo.
The game continued at the same time. Hisoka's fingers had long nails. He tapped Saiki Kusuo's cards. Saiki Kusuo had just drawn a king straight from Chrollo's side and now placed the king where Hisoka leaned.
Wrong draw? No big deal. The moment Hisoka took another card, Saiki Kusuo made sure that one became an equal-value joker.
Fair swap.
"Hmm~ I sense a scheme. Let's bet something?" Hisoka noticed something sharp, eyes narrowing as his fingertip waved left and right to pick.
Saiki Kusuo: Not interested. Hurry up and finish this card.
Illumi glanced at Hisoka.
Chrollo had no Nen, but he listened boredly with his cards covered. He really was bored and needed some fun.
"Bet cards then." Hisoka said, "The Phantom Troupe is collecting cards too. Later, the kids' cards will pile up with Illumi, right? Bet on cards the other side needs. Swap them when required, per our deal."
The terms weren't clear. If you figured pros and cons, gains and losses were blurry. But surprisingly, Chrollo and Illumi both nodded.page!
In the end, this game called Greed Island—its difficulty and rewards—were way below daily life for Nen users at their level. Clearing it just took time, and they could do it for sure.
They all thought that way, so they didn't value the clear reward much either.
Saiki Kusuo stayed quiet. He had no book and didn't want to pay back debts with his brothers' cards later.
He'd leave in the future. Right now, he really didn't want to owe anyone.
"Little pink one isn't scared of losing, is he? Don't worry, I won't cheat. Illumi's watching."
Saiki Kusuo stared at Hisoka.
Hisoka's real thoughts were: [Before Chrollo's Nen removal finishes, keep Zetsu on intel that can't leak. Win or lose, it keeps contact natural.]
Hisoka licked his lips, desire stirred by his own daydream: [Ran into the troupe yesterday. Like mad dogs. I love fights, but getting mobbed isn't fun. With this excuse, next meeting, troupe folks might relax a bit? Heh heh heh... Chrollo, let's tie our bond...]
Saiki Kusuo: That leaves me out. You guys play. Thanks.
"Why not play?" Chrollo asked. [Is there a trap? Like Hisoka cheating in a way others miss, but Saiki hears his thoughts?]
[Don't want to owe favors.]
"Owe favors? Little Nan means using Alluka's cards?" Illumi caught on. "It's just a game. Game items can be shared freely. If family skimps on that, they're not good family. Milluki and them would be happy too."
Can't sit out?
Saiki Kusuo eyed everyone's cards on the table.
Joining this game wrecked the balance bad.
Ten minutes later.
Hisoka lost three in a row.
Sorry to this card-loving magician, but when Saiki Kusuo played for real, he shielded Illumi then himself. Chrollo sat across from Hisoka. Game went counterclockwise, so Chrollo got indirect cover too.
No aim at Hisoka.
Hisoka, drawing joker again, chuckled. Obvious: someone cheated.
For their kind, even cheating counted as skill if the trick wasn't spotted.
Chrollo? Nah, Illumi was too straight; wouldn't suddenly cheat this well.
Hisoka bit his tongue, set to play through.
"Um, brother...!" Alluka peeked at the door, then shuddered from the hazy Nen pressure.
Hisoka's Nen leak in excitement. Didn't faze Illumi or Saiki Kusuo. Chrollo had to endure it.
Alluka entering broke the mood a bit. Illumi shot Hisoka a mild glare. Hisoka sensed Alluka, reined in the pressure in a flash.
"Alluka? What do you need?"
"Brother, I came for clothes." Alluka tugged her skirt hem and came in. Turns out the kid still wore pajamas.
Illumi hadn't moved, but Saiki Kusuo already hooked the suitcase over, unzipped it, and pulled out clothes.
He'd gotten used to it these days.
Took Alluka to the bathroom, changed her outfit. Alluka came out, twirled happily, then waved to the adults.
"Bye! Brother Kusuo! Bye! Brother Illumi! Bye! Brother Chrollo! Bye! Magician brother!"
Even spread, everyone in the room waved back at Alluka.
Alluka turned, but Hisoka had strung a Nen thread across the door. Unaware, she kept going and nearly tripped. Illumi snapped it with a needle.
Alluka paused, stared at the big pin by her foot, and looked back at Illumi in confusion.
"Brother?"
"Remember to close the door. Have fun." Illumi didn't tell the truth.
"Okay—!" Alluka dashed off.
"Spoiled kids don't grow up easy, huh?" Hisoka said to Illumi.
"Oh, Alluka's different. Happy life's enough. He's our little princess. Can't tell?" Illumi teased.
Saiki Kusuo: I couldn't tell before you said it.
"Keep playing? Hisoka." Illumi sorted his cards.
Hisoka didn't care about losses: "Sure, but new rules~"
One hour later.
After offsets, Hisoka had lost eight games net.
Three to Chrollo, four to Illumi, one to Saiki Kusuo. Plus Chrollo lost three to Illumi.
Chrollo felt his cards shift underhand. He stopped checking them.
"All in." Chrollo said.
Hisoka raised a brow: "Didn't know that rule existed?~"
All in meant full bet. Wasn't it one card per round?
Chrollo casual: "We players make the rules. Bet your three losses, Hisoka. You want a comeback, right?"
Hisoka kept cool, flashed his bright grin, crooked finger: "Chrollo, I've lost plenty already. I won't bet without a sure win, you know?"
"Even if I lose, I got nothing to lose." Chrollo shrugged, indifferent.
Hisoka scanned everyone. Illumi eyed his slim book. Saiki Kusuo seemed to nap eyes closed, but really scanned passersby thoughts for Nen removers.
No luck, but heard about the Bomber in this city—meant he was active.
Their game now was simple.
Ten and a half. Draw points over 10.5 bust. Just right beat most cases.
Draw to 21 no bust, auto win.
But Hisoka wouldn't risk it.
*Saiki Kusuo had messed him up plenty before.
Saiki Kusuo felt zero guilt screwing Hisoka. One side sponsor, one Zoldyck. Only Hisoka outsider.
Hisoka bet big in the end. Lose, and he'd work for the Phantom Troupe awhile.
"If I win, play another round with me. Let me have fun, Chrollo."
—Cards revealed.
Chrollo saw his total unexpected 7.5 points. Super low, like set up to lose. He glanced extra at Saiki Kusuo.
Hisoka snickered, hooked his card smooth spin: "Heh heh heh... Chrollo, you gotta check your cards. Don't trust others too much?~"
Hisoka revealed: heart 3, spade 3, spade Q, club Q. Total 7.
"Surprise. Even with that, Hisoka won't draw?" Chrollo said.
Hisoka shocked. Even with Bungee Gum guarding, card swapped. Why?
Saiki Kusuo looked away. Hisoka cautious, used Bungee Gum to control card moves beside them, but lost touch feel. Swap power changed cards easy. Rubber sense fooled.
Small bets for fun.
Hisoka lost six cards to the troupe.
Hisoka finally dropped the damn win lust, ended the match owing eleven cards.
Knew Saiki Kusuo had some unknown power for it.
Hisoka eyed Saiki Kusuo narrow during pack-up. Saiki Kusuo didn't care.
Might've hid it before. Now with leave countdown, Saiki Kusuo loosened up some.
"Got intel for you, little Nan." Illumi sudden: "Killua's probably in Masadora."
He outlined next plans: "I'll stick here gathering info for now. Later take Milluki and them to other cities. You?"
Illumi no fool like the brothers. Super pro. Saiki Kusuo thought how to plan to seem skilled, not lazy.
"We'll hit multiple cities hunting Nen removers too. Then link with troupe members. Greed Island GMs seem to watch. To avoid detection, Saiki can't teleport me between cities now." Chrollo said. "I'm in no rush. Right person's out there, so task pace'll be slow."
Like you're the one on task, Chrollo.
Rich client, no timeline push.
Too slow on efficiency?
Illumi, client above all, thought to jump in help. But recalled task specs: Chrollo wanted the experience.
Applied for in-game personal, stressed "no rush" just now. Meant let little Nan take time?
Chrollo Nenless now. Safety privacy risk if too many know. Didn't want Zoldycks blasting search.
Yeah. Illumi tapped palm, got it.
"Need us to contact your troupe? Game comms."
"Sure. How's it work? Like zone chat in online games?"
"No, cards. Book." Illumi summoned the book, opened wide for Chrollo.
Book magic summon looked bookish, but opened to functions galore. Besides slots, screen-like spot showed card uses.
Comm G-220: Talk to one challenger (game-met only) via book.
Chrollo saw familiar troupe names on the book.
All real names. Surprising. Recalled past games, Feitan and them picked aliases like "Blazing Sun."
Chrollo eyed each name close. Just over three months apart, and he missed Nen a bit.
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