"But maybe someone else will actually draw the same number."
Nobunaga, standing beside him, said casually, then drew a card from the deck.
It was an ace.
Nobunaga: "..."
"I think I'll just call this number 1. It sounds better."
He laughed: "Let's just leave it at that."
No one paid any attention to his casual change, because…
"No way..."
Phinks' eyes widened as he looked at Machi's card and saw it was identical to his.
"They really are the same?!"
Everyone turned to see that both Phinks and Machi held the same card: number 4!
"See? It actually happened."
Shalnark laughed even more brightly beside her.
"If it's the same, then neither of us should pick that one."
Machi glanced at the others' numbers: "I'll take the digit before 4, so 3 will do."
No one had picked number 3 yet, so she chose it.
"I'll take the one after 4."
Phinks didn't want the duplicate number either: "Number 5, then."
Neither of them chose the drawn number 4, both rather disdaining it.
Thus, the number classification of the initial members was determined.
From smallest to largest, they were: Nobunaga's A(1), Feitan's 2, Machi's 3, Phinks' 5, and Shalnark's 6. Franklin's 7, Pakunoda's 9, and Uvogin's 10.
With the two jokers belonging to Luke and Chrollo, it made ten people in total.
But besides the ten of them…
"There are also Sarasa and Sheila."
Luke put away the remaining playing cards: "When they come back to join us, we will let them draw their own numbers."
And with that, the founding rules of the Phantom Troupe were set.
Luke also laid down the regulations for the brigade, now officially called the Phantom Troupe: "First, no members are allowed to kill each other. That's the most basic rule."
Luke said calmly: "Unless someone officially chooses to leave the troupe."
"And if members disagree on something, they can decide by drawing cards, whether it's red or black. Whoever guesses wrong must unconditionally follow the one who guesses right."
In playing cards, aside from the two jokers, red was diamonds and hearts, while black was clubs and spades, perfectly balanced in color.
Guessing whether it's red or black was a fair and impartial method.
"Next, orders from the captain take priority. But you don't have to place the leader's life above your own."
"The captain is also a member of the Phantom Troupe. What must survive isn't any single person, but the Phantom Troupe itself."
Before anyone could speak, Luke emphasized: "If one day something happens to me, then Chrollo will immediately take over as the new captain."
"In a deck of cards, if the big joker is gone, the small joker takes the highest rank."
"I believe..."
Luke looked calmly into Chrollo's eyes. "You won't disappoint me, right, Chrollo?"
"Of course not, captain."
Chrollo responded calmly and softly: "I will follow every one of your instructions, including this one."
The rest of the Phantom Troupe: "..."
Well, since both their leaders said so, they naturally had no reason to object.
Besides, they believed it too.
With Luke's power, skill, and intellect, it was almost impossible for any accident to happen to him.
And even in the worst-case scenario, with a dual-joker system, the Phantom Troupe could seamlessly continue.
The new captain would guide the troupe onward without disruption.
This dual-joker structure was also Luke's final instruction to the troupe: "If I'm ever gone, then Chrollo becomes the new captain of the Phantom Troupe, and everyone must obey his orders unconditionally."
"Just as I said earlier, in a deck of cards, aside from the big joker, the little joker has the greatest authority."
"At that time, Chrollo will be the sole leader."
"And if anyone disagrees with Chrollo, you don't need to settle it with a red-or-black draw."
"The Joker's authority always takes precedence."
Upon hearing this, Franklin, Pakunoda, and Shalnark, all who had followed Chrollo closely, had no objections.
Uvogin, Machi, and Nobunaga had also seen Chrollo's sermon performances at the church and had grown to admire and respect him.
Only Feitan and Phinks exchanged glances.
Before, both of them had primarily extorted Chrollo.
Although Chrollo later earned their approval through his action, that was only within Meteor City.
The one who helped them open their aura node, leading them out of Meteor City and into the outside world, was Luke.
It was Luke who taught them about the life game called Earth Online, helped them earn their first legal income, and guided them through countless dangerous and thrilling experiences.
To them, the only person they truly respected was Luke.
And only Luke.
And have them follow Chrollo's orders when Luke isn't around, well, since this was Luke's request, the two of them naturally obeyed without objections.
But they would also be watching to see whether Chrollo could really shoulder that responsibility.
And whether he possessed the ability to lead them toward a brighter future.
The two remained silent, offering no objections.
However, the more complacent they seemed, the more closely they would watch what came next.
With the general tone agreed upon, the Phantom Troupe was quietly formed at the end of 1986.
In this abandoned warehouse that no one cared about, they were established without so much as a sound.
After the establishment, Luke's mind was as calm as still water.
There was no excitement or sentimentality; everything felt as if it had been anticipated, as if it had come about naturally.
Only the personnel and the intent differed somewhat from the original fate line.
If Luke had any thoughts at all, the single notion was: "I finally understand why the Phantom Troupe's meeting places are always in abandoned buildings."
"In the Phantom Troupe's future gathering place in Yorknew City. The facilities in the abandoned building are exactly the same as the layout of the abandoned warehouse now. The troupe's main focus is habit and nostalgia."
"But now, there's no time to dwell on the past. The most crucial mission right now is…"
"Find Risnorth, the chairman of the Mom's Help Foundation, and make him and his foundation pay the price."
Luke looked at the members before him and issued the Phantom Troupe's first mission.
"It's time to let the outside world hear the voice of Meteor City."