The information Shalnark brought back from Southernpiece perfectly confirmed Chrollo's suspicions.
The Scarlet Eyes that were scheduled to be auctioned tomorrow at the Southernpiece Auction House had been temporarily withdrawn. The buyer was none other than one of the Ten Dons.
However, Chrollo, already aware of Ronin and Kurapika's maneuvering, naturally knew that the person who acquired those eyes was Ronin, now operating under the identity of a Don.
With that identity, Ronin could easily sweep up the remaining two pairs of Scarlet Eyes from the Mafia's auction items as well.
Chrollo was now considering whether Shalnark's ability could also be used to control one of the Ten Dons after locating them, thereby granting access to their identity and status.
But the answer was no.
Because he had figured out the key to how the duo was pulling off the impersonation.
Ronin had the ability to create clones, and those clones could use transformation techniques to alter their appearance. This meant he could physically disguise himself as a Don.
Thinking along those lines, Chrollo's gaze drifted to Bonolenov.
There was room to operate there.
But that kind of operation didn't fit the thief's way. Especially since Bonolenov was already in such a miserable state; just surviving was an achievement. They needed to find a way to heal him first.
Besides, actually controlling the Ten Dons wouldn't bring much benefit to the Troupe.
Money? They had it.
Information channels? They had those too.
Status? A Mafia Don's status was arguably less terrifying than their own status as Class-A bounties.
So, the idea of impersonating the Ten Dons was dismissed directly from Chrollo's mind.
"We've fallen into a passive position," Chrollo mused.
From the moment they arrived in Yorknew, every move they made felt like they were being led by the nose.
Even this sudden ambush was the result of the opponent's calculations.
In the end, even though they managed to ambush Ronin, they were forced to retreat when the mercenaries flooded the scene.
The opponent was one step ahead in deployment, seizing the initiative!
Although Kurapika seemed a bit childish personally, his strategic planning was on a level Ronin couldn't compare to.
One thing Chrollo still suspected was the key to transforming the Scarlet Eyes into the eyes Ronin possessed. Was it a "divine artifact" as he hypothesized, or was there another reason?
After all, the artifact theory was mostly based on his recent contact with that kind of special power; his judgment might lack accuracy.
But if it was another reason, it must lie within Ronin himself.
Was it those eyes—eyes that had completely transcended the scope of the Scarlet Eyes and emitted an even more ominous aura?
"If we say Ronin understands our abilities because he saw us during the Kurta massacre, that's one thing. But he seems familiar with every one of us, even understanding the Troupe's operational patterns. That's very strange."
Chrollo sensed something else was off.
"I plan to go to Southernpiece City again for an investigation," Chrollo decided, temporarily giving up the chase for Ronin.
He needed a deeper understanding of the Kurta Clan, and he also needed an ability to counter Ronin's powers.
Since Ronin's power came from his eyes, an ability specifically targeting eyes was crucial.
It was a pity Omokage had died while acting alone; otherwise, his ability would have been the perfect counter to Ronin!
"We aren't going to continue investigating the Scarlet Eyes?" Shalnark was somewhat surprised by Chrollo's decision.
Once Chrollo left, at least two members would go with him.
With only seven people left and no Chrollo to command, they couldn't possibly rely on Shalnark alone to deal with Ronin.
Shalnark felt his computational capacity was insufficient; the strategist by Ronin's side was sharper than him.
Only Chrollo could continuously see through Ronin's secrets and find the crux of the matter.
Moreover, cracking the isolation ability Ronin used when killing Uvogin would require Chrollo's presence.
"Yes." Chrollo nodded. "Apart from the ones in Kakin, we can let Ronin have the other 16 pairs of Scarlet Eyes. We only need to guard the final 11 pairs."
"From now on, we must be careful of being ambushed, rather than actively trying to ambush them. Wait for my return for everything else!"
Chrollo sensed the danger in continuing to follow Ronin's movements.
Especially regarding the investigation of the remaining 16 pairs, Ronin's side already held the advantage. So, it was better to change tactics, minimize losses, and wait for an opportunity to turn the tables.
That's right.
Turn the tables!
The Phantom Troupe was now the one at a disadvantage.
Chrollo was certain of this because as Ronin acquired more Scarlet Eyes, the gap in strength between the two sides would only widen.
Right now, Ronin might be able to defeat any single Troupe member in a head-on fight. But after acquiring two or three more pairs, he might possess the strength to handle two or even three members simultaneously.
Once Ronin acquired all 16 pairs, the extent of his terrifying power was impossible to calculate.
Chrollo didn't say more. He knew many in the Troupe didn't agree with his decision, but he didn't intend to persuade them further.
The Troupe was not his dictatorship.
The purpose of forming the Troupe was not for him to be an autocrat. So, if the members really wanted to act, they had better be prepared for the consequences!
Chrollo left with Pakunoda, Kortopi, and Franklin.
After Chrollo and his group departed, the remaining Troupe members didn't disperse.
"I still plan to collect one or two pairs of Scarlet Eyes. Even if it just limits Ronin's power increase slightly, or if we can use them as bargaining chips to threaten him, it's worth it," Machi said.
Her gaze fell on Shalnark. "I need your ability. Only you can find suitable Scarlet Eyes without leading us into an ambush."
Nobunaga silently walked up behind Machi.
Bonolenov spoke up as well. "Shalnark, I need that intel you mentioned earlier."
Shalnark nodded to Machi first. "I'll help. My thoughts align with yours. As for Bonolenov, the key to healing your injuries lies in Greed Island."
"I'll take you there," Feitan volunteered. "We'll just snatch the game directly from Southernpiece. Also, didn't the Boss mention Ronin might be interested in Greed Island? What about that now?"
"That judgment was likely wrong at the time, but we should still be careful," Shalnark warned.
"Don't worry," Phinks stepped forward. "I'll go with him."
Thus, the remaining ten members of the Troupe quickly sorted out their assignments.
As for the deceased Isley, his death didn't impact the Troupe at all.
However, Shalnark was still thinking about the person who had cleared out the treasury of the Don's subordinate earlier. Now that the Troupe had so many vacancies, if that person's strength was decent, maybe he could recommend them to Chrollo to fill a spot.
And given their unique ability, even if their combat strength was slightly lower, it wouldn't matter much.
Worst case scenario, their ability could just be added to Chrollo's collection.
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