Chapter Twenty Six
Ayami sat happily with her family until it was time for them to leave for the heist, and hugged each of them goodbye. Eventually she settled down next to her father, falling asleep as he read to her like he had when she was a child. Hours later, Ayami woke up, blinking tiredly, when his phone rang. Ayami stretched while he talked to Uvo.
"No merchandise?" Chrollo asked. His spiders turned their attention to him curiously, unable to hear the other side of the conversation.
"None. The vault was completely empty. The auctioneer was the only one who knew the whole situation, and according to him, all of the items were taken to a new location a few hours ago. It's like they expected this to happen and were fully prepared for it."
"Oh?" Chrollo hummed, glancing toward Hisoka.
"Do you think Hisoka-"
"Perhaps." Chrollo hummed. It seems that Feitan had already relayed his message. "We need to find the merchandise. When you spoke to the auctioneer, did you ask where the merchandise was moved?"
"I did, but he kept insisting he didn't know, all the way up until he died. And Feitan tortured him so…"
"Did you manage to get the names of anyone who might know?"
"Do you even have to ask? The auction is run by the heads of the mafia community. Leaders of gangs in each of the ten districts around the world. They're called the Ten Dons. This is the only time of year where they all gather in one place to discuss business and issue orders… orders that are carried out by a special force called the Shadow Beasts. The team is comprised of combatants hand picked by each of the Dons. The best of the best.."
"I see. And because the Shadow Beasts weren't called upon to guard the auction house, they were likely tasked with moving the merchandise. Did the auctioneer mention how?"
"He said a single Shadow Beast member entered the vault. The vault is twenty five meters and packed full of items waiting to be sold. He walked in and came right back out, empty handed. The vault was completely bare. The auctioneer said it was a guy in sunglasses who called himself Owl."
"He must have a Nen ability similar to Shizuku's."
"Probably."
"But surely, once five hundred people disappeared, they must've realised that they were dealing with Nen users."
"We can take 'em, can't we?"
"Of course. Put on a show for your pursuers. A disturbance big enough to draw out the Shadow Beasts." Chrollo smiled as Uvo cackled excitedly.
"I can hardly wait!"
"Keep me informed." Chrollo ordered before hanging up and filling in his remaining Spiders. They lounged around for a while, waiting on their next call. Chrollo took Ayamis phone from her. "Ayami, you should be meditating." Ayami grumbled but did as she was told, quickly shrouding herself in her aura. Chrollo smiled proudly at how much it had grown. This 'Wing' was a good teacher. Ayami had been developing her Hatsu when she'd gone missing. It was a simple idea but very useful, and Ayami had a unique way of using it. She could bend water into blades sharp enough to cut through metal or make a platform she could float on. She could easily raise or lower the temperature of the water, freezing or boiling it. The way she moved it was very much tied to how she moved her body and worked well with her fighting style, a combination of gymnastics and martial arts. She'd have to practice but he was certain she would pick it back up quickly.
Soon enough he got a call from Machi, saying that Uvo had been captured but they caught Owl and they'd eminiated the rest of the Shadow Beasts. Chrollo ordered them to return to their base to regroup. Ayami was worried sick about Uvo, despite everyone's reasurences that he would be okay. Franklin returns with Uvos beer to kill the leeches and Feitan tortured the new location of the auction merchandise out of Owl. Hisoka left to meet a friend and Chrollo told the others that hadn't attended the auction that he was a traitor. They were furious but resolved to simply watch him for now and deal with him after the auction.
Shalnark figured out where they were keeping Uvo and Phinks, Nonbonuga, Shalnark, Machi, and Shizuku left to save him, Machi promising a still worried Ayami they'd bring him back. They arrived at the hotel Uvo was held at, disguised as members of the mafia and were led to Uvos room, finding him bound on a metal table.
"We couldn't get a needle into him so we had to paralyze him with gas instead." Uvos captor explained. Uvo smirked at the disguised Spiders.
'Clothes really do make the man." He snarked. Phinks smirked and quickly killed his captor as the others removed their disguises.
"I couldn't believe it when I heard." Phinks mocked, wiping the blood off his hands. "Never thought you of all people would get yourself captured." He said, making Uvo laugh. Shizuku used Blinky to suck the toxins out of Uvo.
"Okay, all done." Shizuku said. Uvo sat up, breaking the metal binding him to the table. He took a deep breath, roaring angrily.
"Damn it!" He roared thunderously, making the others cover their ears as the room shook. "I'm gonna find that chain user, and when I do, I'm gonna make him pay for this!" He declared angrily. Standing up and breaking out of the room. "Where is he?" Uvo demanded.
"I think he ran away." Shalnark commented.
"Probably because you were so loud." Shizuku agreed.
"We're heading back, our job here is done." Phinks said, heading toward the elevator.
"We took care of the Shadow Beasts." Machi added, following Phinks and Nobonuga toward the elevator.
"Oh yeah! And we got the treasure too!" Shalnark said happily.
"No way!" Uvo growled, making them pause.
"Huh?" Phinks asked.
"I'm not leaving til I find that damn chain user." Uvo declared. Machi narrowed her eyes.
"Well come back to the base first." Uvo started to argue but Machi held up a hand. "Ayamis worried about you." She said, making him pause.
"Fine." He growled, following them. He seethed the whole way back to the base but it all seemed worth it when Ayami jumped at him happily.
"Uvo!" She squealed, hugging him tightly.
"Hey Squirt." Uvo laughed, spinning her around. "Miss me?"
"I was worried about you." Ayami laughed.
"Nah, that red eyed bastard couldn't hurt me if he tried." Uvo declared confidently, catching the beer that Franklin tossed him. "Where's the clown?" Uvo asked, realizing Hisoka wasn't here.
"He went out, he'll probably be back soon."
"What are we gonna do about him?" Uvo asked.
"For now, nothing. We will deal with him after we complete our mission. Now, tell me about the chain user." Chorello demanded, putting his book down.
"He's powerful. Even if I wasn't paralyzed, his chains would have given me trouble." Uvo said seriously. The other Spiders tensed. Strength wise, Uvo was one of their strongest. If the chain user could give Uvo trouble, then he was definitely a threat.
"Did you get his name? What did he look like?" Chrollo asked.
"I don't know his name, but he was pretty young, probably about eighteen. He had blonde hair and- get this- his eyes turned red."
"That sounds like Kurapika." Ayami sighed.
"Your friend from the Hunters Exam?" Chrollo asked.
"Yeah. He's the last survivor of the Kurta Clan, he's sworn revenge on the Phantom Troupe." Ayami explained to the other Spiders.
"I'll kill that bastard." Uvo growled.
"Uvo!" Ayami protested.
"He's declared war against the Troupe Ayami." Nobonuga said seriously.
"I know but-" Ayami cut herself off, looking away. "He's my friend." Ayami said in a small voice. The Troupe watched her silently before Chrollo sighed.
"We won't go after him this time." He said, holding up a hand to silence Uvo's protests. "If he attacks us again, he's fair game. Deal?"
"Deal." Ayami nodded eagerly, turning her big blue eyes to Uvogin.
"Fine." Uvo sighed. He'd never been able to deny the kid anything. "But if he tries again, I get the first shot." He said firmly. Ayami beamed and hugged him again. Uvo ruffled her hair fondly, finishing his beer and reaching for another.
"Dancho, the boy's still a threat." Feitan said seriously.
"It is in our best interest to keep an eye on him." Pakunoda agreed.
"We'll be leaving as soon as our job's done, he won't find us again. But we should keep an eye on him. Ayami, do you know where he is?" Chrollo asked.
"I know he's somewhere in Yorknew, but I don't know where. We haven't talked in a while, but I can ask Gon and Leorio. Or I can call Kurapika." Chrollo shook his head.
"No, I don't want you talking to him. Ask one of the others." Ayami but her lip but nodded, and Chrollo turned to Shalnark. "Start looking into the Hotel they held Uvo at, see what you can find." Chrollo ordered. Shalnark nodded and got to work. He quickly found out that the Hotel was owned by the Nosterade family and showed Uvo pictures of their known bodyguards. Uvo confirmed that it was them and Shalnark looked into them at Chrollos request. Chrollo's interest flared when he heard about Neon's ability and he grinned at his Spiders as Hisoka returned.
"We may have to change our plans a bit." He declared.