Gon had never felt so feeble and famished in his life. Chrollo's strange nen ritual had drained him to the core. Shalnark had to help him to the kitchen. At first, he scowled at the idea of receiving help from one of them, until he thought back to that image of Killua. Compared to that, this was nothing. So, he had reluctantly accepted the blonde Spider's shoulder.

"In here," said Shalnark, as he opened the door and led them in. The aroma assaulted Gon's nose before he even entered the room. Shalnark sat him at the round wooden table in the center, and scurried to the three dozen or more white pizza boxes stacked upon the grey stone counter. Shizuku and Machi, who had also joined them, sat on either side of him. Aside from the pizza, and the assortments of beer and soda lying on the countertop, nothing about this room screamed "kitchen" to Gon. It was just as grey, decrepit and disheveled as the rest of the building.

"Which one do you like Gon?" Shalnark checked through the boxes.

"Just mushrooms," He groaned. Gon knew they had them. Even now, his nose was able to distinguish their smell.

"Let's see." After a few moments of fumbling with the boxes, Shalnark put down a large pie, topped with brown shiitake mushrooms, in front of the boy. "Here you go!" Without moments delay, Gon dug in. It was hard to say whether it was because of his starved stomach, but it was the best bite of food he had ever had.

Shalnark looked to the girls. "What about you two? Do you still want cheese Shizuku?"

The glasses girl nodded and Machi replied, "I'll just have Gon's." She looked at him. "If that's okay with you."

The boy could only nod with his mouth full.

After satisfying Shizuku, Shalnark joined them at the table, and looked at Gon. "So, what did the boss do to you Gon?" The girls peered at him with sudden interest.

"I dunno" Gon mumbled. "He said it would make me stronger."

"An ability to make someone stronger...?" Machi picked up a slice from Gon's side.

"I didn't even know the boss had something like that," said Shizuku in her deadpan voice. She took a gargantuan first bite out of her cheese pizza.

"I don't think anyone did," mused Shalnark.

Gon swallowed. "Will your boss let Killua go, like he promised?" Machi narrowed her eyes at him.

"He's your boss now too Gon," replied Shalnark, his voice lively as ever. "I wouldn't worry about it. The boss has never gone back on his word."

"I can attest to that," added Machi focusing her attention back on her food.

Gon studied his half-eaten slice, and thought about his short time with Chrollo. Even if the man had honestly told him, that they were here forever, he still would have done everything he asked, for his friend's sake. And Chrollo had to know that. He had no reason to lie. Neither had these two. He allowed himself to hope. Gon changed the topic. "The treasure, did you steal all of it? It wasn't there before..." It was at least good to know what was happening outside. He had no idea how many days the Troupe had held them captive.

"We thought we did," said Shizuku as she devoured her forth slice. "But apparently there's some more."

"The mafia was smart enough to hold on to its best pieces," Shalnark explained. "Those will be sold at some secret auction in the city. At least according to Fei and Paku's interrogations of some goons." He sighed. "The problem is, no one knows where."

Gon thought for a moment. "They're still doing the auction?"

Shalnark smiled. "The mafia is stubborn. They don't like to be bested as they have. Those same goons said they're calling in all favors. More assassins. Bounty hunters. Even the Hunter Association is sending in some of their best. All for us."

"I'm sure that chain bastard will be there too," murmured Machi. She was still nibbling at her first slice.

Shalnark continued, "The boss hired one of the Zoldycks to kill the ten Dons. And we faked our deaths and escaped with the treasure. That was supposed to be the end of everything...everything except for the chain user anyway. But it turns out, it's not so easy to kill the leaders of the underworld. The Dons pulled the same trick on us. And now they've laid this trap with the last of their treasure."

"And you're planning on stealing it anyway?" asked Gon, almost choking on his food.

"Of course! We always planned on stealing all of the treasure." Shalnark's face beamed with pride.

Shizuku wiped her mouth. "I'm curious what's so special about those pieces they kept to themselves."

"I doubt it's anything as special as they claim," said Machi.

Shalnark studied Gon from across the table. "That's where my confusion comes in Gon. Despite all this, I didn't expect the boss to find a replacement for Uvo too." He pointed at him. "He must be really interested in you."

Gon shuddered at Shalnark's final comment. It just reminded him of Hisoka. If the boss was anything like that clown, then he had even more reason to quickly find a way for both of them to escape. Where is Hisoka anyway?

"About that," said Shizuku now taking a slice from Gon's pie. Hers had mysteriously disappeared. "He doesn't seem like Uvo at all to me."

"He doesn't have to be," retorted Machi.

"Well don't let Nobunaga hear you say that," laughed Shalnark. His face contorted. "Speak of th -"

"Gon!"

Gon turned and scowled when he recognized the man in the doorway. It was the swordsman he and Killua had escaped. Thinking back, it couldn't have been more than a week, but now that seemed like a distant memory.

"So you agreed to join!" Nobunaga had an expression of sheer delight.

"Only because of Killua," Gon muttered with his mouth full. The Spiders were very good at ignoring that part.

"I will admit, it was pretty impressive how you two managed to escape me." Nobunaga opened a can of beer from the counter. "Too bad Phinks and Feitan ran into to you before you could get home."

Gon sighed in frustration. Nobunaga eyed him as he drowned his beer. "I heard the Boss did something special to you Gon."

"Yea it almost killed him," Shalnark blurted.

"No it didn't!" Gon glared at him.

"In that case, Gon." Nobunaga fixed his finger on the boy. "Me and you! Tomorrow. In the back courtyard. Let's say...at twelve." He threw his finished can in the trash and opened another.

"To do what?"

"To spar, what else? I have to see firsthand what the boss did to you."

Gon studied Nobunaga's sword in thought. Whatever Chrollo had given him, he had thought best to hide. But this could be his chance to test his new strength. And see what Nobunaga, one of the Spiders, could really do. Gon felt his heart racing. He clenched his fist. "Fine! I'll kick your ass!"

Nobunaga grinned. "Good. Don't be late." He began to make his way out the door, until he stopped and looked back at the boy. "Oh yea, Phinks and Feitan were looking for you. Something about clothes." The swordsman gave a little wave before disappearing from the kitchen.

"Must be the clothes the Boss was talking about Gon," reminded Shalnark.

"I know!"