Chapter VII

As Chrollo promised, they leave the church in the next morning. He does all the preparation on his own, while Valtiel is content by just watching him in the sidelines, studying his every movement. At his bidding, she agrees to stay behind while he acquires some sort of transportation for their use, in which case he brings back a luxurious dark limousine and parks it in front of the church. Valtiel then helps him load the Scarlet Eyes in the trunk, and then, sparing one last glance to her temporary home, she joins the Spider head inside the car and leaves.

They spend the entire day driving through the busy streets in the province. It is such a quaint, rural place, beset with cottage houses, antique shops, dirt roads, and lack of lamplights. Chrollo leads the car through the winding roads, ascending mountains and later descending to find a hidden beach. He keeps to himself most of the time, though at the sight of the beach, Valtiel perks up from her seat and stares wonderingly, giving Chrollo a mental note to one day take her to a proper beach.

It takes them nine hours of driving, passing through four small countries, to finally reach a metropolitan country known for its status in wealth and luxuries. Chrollo glances at his side, only to find Valtiel curled up and asleep. With a little shake of his head, he drives to an extravagant hotel.

Valtiel, grumpy that she is awakened from her sleep, immediately beams when she enters the state of their room. It is twice as spacious as the priest's chambers, and is ten times more sophisticated with its damask curtains, gilt-edged mirrors and windows, a set of velvet couch and table, and a wide television screen. She checks every inch of the suite, finding a kitchenette and a bathroom.

Chrollo, on the other hand, sighs tiredly and drops himself on the couch.

"What are we doing here?" comes the excited question from the young woman.

She goes to the glass door, opens it, and plunges herself into the balcony, hands flat on the railing as she drinks in the view of skyscrapers, flashing lights and billboards, with the late afternoon skies in the background. She breathes in and out, the refreshing feeling of being out here rather than cooped up inside some abandoned church overwhelming her. Then she looks down and smiles at the sight of other people walking by, their clothes so stylish and different from her own.

Chrollo stops resting and joins her in the balcony. "You like what you see?"

She nods, eyes still on the horizon. "Where are we?"

"We are in Lencasser, a small city in an effective country, on the far side of the continent," he answers. "It is rather known for its advanced architecture and sophisticated culture. We would do well to do our first business here." He steps back into the room and prepares the boxes that contain the Scarlet Eyes.

Not long after, a doorbell rings. Chrollo opens the door, only to see a bright smile from one of the hotel's servers. She pushes a cart inside the room, her smile ever directed at the raven-haired man, but her frown tugs upside down when Valtiel comes back from the balcony.

The server finishes her task and exits the room, but not without sparing a final glance at Chrollo. The Spider leader shuts the door in her beaming face and goes back to the table.

"Hungry?" He eases himself into a chair and offers food to the curious Kurta. He sips at his coffee, relieved to drink something hot after their nine-hour drive. His limbs are quite numb from all the sitting and driving, and his stomach is growling that he is almost impatient for a good meal. "Sit, Valtiel."

"What are these for?" She takes the chair opposite him and stares at the food laid out before her. There are some sort of bread and eggs, a lobster and shrimp in a fancy arrangement, a platter of greens and fruits, and a large tray for desserts.

"Are you not hungry?" he asks, halfway from snatching the seafood. "Because I am."

"I am hungry," she insists, and starts with the desserts.

They fall into a comfortable silence as they eat their fair share of the food. Valtiel eats everything she could reach, while Chrollo picks his food in dainty gestures with his small fork. Throughout the meal, he has somehow pulled out a book from somewhere to complete the ambiance. Only half an hour later did he remember something.

He sets his cup down. "I almost forgot," he says, rising from his chair. "I brought you something."

Valtiel watches from her seat as he pulls out another box from the stack of Scarlet Eyes. The box has a blue silk ribbon at the top, and he hands it to her with somewhat a proud smile. She raises her eyes to look at him, rather questioningly, while he gives her an expectant look. Sighing, she undoes the ribbon and pulls whatever is inside the box.

A black fabric unfurls itself, revealing a little black dress. She stares at the thing, then at Chrollo. Judging from his unceasing expectant look, she knows she has to make something of the dress.

And so she does. "What is this for?"

His gaze never falters. "For you. For tonight. We are to meet our client tonight, remember? I took it a liberty to myself to provide you with the necessary garments for the event. You would find the dress suits you."

"Oh."

"Oh?"

"Ah. Thank you."

"You're quite welcome."

Chrollo returns sipping his coffee and reading the book he found in the church. In his peripheral vision, he observes how the young woman responds to his gift. He hides a growing smile behind his cup as Valtiel seems to compare the poor state of her yukata from the expensive dress, almost perfect to a fault.

At length, she turns to him. "Why do I need this? Can't I go there like I do now?"

He shakes his head and flips to another page. "Unfortunately, you cannot. You must change clothes."

She pats the dark yukata she wears, still very stubborn. "What's wrong with them? Nobunaga-san gave me this on the first day," she reminds him.

"Indeed," he agrees, "but if we want to convince our client, we must look the part."

Unable to comprehend his meaning about appearances, she studies him from head to toe, noting the jet-black pants and long-sleeve shirt he prefers to wear, with his raven hair hanging down to his chin. Then she checks herself and her yukata, black with purple floral patterns, and still wonders why she cannot go as she does now.

"You should get some rest." He checks the time on his mobile phone. It is almost five in the afternoon, more than enough time for rest and preparation. "We have at least four more hours."

At seven in the evening, he shakes her awake and starts preparing for their business. According to Chrollo, they are to meet with their client in his specified location at nine, allowing them more time to eat dinner in another fancy restaurant, bathe, and dress themselves according to the occasion.

Chrollo is adjusting his black tie over his inner white shirt. He has pulled out his black suit and the little black dress for Valtiel. He hears her struggle with something inside the bathroom, and after fastening the white bandages across his forehead to hide his tattoo, goes to her and knocks on the door.

"Val, do you need help with something? Anything?"

"Just give me a second!"

He stalks away and fixes the cufflinks that goes with his suit. For the umpteenth time that evening, he hears something crash inside. "Are you sure?" he says aloud.

Another thud, this time against the door. Then it opens. "I'm done."

Turning around, Chrollo pauses and drinks in the view of her: dressed in a black haltered dress, the skirts brushing inches above her knees, and with her platinum blonde hair wavy across her back, Valtiel looks like one of those glamourous ladies he sometimes sees in magazines, only that his female companion is struggling with her high heels and zipping the back of her dress.

"Troubles?"

"This zipper," she murmurs.

"Here. Let me." He steps behind her and zips the back. He turns her around and smooths the edges of the dress, tugging it down so that it fits at the right places, accentuating where her curves are. He taps his chin, purses his lips, and tucks her hair behind her ear. "I stole some diamond earrings. Wear them."

"Of course, Danchou." She stands before the mirror and fastens the earrings, which wink under the dim light in their room. "Why are we dressed like this anyway? Where are we going?"

"I would disclose the information on the way."

When he deems they are finished, Chrollo grabs the large box of Scarlet Eyes and offers a hand to Valtiel. He locks the door behind them, and then walks down the hallway with the young woman uncomfortable in her heels. He has his right hand guiding her balance, pressed at the small of her back. In the elevator, they fall into another silence that seems so familiar between them already.

The drive from the hotel across the bright streets of Lencasser is a wonder, at least to Valtiel. She barely notices the presence of her companion as she gazes in wonder at the headlights and billboards that plague every streets. Every woman in the sidewalks is dressed in fine, glittering dresses, more glamourous than the last. She blinks at their appearance and compares her own, their gold, glittery dresses to her black one.

Chrollo pulls the limousine in front of a large building with blinding lights. Guards in dark uniforms stop them from proceeding further. After a hushed conversation, the guard offers to park the limousine for them. Chrollo agrees, sliding the guard a thick wad of cash while appearing nonchalant about it. He takes Valtiel's hand and puts it on his forearm. He smiles at her confused reaction.

He leads them through an elaborate entrance and nods to another group of guards and bouncers. There is a long hallway that slopes downwards. Other guests start arriving, dressed in luxurious suits and dresses, the gems in their hair and around their necks very tempting for a leader of a group of thieves with A-class bounty.

"We are to pose as a couple," he whispers in her ear. He has the pleasure to see the blood in her face drain and go to her cheeks. He keeps his hold on her tight and firm. "More convincing and it does not raise too many unwanted questions."

"You think so?" She shoots him an unconvinced look, and he answers with a soft laugh. She digs her fingers into his arm when they enter the main room. "What exactly is this place?"

"An underground casino."

Valtiel gasps and disentangles herself from Chrollo. As in the balcony before, she puts both hands flat on the staircase railing and studies the sight of strange machines with blinking lights and booming noises dominate almost the entire field. There are more people here than there are out in the streets, and they all wear varying outfits that are so different from those she has seen thus far. Men in black suits like Chrollo are shouting and laughing, while women in long, flowing gowns demurely clink their wine glasses and raise their gloved hands for the uniformed waiters. Near the walls of the room, she notices, there are small rooms that are separated from the casino by clear glass walls.

She feels a strong arm snake around her waist and a warm breath in her ear.

"Our client is the younger brother of Lencasser's mayor, and one of the benefactors of this place," he explains, his gaze following hers. "According to my research, this is one of the few places where illegal transactions can take place without legal authorities interrupting them." He chuckles. "Being a younger brother to the mayor does have its benefits, no?"

"I guess so," she mutters, nodding. Then she points to the rooms. "What are those for?"

"Those are for the transactions," he says, "where we are supposed to meet our client. Come along now."

Arm-in-arm, the alleged couple for the evening descend the staircase. Some of the guests stop playing to glare at them. Two newcomers whose simple appearances compared to their own seems more at home than they are. The men particularly ogle at Valtiel, while the women are giggling behind their jeweled fans when Chrollo passes by them. The noise resumes once the pair reaches the back of the room.

Chrollo knows where to go. He leads his partner before her curiosity would get better of her. A man, taller than both of them, blocks their pathway and sneers down on them.

"Business?" The guard hisses at Chrollo.

"Yes. I am here for Mister Gareth. He sent for us."

"Ah. Mister Eleison, I presume?" The guard checks something from his timepiece and nods to another guard standing behind him. He turns back for the couple, narrowing his eyes at Valtiel. "Mister Gareth expects you, though the audience with someone so important is only for one person. You never mentioned anything about bringing a companion."

"Mister Gareth never mentioned anything otherwise," the Spider leader counters in a pleasant voice. "I took him for his word that we are to meet at the specified place and time, with the merchandise."

"Still, you are the only one allowed access," the guard reiterates. "The lady will have to wait outside."

"Surely, you would not let a beautiful lady wait on men?" Chrollo pursues.

"Believe me." The guard jabs a fat finger on Chrollo's chest. "I will."

The atmosphere between the two men darkens as Chrollo starts glaring at the stubborn guard. Valtiel nips at her bottom lip and tugs at Chrollo's forearm, earning his attention and he gazes down on her, his eyebrows furrowed at her interruption. She communicates with him through her eyes, boring through his dark ones until he finally gets her meaning and chuckles in reply. To cement their act as a couple, he presses his lips lightly against her hair and faces the guard once more.

"Very well," he says with a sigh. "I shall meet with Mister Gareth alone. My companion would have to wait outside for me. Would that be agreeable now?"

"Yes, Mister Eleison." The guard frowns at Valtiel.

"I shall be back shortly," Chrollo whispers in her ear, more cautious now that he has to leave her alone. The beaming expression in her face is enough to make him on the edge. Without his watchful eyes on her, he has no idea what she might do in a place so foreign to her, especially to a sheltered Kurta. "I will make this transaction as quick as possible. Under ten minutes, if I can. Promise me you would not get into trouble."

She grins at him.

He is not convinced. "Promise me, Val."

"Yes, yes, Danchou." She waves him away, and the guard steps forward to intervene. She beams at him as he ushers Chrollo into one of the rooms.

When the glass door shuts in Chrollo's handsome yet frowning face, she smiles back at him and turns to explore the casino.

Chrollo lets out a long sigh, before composing himself to assume the identity of a confident businessman. The room is small and narrow, with only a set of couch and a round table in the middle. The walls of the room are made of glass, and he assumes they are thick enough to withstand bullets. He sets the box of Scarlet Eyes on the table and waits for his client, his fingers laced together while his mind racks about all the things Valtiel could do without his supervision.

The glass door opens and a tall young man enters. He smiles at the sight of Chrollo and reaches out to shake hands with him. His brown hair falls to his shoulders, and his eyes are blue and bright.

"Mister Eleison, welcome!" Gareth sits across the other man. His own blue eyes observe the other, seemingly finding faults to Chrollo's otherwise flawless appearance. He leans back against the cushioned seat and sprawls his arms across the backrest. "To be honest, I was expecting an old businessman. Some sort of a wizened crone, perhaps?"

"I might have given you that impression when we were talking," Chrollo replies, chuckling to humor his client. He stares at the man and gauges his character. "Though I hope I do not disappoint?"

"Not at all!" Gareth laughs aloud. "We are here for business. But two men talking over nothing is boring, wouldn't you say? We should have company!" And he snaps his fingers for his guards, and two seconds later, there comes two women in red skintight dresses sauntering inside. One approaches Gareth, while the other attempts to slide next to Chrollo.

"Ah, excuse me." Chrollo holds up his hand to stop her. She blinks and turns at her employer for answers.

"You do not partake, Mister Eleison?" Gareth muses, wrapping an arm around his woman's shoulders.

"No, I do not."

"May I know why?" The second woman crosses the room and sits on Gareth's other side, and his other arm stretches out across her shoulders, holding both women against him. He crosses his legs over the other, leans back again so that his brown hair does not cover his grinning face. So far, Chrollo is unimpressed.

"I would rather not partake in anything I am against," Chrollo answers evasively.

Gareth catches the implication and gleams. "So there's a lady then," he concludes. He removes his arms around the women and rests his elbows on his knees, leaning forward. "Did you bring her here?"

Chrollo's jaw tightens, but he answers, "Yes, though I brought her here for business."

"Business." Gareth laughs and nods, as if he has forgotten the reason why they are meeting in the first place. He gestures with his hands to the box. "By all means, please proceed, Mister Eleison."

"Thank you." And Chrollo means that. He has no time to waste entertaining women and the idea of talking about women. He is a busy man, one way or the other, and the fact that he has a curious Kurta on the loose only makes matters worse. He unlaces the ribbons and opens the box, pulling out three canisters of Scarlet Eyes for Gareth and his harem to see.

Under the bright fluorescent light, the Scarlet Eyes shine a brighter shade of red, so different from reddish glows from the darkened church a few days before. Gareth sits on the edge of his couch, bringing his face closer to the eyes, mesmerized by the way it floats and glimmers. Even Chrollo himself is mesmerized, never having seen them in a well-lighted room.

Gareth takes one canister and holds it up for his women. "See how beautiful they are?"

"What are they?" one of them asks, giggling.

"They are Scarlet Eyes," Gareth says.

"What are Scarlet Eyes?" the second one asks.

"Mister Eleison can explain for us," Gareth says, discarding the canister back to the table.

"The Scarlet Eyes are exclusive for the Kurta Clan, which is now an extinct group of reclusive people. They hide deep within forests and mountains to hide their eyes. The brilliant scarlet hue is considered one of the most beautiful colors in the world," Chrollo states by heart, having read these descriptions months before the Phantom Troupe even had the vaguest idea where the clan lived.

"Oh! They are beautiful," the first woman gushes.

Gareth chuckles indulgently, tracing his thumb on the woman's bottom lip. His blue eyes are glued to his thumb's movements as he asks, "How much again for these, Mister Eleison?"

"One billion for each pair. You asked for three pairs, then three billion."

"That sounds too expensive for some pair of eyes, don't you think?" Gareth croons.

"I had thought three billion would be nothing for a mayor's brother," Chrollo shoots back, the soft tone in his voice never raising. He leans back on the couch and smiles. It seems his statement has touched a nerve.

"Indeed," Gareth says grimly. He glares at the glass canister and taps his foot on the table.

The table rattles from the force and one of the canisters rolls and smashes to the floor, sending an explosion of water and shards everywhere. The Scarlet Eyes roll across the floor, setting their sightless irises up towards the ceiling.

"Oops." The brown-haired young man sniggers, and his women giggle with him.

It takes a breadth of patience for Chrollo not to flare up.

Gareth grins at the other man's set jaw and continues crooning. "How about that, Mister Eleison? One of them broke. This pair is practically useless. I do hope the price lowers now, hm?"

Chrollo tears his eyes from the wasted treasures to meet Gareth's arrogant smirk. "No," the Spider leader says in a firm tone. "Nothing changes. We have come to a conclusion last night. I merely stopped by to deliver the merchandise. Scarlet Eyes are a rare commodity. The price is set. Whatever you do with them afterwards means nothing to me."

"Is that so?" Gareth murmurs under his breath. His gaze drops to the floor, to the upturned Scarlet Eyes.

With a frown, he smashes his boot against one eye after the other, finding it hilarious to see the eyes turn into a white gooey substance. He grins back at Chrollo. "Whatever I do with them means nothing to you, is that right, my friend?"

"Yes," Chrollo confirms. "And that would be three billion Jenny."

"Perhaps I am not making myself clear," Gareth hisses, his patience wearing thin.

"I thought everything was already clear beforehand."

"Apparently, they are not!"

"No?" The Spider leader tilts his head to the side. "I wonder why."

The guard from before knocks on the glass door and enters the room to interrupt. "Sir?"

Gareth slams both hands on the table, rattling it again, though the two remaining canisters remain sturdy. With another hiss, he whips his head towards the guard. "What now?!"

Shifting uncomfortably, the guard points a thumb over his shoulder. "Miss Eleison is waiting outside."

No. Chrollo's mind screams as his sight follows where the guard is pointing. No, Valtiel, don't.

To his utmost dismay, his Kurta stands on the other side of the room. She stands with her hands clasped in front of her, while her attention continues to observe around her. Then, as if sensing his gaze, she turns around and her golden eyes find him. Her lips spread into a bright, satisfied smile; and Chrollo guesses that her explorations are over, and that her curiosity is quenched.

Then Chrollo glances sideways at Gareth; the other man ogles at Valtiel like a thirsty vulture, blue eyes wandering from head to toe and back again. When Valtiel notices his intense staring, and Chrollo watches the silent communication between them, she merely turns away from Gareth and waits for the Spider leader to meet her outside.

Gareth stops him before he could stand. "Is that Miss Eleison?"

Chrollo's jaw tightens. "Yes."

"Why would you leave such a pretty sight waiting for us outside? What idiot thought about that?" Gareth demands in a teasing voice, and the guard sweats and laughs nervously. He glances at Valtiel again, then turns to the raven-haired man. "You bring her inside and we can discuss your three billion, Mister Eleison."

"I am afraid she stays outside," Chrollo answers quickly. "She has no hand in this transaction. If you do think that letting her wait is disappointing, then perhaps we should settle the matter now."

"Oh, I get it." Gareth winks at him. "Oh, very well, Mister Eleison. I understand we already came into an agreement−sort of−last night. But how about we make some adjustments, no? Here's the deal: I give you your three billion Jenny in cash, and then I will give you another five hundred million for one night with Miss Eleison."

"That is not negotiable, Mister Gareth."

"Come, come now! Don't be such a prude! A smart businessman knows when to take advantage of a situation. Does 3.5 billion not interest you? Or is she too expensive?"

"She is not a commodity."

"Everyone and everything is a commodity!" Gareth laughs, winking at the two women by his sides.

Normally, and as a thief, Chrollo might have agreed. Yet this conversation has dragged on longer than what should have been a quick transaction, and his client's attitude towards everything is something he did not take into account. Somehow, Gareth makes even the worst Troupe members look like behaved little children.

"Three billion for the Scarlet Eyes," Chrollo repeats. "No more, no less."

"Three billion for the Scarlet Eyes, of course." Gareth smirks. "And one million for my hand up Miss Eleison's skirt. Just for a minute. Let me feel something. How about it?"

"Let me make it clear for you, Mister Gareth." Chrollo leans toward the table and rests both arms on the surface. He keeps his smile present. "Three billion for the Scarlet Eyes and five million for the disrespect for the lady. How about it?"

"No can do, Mister Eleison."

"Then we push through to our original agreement."

Gareth purses his lips, keeping his gaze locked on the man. Growling, he glances at Valtiel's direction and again finds her still waiting. Anxiety leads him to tap his foot on the gooey remains of the Scarlet Eyes. He glares at Chrollo, as if somehow that would ease things between them. "Are you sure about those terms?"

Chrollo's face is a cold mask. "Do we have those terms, Mister Gareth?"

Begrudgingly, the brown-haired man snaps his fingers and the guard comes forward with a mobile device. Gareth starts typing something and shows it to Chrollo.

"Congratulations on your three billion, Mister Eleison," Gareth says through gritted teeth.

"Thank you. Enjoy your Scarlet Eyes, Mister Gareth." Chrollo heads for the door. He narrows his eyes at the guard holding the door open for him.

As he steps out of the glass room, his companion meets him with a smile. He finds a smile for her as well, relieved to the bone that his torturous encounter with the spoiled brat is finished. It feels as if he has spent hours suffering the young man. At least he and Valtiel could leave now−with their money, no less.

Valtiel comes up to him with a satisfied smile. "How did it go?"

"Wonderful," Chrollo replies with a smirk. He looks over his shoulder and sees Gareth still glaring at them from the other side of the glass wall. He puts a hand on Valtiel's elbow and leads her away. "Come. Let's head back. It is late already."

"Did he buy the Scarlet Eyes?"

"Oh, yes. It was a hard-fought treasure for him."

"He doesn't seem happy about it," she points out, looking back at the sulking young man on the couch. His guards gather around him, and she feels a slight shudder run down her spine. She peeps up at the Spider leader. "Did something bad happen?"

He shakes his head, dark bangs falling across dark eyes. "Nothing that you should worry about."

They exit the casino and ascend the hallway that leads to the lobby. More guards appear to gather at the entrance doors, checking at all the guests streaming in and out of the building. Before they could truly exit the place, Valtiel tugs at Chrollo's sleeve, which prompts him to stop with her.

"What now?"

"I need to pee," she mumbles softly, averting her gaze.

"What?"

"I need to pee." Her eyelashes flutter when she peeps at him again. "Danchou."

"Can this not wait until we return to the hotel?"

She gives him a hard look. "Do you want me to pee in the car?"

With a suspicious glance around them, he sighs as a form of his consent. He checks his watch and nods to her. "Five minutes," he says tersely. "If you're not here within five minutes, I am going after you."

She beams at him and dashes off to the nearby restroom.

Valtiel follows where the hallway curves, leading her deeper into the building. Her heels keep clacking noisily against the marbled floors, and it takes such an effort to walk without scraping them. However, her heels are not the only ones resonating in the hallway. She turns to a corner and peeks behind her. A large uniformed guard trudges after her, his hands occupied by a long gun.

She quickens her pace and enters the women's restroom. She locks the door behind her, but as she turns around, she realizes that she is not alone.

About four more guards surround her, their black suits matching her black dress. The first guard following her bangs his fist against the door, and she gasps in surprise, pressing her back as if it could stop him from breaking down the door.

"Miss Eleison, right?" A voice echoes from the other side of the restroom. A second door opens from across her, and a young brown-haired man enters with a smirk. He winks, hoping to fluster her even further. "How are you doing, Miss Eleison?"

"Eleison?" She blinks at him.

"Oh, I am sorry." Gareth feigns a surprised reaction. "Did I assume that you are with Mister Eleison? I was so sure you came here with him. He was so very possessive of you back there."

"Elei−what?" Valtiel shakes her head. She measures his haughty smile and wonders aloud. "I don't understand. Are you not here for the Scarlet Eyes?"

"What are you talking about?" Gareth chuckles as he closes the distance between them. He puts a hand on the door next to her head and leans closer, trapping her against the door while his guards are watching.

"You looked so disappointed after your meeting with Danchou," she points out, unimpressed with his tactics. She raises her chin to meet his gaze with her own.

He realizes that he enjoys her fearless attitude. With a lick across his lips, his free hand starts to reach out for her. It starts from below, fingertips brushing against her knees, then to the hem of her skirt, creeping underneath the fabric. His grin widens when he feels the warmth of her skin. His hand trails ever upwards, tracing a long line across her skin and then−

A hand rips out from his chest, splattering blood between him and Valtiel. Gareth chokes back a cry, and the blood from his mouth bubbles in his attempt to shout. His blue eyes, wide with fear and confusion, darken until his body cannot support his weight any longer and falls back to the ground.

Chrollo stands behind the body, wearing a deadly expression in his hard face. He pulls out a handkerchief from his pocket and cleans the blood from his hand and forearm. "I thought I said five minutes."

"It was not even five minutes yet," Valtiel talks back.

"Either way, you are late." He frowns, deep and foreboding. "And you are not supposed to entertain someone else while we are on a mission. Why are you with these people?"

"I thought they wanted to talk," she says, shrugging. She walks over Gareth's body and inspects the restroom. The bodyguards are all dead, their heads twisted from their shoulders in grotesque angles. She falls silent. She never even saw Chrollo coming when he attacked Gareth. And now this.

"From now on, you do not leave my sight," the Spider leader rules and starts heading back. Then he double takes, pausing, and snatches something from behind a dead guard.

She tiptoes next to him, now a bit afraid to incense him further. "What's that?"

He chuckles to himself. "Gareth, what a fool," he says. In his hands, he lifts the two canisters that contain the Scarlet Eyes. He tucks them in his bloodied arm and offers the other to Valtiel. "You did well, Val."

"I did?"

"Yes. Now, let's head back."

Inside the car, they once again fall into the comfortable silence. Valtiel has the canisters nestled in her lap, while her attention is glued to the streetlights and street performers in the sidewalks. Chrollo glances at her and notices how her eyes droop in sleepiness.

"Did you get to explore the casino?" he asks out of blue.

"Oh, yes." She yawns.

"And how was it?"

"It was… wonderful," she murmurs and falls asleep.

Author's Notes: Here's Team Chrollo-Valtiel doing their first mission. Loved writing this one, to be honest. Val's so chill while Chrollo worries and takes care of everything. Such a gentleman. LOL. Also, sorry for the rather late update! It was my birthday on November 2nd and got wound up with some family dinner! I'm 22 years old now. Oof. So old!

*steph557 - Oh, thank you! The story takes place five years before the Hunter Exam, and Hisoka won't be joining until next year, so that's still quite faraway.

*xenocanaan-Thank you again for the review! With Val being independent, I wonder how Chrollo would take it. Haha.

*polarsky - Things will certainly get juicier when Chrollo wants from "alone time" with Val. XD Feitan is also very precious. That little ball of anger and bad grammar is one of my babies form the series. And thank you for the concern! I'll try to take more care of myself this time! 😘

*AwkwardBlackCat - Maybe hairstylist Nobu will make a comeback? And Omokage being "mildly concerning" made me laugh aloud! He's definitely one of the creepier ones in the Troupe. Thank goodness Feitan has Val's back covered! Yes, Chrollo, being the manipulative little bastard that he is, would take his time dissecting little Val for his curiosities. A gentleman indeed. 😉

Okie dokie! That's it for this week! Thank you for reading and please leave reviews! 💕