Chapter XV

"Danchou's been acting strange lately, don't you think?" Uvo muses.

"Like you're one to talk," Nobunaga spits from his side of the truck.

The eight members of the Phantom Troupe have stolen one of the vehicles and are now on their way to the manor located at the other side of the mountain. Yuan has taken the wheel, while Pakunoda sits on the passenger seat and cleans the blood off her pistols with a kerchief. The rest of the Spiders are huddled together in the back−seated as far as humanly possible−but still somehow scoot closer to each other every time the cold air gushes.

Machi's clear blue eyes are on the long line of grey trees they are passing by. "I think he's mostly concerned of how she'd turn out," she murmurs, white smoke fanning over her face. "Not because he cares for her as a person. She's just another plaything, after all."

"All those efforts of lying and rewriting memories for a toy?" Uvogin snorts.

"Well, it's been a while since Danchou played with someone," Feitan points out.

"The last time was with a detective, I think?" Phinks yawns and closes his eyes. He leans the weight of his upper body against Shalnark's much lither form. "Made him think twice about his morals. Killed him when the detective kept whinging about it."

"Whinging?" Shalnark echoes.

"Means whining, smartass." Phinks opens one eye and finds Shalnark grinning at him, obviously teasing about his choice of words. He grunts and nudges Shal with an elbow. "My point is: let Danchou have his way with the Kurta girl. He does seem so invested on this one. Not too meek and not too pushy."

"And she's not a whinger?" Shalnark asks, and then turns to Machi. "Is whinger even a real word?"

"I don't know." She shrugs. "Ask Nobunaga."

"Aw, man. I don't want to ask Nobunaga about things like that."

"Why not?!" The samurai barks, ready to pounce at the younger Spider.

Feitan curses under his breath and stands up, balancing himself despite the rugged terrain and the constant shaking of the truck. He drops himself on the seat by the entrance in front of Machi and beside Uvogin.

"I surprised she manage to survive this long," he adds to the conversation. "She should been dead three days after we left church."

Machi glances at his direction and notices him leering under his bandana. "As long as Danchou finds her entertaining, he wouldn't let her in harm's way," she says. She fights the urge to share what she noticed back in the theater, when Danchou was being gentle and caring towards the Kurta. The sight was unpleasant−and indefinitely odd.

"How long do you think would that be?" Uvogin asks.

"Don't know," Machi answers. "Could be a while."

"Is it a hunch?" Uvogin says.

"Yes, just a hunch."

Nobunaga stops nudging Shalnark with the blunt end of his sword's sheathe. "She might be around for a longer while," he says, scratching the stubble on his chin. "Danchou did ask us to lie for him about the memories. It would be a pain, for sure, but nothing we can't handle."

Pakunoda's voice comes from the front. "Get ready. We are here."

The Spiders fall silent as the truck follows a pathway that leads to the manor. From afar, the mansion looks like an abandoned palace with frosted stonewalls and battlements along the walls. The black iron gate, rusted throughout years of neglect, is wide open for the truck to enter. Yuan parks the truck before the short flight of steps. Then, one by one, the Spiders dismount; everyone is in their usual clothes.

Phinks brushes the snow off his shoulders. "So, where to?"

"Somebody should use En," Shalnark suggests.

"Guess that's me, then." Nobunaga takes one step forward and focuses on his ability. Exhaling a breath, his aura bursts forth from him and surrounds the expanse of the manor's abandoned territory. He sneezes then, disturbed by the raging snowfall. "I detected quite a large group on the second floor. And then there's a solitary one next to them."

"Good work! Let's go team!" Shalnark leads the way up the stairs.

Inside, the mansion is covered with thick dust and layers of cobwebs. The tiles are broken with web-like cracks across the surface. Some furniture is covered with white fabrics. A cold hearth has been untouched for what seems like years. The Spiders observe the surroundings with a thief's instinct: which could be stolen, which ones would make most money, where the other treasures are.

On the second floor, the Spiders proceed towards the large double doors at the farthest. They pause and look at each other. Uvogin and Nobunaga, taking their positions as the Troupe's front-line fighters, take one door each and fling it open.

Muffled voices gasp beneath their gags. Uvogin and Nobunaga stop from their assault and stare at the gruesome scene: a center stage at the dining room's middle, lavished with fine black curtains and silver ropes. There is an extravagant dinner laid out on the long mahogany table. Chandeliers flash brightly despite the mansion's dreary exterior. And−the two Spiders realize too late−that there are people tied and gagged on the stage, the scent of fear and relief strong in them.

The others join them, more surprised than repulsed to see a bandaged man dining on the table with naked women, men, and children gagged in front of him. Even Phinks almost retches.

"What the shit is this?" Feitan hisses, his eyes narrowed into dark slits.

"Who are you?!" demands the bandaged man. His hands fumble at something. Only then do the Spiders also realize that the man is indisposed in his wheelchair.

The wheelchair turns, as does the man, and shows his entire appearance for the Spiders to find disgusting: white bandages cover his entire face, with the exception of his beady right eye and pursed mouth. What little skin revealed behind the bandages is black and burned. He wears an elegant suit of purple, his necktie maroon, and his fingers studded with gems. His body ends with the blunt stump where his knees should be.

The man growls and, in his utter panic, presses a button under the table.

A door to the right opens. Cultists dressed in their black coats and pointed bird masks arrive, each one of them carrying a different kind of weapon. Swords, guns, spears, and even whips.

With a happy smile, Uvogin and Nobunaga break from the group to take care of the cultists. Pakunoda nods to Machi, who nods back and pounces towards the bandaged man. He screams and pulls out a handgun from underneath his wheelchair, but Feitan is immediately in his face, breaking the fingers that are holding the gun. The man screams in earnest, howling in pain. Machi lands behind the wheelchair and ties him with her invisible threads.

"Move, or you will get cut," she warns him.

"Too easy," Feitan scoffs and discards the handgun to the stage. The naked captives squirm away from the weapon, and squirm away from Feitan in general. He only sneers at them.

"We're finished here, too." Uvogin kicks the last cultist's broken body away from him.

Pakunoda cracks her fingers, and then kneels before the man. In this close proximity, she could smell his antibiotics and see the gruesome burn beside his right eye. Her hand closes in, holding him firmly around the wrist. The man flinches as if her touch burns him. "Where are the treasures?"

The man shakes his head, screaming. The threads make quick work on his skin, drawing bloody lines crisscrossing his body. "Wh-Who are you people? What do you want?"

"We want the treasures," Phinks says from the table, taking his pick of the food. "Oi, Fei! Try this one! I'm definitely stealing some for Val."

Rolling his eyes, Feitan joins his friend and starts rummaging through the dinner.

Shalnark crouches beside Paku. He smiles at the man. "We are looking for the treasure called the Armonia. Now, the catalog and invitation from your cult says the Armonia should be auctioned tonight. It turns out that you have been deceiving us with your Nen ability−which is awesome, by the way," he chirps ever so cheerfully. "So now we want the real Armonia. No tricks, no lies."

"Else we break every bone in your body," Phinks says through a mouthful of steak.

"We start skinning a finger, obviously," Feitan adds. "Peel off a nail, pull out veins there…"

"You get the idea," Shalnark tells the bandaged man.

Again, the man struggles. "The Armonia is not here!" he shouts in Shal's face. Machi hisses and pulls her threads tighter, cutting deeper into the man's burned flesh. He screams. "Please! I know nothing of the Armonia! The catalog and invitation are all lies! I only wanted to get to the audience!"

Nobunaga stops short from feasting on the roasted turkey. "The audience? What for?"

Yuan, who has been standing by the stage, hums in agreement. "I understand now," he murmurs, but it still catches everyone's attention. He points at each of the people on stage: the purple-eyed beauty from Fuen Desert, the princess from a sun tribe, a young man with milk-white skin. A pair of young twin boys, pale and exhausted from crying, are holding hands at the very corner of the stage. "They used to be audiences from your previous auctions, but you kidnapped them and auctioned them."

The man pants as he nods. "That's right," he says. "The Armonia is not here."

But Pakunoda's lips curl into the smallest of smiles. She lets go of his arm and stands. "I know where the Armonia is," she drawls, finding the man's nervousness quite pleasing to the eyes. "It is in his room, on the fourth floor. It is his most treasured possession."

"Awesome." Uvogin finishes the rest of his food and licks at his fingers. "Let's go. I'm stuffed."

"What about him?" Shal points at the burned man.

The other Spiders are on their way to the double doors again.

"Just kill him, Machi," Phinks says over his shoulder.

"Okay." And with a flick of her index finger on a thread, the man screams for the final time before the threads finally cut him into several uneven portions. Machi leaves the body limping on the wheelchair as she and Shalnark walk behind the others.

"Did you get to try the food?" Shalnark whispers in her ear.

"Actually, no," Machi says.

In the master bedroom, standing under the moonlight, the Armonia looks like heaven-sent.

Believed to be a skeleton of a young woman long deceased, various gems are studded on every inch of the skeleton, leaving no place that is not shining. Rubies, diamonds, and sapphires on the skull. Lapiz lazuli for the eyes. Amethyst on the ears and nose. Rose quartz across the mouth. The entire body shines with different gems that it is hard for the Spiders not to admire the masterpiece. This is their target item: the cult's pride and joy, and the bandaged man's wife.

"She died from the fire," Pakunoda explains as her fingers trace the outline of emeralds across the shoulder blades. "They were the richest couple in their country, but their enemies burned their house. The husband, Lord Ruber, survived but was severely burned and his legs had to be removed. The authorities found the wife all bones and no flesh left. Her jewelries also survived the fire."

"So Lord Ruber had his wife and her jewelries mashed together," Shalnark muses. He himself admires the varying topaz-turquoise-diamond pattern on the ribs.

"Quite creative," Feitan comments.

"Our mission should be complete then," Nobunaga says.

"Yeah. Let's head back to base. I don't like being out in this kind of weather," Phinks complains as he cradles his food 'take-aways'.

"What about the people on the stage?" Yuan asks no one in particular. "Shouldn't we release them?"

"Nah." Uvogin picks up the skeleton and its iron support. "The bastard is dead, ain't he? Those people can find a way to free themselves. I am not going back there to free them."

Machi nods. "Me neither."

Nobunaga raises a hand. "I second that." He looks at Machi. "Or wait, should I say third?"

Phinks and Feitan also shake their heads at Yuan.

"If you want, you can free them," Pakunoda says gently. Her brown eyes are always warm. "We will wait for you in the truck. You are our driver, after all." Then she smiles. "We'd have to wait."

"I should be out in five minutes," Yuan promises and dashes out of the master's bedroom.

Uvogin scratches at his belly. "Why'd you have to let him bother?"

Pakunoda just shakes her head and starts walking.

The next morning, Valtiel wakes up with a stinging pain on her skin and a burning forehead.

Her eyelids slowly flutter open. A blurry image of someone's hand pressed over her forehead is all she could make out. As if in a haze, she sighs and closes her eyes again. A soft voice speaks, but not to her. Then another voice, softer and calmer, answers the first voice.

Who? She could not think of anyone else who could be there with her. Her entire body is racked with pain and her skin tingles with a stinging sensation. What happened? Who are these people?

With an effort, she opens her eyes again. The blurry images slowly, carefully turn into focus. A dark-haired man is hovering over her. Behind him, a boy with blond hair. Both look concerned about her well-being.

A tear creeps from her eyes, slips across one flushed cheek. "Dad…? K-Kurapika…"

"What did you say?" the first voice demans, offended.

"Kurapika…" Valtiel repeats, her voice firm and stubborn. Tears continue flowing. She shakes her head, trying to get the pain away. Instead, the ache worsens, pounding through her skull. She thrashes feebly on the bed, and the effort of doing so makes her even more exhausted. Her arms go limp under the blanket.

After her little outburst, she falls asleep again.

Chrollo is careful not to show the offense and the anger in his face. His dark eyes are narrowed, venomously so, at the young woman's serene sleeping face. He leans closer, so that Shalnark would not sense the apprehension that could leech into his aura in any moment.

Reminding himself to act the role of the gentle character, Chrollo combs his fingers through Valtiel's bangs and lets his thumb brush the apex of her right cheek. It trails downwards to her lips, slightly parted for breathing, and then ever downward close to her neck. He gets the strong urge to wrap his fingers around that neck, make her take back the names she should not be remembering. She belongs to him−and no one else's.

Shalnark clears his throat to lessen the awkwardness. "As I was saying, I think it must be a cold. You said she was soaked with cold water last night, right? And last night was pretty cold. Oh! And Phinks got her food from the last raid."

"Never mind that," Chrollo says with a frown. "Val comes first."

"I could get something from the pharmacy if you want, Danchou."

"Yes, please." Chrollo turns to his Spider. Shalnark's usual cheerfulness is gone today. "Does this village even have a pharmacy?"

"I am not really sure, but it is a small place. We can find it in no time."

"Take Franklin and Machi with you. And bring the truck. It should be faster."

"Don't worry." Shalnark reaches for the door and looks over his shoulder. He remembers the conversation last night among the Spiders, about their Danchou and his precious plaything. He could see how much the Kurta affects the Danchou, even though no one really wants to admit, especially not Chrollo himself.

Once Shalnark has gone, Chrollo forces himself to relax.

A fire crackles in the small hearth. The curtains are not drawn, so that he could see the constant snowfall and the occasional gusts of wind and frosted leaves together. He has a small book on his lap, forgotten since this morning when he woke up with a feverish Valtiel beside him. His cup of tea, brewed for him by Pakunoda, has gone cold over the hours of watching over his Kurta.

He leans back on his chair and glares at Valtiel.

Everything is perfect until now, he thinks. Did I miscalculate? Did I miss an important piece of her memory, overlook an important detail? No, I did everything perfectly. I could not have missed anything. Her memory of her father and friend should stem from her subconscious. Then his glare transitions into a look of wonder and realization. His handsome face brightens. Is Nen incapable of influencing a person's subconscious?

He looks down again on Valtiel. Instead of feeling disappointment, he smiles and feels rather elated. One more puzzle to solve. One more question that needs answering. He should thank her for entertaining him for this long, for letting him experiment on her for the past four months.

She shivers and rolls on her side, facing Chrollo. Her lips move in her sleep.

For a moment, he braces himself to hear another name. Perhaps the name of her grandfather this time.

Then, she opens her eyes again. Chrollo leans forward and sees the tinge of bright scarlet dancing around the golden flecks in her eyes. His breath hitches. Would he be able to see her Scarlet Eyes again?

"Danchou…" Valtiel mumbles. The unshed tears make her eyes glassy, and the tinge of scarlet barely seen. It is still there, pale scarlet on gold. Mesmerizing. To Chrollo, she looks more beautiful like this. "Danchou−"

"I am here." He takes her hand and kisses the inside of her wrist, above the pulse there. "I am here, Val."

"Stay." Her eyes close, her breathing slows. "Don't leave me."

"I won't," he promises.

Not while you're beautiful in your Scarlet Eyes.

"I would never leave you."

Not while you are far more engaging than puzzles, books, and tests.

"I am here for you."

Until I have had my fill of you.

"For always."

Only until you are broken.

Shalnark and his group returns later that afternoon, when the sun is starting to set behind the snow-capped mountains. He delivers the medicine to their leader and takes a curious glance at the Kurta. She looks well enough, and Danchou also seems animated, for some reason. Shrugging, Shalnark leaves the pair on their own and joins the Spiders in the spacious living room, nestling with them before the imposing fireplace.

Chrollo gives Valtiel the medicine and continues reading his book. He is indulging himself with the fairytale story of the dragon-king and the knight. He has a small dictionary to help him with the words, until seventy pages later, when he has finally understood the basics and is able to read the narrative without a guide.

About an hour later, a weak voice comes from the bed.

"Hey."

"Hello, dear." Chrollo smiles down on her. He sets his book on his lap and feels for her forehead. "How do you feel? I gave you medicine an hour ago. Do you feel any difference?"

"Only a little," she murmurs. She notices the book and sits up, leaning against the headboard. Her head swims from the movements, but she tries to ignore as she braids her thick hair over one shoulder. "I had a strange dream, and an even stranger question. Do you have time to answer me?"

He finds her asking permission fascinating. He gestures with his left hand. "Do tell."

Her eyes stare at his face for a while, searching for a tease. There is nothing.

"What is Nen?" she asks bluntly. "I dreamed of the night when we stole the red dragon painting, and again of last night, when Jørn warned me about a Nen ability. What is it? What does it do exactly?"

Chrollo could not decide which one was worse: her asking about Nen or asking about Jørn. She dared remember the man who tried seducing her, right in front of Chrollo no less. It was to add insult to an insult, and he killed Jørn right where he stood for that. He supposed asking about Nen is inevitable. Being around the Phantom Troupe for so long could only lead to strange questions.

"Nen is simply a martial art that allows an individual to become stronger," he answers.

"You lie to me," she mumbles, her voice crestfallen.

"Why do you think so?" An eyebrow raises.

"Summoning a carnivorous fish to fight is not a martial art. Nor does emitting images from faraway places. And last night, I saw Yuan-san change his entire body to iron. That's not a martial art either." She levels him with a serious look on her face. She tilts her head to the side. "It is more like magic… or power…"

He caresses the bridge of his nose. "Comparing Nen to magic is the most ridiculous thing I heard."

She throws his pillow at his face.

"But, since you have seen through my lie, I shall give you an answer. You can decide whether it is still a lie or not." He lets the silence hang for a brief moment, before speaking again. "Do you believe that humans have a life energy that surrounds them?"

"Well, I did read something about life energy in a book," she says thoughtfully. "Something about an energy that animates the entire world, even the animals and trees, though the term and the nature is quite different between cultures." She tilts her head to the other side and blinks. "Which culture are we talking about, Danchou?"

Despite himself, Chrollo chuckles. "No, it is not from a culture," he explains kindly. "Though you are still right about a life energy that some cultures have integrated into their religions. But no, we are not talking about that kind of life energy. Nen−" He takes a pen and writes a symbol on the back of his book−"is manipulating your own life energy and use it to your advantage, as you see fit."

She understands the gist of it. "Oh, you mean weaponizing your own life energy?"

He nods, quite impressed. "As a matter of fact, yes. Weaponizing." He likes that word.

"Would you teach me?" She measures the sudden dark shadow crossing his face. For sure, she knows he would object to such a thing.

When he does not reply, and goes back to his book instead of answering her question, she feels irritated and forces herself to sit on the edge of the bed, her legs tucked between Chrollo's open legs as he sits on his chair. Her hands rest on the chair's arms, trapping him. Her voice is torn between pleading and demanding.

"Would you teach me Nen, Danchou? Please?"

Chrollo ignores her still. He flips to another page.

Her eyebrow twitches at his blatant ignoring of her. Valtiel narrows her eyes and leans forward, her nose almost to his forehead, his wild dark bangs tickling her cheeks. "Danchou," she whispers.

Mischievously stubborn, arrogant, and teasing−Chrollo remains impassive.

"Danchou," she says again, wanting to tug at his bed hair. "Please…?"

"Do you remember anything you said a little while ago?" he asks instead.

"What do you mean?"

"While you were waking up, you were saying something," Chrollo says softly, knowing that he is treading on thin ice here. Valtiel's survival depends on her next answers. "Do you remember what you said?"

"No," she answers, a bit wary of his enigmatic question. "I couldn't even remember much of my own dreams." She gulps. "Why do you ask?"

He smiles at her. Such a strange young man. Chrollo Lucilfer smiles and reaches out to her. His thumb grazes over her flushed cheek, his fingers curling around her tangled locks.

To think that he actually thought of stangling her a while ago for things she has no control of. To think that he felt threatened from the fact that she almost remembered her real past... He now feels rather silly for worrying about a dead father and childhood friend.

Chrollo gathers her pale blonde hair in one fist, cranes her neck open for him, as he leans down to plant a soft kiss on the hollow of her throat, just where the pulse is. Her skin is warm and creamy, smelling so much of vanilla. He kisses her there and pulls back, only to have the absolute pleasure of seeing her confused and blushing.

Valtiel puts a hand where his lips have been. "What was that for?"

"Nothing." He settles back on his chair, legs crossed. "Never mind, Val."

She pouts, and Chrollo has to hide a smile behind his book. "Then, Danchou..."

"Hm?" Finally, he looks up, though he blinks so innocently as if he did not notice her sitting in front of him with her face so closer to his own, close enough that their noses are almost brushing. He smiles his smooth, polite smile. "Did you want something, Val?"

"Teach me Nen."

"No. Why should I? You have no need for weaponizing your life energy." Then he looks back down to his fairytale story and flips to the next page. It depicts a colored picture of the dragon's black-and-gold flames and the armored knight using his magic shield to protect himself. "You literally have thirteen powerful Nen users to protect you," he says at length. "No need to worry about anything else. Leave everything to me."

She sighs and draws away from him. Chrollo glances at her, wondering where all the dominance went. He quite enjoys having her act domineering towards him. "Never mind," she mutters and stands up.

"Where are you going?" He watches as she takes one of his dark blue fur-trimmed coats and wraps it around her smaller frame. The sleeves hang past her hands, the coat's hem falling to her bare thighs.

"Downstairs." She ignores the constant painful thrumming in her head. She puts on a pair of knee-high socks and heads for the door. Then, as if a thought crosses her mind, she pauses and glares at him. "Oh, and for the record−I so hate you today, Danchou."

Valtiel reaches the wooden staircase and stands at the top. Below her, seated on the bearskin rug and warmed by the fire, are the Spiders in their fuzzy winter clothes. Everyone looks up from their card game, though only Shalnark, Pakunoda, and Omokage smile to see her up and about. She joins them then, more at ease around them now that the Danchou is ignoring her question on purpose.

Shalnark playfully shoves at Nobunaga and pats the space next to him. "Sit, Val!"

Phinks blinks at her. "You're supposed to be sick, y'know."

"You look rather well. How are you feeling?" Machi murmurs behind her fan of cards.

"I feel fine," Valtiel says, already easing everyone's curiosity. "My head still aches but the fever has gone down. My skin still feels like burning though."

"Because you scratched too hard," Feitan snaps. His skull bandana is around his neck like a scarf.

"It should be fine now," Machi tells the ill-tempered Spider. "I found an herbal balm for the scratches."

"Ew!" Nobunaga cringes and pinches his nose. He scoots away from Valtiel and hides behind Machi. "So that's what I have been smelling! Machi, your herbal balm smells like shit!"

She rolls her eyes and nudges him away from her. "Stop whinging."

Shalnark and Phinks snicker at the term.

Valtiel smiles at their warm familiarity with each other, feeling quite out of place among them. Her memories are still hazy, though she knows she grew up in Meteor City with them. Her grandfather is the Elder. Her parents died of sickness. She had no brothers and sisters but the Phantom Troupe. No other place in the world but with the Phantom Troupe. Yet, seated among the Troupe's founding members and joining them in their card game, she feels no sense of familiarity with any of them.

The constant banters and trash talking, the friendly competitions, the strange friendship of barking insults to each other but still end up drinking beers at the end of the day−that is something Valtiel does not understand. Chrollo always assures her that her memories would one day return to her, let her remember everyone she loves and cares for so deeply. She has scant memories of them playing together−yes−but the warmth and care in those memories are never present now. Instead of feeling like a family, she feels like an outsider, most especially when Feitan snaps at her, or when Nobunaga complains about her presence. Instead of being together, she is always left out to Chrollo's care, with the Troupe members none too pleased to be babysitting her−as Feitan once referred to it.

Times like these, when she sits among them as they argue and play games, she senses like she is intruding on an intimate friendship that the Spiders make her feel she could never comprehend. Whenever they glare or snort or generally try to get away from her as if she is a walking plague, it is always best to go back to the bedroom, sit quietly, and read books with Chrollo.

"Do you know how to play UNO?" Shalnark asks warmly.

"Um−" Valtiel already feels the dread. She is afraid to disappoint them, afraid to look up and see Feitan sneering at her ignorance. Perhaps she should have stayed with Danchou. "No, I don't."

Cue the annoyed snort from Feitan.

Shalnark's face brightens as he laughs. "That's okay! Nobunaga doesn't either! Here, let me explain the rules to both of you…" He grabs the card dispenser and deck from Kortopi. "Listen carefully and, Nobunaga! You should be listening to this, too."

Five minutes after the explanation, the game starts. The players? Shalnark, Valtiel, Nobunaga, Machi, Phinks, Feitan, and Kortopi−in a large circle.

Much later, Chrollo hears obscenities being shouted from the living room. He is not surprised that his friends are arguing again, but he is quite concerned since Valtiel should be among them. Why should his friends shout insults and threats to one another, in this quiet time of the night? With a sigh, he discards his book and takes his mug as an excuse to go downstairs and to the kitchenette.

He stands at the top of the staircase and blinks. The Armonia stands by the fireplace, its countless gems winking under the red glare. His Spiders are playing some sort of a colorful card game.

And almost all players are hurling threats after threats. Chrollo could not even pinpoint which one is complaining. Only he knows that Phinks and Nobunaga are the loudest.

"−Outrageous!−"

"−It's supposed to be green now.−"

"−Should be yellow. Go back to first grade, Fei−"

"−Never went to school in the first place, idiot−"

"−Some impressive bullshit. Draw four, Shal!–"

"−I'm hungry… Wait, it's my turn, Machi−"

"−I have some food in the fridge for the little kiddo−"

"−Can I have some?−"

"−Absolutely not!−"

"−I have a wild card… What should I do with it?–"

"−Choose red. I have lots of red−"

"−Okay−"

"−I said red, not blue! What, are you deaf–"

"−Sorry, Nobu-san. I didn't think you'd fall for that−"

"−You cheeky kid!–"

"−This game sucks balls!–"

"−Um, Phink-san, why does the deck keep on getting higher?–"

"−WHAT?! Kortopi, stop making copies!–"

"−Fine. Draw four, Shal−"

"−I hate this game−"

"−Yeah, whatever. I choose yellow−"

Chrollo Lucilfer has his full attention on the players, eyes on Phinks's exasperated face as he draws two more cards. The insults keep coming, though they all fall on deaf ears as everyone just laughs and keeps drawing cards. He taps his chin, quite thoughtful, as he watches Valtiel laugh in excitement and amusement along with the others. Apparently, in their game, Shalnark is close to losing.

He turns to Franklin, seated by the window again. "What are they playing?"

Franklin wrinkles his nose. "Something called UNO."

"Oh, never heard of it." Chrollo returns to the players and hides a laugh when Nobunaga, already pulling at his topknot in extreme distress, shouts another insult at Machi. "Looks rather fun."

"I wouldn't get close."

"You don't want to play?"

"Not with these idiots, no," Franklin says, with a hint of tease.

Back in the game, somebody already shouts "UNO!"

Machi stands from the circle of players, a triumphant gleam in her blue eyes. She has the gall to smirk down on Nobunaga's bewildered face, Shalnark's shocked one, and Feitan's uncaring one. She sidesteps from the circle and the surprised and sudden silence continues to engulf the entire lodging. Approaching their leader and Franklin by the window, she takes one last glance on the players' daze and smirks again.

Phinks flips the dispenser and the cards.

"−This friendship is over!–"

Author's Notes: Look who's back to update this story! Now, this chapter is a bit short while also focusing on the aftermath of their mission. The Spiders finally getting their treasure, some shenanigans, and of course, the ChroVal dynamics (no matter how strange and crazy these two could get).

What do you guys think about Val learning Nen? Should she go through it? Who will train her? What is her Nen type? And what kind of ability would she have?

And wow! I didn't expect for the last chapter to be received quite warmly! I worried that it was too dark and kinda mature for some readers, but I am grateful (as always) for everyone's kindness.

The reviews from the last chapter are, hands down, the BEST set of reviews that I have ever read for this story! I love reading lengthy reviews. I am always tired and stressed from my new work, but reading from you all extremely makes my day. Which is why I'm also updating this week because I love you all!

*xenocanaan - That's true; Val had no choice but to stay with theTroupe. Ooh boy! When Hisoka shows up, I do wonder what kind of storm this magician would brew. Transmuters are unpredictable and whimsical after all! And yes, Chrollo did kill Jorn out of his possessiveness. It's petty, but hey! No one touches Val but the Danchou!

*Dontcha - I was at work when I read your review and I'm telling you−I really laughed aloud. You think they have sexual tension now? Let's wait for a few more chapters. Who knows... Maybe Chrollo will up his game if he feels threatened again. In the meantime, you have this teeny bit of tension especially from me.

*Dear author - Awesome catch on the "Valtiel" thingy, with either Chrollo or Val figuratively worshipping each other. And I'm glad that you see Val as being good and honorable. It would take a lot of traumas to daunt her. Also, Phinks and Val, eh? Thanks for giving me an idea when it comes to these two! Haha!

*Amy - Yes, Chrollo is the Jerk of the Year. Now, I'm really surprised with the people noticing Phinks and Val more. Hhmmm... Is there something I should know? Kidding! But yes, everyone's relationship with Val slightly turned up a notch.

*Mia Mena - Thank you for rereading the story! I'm relieved that you find the characters' portrayal enough sincethe Troupe is certainly complicated. Now that you've mentioned the gentle Chrollo, I do think that his gentle demeanor is going to crack soon... Val better watch out. And thank you so much for taking time to review!

*PLEASE UPDATE - I hope you like this one! Haha.

*AwkwardBlackCat - lndeed, Chrollo is a bastard. If you ask me, he is a bastard of another level. He certainly loves seeing Val uncomfortable. And parading her off, definitely a plus! Just no touching though... Danchou doesn't want dirt on his precious plaything. Yeah, right, Chrollo! You're right about the Spiders being all proud and corrupting her, with Chrollo at the forefront of it all. And it's wonderful to know that you like the setup of the chapters. Made me laugh about things going downhill for our girl.

Okay! Now that that's finished, I just realized that I should probably start a GoFundMe for Valtiel so she can leave the Spiders and start looking for Kurapika. This poor girl needs a break. Who's with me?!

P.S. Thank you all so much for the kind reviews! Please keep them coming! 💕