Machi with the help of Phinks reset her shoulder. Rosabella pushed healing magic into it to finish healing it. She sat on the ground and wrapped her arms around her knees. Her forehead rested on her knees. She wished she was home with her family or with her friends.
"Rosabella, come play cards." Shalnark said with a smile at the girl.
Rosabella refused to look at him. He was the one who got her into this mess.
"Aww. I think she's mad at me." Shalnark said with a fake frown.
Phinks smirked "you were the one who told us about her. What do you expect?"
Shalnark shrugged and went back to his cards. Rosabella would get over it eventually.
Chrollo watched with amusement. He wondered how this girl would fit in to their group. He would need to keep her close and work on manipulating the girl to his side. It would be difficult but worth it in the end.
Feitan and Pakunoda walked in carrying food and drinks. They placed the food on a slab of rock.
"We found a stand that sold pot sticker plates." Feitan said.
The others rose and came for food except for Rosabella and Chrollo. Machi grabbed two and took one to the boss. Feitan stood watching the girl before he sighed. He grabbed two and walked over to the girl. She didn't look up or pay attention to him.
The others watched in curiosity wondering what the scary man would do.
Feitan sat down and opened one of the food boxes. "You going to starve yourself? That's foolish."
Rosabella raised her head. "I'm not hungry."
Feitan ate a piece of fish before speaking. "You need to accept your place with us. It will not change and, you only make it hard for yourself by not trying to fit in. If not us, someone would have found out. A mafia boss. A hunter who does not like you or holds grudge against your mentor. You would be a prisoner either way. If you had not left your island than you would be safe."
The man grabbed the other plate and held it out, "eat now. Need strength for later."
Rosabella sighed before taking the plate and starting to eat. It felt like her life was out of control. "Will I be allowed to get my stuff?"
Feitan glanced at Chrollo who was listening. The boss shook his head.
"No. We steal whatever you want or need. Get me list of most important. Girls will take you for new clothes and other female necessities." Feitan said.
Rosabella nodded her head before taking a bite of her food. "Will I be allowed to see my family or friends ever again?"
Feitan sighed before looking at the girl. "You have a new family and new friends. The Phantom Troupe is your life. We are your family. We are your friends. We are your life. The old is gone. It would be in their best interest for you to never think of them again."
Rosabella slowly nodded her head as a lone tear ran down her face.
Chrollo watched as a plan filled his mind. He had a good idea on how to turn the girl to his side. It would be a very interesting game. He always loved challenges.
It was starting to get dark as Chrollo rose. He glanced around at those around him. Feitan had convinced the girl to a game of cards with the others. Rosabella was ignoring Shalnark to the amusement of the others who were playing. Shalnark was obviously getting a little annoyed and was doing stuff deliberately to try and get the girl's attention.
"It's time." Chrollo said with a smile.
The others rose and moved over to him. Feitan had grabbed Rosabella's arm and pulled her with him.
"You know your roles. Rosabella will remain here with those not going. She should not be needed." Chrollo said with a smirk. "Those who are going prepare yourself. Rosabella."
Rosabella tensed and looked at him.
Chrollo smirked and pointed to some water bottles sitting on a chest. "Infuse healing nen into the water for those who go. They should not need it but it's better to be safe than sorry. Remember, if you don't do what your told than it is your family on clover island who will pay the price."
Rosabella nodded her head in acceptance. She walked over and took a seat. She opened the bottle and touched the water with a finger. Closing her eyes, she willed her nen to enter the water.
Unknowingly, the phantom troupe members were watching as the water started to glow white before returning to looking like water. Feitan walked over and took the bottle. He cut his hand with a nail before taking a small sip.
The others watched as the wound healed instantly.
Feitan smirked and reached out squeezing the younger girl's shoulder. "Good work."
Rosabella blushed and turned to gather another bottle to push her nen in. She needed to get a bottle for each member going.
Feitan, Uvogan, Manchi, Shalnark, Franklin, Nobunaga, Shizuku all were given a bottle of water. They left to fly in a basket held by an air balloon to the Auction.
Rosabella started walking over to sit down in her earlier place when Chrollo grabbed her arm. He gave her a tug and pulled her up to where he had been sitting earlier. He sat down and forced the girl to sit by his feet.
Rosabella pulled her knees to her chest as the man ran his hand through her hair. She tried not to shudder each time his hand ran down her head stopping at the back of her neck.
A few minutes later, a book was thrust into her hands. Rosabella looked up to see Pakunoda standing there.
"This was in the bag you carried. I've gone through it and removed anything you don't need. You can have the book." She said.
Rosabella took it and looked at the cover. It was one of her favorite books, Meg's Island by Willo Davis Roberts. "Can I have my flashlight from the bag? It's too dark to read by candle."
A look for permission from Chrollo and Pakunoda handed the flashlight over. Rosabella opened the book and started reading about a girl named Meg whose mother decided to pull her kids from school unexpectedly before summer break to go to their grandfather's lake house for the summer.
Chrollo opened his book and started reading while the remaining members relaxed.
Kortopi and Bonolenov meditated. Phinks sat there staring into space waiting for some action while Pakunoda started sharpening her knife.
Hisoka stared out the window thinking about what was to come before glancing around at the members of the troupe. His eyes shifted to his most wanted target, Chrollo. He would have the fight he desired.
A shifting from the girl at Chrollo's feet had Hisoka looking at the healer. Maybe he would take her for himself. After all, a healer was a powerful asset and he loved being ahead of his victims.
An hour went by when a phone rang. Chrollo picked it up with a smile. "Hello?"
Everyone glanced at the boss and watched as his eyes widened. "No Merchandise?"
The man looked too calm. Rosabella licked her lips wondering what the man was thinking. "Oh?"
Pakunoda moved forward and jumped up to kneel beside Rosabella. The girl glanced at her quickly but the woman was staring at the phone with a frown.
"No. There isn't a traitor." Chrollo said while opening his book, "and if you ask me Judas was nothing of the sort."
Rosabella stared in shock at the man. How could he say that?
"It's said that Judas betrayed Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. But to betray all of us what would one ask of the mafia?" Chrollo said with a tilt of his head. "What would the traitor gain by selling us out to them? Would fame, money or status be enough to satisfy any of us?"
Chrollo closed his book and reached out running his hand through Rosabella's hair gently with his eyes looking at her confused and concerned eyes. "Of course not. And that's not all that doesn't add up."
He pushed her head to rest on his knee. Rosabella's hand reached out and clung to the boot as she tried not to fall. He was not happy. She could tell.
"If there was an informant, the mafia's performance was pitifully inadequate." Chrollo said with a huff. "If they had known beforehand that class-A bounties would appear at the auction from out of nowhere, they would have had the Zodyacs there to guard or one of the more powerful hunters. The guests came unarmed which tells me no one warned them. Someone did tip them off but it was not specific. Someone high up in the mafia community knew something was going to happen."
Rosabella could hear another voice speaking but not what they were saying. She tried to discreetly put Gyo to her ears to listen but she felt a sharp pinch on her ear. Glancing up, Chrollo raised an eyebrow. She quickly released her nen and sighed closing her eyes.
The man started moving his hand through her hair amused as her body relaxed against him.
"When you spoke to the auctioneer, did you ask where the merchandise was moved?" Chrollo asked.
Pakunoda moved to Chrollo's other side and sat listening while coming up with plans to bring to the boss. They needed the merchandise.
"Did you manage to get the names of anyone who might know?" Chrollo asked.
Chrollo looked up with a large smile. "I see. And since the shadow beasts weren't called to guard the auction house, the theory that they didn't know we were coming is more of a possibility."
He paused before saying, "The question remains how did they move the merchandise?"
With a tilt of his head at whatever the person on the phone said, Chrollo smirked. "He must have a nen ability similar to Shizuku's."
Chrollo turned his eyes to Pakunoda, "With 500 people disappearing, they must have realized they were dealing with Nen users."
Pakunoda smirked at the man while Rosabella sat there trying to comprehend how 500 people just disappeared. It didn't make sense.
"Of course. Put on a show for the pursuers. A disturbance big enough to draw out the shadow beasts." Chrollo said with a huge smile.
He hung up the phone and looked at the others. "We will be having a guest soon. Rosabella, take some of the water and add your nen. Feitan will need it for interrogation of the prisoner."
Rosabella nodded her head. She started to rise when Chrollo grabbed her by the back of the neck holding her in place. She raised her eyes to look at his in confusion.
"Yes, boss." He said with a raised eyebrow.
Rosabella's eyes widened before she whispered, "Yes, Boss."
The man smirked and moved his hand down her head soothingly. "Good girl."
A light push and the girl quickly jumped down from where she was at to the water bottles waiting. She sat down and started fusing water into it.
The others besides hisoka joined Chrollo as he discussed the new part of his plan.
Something was coming and it would not be good.
30 minutes later, Rosabella finished and walked over to where Chrollo was sitting there staring at his fists thinking.
"I…I'm done, boss." Rosabella said with a bite of her lip.
Chrollo looked up with a smile. "Thank you, little rose. Tell me do you know what the shadow beasts are?"
Rosabella shook her head. "No, sir."
He smirked. "They are the best of the best in nen and fighting. They are recruited by the mafia of each country. The mafia leaders give them missions during the underground auction. The shadow beasts nen abilities all reflect on an animal and so their codename is an animal."
Chrollo stood and removed his jacket. He walked forward and jumped down to face the girl.
"How well do you fight?" he said with a tilt of his head.
Rosabella's eyes widened and she took a step back. "I'm no where as good as you or any of your troupe."
Chrollo laughed. "Yes. I'm sure of that. However I do want to assess your fighting to see how much training you will need to learn."
Rosabella gulped before speaking, "I'm ok. I haven't had much experience fighting others. I go for more the surprise attack than a direct attack."
Chrollo nodded and motioned to the girl toward a section that was open. "interesting. Pakunoda, referee."
The woman walked over and glanced at the two. "Prepare yourself."
Chrollo stood there with a smile as Rosabella took a fighting status. Kortopi, Bonolenov, and Hisoka turned to watch.
"Begin." Pakunoda said with a wave of her hand.
Rosabella launched her body up and started bouncing from place to place. Moving faster and faster until she became a blur.
"Where did she go?" Bonolenov said while looking around. The others started looking around while Chrollo remained where he was standing waiting. Suddenly, he turned blocking his head. A loud boom was heard. The others eyes widened as Rosabella's foot had connected with the man's arms.
Her eyes widened in shock as she moved to back away bringing up her own arms to block Chrollo's return hit that sent her flying.
"She moved so fast. I didn't see her." Kortopi said in shock.
"I know right. That is pretty impressive." Bonolenov said watching as the girl recovered from Chrollo's attack and started throwing nen influenced punches at Chrollo to injure him.
"She still has a long way to go. Chrollo is playing with her." Pakunoda said with amusement.
"Of course he is however is it very entertaining." Kortopi said with an annoyed look.
"My turn." Chrollo said as he vanished from before the girl.
Rosabella jumped to get to a window but Chrollo appeared behind the girl. He grabbed her and had her pinned with his left foot on her back and his right hand in her hair holding her forehead against the ground. The other foot was on one of her wrists while the other hand held her left wrist down by her head. "I win."
He moved back and offered the girl his hand. Rosabella took it and stood shaking slightly.
"Your good. Your power is raw and your nen could use some work. I believe I will take over your personal training while bringing in the others for help when needed. It should prove entertaining." Chrollo said with a smirk.
He took her hand and pulled her over to his seat. Putting on his jacket, the phone rang.
Chrollo sat down and pulled on Rosabella's arm to force her to sit on the ground between his legs. He opened the phone and listened as he started running a hand down the girl's head.
"Understood." Chrollo said before hanging up. "Chains, is it."
The others turned to look at him confused.
"Uvo has been captured. The attacker used chains." Chrollo said with a tilt of his head.
"What now?" Pakunoda asked.
Chrollo tilted his head. "We wait."
Elsewhere
"Who was it that called you? Did they give you a name?" Hunter Zabala asked in frustration.
The voice on the other side yelled out in anger.
"I assure you, I am doing all I can to find Rosabella. I have had no indication that she was dead." Zabala said with anger. "I will find your daughter."
The man hung up his phone and sighed. He held it up and called the one man who was invested in this girl. "Chairman Netero, I just spoke to the family. They got a call that Rosabella was dead."
The man hummed as he listened. "Yes. I assured them I had no proof but they are very upset. I'm not sure what will happen."
Zabala's eyes widened. "Your sending him?"
He nodded his head. "Understood."
Zabala sighed. "Hold on Rosabella. Help's coming."
"Any news?" Menchi asked in concern as she walked in.
Zabala shook his head.
Menchi glared at Zabala. "She was supposed to be protected here. What about the idiot who was supposed to hide her information?"
Zabala sighed. "He has been dealt with. Chairman Netero was not too pleased to learn two people had accessed her information before it was hidden."
Buhara squeezed Menchi's shoulder. "We will find her."
"I hope so. She is the strongest nen healer to have ever been born. Chairman Netero is very interested in using her. With the proper training, she might be able to heal wounds that would usually kill someone once she is older. We have to find her." Zabala said with a look.
Buhara and Menchi shared a look. They had to find her for the greater good.