Chapter 47

My suggestion was entirely beneficial to them and was quickly accepted.

“In that case, this is indeed more feasible…” Finks said, stroking his chin in agreement.

Feitan, however, warily suggested that I might be plotting some nefarious scheme.

“So, are you afraid, Feitan?” Phinks asked. “Have we fallen so low that even a woman like her needs to be feared?”

“…I didn’t say that.” Feitan said, giving him a terrifying look. “It’s just that this guy makes me feel very uncomfortable.”

I returned his smile with an innocent and pure one.

"You really think too highly of me," I said to him.

...

After that, Killua called several more times, trying to negotiate with Chrollo.

He made a deal with Kuroro using information that was essentially meaningless. Over the course of several days, he rambled on and on, spouting nonsense like "Chainhand really hates you" and "We're about to make contact with him." The level of perfunctoriness was self-evident.

Kuroro, however, did not expose him. He always listened patiently. When Killua was smugly thinking that his little trick had worked and tried to exchange information about me, Kuroro would expose him without mercy and strike back.

"It's so boring to keep saying things we already know." Kuroro left a terrifying threat in just a few words. "If this continues, I'm afraid there's no point in us talking anymore."

"...Hey, you're the ones who proposed the deal, and you're already losing patience?" Killua retorted in an unfriendly tone.

Kuroro smiled: "That's why we also have the right to terminate the transaction."

"We really haven't found that guy yet... Damn it, I'm serious this time! And when you expect others to do the work, you should at least offer some benefits! I haven't even spoken to Ray yet! If this keeps going on, it's hard for us to calm down and cooperate with you properly!"

Killua said this.

Kuroro shifted his gaze.

I looked up at him too.

In just a fleeting moment when our eyes met, I saw through his plan.

“Okay,” sure enough, the next moment I heard him say, with a rare show of compromise, “Just say whatever you want to our little friend who’s worried about you, Ray.”

Even at a time like this, he didn't forget to joke.

Kuroro can be a little childish at times.

"You can only greet me casually," he emphasized with a smile before handing me his phone.

I nodded.

Killua's anxious voice came from the other end of the phone:

"Ray—is that you? Are you listening?"

Time is of the essence; now is not a good time for reminiscing, nor is it a good time to bring up old grievances.

I tried my best to put aside the resentment I had harbored towards Killua and asked rationally, "Have you told them about me?"

Killua: "...What?"

"Did you tell your older brother or your mother about me?" I asked again.

“No,” he said.

Kuroro put his phone away.

"Are you satisfied now?" he asked Killua.

Killua struggled to say, "Just a little longer... let us say a few more words."

“I’m sorry,” Kuroro said, “we’re afraid we can’t offer that service for the time being.”

“Let’s get this straight,” Kuroro said again. “Our patience is limited. In three days, whether you’ve contacted the Chainhands or not, this is our only chance to make a deal, and it will only be for that one day.”

He gave a location name and told the Killua Phantom Troupe that they would be waiting there.

This is an open conspiracy, clearly telling Killua that they will definitely be prepared.

But if they want to take me away from the Phantom Troupe, Killua must confront this conspiracy.

I rested my chin on my hand, not worried about Killua's safety at all.

It's just that Kuroro contacted Killua. If it had been that stubborn and unreasonable green-clad boy, I might have genuinely felt nervous for the "Chain Hands" group.

But Kuroro found Killua.

It's that Killua, who has a history of abandoning me several times.

I remember clearly that Illumi gave his beloved younger brother an unquestionable order: always put his own safety first.

—If you can't win, run away; if there's danger, run away; even if you sense the slightest abnormality, be prepared to run away immediately.

Killua executed the instructions very well.

When suddenly attacked by Illumi disguised as an enemy, he would always jump away from me without saying a word, shrinking onto the roof like a frozen cat, his hands revealing sharp claws that gleamed coldly, his eyes narrowed into slits...

In the face of crisis, the greatest effort Killua can make is to keep a close eye on the enemy's movements before they attack him, as if that could save him from their clutches.

He would only ever stare like that.

Once the other person turns their attention to him, he disappears without a trace, like a cat with its fur standing on end.

“Maybe it’s because the sense of crisis wasn’t real enough,” Illumi is the guy who often pretends to be a bad guy to scare me and Killua, but afterwards he would defend his brother in a good mood, “Maybe he vaguely sensed that the person standing on the other side was his older brother, so he felt at ease leaving Rai behind.”

"...Do you really believe that, brother?" I asked Illumi in return.

Illumi stared at my face with his dark, cat-like eyes, which were like emotionless camera lenses.

“It’s not about whether I believe it or not, it’s about what Ray decides to believe,” he said.

“Then let’s assume you’re right,” I said.

Life is already so hard to bear, so it's best to just get by.

What seemed like a flaw back then has now become a praiseworthy strength.

If you're going to abandon me without hesitation like before... then I'd better run as far away as possible, Killua.

I'm not just thinking about dragging the whole world down with me.

Thinking this, I sighed.

But if Killua doesn't show up, am I really going to have to stay in the Phantom Troupe forever?

...

Two more days passed in worry, and Kuroro's companions, whom he had been urging, finally made their belated appearance.

The first person to walk in was a man with long hair tied in a ponytail, exuding a carefree and unconventional air, with a long knife hanging at his waist.

He strode in, muttering something under his breath, until his gaze swept across the room and finally settled on Kuroro's face, at which point he finally shut his mouth.

"Captain," he greeted Kuroro.

"You're a little late." Kuroro closed the book in his hand.

Two women then slowly appeared behind him, one on each side.

However, none of them gave each other a second glance. Like the men who came in first, they nodded to Kuroro as a greeting, and then found an empty spot to sit down.

"It won't happen again!" the man said. "I don't think I missed anything I shouldn't have missed."

“Not yet,” Kuroro said. “We have an agreement with them to make the first deal tomorrow.”

The man astutely grasped the key point during his "first time".

"Hmm," Kuroro said, "If nothing unexpected happens, there will be more later..."

Halfway through his sentence, he suddenly covered his mouth, seemingly lost in thought, for some unknown reason.

This thought process was so sudden, but no one objected; clearly, everyone was used to Kuroro's sudden outbursts.

The man with the knife turned and walked towards me. I sat on the steps, looking up at him, while he pinched his chin and leaned down to meet my gaze.

"Is this the girl they want to exchange? She looks kind of familiar..."

"Never mind, it's not important." He said, straightening up and revealing a smile that hinted at madness. He gripped the hilt of his sword, his psychic power overflowing with a terrifying mix of killing intent. "Now what should I do... Tell me, Commander, I've been waiting for this day for a long time! That guy's head must be chopped off by me personally!"

“It’s not time yet, Nobunaga,” Kuroro said calmly. “Before we can catch the chained hand by the tail, we must first tie his hands and feet.”

"Hands and feet mean..."

“Those two kids you know,” Kuroro said again. “I remember you were the one looking after them back then… right? But you let them escape.”

"Ah...those two brats...that's true."

“So,” Kuroro said, “this time, let’s make amends. Nobunaga, and I will clear away any unexpected blind spots for you. This time, we will leave them behind completely.”

They started discussing how to deal with the enemy again, oblivious to everyone else around them.

I continued to stare blankly, resting my chin on my hand.

I'm becoming increasingly worried about my future.

Only the dead can be trusted like this... What do they want from me?

This worry had barely lingered in my mind when it was quickly confirmed.

For some reason, Feitan, who always seemed to dislike me, once again cast a cold and terrifying gaze at me after the brief and swift war meeting.

“So,” he asked Kuroro, “what are we going to do with that guy after the first phase of the plan is over?”

Before Kuroro could answer, he added:

"We have limited manpower; should we really expend extra effort on her?"

Kuroro remained silent.

After a while, Kuroro said, "Regarding this... I'm afraid we need to consider it for a while longer. Rae's identity is special. Letting her stay for a while might bring unexpected benefits."

"In what capacity?" Feitan asked again. "Just as a hostage, are you required to stay by our side for so long without contributing anything?"

“Besides,” he changed the subject, “this woman may seem harmless, but she’s actually a ticking time bomb—”

As he was talking, he suddenly threw his weapon aside and attacked me.

I was startled and quickly stepped back, narrowly avoiding his sharp sword tip at the last second.

"...Such a reaction speed is more than enough for any of us to take that guy's life silently when one of us lets their guard down," Feitan concluded with a cold laugh, sword in hand. "While she's not a combatant, she's not an ordinary hostage either. Are you sure you want to continue leaving her like this? And with Shizuku and Machi, who aren't good at fighting, still insisting on this decision, Chrollo?"

“I won’t lose to her.” Little Drop raised her hand and said seriously, “We can have a match.”

No, I can't.

I don't like fighting.

Thinking this, I suddenly had a whimsical idea, turned my head, and glanced at Kuroro.

He showed a hint of surprise.

That's understandable, considering my previous persona at Adrian Manor was that of a useless young lady who needed several bodyguards to accompany her wherever she went, and who was good for nothing except being a crybaby and always looking for her brother.

"...You really overestimate me." Thinking this, I couldn't help but raise my hands in a gesture of surrender to prove myself. "I was only able to dodge a couple of enemy attacks. Like your companion Xiaodi, I'm not a combat type... And you didn't even use your full strength. Please, if you wanted to, do you think I could have run away? You were the one who went easy on me, so don't try to make me sound so scary."

“I wasn’t asking for your opinion,” he said, while pushing the weapon forward a few more times.

I leaned back, dodging slightly, and surrendered once more:

"Okay... I'm sorry, I won't speak without permission again."

“That’s for the best,” he said, squinting. “There’s no need for you to say anything more. Every word you’ve said has made me uncomfortable.”

"Have you made up your mind, Kuroro?" he asked. "What's your reason for insisting on keeping her...? She'll affect us. Someone who can remain sober in front of me after everything that's happened is no ordinary person. Can't you see that?"

“…I have my reasons, Feitan. On the contrary, why have you been so unusually anxious these past few days?” Kuroro stood up, his tone becoming serious, and asked, “You rarely question my decisions like this.”

“She makes me feel very uncomfortable…!” Feitan gritted his teeth. “Just seeing her is like being burned by fire, it makes me feel very unhappy! My judgment is not wrong, we should not keep her around.”

“It’s a pity,” Kuroro said, “but we do have reasons why we must keep her.”

"What reason?" Feitan asked.

Kuroro sighed.

"What—reason—" Feitan asked again.

“…Let him tell you,” Kuroro said. “Kart, do you want to hear more? You came back just as we were starting to talk about Ray, didn’t you?”

Another figure slowly appeared at the doorway.

A short-haired boy in a kimono, with his eyes downcast, slowly appeared like a classical painting unfolding.

Feitan's umbrella sword was deflected by the paper blade raised by his fan.

"What does this mean?" Feitan sheathed his weapon, his face grim as he stared at Kurt and asked.

“I hope we can stop fighting,” Kurt said coldly. “The person you don’t like is my older brother’s fiancée.”

"The wedding is scheduled for the second half of the year. Although the details haven't been finalized yet, there's no doubt that she'll become a Zoldyck... As one of you, my brother and I won't object to you using Sister Rae for your special purposes. However, apart from that, we're sorry we can't provide any assistance."

"The Zoldycks prioritize family. We won't deliberately sabotage your plans, but you also cannot harm Ray. That's an absolute prohibition."

His words were powerful and resounding.

"Is that so?" Feitan looked at Kuroro after hearing this, confirming, "Is that the reason?"

"Ah... not entirely." Kuroro's voice carried a sigh of regret. He didn't look at Feitan immediately, but instead looked at Kalluto first, saying, "Your appearance time was about what I expected."

"You knew I would show up?" Kurt asked, puzzled.

"Hmm, I made a guess, and I was right," Kuroro said. "Don't worry, even without your explanation, I wouldn't hurt Rae."

“Because,” he suddenly smiled, his eyes crinkling, looking even more harmless than I was, but his words were icy and calculating, “the last resort I need to make is to trade with Ray and Lady Adrian, assuming that the Chainhands will never appear.”

“I admit that before today, I hadn’t really considered things like Rai’s danger... I owe this to Feitan, who made me realize that she’s a little different from what I thought.” Kuroro then turned to Feitan and said, “But there’s no doubt that Rai has value that makes us worth protecting while we’re holding her hostage.”

“That’s why, Ray,” he said to me again, “I just can’t let you go, you’ve been special from the very beginning.”

This is the difference between expensive natural gemstones and cheap handicrafts.

A precious item that can be collected must inherently possess a special and remarkable value.

The tremor in his heart caused by her was genuine.

Prices are clearly marked, and there is no deception of the young or old.

...

At an inopportune time, I suddenly received these words that sounded like a confession.

If it were at a different time or in a different setting, I might have been very moved, but now, faced with Kuroro's "confession" that doesn't sound like a confession, only one sentence remains in my mind.

"You really are... as always."

For a fleeting moment, I even fantasized that the image he saw of me might be the real me.

In the end, all he cared about was the useful [Adrian], nothing more.

It's ridiculous that I actually regarded him as the perfect older brother in my imagination.

It's better to go back to Kukuroo Mountain and torment each other with Illumi than to place your love and dreams of the future on this guy.

At least in his eyes, once he said it, it was only me and only me.

除了对我和揍敌客相像的外貌有种病态的在意之外，伊尔迷的“爱”可是没有掺杂任何杂质的。

That's really boring.

I felt more bored with the man in front of me than ever before.

Once he stepped out of his specific context and identity, the aura surrounding him no longer captivated me.

“Kuror,” I quickly turned my attention away from Kuroro and instead called out to my close brother as if no one else was around, “Never mind them… It’s been a long time. Come over here, let’s talk.”

"What do you take this place for?" Feitan said coldly.

“You won’t kill me, and you need my cooperation.” I tilted my head to look at him and blinked. “…You’ve always wanted to ask me why I’m so bold and not afraid of you at all, right? This is the reason.”

“I’m waiting for Kurt,” I said, pulling the short-haired boy’s cold hand. “Kurt will protect me, right?”

...Yeah, right.

I had no idea at first that Kurt had also joined the Phantom Troupe.

However, I know that at this moment, in front of Kurt, saying this is definitely not wrong.

And that has proven to be true.

Because the boy's hand gripped mine tightly and firmly.

"Mm." He responded softly, while subtly shielding me behind him. "As long as I'm here, Sister Lai will be alright."

Perhaps fearing that mentioning only himself wouldn't be intimidating enough, the boy tilted his head like a kitten and then added:

“Dad, Mom, and my brother won’t allow this to happen. ...Nobody can touch Sister Lai.”

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Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!