Chapter 75 New Life 08 Greed Island

The morning sunlight streamed through the windows of the wooden house, waking Ayana.

She opened her eyes and felt the even breathing and warm body temperature coming from beside her; Kuroro's sleeping profile was right next to her.

Recalling the chaos and intimacy of the previous night, Ayana's cheeks flushed slightly, but her heart was filled with an unprecedented sense of peace and warmth.

She looked carefully at Kuroro's sleeping face, reaching out to touch him, but suddenly heard a familiar voice coming from outside the door.

"Sister Ayana! Are you awake? We've come to play with you!"

It was Xiao Jie's voice, accompanied by light footsteps that grew closer and closer.

Almost simultaneously, Kuroro also opened his eyes. His dark eyes were slightly hazy when he first woke up, but they quickly regained their clarity.

He had obviously heard the noise outside, but he didn't react. He just lazily curled the corners of his mouth, his arm still naturally wrapped around Ayana's waist.

"Looks like we have guests." Kuroro's voice was hoarse from the early morning.

Before Ayana could figure out how to respond, the sound of Gon and Killua arriving at the door of the cabin could be heard from outside the not-so-soundproof door.

"Ayana, are we coming in?" Xiao Jie said, seemingly about to push the door open.

At this critical moment, Kuroro calmly sat up, casually grabbed some scattered clothes from the side and put them on, his movements elegant and composed.

He gave Ayana a reassuring look, then walked over and unlatched the door.

The door creaked open.

Outside the door, Gon, who was about to knock, and Killua, who had his hands in his pockets, both froze.

They stared at the black-haired man they had never seen before, their faces full of questions.

"Who are you...?" Xiao Jie blinked his big eyes and asked curiously first.

Kuroro stood in the doorway, his figure blocking most of the view inside, but he did not completely conceal Ayana behind him.

With a calm expression, he replied naturally, "Hello."

“Friend?” Killua raised an eyebrow, his silver hair shimmering in the sunlight. His sharp gaze swept over Chrollo before trying to look into the room. “I’ve never heard her mention her.”

At this moment, Ayana also composed herself and walked to Kuroro's side, with a faint blush on her face.

"Good morning, Gon, Killua." She greeted them a little shyly.

Kuroro naturally stood beside Ayana, calmly looking at the two boys: "My name is Kuroro."

"Kuroro?" Gon repeated the name, seemingly trying to recall.

Killua's gaze sharpened; he seemed to sense something extraordinary about the man before him.

Kuroro didn't wait for them to guess, but instead said frankly, "I am the leader of the Phantom Troupe."

"The Phantom Troupe?!" Gon and Killua exclaimed in unison, genuinely shocked this time.

They had clearly heard of the name and, even if they didn't fully understand all of its activities, knew it was an extremely special group.

Xiao Jie's eyes widened, filled with curiosity rather than fear. As if remembering something, he spoke rapidly, "I know you. You are the most famous theater troupe in the world. It is said that you were formed by a group of young people who are already touring the world at such a young age!"

Killua, arms crossed, pursed his lips and added, "Moreover, the media's assessment of you is quite unique. They say you're elusive, ridiculously strong, and sometimes even stand up for what's right without fear of killing."

He paused, seemingly finding it somewhat unbelievable: "And occasionally he would do some strange things that seemed to have no benefit whatsoever, or even seemed like he was doing something out of a sense of justice."

"For example, a few years ago, a small country was hit by a plague. You forcibly broke through the blockade and sent in the crucial medicines without taking a penny."

Kuroro listened quietly as the two boys pieced together information about the Phantom Troupe, his face showing no change in expression whether he was being praised or exposed; he simply answered calmly.

“We pursue what we believe to be valuable and follow what we believe in. Value does not only refer to money or power.”

His gaze swept over Gon and Killua, as if looking through them at something further away: "The world is vast, and there are many interesting things. Things bound by worldly rules often need to be accessed in a different way. We have simply chosen our own way to explore and collect them."

"What about the performance?" Gon suddenly remembered what Kuroro had mentioned earlier, "How did you guys manage to become world-famous at such a young age?!"

Kuroro's lips seemed to curve into an elusive smile: "Our performances are not open to everyone. Only occasionally, in a corner of a city, we will forcibly bring some audience members here and improvise a play that only a specific audience can understand."

"Moreover, our performance incorporates real life, making it extremely rare and unique, which is perhaps why it has attracted so much attention."

He glanced at Ayana and said, "Sometimes, life itself is a grand performance, and the key is how you play your role."

Killua astutely grasped the key point, his silver-blue eyes fixed on Chrollo: "So, you're essentially still a bunch of capricious thieves, only you're tasteful, principled, and even a bit romantic thieves?"

This conclusion surprised even him.

Kuroro did not deny it, but simply replied, "The label was given by outsiders. We are just the Phantom Troupe, nothing more."

Gon processed this information, glanced at Chrollo, then at Ayana standing beside him with a complicated expression, and seemed to understand something.

He scratched his head and asked directly, "Mr. Kuroro, are you here to see Ayana because you want to collect her as a treasure?"

The question was so direct that it made Ayana's heart skip a beat.

Kuroro turned to Ayana, and this time, his gaze was no longer calm and unwavering, but rather carried an unmistakable focus and tenderness.

He answered Xiao Jie, but his gaze never left Ayana.

“No, she’s different.” His voice was deep and firm. “Ayana is the one I chose, the one I want to walk alongside.”

These candid and sincere words not only made Ayana blush, but also plunged Gon and Killua into a brief silence.

They could sense that Kuroro's words were not untrue.

Killua snorted, accepting the explanation for the time being: "As long as your Phantom Troupe's activities do not affect Whale Island or harm the people here, we have no interest in interfering."

He looked at Ayana, his eyes questioning.

Ayana took a deep breath, nodded gently to Gon and Killua, and conveyed the message in her eyes, "Please believe me, and believe him too."

The sun was still shining brightly, and the sea breeze was still gentle.

The four people standing in front of the wooden house had different identities and thoughts, but a brief peace seemed to have been achieved at this moment.

After that, Kuroro seemed to truly prioritize Ayana's wishes, and instead of trying to change Ayana's simple lifestyle, he integrated into it with surprising adaptability.

He would sometimes accompany Ayana to help out at the bakery.

While Ayana was kneading dough in the kitchen, Kuroro would sit quietly in a corner, holding a thick ancient book that he had somehow acquired and reading.

His quiet demeanor, so out of place with his surroundings, initially made the bakery owner a little reserved.

But seeing that Kuroro was always gentle and polite, and even occasionally helped carry some heavy flour sacks, they gradually got used to this quiet but very knowledgeable young man.

When Ayana bent down to pick herbs, he would also squat down to help her weed.

Sometimes, Ayana would look up and meet his focused gaze. They would smile at each other, and the air would be filled with an unspoken understanding and warmth.

Gon and Killua remain regulars.

Their curiosity about Kuroro had not diminished, but the previous frank conversation had eliminated most of their hostility.

Gon would even enthusiastically ask Chrollo about strange and wonderful things happening in the outside world, and Chrollo would always give some unexpected yet fascinating insights.

These insights often transcend ordinary understanding, offering a unique perspective from the Phantom Troupe.

Killua, on the other hand, spent most of his time observing—observing Chrollo and Aiana's interactions, and observing Chrollo himself.

He had to admit that, although the man possessed a complex and dangerous charm, at least for now, his affection for Ayana seemed genuine.

Sometimes, the four of them would take a walk together on the beach.

As the sun sets, Gon and Killua run ahead, chasing the waves, trying to catch the crabs crawling on the beach.

Ayana and Chrollo followed behind, walking slowly.

Kuroro would naturally take Ayana's hand, their fingers intertwined, listening to the boys' energetic chatter and watching the magnificent view where the sea and sky met.

These ordinary yet heartwarming moments represent a happiness that Ayana had never dared to hope for before.

For Kuroro, it was perhaps an unprecedented and peaceful experience.

However, peaceful days always pass quickly, and a young person's footsteps cannot linger on the same shore for long.

One evening, as the four were chatting as usual in front of Ayana's cabin, Xiao Jie, with barely suppressed excitement, announced some news.

"Killua and I may have to leave Whale Island for a while!"

Ayana was somewhat surprised: "Leave? Where are you going?"

Killua chimed in, his silver hair fluttering slightly in the evening breeze: "We've received some very interesting news; we're going to a game world."

"A game?" Ayana asked, puzzled.

Xiao Jie lowered his voice, sounding even more mysterious: "It's said that this game is related to my dad!"

Kuroro listened quietly from the side.

When he heard "a real world constructed with Nen abilities," a faint glimmer of interest flashed in his deep black eyes.

Killua explained, "It's not just a game console. It's a materialized world that requires specific conditions and qualifications to enter."

"It's said that you can get huge rewards for completing the game, and maybe even have your wishes granted, but for us, what's more important is that this might be the key to finding Xiao Jie's father."

Xiao Jie's excitement was palpable: "We've decided to go! We absolutely have to find a way into the game! This is an adventure like no other!"

Ayana listened to Gon and Killua's descriptions and a thought struck her.

A completely real world constructed using Nen abilities?

This sounds so unusual, yet somehow familiar.

The system that had pulled her back from the brink of death on the Dark Continent and then put her into a deep sleep for several years flashed through her mind.

Isn't that system also some kind of supernatural force?

For some reason, Ayana felt that this Greed Island was connected to her system.

Kuroro keenly noticed the change in her expression and the unspoken words she seemed to have. He turned to look at her and asked softly, "What are you thinking about?"

Ayana raised her head, her gaze sweeping over Gon and Killua's expectant faces before finally settling on Chrollo's deep eyes.

She took a deep breath and made her decision.

"Killua, Gon, I want to go with you."

Gon and Killua were both stunned.

"Sister Ayana, are you going too?" Xiao Jie asked in surprise. "But, I heard it's very dangerous there..."

“I know.” Ayana nodded, her hands unconsciously clenching. “But I have a reason to go.”

She looked at Kuroro, and although she didn't say anything, her meaning was fully expressed.

“I understand.” Kuroro spoke slowly, his voice steady yet carrying an undeniable sense of support. “I’ll go with you.”

He turned to Gon and Killua, his tone returning to its usual calm: "It seems your team will need to temporarily add two more members."

Xiao Jie was surprised at first, then his face lit up with a big smile: "Great! If you guys come along, the adventure will definitely be more fun! And Mr. Kuroro knows so much, he'll definitely be a great help!"

Killua glanced at the determination in Ayana's eyes, then at Chrollo's obviously made-up decision, and shrugged: "Whatever, but let's make this clear beforehand: once we're in the game, it's all about skill. We won't be teaming up all the time."

"Of course." Kuroro nodded, having no objection.

The Phantom Troupe is accustomed to acting independently, and even when traveling together temporarily, they maintain their individual independence.

Ayana looked at Kuroro, and a warm feeling welled up in her heart.

His support was so natural, as if he would respond the same way no matter where she chose to go.

This unwavering support made her feel more at ease than any sweet words.

"Thank you," she whispered to Kuroro.

The goal was thus set.

Finding a way to enter Greed Island became their next shared task.

Gon and Killua shared all the information they had at the moment, including rumors about the game and clues about possibly acquiring the game console or finding a way to enter.

The peaceful life on Whale Island is about to be replaced by an adventure full of unknowns.

For Ayana, this was not only about accompanying her friends, but also about finding the answer to her own destiny.

For Kuroro, this is an opportunity to spend time with someone important to him while exploring something interesting.

For Gon and Killua, their journey now includes two powerful and reliable companions.

The four began making preparations.