The playing card was a mere centimeter from Loki's throat.
"Too bad! So close," Hisoka said, a hint of playful disappointment in his voice.
After recognizing Hisoka, Kurapika slowly lowered his hands, and the chains retracted. Hisoka's cold gaze scrutinized Loki.
Loki's lips curled into a slight smile. "Hisoka, feeling like continuing our unfinished battle?"
Hisoka paused, calmly stepping back. "Not now. I have an important date. One can't think of others before a date."
"Next time, it won't be so easy," Loki warned.
Hisoka laughed coldly. "Relax, it was just a bit of fun."
Fun? Kurapika mentally replayed Hisoka's attack timing and the sudden burst of killing intent. It was definitely not just fun; Hisoka had intended to kill Loki. But Loki's reaction was even more frightening. Hisoka's attack only unleashed its killing intent at the very last moment, the precise point when Kurapika finally sensed Hisoka's position. If it had been him, he might not have escaped unscathed. Yet, Loki had accurately intercepted Hisoka's attack, as if he had anticipated Hisoka's appearance from the outset.
Hisoka's attack had come from a blind spot. The previous card attack had drawn Loki's attention forward, a tactic commonly employed to exploit the natural tendency of opponents to focus their attention on the immediate threat, leaving them vulnerable to attacks from unexpected angles. It was a perfect moment, a flawlessly executed attack from a master of deception and combat. Yet, Loki had effortlessly countered it.
Hisoka possessed terrifying strength and unparalleled combat experience, calculating every move to exploit his opponent's weaknesses. But Loki was even more formidable, relying on his overwhelming power and exceptional perception to flawlessly neutralize Hisoka's attack.
'In such a short time, how much has Loki improved? What kind of talent and ability is this?' Kurapika thought, stealing a furtive glance at Loki. He then shifted his gaze to Hisoka.
"You brought Kurapika along. Unexpected. I hadn't planned on contacting him," Hisoka remarked, a hint of surprise in his voice, clearly impressed by Kurapika's rapid improvement. His reaction to the attack—the instantaneous activation of his Nen, the immediate alertness to his surroundings—was astonishing, even surpassing the progress of Killua and Gon, two prodigies Hisoka himself had deemed worthy of his attention. However, unlike Loki's seemingly effortless display of power, Hisoka sensed that Kurapika's advancement had likely come at a significant cost.
"Tell me. Why did you call me?" Loki asked bluntly, cutting straight to the point.
Hisoka, who had been observing Kurapika, didn't show any annoyance at the interruption. Turning to face the distant cityscape of Yorknew City, he explained, "Because Loki's strength is truly astonishing. He faced three members of the Phantom Troupe and managed to severely injure all three."
Loki simply replied, "So?"
Turning back to face Loki, Hisoka smiled, producing a deck of playing cards and casually drawing one. "I can't wait any longer. I want to get this date with Chrollo over with quickly."
Loki immediately pressed for clarification. "What happened?"
The reason for Hisoka's sudden urgency was likely a reaction from the Troupe that exceeded his expectations.
Observing Loki closely, Hisoka chuckled. "It seems you're completely unaware of just how enraged you've made the Phantom Troupe. You've attracted a significant amount of their ire; they're desperate to capture you, to inflict unimaginable torment upon you."
"Get to the point," Loki said impatiently.
Hisoka paused, a hint of annoyance flashing across his face as he glared briefly at Loki. "The point is, the Phantom Troupe will likely hunt you down the moment they discover your whereabouts, and that, my dear Loki, presents me with a golden opportunity."
"Why? If the Troupe acts together, your date will be even harder," Loki pointed out logically.
"No, no, no! Quite the contrary," Hisoka countered, leaning against a nearby iron railing and letting out a hearty laugh. "You've captured Uvogin, and you yourself represent two significant draws for the Troupe's attention."
Kurapika, having followed the conversation intently, finally spoke up. "So you mean, we release information about both Uvogin and Loki, causing the Troupe to split their forces. The majority would likely pursue Loki, given the profound impression his strength has left upon them."
"Bingo! You got it!" Hisoka exclaimed, his voice laced with amusement.
Hisoka then proceeded to outline his meticulously crafted plan.
Upon hearing Hisoka's plan, Loki couldn't help but acknowledge its audacity and inherent risk. It was a gamble of the highest order, a calculated risk that could very well cost Hisoka his life if Chrollo failed to react in the manner Hisoka had predicted. However, upon further reflection, Loki recognized that Hisoka's plan aligned remarkably well with his own strategic objectives.
Loki possessed the confidence to defeat approximately half of the Phantom Troupe members, the timeframe required for victory being the only variable. Even confronting a slightly larger number of opponents wouldn't necessarily prove insurmountable, particularly if he could secure a decisive advantage by eliminating several key members early in the engagement. Furthermore, it was a well-established fact that not all members of the Phantom Troupe possessed equally formidable combat capabilities.
Following Hisoka's plan, Loki would have a significant chance of successfully completing his mission. He stole a glance at Kurapika, recognizing that Kurapika's assistance would serve to elevate the plan's potential for success to an even greater degree. However, a certain hesitation lingered in his mind.
While Hisoka's plan offered a high probability of successfully neutralizing the Phantom Troupe, a nagging sense of unease arose from the fact that Kurapika would be denied the satisfaction of personally eliminating all members of the organization.
After a prolonged period of contemplation, Kurapika abruptly raised his head. "Agreed. When do we start?"
"The sooner the better. Tomorrow," Hisoka responded promptly, his eyes gleaming with anticipation.
Following Kurapika's affirmation, Hisoka's gaze shifted back and forth between Loki and Kurapika, before suddenly extending his hand towards them. "I've discovered something rather amusing," he declared, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "This alliance of ours... we shall call it the Xi-Luo-Ku Alliance."
Loki remained impassive, his expression unchanging as he stared at Hisoka. Kurapika, on the other hand, rolled his eyes in exasperation.
Undeterred by their lackluster response, Hisoka continued, "Surely an alliance deserves a name that exudes power and prestige!"
"Boring," Loki retorted curtly, immediately turning to leave.
Kurapika, letting out a weary sigh, conceded, "Suit yourself. Call it whatever you want."
"In that case," Hisoka declared, a playful grin spreading across his face, "it shall be known as the Gum Alliance!"
After meeting Hisoka and hearing his plan, Loki and Kurapika departed immediately. Hisoka, too, prepared to return to the Troupe's base.
The late-night moonlight bathed Yorknew City in an almost ethereal glow.
At the hotel where the Nostrade family was staying, Ivlenkov addressed Shachmono and Squala. "We can't contact the captain. What do we do?"
The three gathered to discuss the situation. Dalzollene's sudden disappearance had severely hampered their security operations, and the departure of Loki and Kurapika only compounded their difficulties. As the most senior members of the security detail, the three felt a responsibility to maintain order and ensure the safety of their charge in the absence of their captain. However, it was clear that none of the three possessed the leadership qualities necessary to effectively manage the situation.
The most pressing concern, however, was the question of who among them dared to issue orders to Loki.
Shachmono suggested, "Maybe we should ask Loki when he returns."
"Right. He's a kid, but he's the strongest. None of us can beat him," Ivlenkov agreed readily, expressing his clear disinclination to assume any responsibility for the situation. However, his seniority within the security detail meant that Squala would inevitably involve him in the decision-making process.
Squala, recognizing the futility of attempting to exert any form of authority over Loki, conceded to Shachmono's suggestion. Loki's overwhelming power rendered any attempt at direct command utterly futile.
"She insists on going shopping. What do we do?" Melody announced, her voice carrying a note of exasperation.
Upon hearing the mention of shopping, the three men present simultaneously displayed expressions of profound distress.
Shachmono, turning his attention towards Melody, proposed a solution. "Alright, you, Baise, and Basho will accompany the young miss on her shopping trip. Your primary objective is to ensure her safety."
Upon receiving this directive, Melody cast a fleeting glance at Shachmono, suppressing the urge to voice her concerns about the wisdom of allowing Neon to venture out into the city at such a precarious moment. However, recognizing Shachmono's seniority and the inherent futility of challenging his authority, she opted to maintain her silence. Such a direct challenge would not only be detrimental to her standing within the group but could also potentially fall on deaf ears.
With a heavy sigh, Melody nodded in acknowledgment.
Neon, having been denied the opportunity to attend the auction, was initially quite upset. However, upon learning from Melody that the auction had been abruptly canceled and the venue had been subjected to a violent attack, while the auction items themselves had remained untouched, her spirits were somewhat lifted. Melody informed her that a new auction was scheduled to take place in a few days' time.
Upon receiving this news, Neon's mood brightened considerably, and she promptly decided to embark on a shopping spree that very evening. This was the reason for Melody's report about Neon's insistent desire to go shopping.
Melody, Basho, and the somewhat weakened Baise set off to escort Neon on her shopping excursion.
Following their departure, Squala spoke, "The captain's lost contact. We should go look for him. Yorknew City should be safe for now; Dalzollene wouldn't disappear without reason."
Shachmono nodded in agreement. "That's right, but what if Loki and Kurapika return and he's not here?"
"Then let's leave someone behind," Ivlenkov suggested, his voice laced with a palpable sense of relief at the prospect of avoiding the arduous task of searching for their missing captain.
"I'll stay," Ivlenkov volunteered promptly, his eagerness to avoid the impending search party evident in his tone. The lingering scent of blood in the room was quite unpleasant.
Squala sighed wearily. "I'll go find the captain. Shachmono, take care of the bodies," he instructed, delegating the grim task of cleaning up the aftermath of the confrontation.
With their tasks assigned, the three men set about their respective duties. Ivlenkov remained behind at the hotel, awaiting the return of Loki and Kurapika.
Meanwhile, Dalzollene, the captain of the security detail, was preparing to depart from Yorknew City.
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