Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

During this time, Ickshonpe had been engrossed in developing new games and characters, finally seeing some progress. Now, he was able to relax a little and catch up on the accumulated news in his circle. With only a few people he regularly spoke to, he replied quickly—saving the most amusing messages for last.

(T/N: What's presumably a mask, which bears a slight resemblance to a panda bear, is white in the face, has a red dot with a "Pe" inside on the forehead, and has green ears. He is claimed to be a resident of the "digital world".)

He'd been aware of the situation surrounding Greed Island for quite some time and even provided Ging with a bit of help on its construction. Although Ging held the game's copyright, meaning Ickshonpe couldn't say much, he'd still offered an ambiguous response when Ging inquired about it.

Before he could catch a break, ten new chat windows popped up on his screen. Speak of the devil—Ging's face appeared in one of them, making Ickshonpe grimace.

Ickshonpe: "You bastard, what do you want now?"

Ging: "Hahaha, can't I just check in on an old friend?"

Ickshonpe: "Right, so you just want to chat?"

Ging: "Not exactly. I do have a favor to ask…"

Typical Ging! Ickshonpe gritted his teeth in irritation, suspecting what was coming next.

Ging: "Think you could find some basic info on the guy watching over Cruz Cemetery? I think his name's Ronnel, right…"

...

Streets of Meteor City

In an abandoned area a few kilometers away from the notorious auction house, Gon looked around nervously before whispering into his phone.

Gon: "Do you think this just a trap?"

Killua: "Hard to say. They could be leading us into a trap, but they haven't pinpointed our location yet. So, they're leaving clues for us to follow."

On the other side of the line, Killua eyed Pakunoda and Machi from his hidden vantage point. While Gon was still a novice at tailing people, Killua had grown up training for just these situations. He was confident in his tracking skills and knew how to avoid detection.

Just then, Pakunoda's phone rang. Gon and Killua immediately hung up, pressing their backs against the wall and peering around the corner to observe.

Pakunoda's gaze suddenly shifted in their direction.

Killua: We've been spotted!

Both Gon and Killua reacted instantly, leaping back to avoid detection. However…

Killua: "Double tracking!"

He noticed Phinks smirking nearby, clearly enjoying the thrill of hunting down his prey. Despite Killua's evasive maneuvers, he couldn't break free from Phinks, whose relentless pursuit left him trapped. Pakunoda positioned herself behind him, and now Killua was surrounded.

Killua: "Looks like we were a bit too careless…"

Meanwhile, on the other side, Gon found himself face-to-face with Ronnel, who was blocking the only exit with a smirk.

Gon: "Ronnel?!"

Despite the mask, Gon's sharp instincts immediately recognized him. Ronnel's presence stopped Gon in his tracks.

Ronnel: "Long time no see, Gon~"

Standing at the only exit, Ronnel's voice carried a note of casual amusement. Machi, observing the interaction, raised an eyebrow.

Machi: "Oh? You two know each other?"

Ronnel: "Yep. Gon here passed the 287th Hunter Exam, just like me. He's also a friend of Kurapika's."

Machi's gaze narrowed as she processed the information.

Machi: "So, this kid's tailing us because of Kurapika?"

At the mention of Kurapika, Gon's heart skipped a beat. He clenched his fists.

Gon: "We're not here on Kurapika's orders! We followed you on our own!"

Nearby, Killua was similarly cornered by Pakunoda and Phinks. Realizing the futility of arguing, Killua decided to focus on finding an escape route. After a brief struggle, Phinks overpowered him, securing him in place before leading him to a waiting car.

In the car, Gon and Killua sat wedged between Phinks and Pakunoda, with Machi in the driver's seat and Ronnel in the passenger seat. Pakunoda's eyes moved between the two captives.

Machi: "It's confirmed. These two are tied to Kurapika."

Hearing Kurapika's name sent a chill through both Gon and Killua. They exchanged a tense look, each wondering just how deep their friend had gotten into trouble with these notorious fighters.

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