Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

Ronnel glanced over from the passenger seat...

"These two are definitely connected," Phinks remarked, a grin spreading across his face as he caught the subtle changes in Killua's expression and Gon's unmistakable look.

"Didn't think we'd get a surprise like this~"

Pakunoda, feigning familiarity, draped her arm around Killua, whose face showed a hint of maturity but retained its characteristic wariness.

"So, why don't you tell us about your connection to Kurapika and what you're hoping to gain by tracking us?"

Killua fell silent, eyes flickering as his mind raced. A memory of working alongside Kurapika surfaced involuntarily. Yet, he was unaware that each subconscious recollection was being carefully read by the woman casually resting her arm on his shoulder.

"So that's how it is~"

Pakunoda's lips curved up slightly. Observing this, Machi glanced away from the rearview mirror, while Phinks merely chuckled.

The car sped along, bringing Gon and Killua closer to the Troupe's hideout.

"It looks like Kurapika's already tangled with the Troupe, and they might've discovered who he really is by now."

As Killua walked through the abandoned building's dim corridors, he pondered his next move.

"Since Gon and I are both connected to Kurapika, they must be bringing us in for questioning... And there's also Ronnel. If he's here, he might help... or maybe not. Ronnel joined the Troupe years ago. He's likely to side with them."

"Back at the Heavens Arena, he warned that if Kurapika pursued revenge, he'd have no choice but to oppose him. Maybe he even leaked Kurapika's identity to them..."

"So, what are we going to do?!"

Killua's mind raced, searching for a way out.

Gon, meanwhile, stole glances at Ronnel, hesitating to say something, a hesitation that didn't go unnoticed by the Troupe members accompanying them. Still, with Pakunoda keeping silent, Machi and Phinks refrained from asking questions.

In this way, the group reached the meeting room where the Troupe had gathered. Franklin sat side by side Feitan absorbed in a book, while Nobunaga eyed the newcomers suspiciously. Hisoka was there too, playing with a deck of cards.

"Ah?!"

At the sight of Hisoka, Gon let out an involuntary gasp.

"What, you recognize someone here?" Feitan asked, glancing up from his book.

Pakunoda chimed in before Gon could answer, "They both took the Hunter Exam this year and have crossed paths with Hisoka before. This spiky-haired kid even fought him at Heavens Arena."

While Gon fumbled for words, Pakunoda took the lead, recalling details she'd gathered from the boys' memories during their ride over.

"Oh?" The other members sat up slightly, their focus not on Hisoka but rather on Pakunoda's mention of the "Hunter Exam."

Kurapika—the Chain User—had also passed the Hunter Exam that year, or so Ronnel had informed them. Could there be a connection?

"Yes, these two are friends with the Chain User Kurapika," Pakunoda confirmed. "The full story's too long to explain verbally, so I'll just transfer it to you."

With that, she pulled out her memory-transmitting gun, loading it with six rounds. Amid Killua and Gon's puzzled expressions, she fired six shots, each embedding itself in the foreheads of six Troupe members.

"Are they fighting each other? No... That's not it," Killua thought, eyes darting as he studied Pakunoda closely.

"This woman didn't know us before, but somehow she learned all about us and Hisoka… Back in the car, she was asking about him. And we only gave vague answers, yet she seemed satisfied, almost like she already knew. Her hand was on my shoulder then…

"And now she's shooting them with something more than bullets, transferring information like files on a computer. Could it be…?"

As Killua realized the nature of Pakunoda's ability, the other Troupe members also finished processing the memories they'd received.

"These two are definitely tied to the Chain User~"

All eyes turned toward Gon and Killua.

"While they don't seem to know exactly what Kurapika's been up to, they were following us because of the bounty," Franklin said. "But given their connection to Kurapika, letting them go would be a mistake."

 "Then they can stay here at the base~" Feitan closed his book. "And those gangsters who dared to challenge us… it's time they learned a lesson."

"I pulled Kurapika's number from their memories. We could use these two as bait to lure him out. He seems to value his friends," Pakunoda added, glancing at Ronnel, who was seated nonchalantly on a stone bench.

Pakunoda had sensed the tension between Ronnel and Kurapika within the memories, which further eased her doubts about Ronnel's loyalty.

"Is it really memory reading?" Killua thought, piecing things together. "Her ability must allow her to extract information on touch, then transmit it to others using bullets."

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