Death Notice Book 7: Chapter 15: Phantom Troupe

“Kurapika!” Melody walked to the boy’s side, giving him a look before turning towards the balcony of the living room.

Kurapika glanced at the door, then thoughtfully followed his companion. “Melody, what’s wrong with that person?”

“Kurapika, every normal person’s heartbeat has its own rhythm, like a piece of music telling the story of the soul. But that person…” Melody hesitated. “I can’t quite explain it. His heartbeat is like a never-changing pendulum. I’ve never heard such a melody before.”

“Could he have been a soldier? Someone with extreme self-discipline?” Kurapika tapped a finger against his lips, thinking carefully. “Or perhaps someone being controlled? That might explain how he broke free from Baise’s ability.”

“No. The melody of a heartbeat only relates to emotions and personality. A puppet under control would share its master’s melody. No one else in the room matched his.” Melody suddenly spoke with fear. “The moment Baise used ‘Slaver of Love’ on him… I heard a heartbeat entirely different from before.”

A trace of dread showed in Melody’s eyes as she recalled, “It was a wildly chaotic and cruel heartbeat, filled with humanity’s darkest emotions. Kurapika, if that person comes after you, be very careful. He… is extremely dangerous!”

“Thank you, Melody. I’ll be careful.” Kurapika looked out into the distance, his fist on the balcony railing slowly tightening.

Melody sighed softly. She could tell Kurapika hadn’t truly taken her warning to heart. The boy’s heart was filled with hatred, leaving no room for anything else.

…

“Miss Neon is awake and insists on going out to play!” Arissa smiled. Dressed in a kimono, her long red hair cascading down her shoulders, she looked like a calm and gentle girl.

“Oh, here we go again!” Dalzollene rubbed his face in frustration, looking helpless about his capricious employer.

Inside the suite bedroom, the door was open. A girl lay on the floor, hugging a doll and rolling around defiantly. “No, no, I don’t want to…” she whined.

The girl wore a light pink shirt and a long white skirt. Her purple hair was tied up in a bun and wrapped in a scarf. Dolls cluttered the floor of her messy room.

“Ahem!” Dalzollene’s face flushed with embarrassment as he glanced at Qin Lun’s group. “Let’s wait for them in the living room.”

After a while, Arissa brought out Neon Nostrade, now composed. Unembarrassed despite her earlier tantrum being witnessed, Neon had clear, calm eyes, but held a trace of loneliness in her expression.

“Dalzollene, when is Father coming?” Neon asked.

“Well… the Master has a few things left to handle. But he’s already set off and will arrive in Yorknew City very soon,” Dalzollene replied evasively, avoiding their gaze. Even Qin Lun’s group sensed the half-truth.

Neon sighed and turned calmly to Qin Lun’s trio. “Are you three here for a divination?” She seemed used to vague answers.

“Miss Neon, we’re organizers of the auction. We hope you can assist with the event’s security,” Yin said with an elegant bow.

“I can’t predict specific events,” Neon replied flatly, shaking her head. “I can only write Divination Poems for individuals. If you three wish to know your fate, please write down your names, birthdays, and blood types.”

Qin Lun’s group exchanged glances. Liza nodded at Yin and smiled. “Well then, if Miss Neon doesn’t mind, please do a divination for me.”

Liza sat opposite Neon with a sweet smile. She wrote her details on paper and handed them to the girl.

Neon nodded. After reviewing Liza’s information, she picked up a pen. Her pupils instantly lost focus, as if under some control. She began writing rapidly on a piece of stationery.

Qin Lun narrowed his eyes slightly. His right eye transformed into a clock face. Three clock hands moved slowly as he watched Neon cautiously. Beside him, Yin’s eyes also glowed with a mist-like aura of Nen as he observed the girl’s movements.

Yin was using a high-level application of the four major principles of Nen, an advanced variation of “Ryuu” known as “Gyo.”

“Gyo” involves intensely focusing Aura on a specific body part. Concentrating Nen into the eyes allows the user to see an opponent’s Nen. High-level “Gyo” can penetrate an opponent’s “In” and “Zetsu.” It’s a fundamental combat skill.

Qin Lun possessed a Law Body. He drove an incomplete Nen ability converted from killing intent using his Stamina Points. Restricted by the Law, he couldn’t learn “Ryuu,” thus “Gyo” was also impossible.

In truth, Qin Lun didn’t need “Gyo.” When the third hand appeared in his Clock Eye, the Time-Space Threads formed by his Perception achieved the same effect as “Gyo,” allowing him to see Nen.

While writing the Divination Poem, Neon was enveloped in green Nen. A strange Nen beast floated above her right hand, connected to the pen. The green Nen flowed onto the paper, forming neat handwriting line by line.

“Ah, done!” Neon announced as she wrote the last word. Her pupils regained focus, and the Nen beast vanished. Weary, she set down the pen without reading the Divination Poem, sliding the paper to Liza.

“Miss Neon, won’t you look at it?” Yin asked softly, puzzled.

“No. I never tell my own fortune or read the poems I write. That’s how the prophecy stays accurate,” Neon shook her head before looking at Qin Lun and Yin. “Do either of you need a divination?”

“Yin, you get yours done too. Let’s see if both prophecies are similar. If they are mostly alike, I won’t need one. No need to tire Miss Neon further,” Qin Lun said with a fleeting smile.

He was wary of Neon’s power. While confident the disguise for “Shattered Starry Sky” was solid, events suggested on his Death Notice hinted he might soon leave Liza and Yin. If so, Qin Lun would rather skip a prophecy than risk revealing future plans.

After divining for Yin and Liza, Neon couldn’t hide her exhaustion and yawned.

“Thank you, Miss Neon. Please go rest now,” Liza said kindly, signaling Arissa behind Neon to escort her.

Once Neon left, Yin and Liza’s expressions turned grim. Yin handed his poem to Qin Lun. “Mine and Liza’s are identical! Qin Lun, you were right. Big problems are coming for the auction. We must report to the organization immediately.”

A place guards patrol

Meets the spider’s assault

The basement becomes a cold coffin

Duty chains the guard

Caught in the spider’s tangled web

Only by following the darkness

Might the bright exit be found

“If ‘the place guards patrol’ means Yorknew City, then ‘the basement’ definitely refers to the underground auction,” Yin said gravely. “The poem suggests we die if we do our duty.”

“Hmm, the literal reading says so. Such an unavoidable death prophecy means our foes are invincible,” Liza agreed solemnly, searching Yin’s eyes. “So the ‘spiders’ in the poem…”

“It must be them… the Phantom Troupe!” Yin confirmed, his expression troubled.

Qin Lun’s heart suddenly stirred. When Yin mentioned the Phantom Troupe, his Main Quest in the Death Notice updated, revealing all faction choices.

“Phantom Troupe?” Qin Lun’s pupils shrank to pinpoints. An almost uncontrollable excitement surged within him, coloring his face an abnormal flush.

“Mn. They’re Rogue group active worldwide. Thirteen members, reportedly mainly from Meteor Street. They fear nothing, showing no sympathy. If they want something, they kill and take it. All are S-class criminals,” Yin explained bitterly.

Liza snapped back to attention, adding, “Few who’ve seen the Troupe survive. Even the Hunter Association has scant details on their Nen abilities.”

“From Meteor Street too?” Qin Lun mused. He began understanding why “Shattered Starry Sky” assigned him a thug identity from Meteor Street. Clearly, the intent was for him to join the Phantom Troupe.

This choice hinted the Troupe had some goodwill towards Meteor Street thugs. They likely wouldn’t attack Qin Lun without reason.

The Shadow Beasts’ orders held little weight over Qin Lun. Unless he opposed the Troupe, he likely faced little danger in this conflict.

“The poem’s first part is clear. Only the last two lines are confusing,” Liza frowned, pointing. “It tells us to ‘follow the darkness’ to avoid death. But what does ‘darkness’ mean?”

“Leave it aside for now!” Yin’s eyes flashed coldly. “We’re not the only Ten Dons’ men in Yorknew City. The Shadow Beasts’ elites are here too. Perhaps ‘darkness’ means them.”