"So where are we going to find him, I know for sure I had no idea what I was going to do if you didn't show up…" walking out onto the streets of Yorknew after exiting the hotel our group of three had a little group huddle planning session of sorts.
*clang* throwing my empty can into a nearby trash bin, I pulled out my phone and I began to tap away at it for a moment.
"Mmm… Manga Cafe." turning my phone around for the both of them to see a small picture of a local location I pulled up on maps. Then, turning the phone around before scrolling down to the navigation section I began to walk down the street while the other two blankly stared at my retreating figure.
"Wait, wait wait! What does this have to do with finding Kurapika!? Is this some sort of money laundering front or…" confused and at a loss for words, Leorio alongside Gon who was repeatedly bobbing his head up and down to emphasize their point began to pester me about my choice of destination.
"Well, I need access to a computer… and don't want to buy one and I don't have access to the public library because I am not a local resident. Plus, while I am busying myself with finding a way to contact Kurapika we can get food and drink there… oh, and you can read the Manga there as well! Isn't it a steal?" waving their concerts off, I rounded the corner as we closed in on our destination.
'Though we wouldn't have had to go here if these phones made any sense… the technology is so weird here. They have blimps instead of airplanes, and the phones still have keyboards. Sure I have been using a mapping app on my phone but I had to buy a special make and model that had this feature installed…' mentally berating the technology base of this world as we made our way there all the while promptly ignoring Leorio and Gon who continued to nag me for answers.
"Look we are already here, isn't that bad no?" turning to the two who had frowns on their faces as they stared at me. Sighing at the sight, I turned around as I entered the store and rented out a room.
"So how is it that you are going to find Kurapika… I understand that we are not strong enough to take on the spiders right now and that getting more help will be great but…" Gon, who was standing by the door, opting not to sit down, unlike Leorio. Turning around for a moment to address him I paused as Leorio began to put in an order for our breakfast.
"What is one person going to do? or why are we doing this instead of getting Killua back? I understand you are concerned, and so am I but he is someone we really need help from. To put it into perspective, to be hired on as a bodyguard for such a high-ranking crime family like the Nostrade's he needs to be a powerful and experienced Nen user. And for someone whose sole life purpose is to kill the Troupe, his Hatsu has to be geared perfectly for it and I don't doubt he would be willing to help us in this task." Quickly booting on the pc, I began to go through various checks and tests to make sure there wasn't anything like a keylogger or security risk as I began to boot up the Hunter Website database.
"I see… and you can find Kurapika on the Hunter Website then? I did not know you could use it like that, me and Killua only used it for information regarding Greed Island." Walking across the room and peering around my shoulder, Gon began to watch as I began entering various key terms to look for.
"Well, you can do a little bit of anything on this website. You just need enough influence, power, or connections and you can find or get what you need. And… here we are! Images of Nostrade bodyguards, Nostrade Family in Yorknew, Nostrade items bought, a lot of other information I just don't care for…" scrolling through various images and paywalls regarding information that would be useless for our purposes with a bored look on my face
"Does that mean we can't find him?" lounging on the provided sofa, Leorio was loafing around while drinking a cup of coffee he ordered.
" Well, not like this since that didn't give us much. Although, we can try to pull up Kurapika's credentials in the Blacklist world, though it could be a bit harder to do due to my classification… Let's see if I can get a hold of a phone number?" clicking across the various open tabs on the pc as I searched for any trails. A process that was made even more tedious than ever with the absence of one hand. For instance, If I wanted to search for something I would have to take my hand off the mouse and type it out on the keyboard.
"I think I actually found something… It's the profile of the person who assigned Kurapika his current job, it's some Goth lady… They probably keep important info on paper or word of mouth so I may only get it through here." addressing the other two with my current findings we quickly decided it was worth a try to pay upfront in case she had anything for us.
"Well, I left the query and made the transaction online and left a message link for her to reply to so we don't need to be here as she can send a message to my phone. So while we wait for a reply we should head on over to the area by the auction house as he is most likely going to be near that location." quickly logging out and going through the process of wiping the search history of the computer I joined the other two in a quick meal before leaving the place.
"Man my money situation is getting tight!" folding the check for the cafe before placing it in his wallet, Leorio continued to complain to the both of us. Funny enough, Gon was most likely in a similar situation in regard to money with the look he had on his face as he paid for his part of the bill.
"Well it sucks to suck." jabbing him in the ribs as we made our way into the back of a cab we continued to make small talk on our trip. Though the subdued tone and expressions on everyone were evident that we were merely distracting ourselves. Currently, it was both important but also depressing to think about anything ahead of our immediate future.
"So are we just going to hang out here until we get a response?" standing stiff as a board Gon continued to anxiously pace up and down a stretch of the sidewalk. Right now, we were standing near a building that was a block away from the main auction site. We decided to stay away due to the increased mafia activity due to the slaughter fest the Spiders had there a while back.
*Ding* "Well it looks like you won't have to wait much longer… Pulling up the text I saw that the lady responded. Though a small downward curl of my lips appeared as I read the contents.
[ Sorry I don't give client information to outsiders.] letting out a groan of frustration I began to rapidly text back and forth. Unfortunately, I am not the most charismatic of individuals and God did I really need to pass this speech check.
[Definition of Outsider? As in not involved with him or not a blacklist hunter?]
[Both.]
[He is a buddy of mine you see, we both became Hunters together this year.]
[That doesn't prove anything, that is easily obtained information.]
[True, so would be describing his appearance and so on, but I also know he most likely asked your office for a job in Yorknew because we planned to meet up here.]
[I still can not give out confidential information on clients.]
[ I believe there is a misunderstanding, I do not want his whole file. I only need a way of contacting him so I just need a phone number not all of his information. Besides, isn't it your job to offer contracts or connections to him? Giving out a phone number is no real big deal right?]
[Fine but it's going to cost you.]
"Mother Fucker!" quickly sending the money over while attracting a few odd stares from both Gon and Leorio I waited a moment before I was sent another number that I quickly dialed up.
*ring* *ring* sitting in expectant silence, we listened to the rings of the phone once, then twice, before it was quickly answered.
"Hello, may I ask who is calling?" Over the phone, we heard a practiced and courteous professional greeting in the voice of our shared friend.
" Hey Kurapika, it's the time skip versions of your friends!"