"Did you tell him about Omokage?"
(T/N: Omokage was the first #4 member of the Phantom Troupe, who was later replaced by Hisoka)
Illumi's voice was low and deliberate. "I heard that Omokage hasn't been very trustworthy lately—seems like he even created a puppet of me."
"Hmm." Hisoka's lips curled slightly, but he didn't bother to turn his head.
"At first, I thought his Nen ability, which rivals Chrollo's, had a lot of potential—a fruit that could grow into something delicious," Hisoka continued, his voice steady.
"But lately, it seems he's spiraling. If he doesn't get harvested soon, he'll explode before he ripens."
Hisoka's grin widened as he toyed with a card between his fingers.
"Perfect. I can use Omokage to test Ronnel's stance toward the Troupe. If he cooperates, it'll make my fight with Chrollo much easier."
Illumi's figure began to dissipate into the dim hotel room air, leaving behind a light-hearted, teasing farewell:
"If you need help dealing with Chrollo, feel free to call me. I'll even give you a 10% discount."
As his presence faded, Hisoka let out a chuckle—soft and tinged with a hint of something sinister.
"Yes... You, Kurapika, and Ronnel. You'll all help set the stage for my battle with Chrollo. Oh, how exciting..."
His unsettling laugh echoed through the hotel room long after Illumi had vanished.
Meanwhile, far from there, Ronnel mulled over the conversation he'd just had with Hisoka.
"Omokage... So, Hisoka's targeting him now?"
Omokage—originally the fourth member of the Phantom Troupe—was introduced in Phantom of Crimson. Before Hisoka joined the Troupe, Omokage had left voluntarily. But not without catching Hisoka's interest.
According to Hisoka, Omokage's Nen had a unique quality that made him stand out. Hisoka likened it to waiting for fruit to ripen: Omokage, the former Troupe member, had great potential. However, rather than let the fruit rot on the vine, Hisoka decided to harvest him at the right moment.
Omokage's obsession with turning Troupe members into puppets mirrored Hisoka's own twisted desire to control and test those around him. But Omokage was far more deranged, driven by a madness even Hisoka found troublesome.
Now, instead of waiting for the inevitable disaster, Hisoka intended to reap the benefits of Omokage's descent into insanity. It was also the perfect opportunity to gauge Ronnel's loyalty to the Troupe.
In Phantom Rouge, Omokage had stolen Kurapika's scarlet eyes and desecrated the graves of Uvogin, Pakunoda, and the ghost beasts to complete his puppets. His actions earned the wrath of the Troupe, leading to a confrontation.
(T/N: Hunter × Hunter: Phantom Rouge is the first movie based on Hunter × Hunter)
Omokage's Nen ability, Soul Doll, was particularly disturbing. He could create lifelike puppets of others—replicating not only their appearance but fragments of their memories as well. Though weaker than the originals, these puppets could even steal eyes to boost their own power or grant their abilities to Omokage.
Even more disturbing was Omokage's twisted familial obsession. Just like Illumi's unhealthy fixation on controlling his siblings, Omokage had sacrificed his sister, Retz, to perfect his Nen. He granted her immortality, only to use her as the price for his ultimate power.
In the end, his arrogance caught up with him. His obsession led him to provoke both Kurapika and the Phantom Troupe. His story concluded in tragedy—slain by his own sister, whom he had turned into a puppet.
At this point in the timeline, Chrollo's Nen was still sealed by Kurapika, and the search for Greed Island had just begun. Gon and Killua hadn't yet encountered Bisky.
Because of Ronnel's involvement, Hisoka decided to take early action. He sent Ronnel an invitation to join him in dealing with Omokage, suggesting they meet in mid-July at Heavens Arena.
"I'm going to harvest some apples before then," Hisoka had said with a mischievous grin.
"Omokage's fruit has already gone crooked. Hopefully, the others won't disappoint me."
Ronnel knew exactly who Hisoka was referring to: Kastro.
Two years ago, Hisoka had recognized Kastro's talent and let him go, arranging a duel for the future. In the meantime, Kastro had trained in Nen, relying on his instincts and natural talent. Though his Tiger Bite Fist—was powerful enough to sever Hisoka's arms.
His Tiger Bite Fist worked well with his unconventional fighting style, but he couldn't fully unleash his potential. In the end, it cost him the battle.
"I wonder how Hisoka will react when he finds out whether Kastro's fruit has grown properly—or if it's just as crooked as Omokage's," Ronnel mused.
Lost in thought, Ronnel took out his phone.
Half a day later, Ronnel arrived at a small town near the Hunter Association's final venue.
In one of the town's modest hotels, he found Bisky waiting for him.
"I made sure to learn the final location of the Hunter Exam from Beans himself," Bisky said, her voice chipper as she sat cross-legged on the bed. She wore her usual frilly red dress, her two pigtails swaying slightly.
Her small, innocent appearance belied her immense strength.
"And here I am, waiting for you," she added with a smug smile.
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