"Any other questions?" Chrollo asked.
"What if there's a disagreement between members?" Franklin inquired. "Will we go by majority rule?"
Chrollo shook his head. "That would easily lead to instability and division within the group."
"Why not just flip a coin?" Morin suggested with a grin. "Each side has a 50% chance. Leave it to fate and move on."
"That's a decent method," Chrollo replied, smiling at Morin.
Franklin considered it briefly before nodding in agreement.
"Well then, does anyone else have any thoughts?" Chrollo asked again.
No one responded.
"In that case, our team is officially formed."
A smile spread across Chrollo's face. "To announce our existence to the world, I propose that we all get spider tattoos."
"We'll have thirteen members in total, so each tattoo will feature a spider marked with a number from 0 to 12, representing our designations."
He glanced at Machi. "Machi, I'll leave the tattooing to you."
"Leave it to me," Machi replied, pulling a thin strand of her thread from her wrist. "So, your number is 0, right, Chrollo? Or should I call you 'Boss' now?"
"That's right." Chrollo smiled warmly.
"Where do you want the tattoo?"
"On my back," Chrollo replied, then addressed the group. "You can each choose your number."
The group remained silent, first looking toward Morin.
"Well, since you're 0, I'll take 1," Morin said, glancing at Nobunaga.
In the original timeline, Nobunaga had the number 1 tattoo.
"You're choosing number 1, Morin?"
Uvogin, meanwhile, seemed to be calculating something. Then he suddenly punched his palm.
"Then I'll pick my number! I'll make it my goal to beat you someday," he said with a wide grin, pointing at Morin. "So my number will be one more than yours—11! I'll overpower you eventually!"
"What kind of logic is that?!" Nobunaga exclaimed, exasperated.
After some thought, Nobunaga added, "My birthday's in July, so I'll go with 4."
"Why not choose 7?"
"Because I don't want to, got a problem with that?!"
The two began bickering again.
Franklin shrugged. "If Nobunaga doesn't want 7, I'll take it."
"I'll pick 2," Feitan said, holding up two fingers.
"I'll go with 3," Machi chimed in as she worked on Chrollo's tattoo.
"I like the number 9," Pakunoda said, resting her hands on her chest, opting for personal preference.
With that, the numbers 0, 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, and 11 were claimed.
The only change from the original numbering was Nobunaga taking 4 instead of 1, with Morin as the new number 1.
"Oh, Boss," Uvogin said, still adjusting to the new title, "shouldn't our group have a name?"
"It feels a bit dull to just keep saying 'team' or 'group.'"
"Of course," Chrollo replied with a nod. A name was vital for fostering unity, identity, and belonging within the group.
"I've already thought of one," he announced with a smile.
"The Phantom Troupe."
A gentle breeze swept through, scattering the dust as if heralding the chaos to come.
And now the Phantom Troupe was officially formed in the buffer zone of Meteor City.
Founding Members:
Leader: Chrollo Lucilfer (0)
Vice Leader: Morin (1)
Members:
Feitan (2)
Machi (3)
Franklin (7)
Nobunaga Hazama (4)
Pakunoda (9)
Uvogin (11)
No one opposed the name "Phantom Troupe."
Following its formation, Machi tattooed a spider with each member's chosen number onto their bodies. Most opted for their backs, including Chrollo, Morin, and Uvogin.
By the time Machi finished her work, the sun had completely set.
Under cover of darkness, the group headed toward the outskirts of Meteor City.
Though Meteor City was a landfill, leaving it wasn't particularly difficult. As long as one could navigate the heaps of trash, it was relatively easy to reach the outside world.
However, those who left quietly and alone, lacking official identification, often became undocumented fugitives or vagrants.
Those seeking legitimate opportunities typically worked through Meteor City's Elders, finding employment with criminal syndicates in exchange for identification papers.
Even the infamous Zoldyck family recruited household staff and spouses for their heirs from Meteor City.
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