The Ninth || Chrollo x Reader

IX. The Mission

It isn't long before the entire Spider has gathered together inside the abandoned parking lot we sit in. The air is stale, smelling of decay and grey rainwater. The others pay me no attention, as all their gazes rest upon their leader, Chrollo, who sits upon a pile of rubbish in the center of the room.

I'm sitting against a wall, my legs crossed in front of me, and my arms crossed over my chest. I hold a lazy expression on my face, and my eyes slowly drift to Chrollo's. He smiles charmingly as he closes his eyes and places his book aside.

"(y/n)," he calls me, as his eyes meet mine. I lift a brow, not speaking a word in response.

"You must be wondering why we're here," he muses. I, in fact, am wondering why the Phantom Troupe has decided to meet in Swardani City. It has been almost a day since their sighting near the Hunter Association building, and I haven't gained sufficient information to receive an extermination team. Though despite my struggles, I don't voice my annoyance, and instead, merely nod.

Chrollo adds, "(y/n), what do you think the Phantom Troupe is?"

My gaze snaps up back to him, and I feel the others look at me, as though weighing my response. I open my mouth, and hesitate slightly, before saying,

"Murderers." My voice is steady in my response, and I can't help but smile slightly, due to the irony of my situation. I'd spend years avoiding murderers, and yet here I am, in a room filled with the best of them.

Nobunaga covers his mouth, as his eyes are cast upon the ground, as though stifling a laugh. Phinks turns away from Chrollo, and his jaw is clenched in order to not laugh.

Chrollo doesn't hide his laugh, a soft one is released from his lips, and he says, "Yes, I suppose. Though we were originally thieves. We simply take what we want, and if they get in our way, we kill them." He waves a dismissive hand, as though the lives he has taken had less worth than their possessions, and adds, "But I can see why we are branded murderers in your mind."

Machi retorts, "Why are we here, Chrollo?" She doesn't harbor any negative emotions in her question, and simply awaits his response.

"The Hunter Association is considered one of the richest organizations in the world," Chrollo starts. "We're robbing it." Though it is a serious plan, and would most certainly pose a dangerous threat to the Hunters inside the HQ, his plan is much less surprising than I had expected. His words cut through the miffed silence, and a laugh comes from the corner of the room, before it is barely contained.

Phinks' laugh is hoarse, but as he does so, Chrollo is unfazed and continues to hold the serene smile on his face. "That's brilliant," Phinks manages to say. Beside him, Feitan chuckles.

"How are we going to get in?" Shalnark asks, his eyes wide in presumed curiosity, though as innocent as he looks, I'm aware of the deaths he has caused. A powerful Manipulator, Shalnark takes control of people through darts, and controls their movements with a telephone. His identity is known to the Hunter Association, however, they are unaware of his status as a member of the Phantom Troupe. I clench my jaw as I make note to mention his identity to Kurapika.

Machi replies, "I assume that we'll send you in, Shalnark, because of your Hunter's License, and have you sneak the rest of us in with fakes. Then we'll just have to get access to their vaults."

The rest of the Spiders begin to have their own conversations, their voices drowning each other's out. I sit in between their words, and realize that this is serious. It was hardly an absurd plan, and would most likely succeed. Though there were many in the Hunter Association Headquarters, not many protected the vaults beneath the building. It was likely that there were difficult Nen barriers, however with the power of the Spiders, they would succeed without too much struggle.

My main concern is that they will kill those who cross their paths, therefore should I tell Kurapika, the plan most logical and highly possible to succeed would be to station soldiers around the building in order to not allow their presence to enter the building. In this way, the lives of innocents that see their departure would be protected.

However, they would know that a Spider is in contact with the Hunter Association, and would therefore suspect me, as I am the newest member. I frown, as I question myself. It doesn't matter if they know I am the impostor, as they would be sentenced for their crimes right away. But if they weren't to be caught, and succeed in escape, I would most likely be killed for betrayal.

Machi eyes me as she says, "(y/n) should go with Shalnark. She's a Hunter, and she's new so it's likely they won't know her. Besides, if Shalnark messes up, then he'll have reinforcements too."

This jeapordizes my plans. If I'm caught in the crossfire, I could still escape, however, it would be more obvious that I am a spy in their midst. Despite that, I smile, and say smoothly,

"Sounds good." Chrollo's eyes land on me, and he doesn't say anything.

"Tonight, then?" Shizuku asks, her purple eyes wide behind her thick, framed glasses. She receives a nod from Chrollo in response, and the others begin to stand up and leave the building.

"Be back by ten," Nobunaga calls after them, and he abruptly stands up and leaves as well.

The Spiders pool out and call dismissive greetings. I look at their shadows as they leave, and it's as though the room has gotten brighter without their malicious presences. The sun has begun to peek from behind clouds, and the day is blue as it awaits me.

I slowly stand up, and carry myself out the room, my hips sway with each step. As I turn a corner from outside the parking building, I reach into my coat, and slip out my phone. Looking down onto the electronic screen, I scroll mindlessly and click the name Kurapika.

My fingers begin to tap at the letters on the screen, and I send my message. My phone's screen is bright as I read our conversation.

                                                                                                                                     tonight, at ten in HQ ;))- Me
Kurapika- I'll have reinforcements out surrounding.
                                                        no just wait for them inside- Me
Kurapika- Are you sure, (y/n)?
                                                                                 yeah see u tonight? pls get me food- Me
Kurapika- Bye
                                                                                                                                          wait, i'm gonna call u rn- Me

I smile softly as I look at my phone's texts messages. Shaking my head, I click call, and press my phone to my ear. It rings twice before the receiver end picks up.

"(y/n)?" Kurapika's mellifluous voice carries through the speaker. I laugh wistfully, as though I hadn't just seen him yesterday. It was less than twenty-four hours ago that I had been sitting in that field of grass with him, basking under the sunlight, when my worries were surviving the next Zodiac meeting without falling asleep.

"Yeah, yeah," I say in response.

Kurapika asks abruptly, "What did you want to say?"

My smile fades from my face, and my eyes darken. I turn over my shoulder, and when an empty alleyway meets me, I say, "You have permission to kill on sight."

The sound of whispering winds and a vengeful heartbeat answer my words.

Author's note: Hello! Thank's for reading the chapter, and please vote if you enjoyed it! I love seeing my story on your story collections as well, so feel free to add it to your's! See you again soon :))
~Amorevolous