A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 5: A Mix of Red

They entered the base, a different location from the last. It was an abandoned cathedral building hidden within the mountains. Inside were tainted colors of ash grays and moss greens along the peeling walls. Vintage statues loomed on cracked columns, lining the inside of the church. A large dome ceiling heightened the room, leaving a spacious amount of damp air. Shattered mosaics allowed the moonlight to spill down its crevices, with shadows of leaves branching inside. The seats leading to the altar were absent, leaving an open field of dirt and gravel where the other Spiders roamed. Chrollo sat on the steps, just before the altar with Shizuku, Kalluto, Shalnark, Kotoropi, and Benelodov accompanying him. As Darnell and his group approached them, a hunched man was seen in Shizuku's arms who gripped him still.

"Huh?" Nobunaga asked, approaching her. "What's this?"

Shizuku turned around, letting them see the man in her grasp, his head bleeding severely. Ruffled brown hair fell over his eyes and he lifted his head with a grim smile.

"Oh, you're here sooner than expected," Shizuku said. "We caught this man not too long ago. We think he's the one with the gem Shalnark was talking about."

"Huh?!" Nobunaga said again. "Is that right?" He turned around to eye Red who stood next to Machi, gazing around the room. When she realized he was addressing her, she only blinked in response.

Shalnark sat on the stairs in deep thought with a look of someone who hadn't come to an answer yet. "Shizuku just captured him with Kalluto, using her power to track him down. But yes, it seems so. His power does enhance under the full moon, and he put up quite a fight."

Darnell fixed on Shizuku's torn clothes then went back to the man who also radiated flickers of Nen from his body. Another enhancer. "Well if you think so. But we also found someone—"

Nobunaga's hand heavily slapped Darnell's back with a chuckle. "See, you were overreacting for nothing. Let me deal with this man here. Not everyone can cause damage against two Spiders like that. Well, except me. I count as two," he smirked.

Darnell pressed his lips together, not listening to Nobunaga but rather Chrollo, who patiently sat on the steps, waiting for them to continue with a closed book in his hands. He held a soft smile and let out a faint breath from his nose. Was he amused? Every time Darnell came near Boss, all of his senses yearned to guess what he was thinking, to read him, and he usually did well at that which was why Chrollo let him stand by his side or glanced at him for insight on a situation. He was 'fascinating' according to Boss, and just remembering that sent golden shivers through his skin.

"Uh, anyways," Darnell said, brushing off his clothes as dust fell on him. "Check the man all you want but I doubt he's the one. Where did you find him?"

"Orochi Inoue, a Blacklist Hunter," Shalnark said, scrolling through his device, catching the eye of the captured man. "Independent contractor, thirty-five killed in two months, took three jobs last year, and ninety-percent of his kills were mostly people from the Mafia for unknown reasons. He's about six foot, blood type B." Shalnark skimmed through his background faster. "Everything else is unknown. Well, everything before the blood moon is unknown."

Darnell glanced at Machi who shrugged. She's also waiting to see who ends up being right, even though the evidence does point to him suddenly.

Orochi suddenly heaved a gruff laugh. His eyes glowing red as well. "I could kill you all if I wanted to," he breathed, slowly standing straighter through Shizuku's grasp, then eyed Chrollo who shifted in acknowledgement and discomfort. No. It couldn't be discomfort. "But the Phantom Troupe is too good to pass up. Tell me what you want and perhaps I'll be willing to bargain." His voice was daunting and firm, but too forced.