A Worthy Enemy (HunterxHunter)

Chapter 6: A Poker Face

Present day

"Well, this place is rather fancy~" Hisoka said to Illumi. They were on the roof of a golden-lit hotel, towering over a cascade of dark waters spewing brilliant colors across a fountain. Its colors were so vivid, it completely shadowed the stars, making the atmosphere as bright as day. The casino entrance was just below welcoming men in high-classed suits and ties bustling at the drive-in in their luxury cars and pricey watches. Where everyone donned in rich velvets of black and gray suits, Hisoka stood out from the shadows in a milky white collared shirt tucked into matching pants. Overtop, a golden corset fitted his torso in embroidered lace designs and the black buttons of his pants and shirt were shaped in spades.

Hisoka straightened his cuffs, noticing his metallic set gleam under the array of lights. "Perhaps I underdressed~"

"Was that sarcasm?" Illumi asked, fiddling with his complimenting outfit that resembled Hisoka's except his was speckled in silver and green accents. His pins sat comfortably within the hidden folds of his vest, ready for the mission.

Hisoka wondered if the pins were stuck to his clothes or were embedded in his skin underneath. He let out a chuckle. "I'm surprised you caught that~"

"Now then." Illumi pressed his needle into Hisoka's grasp. It was a shimmering silver, a delicate metal carved in Illumi's signature, hand-made and created with utter care. "We have an hour at the most to complete this to avoid unwanted interventions. The object is a plant, but it's hidden as a black tattoo. Once the person dies, the plant comes off as fern-like but its color presides a deep purple. The identity of the beholder is unknown, but you'll see a faint color of purple in the host's eyes. Once you kill the host, I recommend you not touch the tattoo with your skin or it will consume you as its next host. Proceed with caution."

Hisoka held the thin, silver needle within his fingers then waved his hand, making it disappear. He stretched his arms, standing up. "And where will you be?~"

"Scouting both inside and outside. Once you pinpoint the victim, you may find another person after him which means their own backup could be surrounding the area as well. I'll take care of them and stall. Expect me on the roof or in the halls. Ring me if anything comes up."

Hisoka nodded and they separated. He landed by the entrance, trapped with vast windows surrounding the lobby of the building, revealing the disco'd atmosphere of what lay inside. The sight of amber golds and exquisite fountains and statuary sat poised throughout the insides. Multiple stone-cold bodyguards stood resolute at each side of the doors with velvet ropes lapping the entrance.

Hisoka proceeded between them but cocked his head, realizing the victim could even pose as the employees here. The maids, the servers, the bodyguards, were such candidates to maintain his attention. An air-conditioned buzz hit his face as he entered.

Illumi would never give him the harder task so he must have thought this to be easy. Hisoka scanned the scene, left and right. Now...to begin the hunt. He strolled through the whimsical floor that seemed to stretch for acres with a tall ceiling, enough room for brutal fights while red and green carpets draped across marble floors.

A plethora of sounds overlapped each other in layers of organized chaos. Die softly tumbled over the rough green felt of poker tables. Crowds of people bickered or shouted calls as cards whirled in the dealer's hand. Chips tapped endlessly as they were pushed around, stacking high or low with winnings beaming around every corner. Racketing noises jingled from the slot machines. Hisoka spotted a man in the far distance, fuming from the loss of all his money while another man at a poker table was roaring about a misplay, causing a commotion with bodyguards surrounding him. Roulette wheels buried themselves within a group of people leaning in, on edge as the wheel twirled of black and red, unbeknownst to where their bets might lead them. The high rollers that were surrounded by women clearly held the most money, laughing with a smoke in their mouth or a drink in their hand. Some men in dark red suits lurked from game to game like a panther prowling for an opening to get their hands on money.