Not long after, Hooker returned to the ruins—where Chrollo and the others were located.
"Hooker, do you still remember the Underworld Mafia's biological laboratory?"
"Why are you suddenly asking about that, boss?"
"Hisoka received intel that the Underworld Mafia has another biological lab, one where the experimental subjects possess strength even greater than the Shadow Beasts."
Hooker turned to look at Hisoka, then fell into thought.
"The lab I was part of was called Experimental Base No. 2. It was located in Aurean. When I left, that lab was already gone. There had been a major uprising. A large part of the city of Aurean was destroyed as well. I don't know whether any other biological labs exist within the Underworld Mafia."
"However, I did notice some traces of bio-experimentation in a few of the Shadow Beast members. You can confirm this later with Feitan and the others. If another lab really does exist, it's highly likely they absorbed the methods of Lab No. 2. The presence of individuals stronger than the Shadow Beasts is not impossible. After all, I was one of the products of Lab No. 2. And I might not be the only one like me."
Chrollo lowered his head and began to think.
The operation in Yorknew—targeting the auction items—was only one part of the goal. The more important objective was to draw the Underworld Mafia's attention and thereby create an opportunity for the Zoldyck family to eliminate the Ten Dons.
Chrollo understood the Zoldycks well. They were a family of assassins who pursued a 100% success rate. If the conditions weren't right, they wouldn't act, even if they had accepted the contract. Illumi had already told him this when Chrollo first approached the Zoldycks.
This kind of principle might frustrate clients—after all, by typical standards, once a contract is accepted, it must be completed no matter how hard or dangerous it is. That's what people expect from assassins.
But the Zoldycks didn't work that way.
This created two problems. First, their strength meant that if even the Zoldycks didn't consider something viable, no other assassin could take it on. There would be no one else to hire.
Second, because of their strength, when you were desperate to eliminate someone at any cost, the Zoldyck family was the best possible choice.
That's why they never lacked clients.
But Chrollo didn't want to fail.
This might be the only chance to kill the Ten Dons. If it failed, there might never be another opportunity.
So Chrollo didn't want to let it slip.
"We have to lure those people out—or eliminate them in advance."
Chrollo's eyes flashed.
"Hooker, if that biological lab really exists, where do you think it would be?"
"I don't know." Hooker shook his head.
Chrollo turned to Hisoka.
"Hisoka, do you know?"
Hisoka sent a message to Ron.
Soon, Ron replied: "Aurean."
When Hisoka spoke the name, everyone instinctively looked at Hooker.
"If it's Aurean, then it's most likely Lab No. 2. Back when I left, the lab had been destroyed. Maybe the Underworld Mafia rebuilt it afterward. If they really obtained the data from the old Lab No. 2, then they may already have achieved better results."
This statement made the expressions of everyone present turn serious.
The Shadow Beasts hadn't impressed anyone—However, Hooker's strength was acknowledged. Otherwise, he wouldn't have been accepted into the Phantom Troupe as the new No. 8. Within the Troupe, his strength ranked mid-tier.
"What about the Shadow Beast's strength, any specific opinion?"
"Not strong," Hooker said. "Aside from their leader, the rest aren't much. In one-on-one combat, only Kortopi might struggle."
In the entire Phantom Troupe, Kortopi was the least suited for battle.
Not because he lacked aura—on the contrary, he had plenty, more than some other members. But his ability wasn't designed for combat, and he himself did not like fighting and was not that type.
Nen ability or aura capacity level doesn't directly equate to combat power.
Just like Ron had seen with Gel of the Twelve Zodiac. Though classified as an A-rank Nen user, she wasn't guaranteed to beat a B-rank fighter in an unplanned encounter. Because Gel was a research-type Nen user.
One-third combat, two-thirds poison study.
"Pakunoda, broadcast our location."
Chrollo said, "This is war. And it's already begun. We can't stop now, or we may never get this chance again. There could be risk. There could be sacrifice. But for Meteor City's future, we must continue this war."
"And this may be our only chance to do what must be done."
He meant avenging Sarasa.
But with Hisoka and Hooker present, Chrollo didn't say it aloud.
Still, Pakunoda and the others understood.
Since the killer of Sarasa had never been found, the vengeance had been directed at the Ten Dons instead. After all, it was the Underworld Mafia that had conducted the most ruthless human trafficking in Meteor City's history.
The Ten Dons were the ones who had signed off on it.
Chrollo's thinking was simple—if the Underworld Mafia still had hidden forces, the Phantom Troupe would draw them all out and leave the Ten Dons completely unprotected.
Pakunoda nodded. "Understood, Boss."
Hisoka looked down, feeling the atmosphere of the ruins grow bleak.
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