As Auren ends the call, he trembles with rage.
“Fuck this! I didn’t provoke the damn Troupe! I even paid those fucking Elders millions of Jenny! These greedy bastards will pay for this!”
He storms over to the crew. “Get ropes. Sleeping pills. Anything useful. We need to make absolutely sure our hostage doesn’t escape! If she dies or runs off, everything we’ve fought for is gone!”
“Understood, Vice-leader!”
“Right away!”
“We’ll handle it!”
Monts later, the crew returns with thick ropes and restraints. They tie Pakunoda’s arms, legs, and torso securely, taking no chances.
“She’s tied up tight, Vice-leader. And we’ll keep at least two people watching her at all tis,” one of the crew mbers informs him.
“Good… she needs to stay alive and unhard. But if she tries to escape, you’re allowed to do whatever it takes to stop her!” Auren replies firmly.
He draws Eternity and takes a seat on a bench directly across from her, blade aid straight at her unconscious body.
Hours pass.
Eventually, Pakunoda’s body begins to move. She groans softly in pain, blinking as her eyes open. She looks around, disoriented.
Auren doesn’t say a word. He watches her in silence.
“...Monster. No wonder the Elders sent us to interrogate you,” she mutters.
He remains quiet, eyes fixed on her.
“Jack… is he dead?” she asks after a mont.
Auren shrugs. “Do you honestly bla for that?”
Pakunoda shakes her head slowly. “No… it’d be hypocritical. He acted recklessly, against our orders. We were never supposed to engage in combat. So… why am I still alive? I joined the attack too.”
“Lucky for you, your group has sothing I want,” Auren replies coolly.
He holds up her phone. “Now. Tell the code to unlock it.”
“7262,” she says without resistance.
Auren types it in and dials Nobunaga.
“This is Nobunaga speaking,” the voice answers sharply.
“Your mber just woke up. I’m holding the phone in front of her. You can talk freely—but I’m listening in. If you try to trick , don’t bother,” Auren warns him.
He holds the phone close to her face, careful not to touch her.
I can’t touch her. She might activate her Hatsu and read my thoughts!
“Pakunoda… are you alright? What’s your condition?” he hears Nobunaga ask.
“I’m okay… I was injured, but the wounds were treated. Sloppily, but they’re no longer bleeding. I’m tied up, but otherwise in good condition.” She pauses briefly, then adds, “It’s our own fault. If you need to abandon , so be it.”
“Hey!” Auren snaps at her.
“Don’t worry! We won’t abandon her,” Nobunaga cuts in quickly.
In the background, Auren catches a muffled voice—soone speaking faintly.
“Okay… Pakunoda. Tell what happened,” Nobunaga asks next.
“We approached the target after the match. During the conversation, the target insulted Jack, who lost control of his emotions and attacked with his usual technique,” she says quietly. “I joined in.”
“That’s enough,” Auren interjects. “Now I want to speak with your hostages.”
“…Fair enough,” Nobunaga replies. “Here. Take the phone.”
“Auren? You managed to kill a Troupe mber and capture another? Hahaha, I’m so proud of you!” he hears a familiar voice speaking in joy.
“Buno… what’s your status? Are you both okay?” Auren asks, tension visible in his face.
“Not exactly. I lost a couple fingers, and Bunu lost an eye. But we’ll live,” Buno says, his voice steady.
“...Did anything happen after the fight?” Auren demands, his fists clenched tightly.
“No. All the damage happened during the battle. We’re getting treated now,” Buno assures him.
“Let speak to Bunu,” Auren says.
“We’re fine, Auren,” Bunu’s voice replies. “These wounds are nothing serious.”
They know I can heal them when I get the chance. Good… I’ll accept that.
Nobunaga’s voice returns on the line. “Are you satisfied?”
“If they get tortured or further injured, you won’t like my reaction,” Auren says, his voice cold as ice.
“They won’t…” Nobunaga replies.
“If they’re under the influence of Nen in any way, expect the sa response. Don’t test . We have more ways than you can imagine to find out!” Auren shouts, his tone sharp and rising.
“There’s no need to worry,” Nobunaga answers calmly.
“We’ll stay in contact,” Auren says, before ending the call.
Turning away from Pakunoda, Auren quickly types a ssage, docunting everything said—by the Troupe, Buno, Bunu, and himself. He also notes that it seems like soone else may be issuing commands to Nobunaga.
The long journey toward Yorknew begins. Auren spends nearly all his ti training, never leaving Pakunoda’s side. Eternity is always conjured, always ready, his vigilance unbroken. He trains hard—but never to exhaustion, always stopping short of total fatigue. Every day, he personally escorts Pakunoda to the toilet, allowing her to wash, blade drawn and sharp, giving her no opportunity for tricks.
The rest of the crew all know Nen. They aren’t masters, but they’re more than enough to keep her from escaping.
“Why are you training this hard?” Pakunoda asks one day, watching him curiously.
Auren sneers. “Hard? This is just the bare minimum. If I didn’t have to worry about you escaping, I’d show you what real training looks like.”
“That didn’t answer my question,” she replies plainly.
“Strength is everything,” Auren says. “Without strength, we’re all prisoners—trapped by limits, by fear. But with enough strength… I’ll be truly free. No one will be able to stop .”
He pauses, then adds, “Since I’ve answered your question… how about you answer one of mine? Why do you let yourself be used by those greedy Elders? I thought the Phantom Troupe stood for sothing more. Sothing free. You’re just lackeys now. Henchn for corrupt old n. I have to say, I am truly looking down on you, after that little stunt.”
“…We’re not henchn. And we don’t follow orders from the Elders,” Pakunoda answers, eyes fixed on him. “We help them now and then, that’s all. As for this situation… soone took interest in you. The Elders’ request was just a bonus.”
“‘Soone,’ huh? Let guess—your little boss?” Auren says with a grin. “I’ve heard the rumors.”
“…You are from teor City after all. Of course you have heard rumors. Your story is well known to us as well. People still talk about you—how you tricked Lidor, killed him, and took everything he had,” Pakunoda replies.
Auren grins wider. “Funny. If those rumors were taken seriously, why’d your boss send you and baseball boy after ? He was a Conjurer, and you’re clearly not a frontline fighter as well. You both paid for underestimating . It served you right!”
“Jack wasn’t weak… though yes, he was among the least strong of our combatants. But don’t fool yourself. Just because you beat him—and —doesn’t an you stand a chance against our top fighters, much less our boss,” she says, voice steady.
“…”
We’ll see about that, won’t we?
A few days later, the airship lands in a remote field deep in the Gordeau Desert. The location is isolated—an enclosed basin surrounded by steep cliffs. A single odd-looking tunnel cuts through the rock, offering the only clear path in or out.
As the ship descends, Auren spots Rakshala, Grunah, and an elderly man approaching the landing site. Despite his age, the man stands tall and solid—thick muscles visible beneath his shirt.
Auren recognizes him instantly.
That tunnel… he’s the one with the earth-shaping Hatsu.
He instructs Pakunoda to get up and follow him outside.
“Auren, I’m glad you made it,” Rakshala says as he disembarks.
“I’m sorry for dragging all of you into this ss…” Auren replies, his tone sincere.
I really created a ss… no. Not . Fuck these Elders… they WILL pay.
“What a ss, indeed,” the old man says with a slight frown. “And our two Elders got captured so easily? Disgraceful.”
“Indeed, though you can’t bla them… they were up against the Troupe after all,” Auren says, nodding.
“This is Elder Rein,” Rakshala explains. “Leave the rest to . I’ve already handled the negotiations and arranged a deal.”
She steps toward Pakunoda, her tone diplomatic but firm. “I expect your cooperation, Miss. If you comply, I can guarantee your safety.”
Pakunoda doesn’t answer. She simply gives a small nod.
“Now, Auren,” Rakshala says, her tone serious, “as much as I’d like to give you ti to rest… the deal happens tomorrow. It will take place inside this small area—more like a prison carved out of solid rock.”
She turns to the crew. “Lead her away!” she orders, pointing to Pakunoda.
“Wait,” Auren says, stepping forward and gently pulling Rakshala aside.
“I think she can read thoughts… she kept trying to touch . Multiple tis,” he says quietly.
“Truly? I’ll take that into account,” Rakshala replies with a satisfied nod.
A few hours pass.
Auren now sits inside the tunnel system—simple chambers carved into the rock, sparsely furnished with beds and basic supplies. Ti passes slowly in the stillness. Auren closing his eyes, relaxing.
I love this atmosphere… once this is over, I might return for a few months of training.
Ten hours later, the preparations for the deal begin.
Auren watches as Elder Rein manipulates the landscape by just touching it. The older man alters the tunnel structure—sealing off the original entrance and forming a new, narrow path that winds through the cliffs and leads into the center of the rocky basin.
Eventually, Auren stands with Rein, Rakshala, and Grunah in the middle of the open space. Pakunoda is behind them, restrained but calm. All around, positioned on the cliffs overlooking the basin, are thirty Nen users—strategically placed, ready for anything.
Multiple airships are hovering above the basin, modern weaponry prepared to fire.
Auren fixes his gaze on the newly ford tunnel with focused interest.
Multiple figures begin to erge.
He spots several people walking through the passage—but one in particular draws his attention.
A man in a large, dark fur coat.
He has black hair, slicked back. He walks with perfect calm, seemingly unbothered by the situation he is in.
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