Group - Friends - Trust and Suspects

As Alie leaves to gather the others, Leonard stays seated, lost in thought.

The dim light of the shack flickers as his mind churns through the possibilities. Black Island—sealed, cursed, inescapable. The more he thinks about it, the clearer the picture becomes.

Whoever placed the seal must've been a Nen user of extraordinary power. But more than that, the nature of the seal points toward something specific.

"A haunting or curse-type ability," Leonard murmurs to himself, piecing it together in his mind.

"It would make sense... something that binds the entire island. To create a barrier so strong that no one can leave, it would need a constant source of power. Nen abilities always come with a cost, and the greater the ability, the greater the sacrifice."

Leonard taps his fingers against the floor, his thoughts racing.

Whoever placed the seal... they must have either sacrificed themselves or found a way to fuel the barrier continuously with aura. Maybe several Nen users together. A binding this powerful wouldn't be possible with just one person's strength—unless they were beyond extraordinary.

"There is a chance that it is a barrier-type ability too."

He recalls one of the first things he instinctively understood about Nen after his awakening:

"Nothing absolute can be created."

That rule rings in his mind like a warning.

Even the strongest Nen users can't create something truly unbreakable, especially conjurers, who specialize in making objects or phenomena from aura.

Conjurers, in particular, work within limitations. Their abilities are powerful but bound by specific conditions and rules.

"This what Izanami told Kurapika when he was teaching him "Nen".."

Leonard leans back against the wall, eyes narrowing as he considers this further.

"This seal… It's not absolute. It can't be. It has to have a weak point, a condition, or a loophole. And if there's a loophole, there's a way out."

The more he thinks about it, the more convinced he becomes. The seal is strong, but like all Nen abilities, it follows rules. He just needs to understand the rules, find the flaw, and exploit it.

"One thing's for sure," he mutters.

"If we're going to break the seal, it's going to take more than brute strength or a simple trick. We'll need someone who understands the deeper nature of Nen... and we'll need a lot of aura."

-

An hour later, the sound of footsteps breaks Leonard's concentration. Alie steps through the door first, followed by five others—three males and two females.

The dim light of the shack flickers across their faces as they step inside, each person sizing Leonard up in different ways.

Alie gestures to the first of the group, a tall man with a lean build and sharp eyes.

"This is Tyron. He's an enhancer." Tyron gives Leonard a brief nod but remains quiet, his gaze intense and calculating.

"Yeah, he does not like me at all." Leonard thinks and smiles.

Next, Alie points to a short, stocky man with a thick beard and broad shoulders.

"This is Mika. He's a manipulator." Mika offers a small smile, but there's a hint of wariness in his eyes as he watches Leonard.

Leonard nods again.

"I should be careful with these manipulators, especially those who know what their condition is to take control from others."

"I am free real estate for them, as they would be thinking I am an amateur and can be easily deceived."

The third male, standing a bit behind the others, is a lanky figure with disheveled hair and an almost detached look on his face.

It is easy to see that even his mother would find it hard to love him.

Alie introduces him as "Kade, a Conjurer." Kade barely acknowledges Leonard with a nod, his attention seemingly elsewhere.

"He seems okay compared to others." Leonard thinks.

Then, Alie turns to the two women. The first, a tall, athletic-looking woman with a steely expression, steps forward confidently.

"This is Faye, a Transmuter." She crosses her arms and gives Leonard a once-over, her eyes narrowing slightly as if assessing his worth.

"Oh, she is not good news." Leonard thinks and then nods again.

Finally, Alie introduces the last woman, a quiet, slender figure with strikingly pale skin.

"And this is Elise. She's an emitter." Elise offers a small, hesitant smile, but her gaze lingers on Leonard with a mix of curiosity and suspicion.

Each of them says hello, though their tones vary.

Some are polite, others reserved, and a couple of them—like Tyron and Faye—clearly eye Leonard with suspicion, likely wondering whether he's strong enough or trustworthy enough to join them.

"I can understand their worries; I would be suspicious too."

The atmosphere is tense, and Leonard can feel the weight of their judgment.

Alie steps forward after the introductions, her tone casual but firm.

"These are the people you'll be working with, Leonard. We've been through a lot together, and we're planning something big. It's up to you to prove that you're worth the risk."

Leonard meets each of their eyes in turn, understanding that this is only the beginning.

He needs to earn their trust, and if they're going to escape Black Island, they'll have to rely on each other.

"Nice to meet all of you," Leonard says, keeping his voice calm and steady.

"I'm here to help however I can." Though his words are simple, he knows this group will be his key to survival.