Chapter 20: Killing two fakes

(A/N: My power is back!!! But I feel like I've read too much Wuxia! I continue to want to write an arrogant MC with young master villains!... HELP ME!!!!!!)

After a long and mind numbingly annoying back and forth banter between Soren and the hotel reception, Soren was soon led out of the hotel by a group of security.

"The staff would like to ask you not to return to the premise": security

"What the hell!... I just wanted to know where my friend was!": soren

Although Soren could easily escape from this group of security, he felt that force was unneeded and that talking his way out of the situation would be better.

"If your friend really was staying in this hotel, you would at least know their name!": security

This sentence made Soren stop talking, as it was obviously very suspicious to be asking for names and claiming to be acquainted with them, making Soren believe he should have gone with the bribery route.

"Fine!... I'll be back": soren

As Soren shook free of the guard's hold, he swore that he would return making the security guard shake in frustration as his face began to grow red in anger.

"Don't come back, as you are not welcome here!": security

For the rest of the day, the security force was stationed to rotate guard watch at the front due to the lingering threat of Soren's return, but unknown to them, Soren had snuck in using Zetsu as he followed behind a family who wanted to stay at the hotel. After getting in, Soren made his way back to room 417 and instead of knocking, Soren decided to break in, as the idea of using his Nen as a form of lock pick that entered through the keyhole and began lifting the pins into place before the cylinder started turning, indicating that the door was now unlocked.

'This was much easier than trying to get possibly fake information from the receptionist… Why didn't I do this from the beginning!?': soren

After opening the door to the room, Soren walked into the dark hallway before closing and locking the door behind him as he started looking around the room in more detail. Soren walked over to the bed as he noticed a slight ruffle in the bed's comforter before he lifted the end which gave him view of a black box hidden under the frame of the bed.

"So this room is just a storage hideout, and it's probably one of many, meaning this is not the place this person stays at": soren

As Soren used his Nen to coat his hands in a thin glove-like coating of his aura, he began pulling the creepy black box out from under the bed before opening it up where he saw a few files as well as a few million jenny.

"What do we have here?...": soren

As Soren opened the first file, he was quite disgusted to see a list of hospitals that were known for organ transplantation, and a few of the names were circled, while some had lines drawn through them. Upon opening the second file, Soren was greeted with a familiar face, in fact, it was a face that matched the profile of the strand of hair he found.

'Why is Omokage's image in this file?... Do these sick bastards have his body?... Wait, Omokage could create dolls, is it possible that whoever is behind this has studied Omokage's ability and is using it to create an army?': soren

Many thoughts had run through his head, but never would he think that a former dead member would be involved in all of this.

'If I find out they are experimenting on my dead friends body, I'll torture every last one of them': soren

After putting the two files back, Soren was preparing to close the box and put it back, but something caught his eye instead.

"What's this?... A 'To-Do' list?": soren

Soren found a simple piece of scrap paper that had a small list of things that needed to be completed that was made up of about 5 things.

"Hmm… Rent out stash house, check… Research beast organs for Zero, check… Apply for the Hunter's Exam, check… Get a Hunter's License… Use License to form a better Information Network… Seems that this person will be undertaking the Hunter's Exam, which means if I want to get rid of them, I'll need to do so after the exam ends": soren

Seeming that it would be impossible to track down this fake any further, Soren decided to move onto the next two targets in hopes that they would be easier to track down. After taking a train to the next town over, Soren began searching the city using the last known location of his target as a center point. It took 3 hours before he finally found some traces of movement, as his target began putting together a group of thugs to make their work easier, and after confronting one of these thugs, Soren was able to gather the information he needed.

"So this one goes by the name Eight… This is definitely the guy I'm looking for": soren

Soren got the address to the current hideout that Eight was staying at, as well as learned that the purpose for the gathering of thugs was to look for information on the whereabouts of the lungs of a rare species known as a black leopard known for their stamina.

"Boss Eight!... I got some news!": thug

Upon hearing this, Eight was delighted as he motioned for the thug to speak.

"Come on, tell me what you know": eight

As the thug began narrating the information he heard from a reliable source, Soren was trying to sneak into the building without alerting anyone about his presence, and was soon greeted with another cloaked figure, this figure being known as Eight.

"Excellent!... With this, we are one step closer to our goal for freedom!": eight

As Soren heard the excited words of Eight, he felt there was more than what was on the surface that would need more investigation, but just as he was taking a step forward while hiding in the rafters, the old rotten wood began to creak before snapping under the weight of Soren sending him down to the ground.

"Ouch!... Well that's not up to code": soren

"Who's there!": eight

Seeing that an unfamiliar face had seemed to fall in on their private conversation, Eight began preparing for a fight as he started speaking out to provoke Soren.

"Do you know who you're messing with?!... My name is Eight! The 8th member of the Phantom Troupe": eight

As Soren heard the introduction he got up and began patting the dust off his clothes before speaking in a cold tone.

"You don't look like Sebastian to me… Seems you're one of the fake I'm looking for after all!": soren

When Eight heard Soren speak about someone named Sebastian and compared the both of them in position, Eight started feeling terrified.

"N-no… You're lying!... You're not a member of the Phantom Troupe!": eight

"Oh?... Then I guess I'll prove it to you in a fight": soren

Soren then began unbuttoning his shirt before taking it off and turning his back to hand the shirt on a nearby table, purposely exposing the spider with the number one making its abdomen.

"This is a real spider!": eight

Seeming the tattooed spider on Soren's back, Eight couldn't help but fear Soren instinctually, as he was a real member of the Troupe.

"Alright, let's finish this": soren

As Soren got into his MMA fighting stance, a shroud of red miasmic aura enveloped his entire body before a gigantic illusory fox appeared behind him as its mouth seemed to water while looking at its prey. Seeing that a fight was inevitable, Eight activated his Nen as a dark blue aura enveloped his body before a deep blue light wrapped around his body as a blue armor appeared to protect him, while a blue handled Katana appeared in his hand with a chilling wave being emitted from the silver white blade.

"Oh?... So you're a conjure… I've face guys like you before": soren

After seeing the chilling aura that seemed to freeze the very air it touched, Soren activated two limiters bringing his power up to 4 times his normal state, as the energy seeping from his body began to affect its surroundings as the heat began to rise.

'Transmuting my Nen into a scorching heat to create an AOE attack is quite powerful, but it's hot as hell!': soren

Soren launched himself towards Eight while concentrating his Nen into his fist before sending an attack towards Eight while Eight could only raise his katana to block the attack while being launched back tens of feet and sent through the wall of the building.

"That chilling blade is quite cold!": soren

Soren looked down at his hand that seemed to be burning red as a layer of ice frosted the top layer of skin. Seeing that Eight wasn't going to be coming back inside, Soren walked through the hole in the building to meet him out back where the fight would continue.

"So tell me… What's your goal using the Phantom Troupe name to do your dirty work?... Wouldn't you rather build your own reputation?": soren

"That's none of your business!": eight

Although he told Soren it wasn't his business, Eight felt the same way, as he felt it was better to build their own reputation rather than build up a fake reputation.

"Hais… I guess I'll need to hunt down all the rest if I wish to find out": soren

Seeing that the questioning wouldn't get very far, Soren decided to finish the fight and look for another fake to question. Both Soren and Eight then began to have a strenuous clash as neither side seemed to hold the advantage, but after Soren used the 3rd limiter, it quickly became obvious who would win.

"Holy shit!": eight

Soren seemed to disappear from his position as he reappeared next to Eight as a dominating punch landed on the armored helmet shattering it to pieces as Eight was sent away like a ragdoll as his long silver hair flowed in the wind, while Soren was lost for words.

"What the hell?... Omokage?!": soren

Soren watched as Eight landed on the ground seeming to be either dead or unconscious as a large crack seemed to appear on his cheek right where Soren's fist impacted the helmet.

"No… This is a doll… But how can this be possible?!": soren

After seeing the result of his search, the pieces of the puzzle began to clear up as the whole picture came into view, making Soren give a cold glare to nobody in particular.

"The reason why all 13 of these people seem to be the same is because they all are dolls, and it seems Omokage is the template for these puppets… But why?... Who is the puppeteer?": soren

After taking out Eight, Soren began looting the hideout for information before he started looking for the next target on his list, but this time he held new knowledge regarding what the situation was.

"You think you can use my friend's face to cause trouble?... Well whoever you are, I'll find you and make you wish you let him rest in peace": soren

Soren took the next train to the location of his next target and began looking for more clues. After finding the target, Soren fought and destroyed the puppet before searching for information regarding the orders that were given.

"This one was known as Six, and he was an Enhancer… How is it possible to give the puppets Nen abilities of their own?... Wouldn't they need their own souls?": soren

Going through the information that he could find gave him a bit of an idea of what the goal was.

"Project Rebuild?... Rebuilding what?": soren

As Soren was looking for more information regarding this 'Project Rebuild' that the fakes were working on, Soren felt like he was right on top of something big, but he couldn't figure it out with the little bits of information he had.

"I wish I had used that wish to get an overpowered system that could answer all my problems… Hais, it seems like I will just unravel everything in the slow way": soren

After leaving the scene, Soren rented out a hotel room and began compiling all the information he had gathered to try and tie everything together.

"Alright… It's obvious that all 13 people are puppets, so no need to look for identities, but there is still no information on who is pulling the strings behind the scenes… Project Rebuild… What could they be rebuilding?... Every time I find them, they are looking for rare and exotic animal organs… Rebuild… Are they rebuilding some kind of monster?... But why use Omokage's face for the puppets?": soren

Soren felt that there was too much that was being left out that only further investigation could unravel.

"Going after the puppets will be pointless if they can create more to replace the ones I destroy, so now I should focus on finding the mastermind and kill them instead": soren