Part 29: Accepted X And X Rejected

After what happened with the Phantom Troupe last night, I found myself couldn't fall asleep. I've been thinking of so many things that could happen in the future. After the plan failed, will Kurapika still hunt down for the Troupes? Or will he stop to find the other eyes? Will the Troupes hunt him down for revenge or not?

Questions that are forming inside my head are making my worries towards Kurapika even bigger. Indeed, I have a great grudge at him for his innocent betrayal but still, he's my friend, and I couldn't let anything happen to him.

After we rescued Gon and Killua, he also became sick and fainted. Now, Leorio was taking care of him. He's really in a bad state right now.

"Secco?"

Gon called out my name all of a sudden, pulling me back to reality. I watched his eyes blinked several times like he was asking why I'm not listening. We were currently having snacks at a cafe.

"Quit spacing out, blonde! We're trying to discuss something important here!" Killua shouted at me with his complaining glare and took a sip on his milkshake.

"I'm sorry," I said with a droopy face as I stared at my feet. I tried to stop myself from showing my emotions, but it was a failure. Why am I always so emotional?

I noticed Killua and Gon stared at me for a long time. Finally, one of them spoke out of the blue.

"Don't worry about Kurapika. He can manage his self." Killua said and sipped on his milkshake again. Wait. How did he know what I'm thinking about?

"Yeah, Secco! We must believe in Kurapika! And besides, he has Leorio and Melody with him, so he'll be fine."

Gon added with a wide smile on his face and I couldn't help myself but smile as well.

"There's an auction being held here in Yorknew City and one of the items for the bid are Greek Island game."

"So you wanted to join the auction and win the game?" Killua said in an uninterested tone.

"Remember, Gon, those people in the auction have million times more money than us. We can't win." I stated.

"That's right. But not all of them are experienced gamers." Gon said with a smirk and a confident voice.

I noticed Killua thinking too deep, trying to understand what Gon was trying to say using the hints he is giving us, and his face told me that he finally understood.

"Wait! So you're saying that we will apply to whoever won the Greed Island to work as a gamer?" His frowning face earlier turned into an enthusiastic smile. Because of what I heard, I also couldn't help myself but to be surprised and shouted in awe.

"That plan sounds amazing!" I said with sparkling eyes towards Gon and a big wide smirk.

"To the auction!"

***

We finally made it to the auction which was located at one of the gigantic hotels in Yorknew City. Since we aren't allowed to go inside wearing some so-called "lame country clothes", we decided to rent some formal suits and dress for the occasion. We also invited Zepile to come with us for his backup information about the people in the auction.

"Hey. Is my tie in the right position?" Gon asked me while adjusting his bow tie on his chest. I reached out for his tie and helped him in moving it to the correct place. After adjusting, I gave him a thumbs up to say to him that he looks fine with the suit.

"Secco." Killua called out for me in my back. I turned around to see him in his black suit similar to Gon's. I have to admit, he looks handsome and charming in that suit. I can't help but to blush on his dreamy atmosphere surrounding him. It might be unnoticeable, but I can see his cheeks turning pink as well.

"L-Look, d-don't expect that I'm going to say that the dress looks good on you, okay? It's actually not! I-It makes you an old woman! B-But..." he paused for a moment and started to rub his red cheeks with his finger. "you look better today, that's all. I-I mean, you're a less hag than before."

I don't know if I'll be happy that he compliments me or be sad because of his harsh words. So is he saying that I looked like a complete hag when I was wearing my waitress outfit?

"T-Thanks. Actually, this was no different from my waitress outfit, just the color, and more number of frills." I said with a short scan of my dress, stretching it enough for me to see it in my view.

After scanning, I turned back to see him. "You also look good in that suit, and less stubborn.~" I said with a warm smile on my face.

"D-Don't say embarrassing things, you idiot!"

I saw his cheeks turned red even more and he walked away to hide it.

We finally made it inside the auction. The hall was full of people. Most of them are already in their mid-50s while some are just middle-aged. The seats are almost fully occupied and it took us a long time to find some comfortable seats.

But as we tried to search, familiar faces greeted us in the seats right next to us. I saw them at one of the posters scattered in every corner of the city, and my mind is full of anxiety when I realized who they are. And their faces are extremely surprised as well.

They're Phinks and Feitan, one of the Phantom Troupes.

Our adrenaline took the job for us and we ran as fast as we could out of the auction hall. We didn't have time to lean back to see if they're following us but just ran forward.

"Why are they here?!" Gon shouted with his panting voice as he ran.

"I don't know!" Killua answered, with a tired face.

"That doesn't matter! They're going to kill us!" I shouted even though I'm already running out of breath.

All of a sudden, Feitan showed up in front of us, trying to cover the path to our escape. We tried to go to another direction but it was already too late: Phinks also showed up in our back.

"What do you want from us?" Gon said with fearless eyes as he looked at them both. Even though I knew that I don't have enough abilities to fight, I still chose to act tough.

"Don't worry. We're not here to kill you. We just wanted to enjoy the auction." Phinks said as Feitan walked towards him and turned around to see us.

Although their statement seemed a bit off, I tried not to say unnecessary words. Why are they're just here to enjoy the auction? I thought that their only happiness was seeing people die in front of them.

The hallway became silent with no people showing up on our way. This is the deepest part of the hotel so it's understandable that no one was here, and besides, the auction is starting soon.

Feitan and Phinks were about to leave us, standing alone when suddenly, Gon spoke. "Wait!"

"How's Pakunoda?" He asked them, still in his brave and determined eyes, wanted to know the answer. Killua had the same expression.

Pakunoda? With all of my observation and memory, I deduced it was the blonde-haired lady, holding a gun, that took Gon and Killua in exchange with their leader.

The Troupes didn't say anything for a moment and finally, spoke.

"...She's dead."

The only words that he said to us. I saw Gon became pale because of what he heard from them. Even though they're enemies, I think he saw a good side of one of the Spiders and he didn't hesitate to feel sad for her death.

"Is that so?"

No one spoke and the Spiders continued walking away from us and to the auction hall.

"Also..." Phinks said all of a sudden and turned around to see once more. "She wants to say thank you."

Those were his last words, and they disappeared in the hallway, leaving us. I don't know what to feel right now. Will I be relieved that they left? Will I be happy for the death of one of the Spiders? Or will I be sad because Gon thinks she's not a bad person? I don't know how to express my feelings and my mind just became blank.

***

We went back to the auction after that short encounter and we didn't bring the effort to find them in the crowd.

We're just here to observe the auction and to find out who will win most of the Greed Island games, so we didn't raise our hands much, except Gon's accidental thumb that he didn't mean to raise. For a second, I thought we would be paying millions of Jenny!

The auction finally finished and the winner of all the Greed Island games is the famous millionaire, Battera. I've heard of him on the TV when I was a child, but I don't have any interest in those subjects.

We went outside to approach Battera to ask him if we can volunteer playing the Greed Island game since he was recruiting professional Hunters to play it for him.

"I'm sorry, kids. But this is not just some games that you always play." He said with a slow and soft laugh followed by a smirk on his face.

I got irritated by him calling us kids and I know Gon and Killua are, too. And I also have guessed that it wasn't a normal game since Gon told me that the clue came from his father himself.

I saw Killua's eyes widened like he just got an idea.

"Gon, maybe the ring and the memory card had something to do with this." he said with an enthusiastic smile.

Gon was also surprised and smiled. "You're right!" He exclaimed and showed the card and ring Killua was talking about from his pocket. They also told me about that and it also came from the box his father gave to him.

"H-How..." Battera said out of the blue as he looked at what Gon was holding, shocked. "How did you know about that? H-How did you get that?"

"We won't tell you that!" I shouted at him out of anger as I grabbed Gon's hand for support.

"Tsezguerra." Ignoring my answer, he called out someone's name from afar and a middle-aged man wearing a military suit showed up in front of us. He has quite a built body similar to any soldiers in the military.

"They knew enough about Greed Island. Can you test them out?" Battera asked the man named Tsezguerra as he pointed at us.

"Very well then. Show me your Ren." Tsezguerra said and we prepared ourselves to show it to him.

I took a deep long breath and closed my eyes to concentrate. I followed the instructions my Master gave to me and finally doing Ren. I can feel my body being wrapped with an immense Aura and it gets stronger and bigger each time.

"Failed," Tsezguerra announced and we all stopped producing Ren, shocked at the results. Even I couldn't see my friends' faces since I was too focused on the man, looking for signs he was joking, I knew they're also surprised.

"What?! How can you say that?" Gon shouted in his childish way as he gave them a serious look. I also couldn't accept his judgment. How can he judge our abilities just like that?

"I've been trained and entered the game many times. It was dangerous, it could kill you. And you won't survive the game if your powers are still immature! Come back when you're fully ready." Tsezguerra lectured us and stood still, his expression still didn't change.

"Fine! We'll come back here. Let's go!" Gon shouted back to him as he walked away with a great force in his every step, as he was stomping his feet like an angry giant.

Killua followed him with his calm face, but I noticed his hands formed into fists. I glared at Tsezguerra and Battera and soon, followed them as we walked away.