Hunter X Hunter: Grounded

Chapter 75



Title: Yorknew City...



….
"Do you have any connections with the Phantom Troupe?"




Kurapika's question rings through. But I only smirk, deciding to not answer for a couple of seconds. 



But the kid's calm, I can give him that. Here could be information on the people that killed everyone he loved, and he still keeps a calm outlook. Definitely someone with a strong mentality and will power… not a good target for me.


"No, I do not have any connections with the Phantom Troupe. Nor am I their ally." I answer him, the smirk still on my face as he seems confused when the chain doesn't move. 


Yep, the kid did some investigating and likely found out about my sightings of the Phantom Troupe.


Information-seeking Hatsu Abilities are the most troublesome.


But Kurapika's power is still within the limits of Conjuration. It can only Conjure something within human limitations. Meaning that this truth-telling device of his works by detecting things that would indicate a lie by the perpetrator. Something that Kuraika wouldn't normally notice, still, it is almost impossible to lie in front of this ability.


I have perfect control over my body and nothing can detect a lie from me. Unless it is something that falls under Specialization and not the limits of Conjuration, which must always be something within human limitations.


"Sorry about this." Kurapika apologizes and turns around going back inside.


This is the downside of an ability like lie detection, you gain too much confidence in it. When it fails, the user will ignore the obvious hints and believe in the ability. Kurapika suspected something of me, but he then ignored everything after his ability told him different.



Everything has a risk in Nen, nothing comes for free here, though the price on it always depends. Even my <Absorption by Virus> ability has the risk of me being the one absorbed by my victims instead. After all, if someone has stronger willpower than me then they can overtake the virus and try to absorb me, just like I did the giant centipede.



Hmmm… this is why I need to be very careful with who I chose. I am tempted to try it against someone like Chrollo, but that would possibly fuck me over, getting an ability stealing guy with super regeneration. Plus he too would then have the Absorption Ability. I know that I am nothing special and this ability will be spread over and be used by others, possibly better than me. So I must find strong people who are mentally weak or completely broken, that way at least I can play to my strengths and not create a needless enemy for myself.


Well enough thinking for now. 


I extend my hand towards a shadow and Karla appears out of it to grasp my hand. 


We walk away with the appearance of two lovers walking hand by hand. 



I don't mind this situation as much as I used to, in the beginning, I am not gonna say that I am overjoyed beyond measure… only someone inexperienced would feel something of that nature. But still, I don't mind Karla being that clingy anymore.




….
-General POV-



Two days later and Sub looks at the streets of Yorknew City. 


Gathering between many big skyscrapers. There is Gon arm wrestling while Leorio does his announcements as Killua holds the ring package.


"This is a 3 million Jenny ring, for only 10,000 Jenny you can try your luck against this young boy here." He says as he points at Gon. "If you win against him, you get the ring."



Yorknew city is busy as always and crowds gather at different interesting things, amongst these giant buildings, only these things can release boredom.




Sub also notices three members of the Phantom Troupe amongst the crowd. It is Franklin, Shizuku, and Feitan. Just like he has been expecting.


"Quite the impressive people they are." He says out loud, as he is wearing casual clothes and suppressing his Nen, none can notice his presence.


"Eh~ can't you beat them easily?" Asks Karla, and he immediately flickers her in the forehead.


"Don't say such stupid things so confidently." Sub reprimands her, his eyes looking straight at Feitan. "Some abilities can easily overlap raw strength. Nen has never been about simple raw strength and you should know that."




'If I hurt him enough, Feitan's ability would burn me to a crisp.' Contemplates Sub, he never underestimates anyone in situations like these. Who knows when a Nen Ability like Camilla's or Faitan's appears.



Shizuku goes for an arm wrestle and that is when he appears behind Feitan and Franklin, none of them being the wiser about it.



"Yo!" 

Fwish!!


Immediately Feitan pulls out his sword, pointing it at Sub's throat and Franklin has his <Finger Machine Gun> pointed at him.



"Greed… the fuck are you doing here." Says Franklin, relaxing after seeing who it is while.


While Feitan still has his sword pointed at Sub's throat. "One move and I will slash."


Sub smiles at that and twirls his body around.


Fwish!!


Feitan doesn't hesitate and goes to decapitate Sub.


*clang*


But the sword can't even touch Sub's skin and Feitan immediately uses Ko to concentrate all of his Nen at the tip of his sword.


*break*


The sword tip shatters as it makes contact with Sub's Nen. 


"Nice." He smiles, looking at the two Phantom Troupe members. "You guys have both gotten stronger than the last time I met you. Though obviously, the one who has improved way more is… me."


Fwosh!


As soon as he says that Sub appears behind them in an instant. But Feitan still has the sharp part of his blade pointed at Sub's throat. He still can keep up with his speed, well he can't, but he can see him.




"Greed, stop playing around now." Says Franklin with a frown on his face. "Machi won't like it if I tell her that you are playing around with us."



Sub thinks about this, shrugs, and a smile appears on his face as a murderous Aura is directed towards them. "Well, I guess I should kill you both to keep quiet then."


Instantly, both of them get on guard, Sub is crazily unpredictable, there is more than a 50% of him doing something that he says. He cannot be predicted by common sense, he sometimes seemed to not even care for the repercussions of his actions.



That is when Shizuku is beaten by Gon in arm wrestling due to her using her non-dominant arm.


Sub then cancels his bloodlust and looks at them with a joking face. "C'mon now guys~ it was a prank~"


"Not a funny one." Says Franklin. 'This fucker has balls of steel since three years ago he suddenly got a strength boost, he went from being a good challenge against Uvo to being able to fight the whole Troupe by himself.'




"Well, I will let you go and do your little candy stealing." Sub mocks them as he walks away. 




….
Later on after the burglary, the Phantom Troupe escapes with nothing as Uvogin fights off the Mafia Troops.



And later on during the fight, due to being poisoned by the Shadow Beasts that he takes down, Kurapika kidnaps him. 


Everyone in the Troupe is shocked at this, except Machi, she takes this calmly and leaves a line in the Uvogin. 'I feel weird, is Sub watching from afar?'


Her crazy instincts pick this off and she then looks towards a hill, there seems to be no one there. She then mouths off. ":Are you entertained?:"




A shadow in the hill flickers momentarily, a split second smirk appears on her face. Machi then walks away. "Everyone, let's give chase to them."



….
Still, after that, Uvogin is captured, the Troupe massacres the Shadow Beasts and frees him later.



This all happens at Hotel Beitacle. At the same time, after being freed, Uvogin gives chase to Kurapika.



…
The next day, Gon and Killua are trailing two of the Phantom Troupe members for their bounties. 


At first, there is just Machi and Nobunaga, sitting down at a coffee shop on a popular street. But soon, they see someone that they would have never expected there.


Sub just casually walks along like he owns the place and waves at Machi. "Yo! Long time no see."


"It wasn't that long." Answers Machi, a small almost unnoticeable smile appears on her face.


"For me, it hasn't been long enough," nonchalantly says Nobunaga.



"Huh? I wasn't talking about you samurai guy," adds Sub. 


*sigh* Nobunaga leans on his hand with an annoyed look on his face. "Hey, usually I would joke around with you… but recently I am looking for a certain friend of mine."


"Oh, you mean Uvogin? Then no need to look anymore, he is dead." Sub says as if talking about the weather. "He was killed yesterday night, pretty gruesomely too."



…
A/N: The MC is playing some things behind the scenes, I only gave some hints this time.😉


P.S: Was at a student-parent gathering for my little brother. He has started getting better grades and the teachers are talking good about him.😏 *proud older brother vibes*