153 Omokage Seems to Be Getting Stronger Again

Listening to the faint voice on the phone, Hisoka's grin widened.

"It seems Ronel's attitude toward the Phantom Troupe is still as casual as ever. This is delightful~~~"

At the Gates of Heavens Arena

Early the next morning, after saying farewell to Wing and Gon, Ronnel waited at the entrance to Heavens Arena. Before long, Hisoka appeared, striding forward with his usual feline grace.

"I've found it. Omokage is hiding in a small town. An airship will get us there in less than half a day."

Hisoka's dark eyes scanned Ronnel as if appraising him.

"It's been a while, and Omokage seems to have grown even stronger." His voice remained playful, but a flicker of unease surfaced beneath his calm exterior.

"After Chrollo, it looks like Omokage will need to keep getting stronger too~"

The sense of danger in Hisoka's heart pulsed, though he kept it buried. Ronnel was already stronger than him. With only the two of them involved in this venture, staying cautious seemed wise.

"Good," Ronnel replied with unwavering confidence.

There was no doubt in his mind about the accuracy of Hisoka's information. Omokage had ways of tracking the Phantom Troupe, just as they could trace each other.

Without further delay, they boarded the fastest airship toward their destination.

Arrival at the Town of Andrew

The small town of Andrew, was remote and quiet. Though the population was sparse, the atmosphere contrasted starkly with the grim streets of Meteor City. Life here was bright and picturesque.

Residents greeted each other with sunny smiles, their cheerfulness infectious. When Ronnel and Hisoka entered the town, even Hisoka's tension seemed to ease—if only slightly.

"Omokage is definitely here~~" Hisoka murmured, his gaze scanning the area.

"But finding them might take some effort."

"No, it'll be easy~" Ronnel replied, a faint smile crossing his face. He looked toward a nearby fountain.

At the base of the fountain sat a little girl with blond hair and pale blue eyes, gently manipulating a puppet. She was engrossed in a mesmerizing puppet show, captivating the small crowd gathered around her.

"A puppet, hmm?" Hisoka's curiosity piqued as he watched her deft movements.

"Her eyes… There's something familiar about them."

Indeed, the girl's eyes reflected the presence of Omokage. She was none other than Retz—the puppet sister created through blood sacrifice, imbued with memories and Nen. Though she seemed alive, her essence was that of a puppet.

Hisoka's keen senses soon detected the subtle oddities in her behavior.

"Interesting~" he mused, narrowing his eyes. He made no move to approach the girl. "It's best not to scare the snake out of the grass just yet."

The two Hunters watched quietly, waiting for the show to end.

When the performance concluded, the little girl bowed to the applause of the audience and packed her things. She used the money she earned to buy some food and returned to a shabby wooden house on the town's outskirts.

Throughout the day, Ronnel and Hisoka followed her movements. Her routine was simple: breakfast, puppet shows, lunch, more puppet shows, and finally sleep.

She seemed content with this ordinary life, her joy evident in every performance.

"If her brother hadn't tried to give her the so-called eternal life she never asked for... maybe she would have been happy living like this for real," Hisoka whispered.

"But there are no 'what-ifs'~"

A Change in Routine

For three days, Ronnel and Hisoka observed patiently. On the third evening, however, Retz's routine shifted. This time, after her final puppet show, she didn't return to the small wooden house. Instead, she ventured beyond the town, turning down narrow paths and slipping into the woods.

Two hours later, she arrived at a brightly lit cabin deep in the forest.

"Are you back, Retz? Did you enjoy your time outside, little sister?" a muffled voice drifted from inside the cabin.

If Omokage's voice was calm and soft, this one was distinctly feminine, yet laced with an unsettling warmth.

"Yes, brother," Retz responded timidly. Her puppet-like tone betrayed fear. Even with memories implanted by Nen, the part of her that remembered her brother feared him.

"Come in. Let me take a good look at you."

Retz hesitated, trembling, but she couldn't resist the will of the person inside. Slowly, she opened the door and stepped inside.

A Silent Hunt

In the forest outside the cabin, Hisoka swatted a large mosquito with a lazy flick of his hand, killing it instantly. His lips curled into a smile as he sensed the shift in Nen emanating from within the cabin.

"It seems our prey has finally shown up~"

Ronnel stood beside him, silent and focused. The two hunters remained hidden in the shadows, ready to strike when the time was right.

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