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Chapter 688
🕑 Added 2025-07-23 17:14:39 +0000 UTCChapter 688
Two vehicles entered Meteor City, facing no obstruction. Before arriving, Ron had already received clearance from the Phantom Troupeâa pass allowing entry. The guards at the gate didnât dare block them.
But even if someone had tried to stop them, none of Ronâs group would have been concerned. They wouldnât have even needed Ron to actâjust the members accompanying him were enough to force their way through.
In Yorknew, against the Biological Experiment Squad, and against Oster B-rank nen users might have seemed lacking, but in the larger human world, a B-rank nen userâs individual power was already among the elite.
Garbage Old Zone.
Ron looked out the window and saw that Meteor City had changed drastically. The old sector was gone. The mindless, machine-like husks were gone as well. In their place was something more like the new sector. Life was still harsh. Fights still broke out over a piece of bread. But at least now, the people had consciousnessâhad awareness. They werenât empty shells anymore.
That alone was a major change.
Truthfully, before coming into direct contact with members of the Phantom Troupe, Ron hadnât expected them to be this kind of group.
Machi looked at the scene outside with a complicated expression.
âMachi-nee, is this where you lived when you were little?â Misty asked curiously. Her tone had no trace of judgmentâonly genuine interest.
Machi nodded. âYes.â
âWas there anything fun here?â
âFun?â Machi fell into thought. âIf I had to name something... maybe it was that, no matter how bad our conditions were, we still had hope for the future. But in the end, that was just our own naĂŻve thinking. The real Meteor City wasnât fun at all.â
She paused for a moment, then said softly, âBut still... I liked it here.â
Misty looked at Machi, and a few of her own memories stirred.
âI was taken and sold when I was really young. I donât remember my parents, or my home. Could you tell me... what that feels like?â
Machi blinked, then nodded. âSure.â
Shizuku flipped open her notebook.
âI think I also grew up in Meteor City when I was little.â
Immediately, both Machi and Misty turned to look at her.
Shizuku pointed to her notes. âI wrote it here. I met the captain while I was still in Meteor City. He was the one who brought me out. After that, I ended up near Heavenâs Arena.â
âThatâs where I met Nina and Sally.â
Machi quickly asked, âDo you still remember anything from back then?â
Shizuku shook her head. âNot really. Iâve lost most of my memories. And when I was little, I didnât have a notebook, so I couldnât write anything down.â
Misty gently patted her and smiled. âThen youâre just like me, Shizuku-nee. Neither of us has a childhood.â
âBut we still have the future.â
âAnd now weâve got a future to look forward to.â
âMeeting big brother Ron was the best luck Iâve ever had.â
.................................................
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Phinks looked into the distance. Two vehicles were speeding toward them.
âBoss, looks like theyâre here.â
Chrollo nodded. âIt seems... Machiâs with them too.â
Phinks had already recognized herâshe was the one driving one of the cars.
âLooks like our guess was right. Machi offered herself as payment and asked Ron to help us.â
âWe all owe her now,â Chrollo said.
Phinks felt conflicted.
He had been deeply displeased with Machi leaving the Troupe. They had grown up together. She was one of the founding members. And then she just walked away, like it was nothing. Did she think the Troupe was a game?
But now, Phinks had to admitâif Machi hadnât left, they would all be dead. If not for her, they wouldnât have survived the Biological Experiment Squad. Theyâd have been wiped out.
So now, Phinks didnât know how to face her. No matter what he said, it would feel awkward.
The vehicles pulled to a stop. Ron and the others stepped out.
Machi looked at Chrollo and Phinks.
âBoss. Phinks. Itâs been a while.â
âIt has,â Chrollo replied calmly. He had long accepted Machiâs departure from the Troupe.
Phinks gave a small nod but didnât speak.
âBoss, can you tell me where Uvoginâs grave is? I want to visit.â
âOf course. Come with me.â
Chrollo led the way.
Machi hesitated slightly as she realized where he was headed.
âIs it near Sarasaâs grave?â
âThatâs right. Uvogin, Kortopi, Shalnarkâtheyâre all there.â
It wasnât far. Perhaps Chrollo had predicted she would come and had guessed that sheâd want to visit Uvoginâs grave. Thatâs why he had given Ron a location so nearby.
Phinks trailed behind the group in silence.
Before long, they arrived at Uvoginâs grave.
Machi stood there, unmoving, silently gazing at the headstone.
Memories flooded her mindâscavenging for scraps on the garbage mounds with Uvogin and Nobunaga when they were children. Fighting over resources with Feitan and Phinks. Joining the voice troupe because of Sarasaâs invitation. Grieving after Sarasaâs death. The founding of the Phantom Troupe. Learning nen together in the Depths. Going on missions with the others...
And thenâwhen she told Uvogin she wanted to leave the Troupe, he had respected her decision. Even though he hadnât wanted his friend to go, he had still honored her choice.
âUvoginâŠâ
âI hope youâre doing well, wherever you are.â
âIâve already avenged you. The Ten Dons are dead.â
Machi hadnât killed all of them, but several had died by her hand. She had taken part in the revengeâshe had done her part.
After a long while, she looked toward Kortopiâs and Shalnarkâs graves.
She hadnât been as close with them as she had with Uvogin, especially with Kortopi. But they were still members of the Troupe.
Facing their graves, she could only offer one thought from the heart.
âThe ones who killed you... are dead now.â
Finally, Machi stepped before Sarasaâs grave.
Sarasa had died a long time ago, but to the Phantom Troupe, her significance was still greater than that of most members.
