Hunter X Hunter: Tombbound Power

No one knew what Ronnel would choose to wear—not even him.

The other guests were ushered out by waiters, one after the other.

Outside, in a hidden corner ~

"Perfect. Just as expected. Now, let's move."

The two figures slipped into place behind two young men whose stature matched theirs.

Shalnark, holding a red, retro-style flip phone, pulled out the antenna with a smirk.

"The game is about to begin~~"

Inside the room, Ronnel glanced around at the costumes and masks arranged before him. After a brief moment of contemplation, he grabbed a fluffy, brown teddy bear suit and slipped it on along with the matching mask.

It seemed to be a mascot from a popular cartoon series circulating across the Six Continents~

Once fully dressed, Ronnel stepped out of the room and was greeted by an unusual sight: an assembly of individuals in a chaotic array of costumes.

Some wore outfits reminiscent of assassins from Assassin's Creed, others donned bulky armor resembling characters from Overwatch. A handful looked like special forces operatives straight out of Crossfire.

Despite the cool and edgy vibe they exuded, Ronnel couldn't help but shake his head at their questionable fashion sense.

They really went all out with the style, but it's a mess.

As he stood observing the bizarre assembly, the others noticed him too—a lone, oversized teddy bear standing awkwardly among them. Their masked stares radiated thinly veiled contempt.

Whose son is this, showing up in such ridiculous attire? No taste whatsoever.

Ronnel, unfazed by their reactions, casually glanced around the room—until two particular costumes caught his attention. His easygoing demeanor shifted slightly into one of focus.

One of them, a short man dressed as the Candy Bandit, piqued his interest. The Candy Bandit was the villain of The Taste of Candy and Pain, a bestselling book. Although a villain, the character had become even more popular than the book's protagonist.

Ronnel recalled that Baker, was an avid fan of the novel. A first-edition copy of it took pride of place on Baker's bookshelf.

The other figure wore an Egyptian-inspired cloak, with an Anubis mask covering his face. The height difference between the two characters made their pairing all the more noticeable.

The short man, if Ronnel remembered correctly, was Griffin. Due to stunted growth since childhood, Griffin was shorter than most of his peers, making him easy to recognize even under a mask.

Ronnel remembered Griffin as someone with friendly ties to Baker. Despite that connection, Griffin never trained in Nen and had no noteworthy abilities.

Nothing about Griffin stood out—until now.

A creeping sense of unease settled over Ronnel, one honed by years of instinctual survival and his encounters with dangerous individuals like Tonpa. Something about Griffin—and the tall, masked figure beside him—felt... off.

This party is about to get interesting, Ronnel thought, his lips curving into a faint smile.

"I love fishing in troubled waters."

At that moment, a waiter in a foreman's uniform approached them with a polite bow.

"All knights, please follow me," the waiter said.

The young men exchanged glances, displeased with the waiter's casual tone, but none dared show open disrespect. After all, this was Princess Anna's event. Grumbling inwardly, they followed the waiter.

Ronnel, however, noticed something strange about the waiter's demeanor. His movements were stiff, almost mechanical.

Curious, Ronnel activated his Nen and focused on the waiter's face.

There was nothing.

Not a flicker of emotion or thought behind that smile. It's blank.

This absence was unusual. Even when people faked expressions, there was always some trace of emotion behind them. But this waiter's smile gave away... nothing.

Ronnel's gaze drifted lower. A glint of red at the waiter's ankle caught his eye—a tiny antenna, concealed beneath the folds of the uniform.

Bingo.

Whoever was controlling the waiter was skilled—this was no amateur job. These people know what they're doing. And the fact that they dared to pull this off in a V5 country meant they were either incredibly bold or utterly reckless.

Ronnel's steps faltered as realization dawned on him. His gaze darted between the antenna at the waiter's ankle and the oddly dressed pair in the crowd.

Griffin, the Candy Bandit, and that guy dressed as a pharaoh... this all feels too familiar.

And then it hit him.

The Candy Bandit—wasn't that Feitan? 

The man in the pharaoh outfit? No doubt about it—it had to be Phinks. And the Emitter controlling the waiter? Ronnel didn't need to guess. That could only be Shalnark.

This is the Phantom Troupe's work.

Despite knowing their dangerous nature, Ronnel couldn't help but feel amused. 

So what are they planning this time? Ronnel mused, deciding it would be best to observe quietly from the middle of the group.

Led by the waiter, the group entered a grand hall where all the banquet tables had been cleared to make way for an assortment of strange props.

"Alright, dear guests!" the host greeted them warmly, his smile wide and inviting.

Princess Anna and Kaelen stood beside him, also smiling graciously.

"Since everyone has changed into their costumes, I hereby announce that tonight's game shall officially begin!"

BANG!

A gunshot echoed through the hall, synchronized perfectly with the host's final word.

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