Renn noticed that Uvogin didn’t have a spider tattoo on his back yet.
“So that means the Phantom Troupe hasn’t been formed yet?”
Renn began to think.
“Machi is twelve, which means Chrollo should be fourteen. It’s entirely possible that the Phantom Troupe hasn’t been established yet.”
“If that’s the case, maybe I can try recruiting Uvogin and Nobunaga.”
Of the Phantom Troupe members, Renn didn’t like Chrollo.
Renn didn’t consider himself a good person, but Chrollo struck him as more of a neurotic.
Many of the things he did were motivated by bizarre reasons, and he could even wipe out an entire clan on a whim.
Killing people was perfectly normal in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
But exterminating an entire clan was going too far.
Renn didn’t like Feitan either.
During the Yorknew City arc, Feitan had barely shown any concern for his companions and seemed particularly fond of torture.
Renn didn’t want someone like that on his team.
But aside from those two, the others still had the potential to be guided in a better direction.
Uvogin and Nobunaga, in particular, fit perfectly with the kind of team Renn wanted to build.
Both of them were Enhancers.
Enhancers tended to possess greater physical strength, and Renn needed powerful people who could handle heavy work for him.
Nobunaga was a slight exception.
What Nobunaga enhanced seemed to be the sword in his hand.
Even so, his physical strength was far above that of an ordinary person.
And to Renn, Nobunaga had another use as well.
“Nobunaga must have been using that sword for a long time. With his mastery of swordsmanship, if I throw it into the Disassembler, there’s a good chance my Swordsmanship skill will reach the mastery level.”
“His sword might also work as equipment for the Slayer Character panel, but right now, the improvement from a single piece of equipment definitely wouldn’t compare to raising my Swordsmanship skill to mastery.”
Renn looked at Machi.
Her expression was serious.
At that moment, she was using Gyo, staring intently at Uvogin and Nobunaga.
“Machi, what do you think of those two?”
“They’re strong.”
Machi said, “I’m no match for them.”
“What about you, Renn?”
Renn smiled.
“I wouldn’t have much trouble dealing with the two of them. But that’s not what I’m asking.”
“I’m thinking about recruiting them into our team. What do you think?”
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Machi frowned.
“Can they be trusted?”
“Whether they’re trustworthy is hard to say right now, but both of their abilities would be useful to our team,” Renn said.
“As for trust, that can be built over time.”
“They’re both Enhancers. Enhancers tend to be straightforward and stubborn.”
“So as long as we earn their recognition, trust probably won’t be much of a problem.”
“Then you decide.”
Machi said, “I trust your judgment.”
“Good.”
Renn walked out of the courtyard.
“Machi, stay inside. Don’t come out.”
The moment Renn stood in the middle of the street, he immediately drew Uvogin and Nobunaga’s attention.
It would have been difficult not to.
Everyone else scattered in panic the moment they saw the pair approaching.
Only Renn stood calmly in the middle of the street, as though waiting for them.
Uvogin and Nobunaga exchanged a glance.
Both of their expressions grew serious.
“Are you an officer of the Shark Gang?”
“No.”
“Then what are you doing here?”
The moment they heard that Renn wasn’t with the Shark Gang, Uvogin and Nobunaga lost interest.
Renn smiled.
“Before anything else, could you tell me what’s going on today?”
“I live here, after all. I just paid three months’ rent. I don’t think asking for an explanation is unreasonable.”
Uvogin glanced at Renn.
“Then you can only blame your bad luck.”
“The Whale Gang has decided to take over this residential district from the Shark Gang. The two of us were hired by the Whale Gang.”
Renn nodded.
He had already expected that today’s disturbance was caused by another gang invading the Shark Gang’s territory.
Wars between gangs were perfectly normal.
What Renn really cared about was the second half of Uvogin’s statement.
Uvogin and Nobunaga were merely mercenaries hired by the Whale Gang.
That made things much easier.
“Are you two part of a team?”
Nobunaga frowned.
Renn said, “I saw what you did earlier. You’ve got decent strength.”
“My team just happens to be short a couple of people to handle the grunt work. Interested?”
Renn deliberately made his words insulting to provoke them.
Enhancers were particularly susceptible to this kind of provocation.
Sure enough, Nobunaga and Uvogin’s expressions immediately turned cold.
“Do you even know what you’re saying?”
“Grunt work?”
“Are you provoking us? Do you have a death wish?”
Renn shook his head.
“With your strength, you can’t kill me.”
“How about this? We have a match.”
“If I win, the two of you become my subordinates.”
“If you win, I’ll become your subordinate.”
“What do you say?”
“If you’re afraid of losing, you can both come at me together.”
Renn continued provoking them.
Nobunaga snorted coldly.
“Big words. Who do you think you are?”
“I alone am more than enough to beat you.”
Uvogin placed a hand on Nobunaga’s shoulder and looked at Renn, fighting spirit blazing in his eyes.
“I know you’re deliberately trying to provoke us.”
“But I like your proposal.”
“Having both of us fight you would be too unfair.”
“I’ll go first.”
“If you beat me, then from today onward, I’ll be your subordinate.”
“But if you lose, you become the subordinate of both me and Nobunaga.”
“That’s the deal, right?”
“That’s right.”
Renn nodded.
“Good. Then here I come.”
In an instant, powerful aura erupted from Uvogin’s body.
He kicked off the ground and charged toward Renn at astonishing speed.