บท 17: Chapter 17: The Vote (Rewritten!)

"Haha, it's good to see you again, Soren!... How was your trip?": chrollo

Chrollo began walking forward while trying to inquire about Soren's trip while the auction attendees began running for their lives, as the sight of such a big brute like Uvogin being thrown into the back wall as if he was just a rag doll made fear run through their veins.

"T-this auction is a sham!... We gotta get out of here!": flesh collector

As more and more people began fleeing, Chrollo had finally come face to face with Soren as Machi still stood beside Soren with a bright smile on her face, seeming happy to see her friends again.

"My trip was good, but there's a problem": soren

"Problem?... What happened?... Maybe we can handle it as a group?": chrollo

Chrollo asked with a bit of confusion in his tone, as Soren was always a strong fighter, and s better Nen user who could even go toe to toe with him, so a problem for Soren would be a problem for the entire Phantom Troupe.

"Chrollo, I just had a question regarding an incident I had seen on the news talking about the massacre of an entire clan for their eyes, and the culprits were a group who called themselves members of the Phantom Troupe… Do you know anything about this?": soren

Hearing Soren's words, Chrollo began thinking about all the things they have done since leaving Meteor City, and about all the enemies they had made along the way, but since their group had grown up without a lot of luxuries in life, watching the television wasn't something Chrollo or the others found themselves doing.

"We had nothing to do with it, if that's what you're wondering, but it might be possible that there are some fakes running around?": chrollo

When Chrollo denied playing a part of the massacre, Soren felt relief wash over his body, but hearing that there was a group of imposters running around using their name to build their own reputations, a bit of anger erupted from Soren's body, as Machi felt a jolt of electric run down her spine.

"It appears we have a group of wannabe's running around using our name then": soren

"It appears so… So, are you back for good? Or did you just come by to say hello?": chrollo

Soren began thinking about his original plan to come here and see what was going on, but now he was thinking about what he should do next, as he now had a group of imposters to track down and fellet.

"I think I'll stay for a few days, but I want to track down that group and keep them from using our name, or any name… Ever": soren

After hearing Soren's answer, Chrollo seemed to be happy that his friend would stay for a few days, then another question came up as he decided to ask.

"Will you need our assistance in the hunt?": chrollo

Soren thought about it before ultimately shaking his head as he spoke.

"No thanks… I can handle it… It's most likely just a group of thugs who want to make a name for themselves as top rank criminals while taking advantage of the fact that the real group probably wouldn't come looking for them: soren

"I see… Well, if you need anything, just remember that we are always here for you… You're family": chrollo

After finishing his conversation with Soren, the happy look on Chrollo's face began to disappear as in its place came the usual emotionless face, while Uvogin had finally pulled himself out of the wall and came up to Soren while cracking his neck.

"That was quite the punch there, bro… Hahaha!... Let's fight a bit!": uvogin

Chrollo, seeing Uvogin come up and interrupt at the end of the conversation, could only give a quick smile as he prepared to start walking back to the hideout with the others in tow, leaving Soren and Machi alone with Uvogin.

"Soren… I think I'm gonna go spend some time with the others, I'll send you the address later": machi

Machi followed the others, while Soren was left alone with Uvogin begging for a fight, as he even began taunting Soren.

"So?... Are you going to fight me? Or are you going to be a coward?": uvogin

"Uvo, you're still a blockhead… Why should I fight you? What benefit would such a fight bring me?": soren

"Benefit?... Of course, the benefit is the fight itself!... Do you know what it's like to crush someone's skull under your grip?... It makes you feel like a god who chooses who lives and who dies!... Hahaha! So fight me!": uvogin

Soren could only shake his head in disappointment as he agreed to fight Uvogin, but the battle didn't last long, as Soren's Nen was stronger, and he also had more experience fighting stronger opponents, leaving Uvogin who is just a brute force fighter to struggle a bit before his loss.

"Y-you're a beast!... Hahahaha!... I want to fight again!": uvogin

Soren overlooked Uvogin's beaten and battered body as he tried to get up from the ground to fight again, but Soren just decided to help him to his feet as they began walking back to the hideout.

'Uvogin's physical capabilities are indeed wild… I used two limiters expecting a good fight, but it turned out to be overkill': soren

Soren let Uvogin guide them back to the hideout, and upon getting there, Soren placed Uvogin on a couch before noticing that he had been surrounded by Chrollo, Nobunaga, Feitan, and Franklin, while the others seemed to be doing their own thing.

"Thank you for bringing Uvo back": chrollo

Soren nodded as he began taking a seat on an open couch as he spoke..

"I couldn't leave my family to be taken in by the police, right?": soren

"Ahahaha… You're right… Uvo is indeed a idiot, but he is still family at the end of the day": franklin

Franklin spoke while taking a seat next to Soren as he patted his shoulder.

"So I hear you plan to go find this group of fake's who have the guts to use our name… Quite bold of you to go at it on your own… How about we tag along?": nobunaga

Nobunaga spoke while taking the other seat as both he and Franklin sandwiched Soren in between the two of them. And upon feeling suffocated by the two grown men, Soren decided to remove himself from the couch as he spoke.

"Alright, it seems I'm not welcome on the couch anymore… Chrollo, do you got a spare room?": soren

Soren looked to Chrollo and saw that he had a small smile on his face as he spoke.

"Yeah, but Machi said that you guys would be fine sharing a room": chrollo

Hearing Chrollo's words, Soren felt that the whole reason both Franklin and Nobunaga did that to him was to tease him, and as he looked back, he could see both of them smiling as they waved him off.

"You guys are a bunch of assholes, you know that?": soren

"Hey, we may be assholes, be we are still friends, and friends need to mess with each other": Nobunaga

Soren then went towards his designated room that already had both his and Machi's stuff moved inside.

"Seems that Machi moves fast!": soren

Just as Soren was about to enter the room to sleep, Chrollo came up from behind him as he spoke.

"Oh yeah… Tomorrow we will have a meeting where we will make a vote, I need you there": chrollo

"Yeah, no problem, when is it?": soren

"In two days… All the current members will be present": chrollo

After hearing about the meeting that would take place, Soren entered his room and spent the next two days hanging around the hideout with Machi as the two of them explained a bit about their trip to the others, and on the morning of the vote, Chrollo stood before the other 11 Troupe members as she spoke.

"As most of you know, we lost a friend just a few months back, and today we will be voting on weather we start looking for a new member or not": chrollo

After hearing about the vote, everyone began thinking about what this meant. Omokage was more than a friend, he was family, and now they had to vote on if they would replace him or not, and if the answer was yes, who would replace him.

"I vote yes!": machi

Machi was the first to answer, as she was hoping that the next member could be a female, just to have another girl to talk to.

"If we have another member join, then they have to be strong!... I don't want a weakling joining up, as it will be no fun fighting with them!": uvogin

"I vote no… Although Omokage is dead, I feel that it's just wrong to look for his replacement right now": nobunaga

Nobunaga didn't want to see Omokage be replaced, as Omokage and he had become good friends over the many years they spent hanging out.

"I vote no as well… Omokage can't be replaced, even in death": feitan

Although Feitan's answer was simple, he felt the same as Nobunaga in the end.

"I never thought Omokage was bound by the number he represented, he was still family, and now we will be expanding our family… I vote yes": phinks

Phinks was a man who valued his friends and family, so voting to add to that family was never an issue, and he didn't feel like he was betraying Omokage by doing so.

"I will vote that we look for a new member as well": franklin

"I don't know, Franklin… Omokage may be dead, but he always had a weird ability and loved the idea of using souls to animate his dolls… What if he comes back to haunt us for this?": shalnark

Shalnark didn't really care if they brought in a new member or not, but he thought it would be funny to try and scare the people here a bit..

"You asshole!... D-don't try and scare us like that!... There's no way Omokage would come back as a soul puppet!... Isn't that right, Sebastian?": machi

Hearing his name brought into the situation, Sebastian thought of the concept of ghosts, and knowing that Nen didn't seem to be limited, it could be possible to plant his soul into a doll and continue living.

"I'm sorry, Machi, but I'm not too well versed on Souls like Omokage was… It could be possible that he could come back as a doll, but I'll still vote yes, to bring in a new member": sebastian

"Ahh!... Pakunoda! You don't believe what they said, right?": machi

Machi pleaded with Pakunoda to back her up, but Pakunoda didn't care as she just lit a cigarette and cast her vote while ignoring Machi.

"I don't like annoying things, so I don't think about them… I vote no to adding a new member": pakunoda

Machi felt betrayed, as she was the only other girl in the group and yet she still was ignored.

"If Omokage were still here, I feel he would want us to add a new member to the family, slo I vote yes… What do you think, Bonolenov?": soren

Soren cast his vote as he then passed the stage to Bonolenov who had a hard time answering, as he didn't know if he would feel guilty for filling Omokage's spot, but thinking about Soren's words and how kind Omokage was, he came up with his answer.

"I vote yes… I too, feel that Omokage would want us to add a new member": bonolenov

After hearing the final vote, Chrollo stated the results with the same emotionless expression on his face.

"The votes have been made…Out of 11 votes… 7 in favor of adding a new member, while 4 are against the idea": chrollo

After giving everyone a few seconds to take in and accept the results, Chrollo spoke again..

"The votes have decided we will look for a new member, but it is still unknown how long this will take, so don't think that it will be a right away action… Of course, it might, but that's up to fate to decide": chrollo

Soren knew that the next Troupe member would most likely be Hisoka like in the anime, but he could be wrong, as Hisoka only joined due to holding the idea that Chrollo was a worthy opponent

"Do any of you have any questions?... None? Okay… Dismissed!": chrollo