Hate You Most | Kurapika x reader

[Chapter 12] - A Suspicion Confirmed

He paused for a moment, "they're a group called the Phantom Troupe," he revealed.

Y/n looked at him in surprise, "I know them," she confessed, "but why that group?" she asked, still puzzled as to how he connected those dots.

Kurapika sighed, "well, the first thing that came to mind when I saw the name of the buyer was the distinct spider tattoo that each of the members has to get tattooed on their bodies," he said, "it's a mark of being a member."

"You're right, that's true, but there is no reason for them to attack Togari in the middle of the night," she pointed out.

"Correct. When I first theorized their involvement, I wasn't thinking about their motives, but now I have a theory," he confessed.

"Togari was formally known as the Carrier. He was in charge of smuggling shipments across borders. Many crime groups, formally including the Yorknew Mafia, got their profit off the products he supplied. Now their primary source of income has been cut off," Kurapika explained, "the Phantom Troupe doesn't appear in public, they are completely anonymous. What we do know is that there are 13 members, and they deal in anything and everything."

"Right," she said skeptically.

"But who are the Phantom Troupe's biggest rivals?" he asked her, attempting to guide Y/n to the same train of thought as himself.

Y/n paused for a moment and thought about the question, "..." Nothing especially crossed her mind, the only thing that would make sense in her mind was - "the Hunter's Association?" she said, but it came out more like a question.

Kurapika interjected, "the group that controls the borders - or rather Togari," he stated, Y/n's body chilled at the name.

"We don't know if they are hunters, but it would be difficult to smuggle items - or people across the border if there was a group controlling the come and go on the border of our country," Kurapika continued.

Y/n covered her mouth in disbelief. The theory was plausible. It wasn't something even she had thought about. "Not only would this allow them movement, but newly gained control. With the crime syndicates in a panic, it would be easy for them to usurp power," she added.

Kurapika nodded, "exactly - but there's one more reason," he stated, "they did it to simply wreak havoc around them."

Even though there was no evidence to back the theory up, it was believable considering the past actions of the Troupe. "It's not a definite explanation to name them responsible, but it is enough to suspect them," she interjected.

"It's the best theory we have at the moment," he said.

"Yes, that's true," she agreed, "still, I didn't expect you to connect Togari's murder and a plausible motive of the Phantom Troupe." She was impressed, to say the least.

Her eyes trained on his, she still had one question left unanswered, "but that still doesn't explain why you got so upset," she said referring to him hastily making his way out of the bar.

Kurapika lowered his eyes to hers, "just drop it," he said.

Y/n's eyes scanned his face. He was dead adamant about not speaking about the topic, "fine," she said, giving in to him. It wasn't pressing enough to pry from him yet.

The two partners stood in silence, their backs pressed against the wall, for a moment before deciding there was no reason to stay in Meteor City. They left promptly after saying their goodbyes to Beau, who was saddened to see them go, and Kelsie, who ushered them out of her proximity after the gruelling back and forth deal. It was far too argumentative for her liking.