Chapter Text
"Kuro... He said." Aurora muttered to herself. "What even does 'just call me Kuro' mean?'"
After Chrollo left, the store's clerk had found the journals she had requested. It took her a little bit of cross-searching but at the end of the day, she had furthered her understanding of the city and its political structure. She managed to find a vital clue as well.
"The Underground Auction is led by the Mafia Community." Aurora said as she tried to recall the main events of her research. She started with the facts that she knew. This was one of them.
"The Mafia Community also has ties to Meteor City." Through her research and backtracking, Aurora figured out the long-established connection between Meteor City and the Mafia Community.
In addition to that, Meteor City was not far away from Yorknew City making it quite plausible for them to be reliant on another in some kind of way. With her prior knowledge of history and politics, cases, in which nations have allied with their neighbours, were not a rarity. She only assumed that this referred to the relation between Yorknew and Meteor City as well. This new information helped Aurora understand the situation much better.
"And lastly, ... The last keyword I saw with my ability: a hanging Spider's Thread." Aurora said and slammed the book to a close. She had have a hunch before, but that hunch was now slowly turning into certainty. Following this line of thought, all the clues led to one answer ...
"The Phantom Troupe is coming... But... For what reason?" Aurora asked herself and scribbled it down onto her notebook. Thusfar, considering the reputation that preceded the notorious Phantom Troupe, Aurora could only assume that they came here to do what they did best: To steal.
"Why would they decide to breach the treaty between the Mafia Community and Meteor City, now?"
Aurora put her pen down and closed that notebook of hers. She threw her head back and glanced out of the window. All this thinking and still so many questions? Wouldn't it just be quicker to ask someone.
The Phantom Troupe had been a personal goal of hers for a long time. She knew that she might never get a chance to see them in action again. This was an opportunity that she couldn't afford to miss!
How plausible was this thesis of hers? The more Aurora tried to see holes in it, the more she was assured that it was happening. Logic aside, she could feel her hunch manifest into a proper picture and a proper scene.
"Finally! It's the Spider's turn, heh?" Aurora laughed when she cleaned the table again with a spring in her steps.
"Misterโช" Aurora hummed when she returned back to the front desk with two books in hand. "I'll buy these, please."
The clerk startled in surprise at her obvious good mood. "Ah- yes, Miss!" He said and charged the books without paying much attention to them.
"Did you...uhm... Find what you were looking for?" He asked while Aurora put away the books into her bag.
Aurora's smile widened sweetly after hearing his words. "I did! You were a huge help! Thank you."
The young woman left and the store was silent again. The soft fragrance of cherries still lingered at the spot Aurora had vacated.
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The sun set on the horizon of Yorknew City.
The streets emptied out into a lull one by one.
Now, with a clear goal in mind, Aurora had wasted no time finishing her preparation for tomorrow's day. In case the Phantom Troupe really appeared, Aurora couldn't take any chances and miss them. This was a once in a lifetime opportunity for her!
"I'll definitely get that interview!" Aurora steeled herself.
Interviewing criminals - Aurora, who had a natural talent as a journalist, had a rather famous reputation as a "criminal sympathizer" amongst her peers.
Whilst most journalist pursue justice, truth and equality in their articles, Aurora had an uncanny interest in hearing the "stories of people". It was her main goal and something she thrived in: To hear the stories of people and discern the truth in them. Yes, that's right. Aurora Amaranth was a young woman that believed in the subjectiveness of truth. Everyone had their own unique form of truth that they followed and adhered to in their lives.
"The truth," she would often say, "is shaped by people's stories."
Because of this, the more mysterious a person or story was, the more the assertive woman was interested in it. Before she knew it, she had drifted into interviewing and contacting people of the "darker"/"dangerous" side.
This attitude of hers, not surprisingly, caused her many problems with the publishers she used to work with.
"We can not commend such behavior. We don't support this." Aurora's articles were rejected all the time, and while her skills allowed for her to work at big brand companies and publishers, no one could work with the topics of her research. Young Aurora Amaranth was jobless in the same year, she first got it.
Although disappointed at the result, she refused to change her topic of interest and continued as a freelance journalist. She soon realized the limits of her research. Being unemployed hindered her access towards information and traveling that much more.
Everything changed the day she met Solomon and Ney.
Now, with the possession of a Hunter License, there wasn't much that could stop her from pursuing her passion anymore. Thanks to the lads that taught her about Nen!
"Ah~ I'm tired." Aurora yawned.
With everything done as much as she could in the sparse time she had.
Aurora glanced at her watch, and stretched lightly after the time spent running around and researching.
The young woman wanted nothing more than to check into a hotel and call it a day, and yet there was still the final assignment that she could not miss out on.
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"Welcome, Miss Amaranth."
The door opened and a man in his fourties entered. He was accompanied by two more bulky bodyguards. Aurora stood up from her seat and flashed him a smile.
"It's been awhile," she greeted the connaisseur, "You seem to be doing well." She eyed the interior of the reception room and the view it offered over the metropole city of Yorknew City.
"Ah, yes. Yes!", he replied, "Of course, it's all thanks to your valuable assistance, miss. Please express my gratitude to The Master as well."
"The master, huh?" Aurora shot back, a harsh look in her eyes.
"I have no clue who you're talking about." She ended with a smile that did not quite reach her eyes.
Afraid of angering her, the man immediately apologized. He was double her age, but could not match her in terms of influence and skill.
"A-anyway... Miss Amaranth... You coming here... Is there something wrong?" He trailed off fidgeting. Aurora crossed her arms and trained her eyes on each of his bodyguards. Catching onto that, he quickly dismissed them after some hesitation.
"Yes. I need a favor," she responded with a little shrug, "...Don't look like that. I think it's a fairly simple request. For you atleast."
She straightened up and shot him a smile so innocent and pure that it made him shiver a cold sweat.
"W-w-what... is it?" He asked. Aurora closed her eyes and answered sweetly.
"VIP Status for the Underground Auction โ~ All days. " Aurora said and put down a memory card on the table. "...See? It's simple enough, isn't it?"
Her sleek finger tapped onto the card a few times.
Aurora's eyes shone a shimmering pink. The man swallowed. He didn't know what the memory card contained, but he knew that his fate lied in whatever was inside of it. Whether to take it or not... The choice was up to him.
But why...? As he looked at that deep-red hair he couldn't tell anymore... Was it the red wine of victory or the flowing blood of his own people that trickled down his sight right now?
"I-.. I will try my best, Miss-" He gulped. Aurora had narrowed her eyes a little and the man saw his life flash in front of his eyes.
"I mean. Yes, of course, madam. I will have it delivered to you by tomorrow evening. Latest, I promise!!" He said in a hurry.
Aurora nodded and stood up.
"Good," she said with an amiable smile and hummed. "Hm~โชI knew you could do it! Besides... The information you requested is stored in there. My partner couldn't come, so I was meant to deliver it to you, instead." Aurora said and brushed the ends of her hair with her hand.
The man was flabbergasted and stared at her. Aurora just shrugged.
"Did you really think I would do anything malicious to you...?"
The man gulped and Aurora sighed.
"You have been doing too much bad if you're worried about that. Furthermore," She grabbed her bag and stood up.
"Unlike you, I don't enjoy dealing in dark business." She said with what a little nag.
"I will take my leave now." With that Aurora quietly left after being escorted out of the esteemed reception room.
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