Clearly, Sheila distinctly felt the cold indifference that pushed her a thousand miles away. But she didn't immediately turn and leave, instead making a final attempt with all her might.
"Are you sure you don't want to hear the terms? And I guarantee I would never force you to do anything you don't want to. In fact, this choice is bidirectional. I am responsible for providing the missions; you decide whether or not to take them. Most importantly, without an organization like the Troupe existing, the fragile social order of Meteor City will quickly reach the brink of collapse. Because the revenue generated solely from transactions with the Mafia and the recycling and processing of waste is simply insufficient to sustain a population of several million. If that happens, you will witness the most tragic scene in this world. Tens of thousands of people will suffer and die due to lack of food and medicine..."
"Was it with this ridiculous excuse that you originally forced Chrollo to establish the Phantom Troupe and perform all sorts of dirty deeds for the people behind you?" Allen interrupted, looking disdainful.
"No. It wasn't coercion; it was mutual benefit. We provide Meteor City with a large supply of cheap living essentials, medical supplies, and protective gear, and the Phantom Troupe eliminates certain threats for us, or rather, potential threats. This has always been the way Meteor City survives; isn't that fair?" Sheila attempted to defend the forces behind her.
"Fair? How do you explain the innocents killed by the Phantom Troupe? Especially the brutal massacre and eye-gouging of over a hundred members of the Kurta Clan—men, women, and children? Are you going to claim this was the revenge of the cruelly abandoned and forgotten residents of Meteor City against the world? Or do you want to portray the Troupe as some sort of charitable organization with a noble spirit of dedication? Stop your boring little tricks and psychological manipulation. What do the lives and deaths of Meteor City have to do with me? If they rely on this method to survive, then it's better for them to perish sooner rather than later."
After saying this, Allen forcefully shoved her aside and walked straight out of the alley.
Why was Meteor City created? It is the place where the entire human world dumps and processes all kinds of garbage!
Initially, there were only a few thousand people there, but as technology and the times advanced, domestic waste increased, and the population slowly began to swell. This means that such a large population is needed there to complete all the garbage recycling, cleaning, and disposal work.
This, in turn, means that every nation in the world needs and relies on Meteor City to handle its own domestic waste. If a survival problem were to arise among the population of Meteor City, the V5 would absolutely be the first to intervene and save them.
Allen saw through this point, so he wouldn't fall for her trick, nor would he foolishly jump into that massive pit. Because the moment he agreed to the terms and reformed the new Phantom Troupe, he would immediately transform from a legal Bounty Hunter into an illegal wanted criminal, effectively handing over leverage to the opposing side.
Anyone who isn't an idiot knows which choice to make. Furthermore, he wasn't like Chrollo and the others who were born in Meteor City and felt an intense sense of belonging, willing to sacrifice everything for it. He didn't mind helping people in need within his means, but that didn't mean he was noble enough to sacrifice himself to save a group of strangers he had never met.
Watching Allen's figure gradually disappear at the end of the street, Sheila's face immediately turned extremely ugly. She pulled out her phone and quickly dialed a number. About ten seconds later, a man's voice came through the receiver: "Well? Did he agree?"
"No. That guy is much more difficult than I imagined. And his personality doesn't match the conclusions drawn by the psychological analyst. He doesn't have a strong sense of justice or compassion. On the contrary, he is as cold and ruthless as ten thousand years of cold ice, completely indifferent to the lives and deaths of Meteor City's nearly ten million residents," Sheila reported through gritted teeth.
"Meaning, every available means has failed, right? I never thought you, the Pigeon, would ever miss your mark." The man had clearly anticipated this situation, his voice tinged with mockery.
"Stop with the sarcasm. You must have noticed the bizarre actions of the Kakin Empire recently, haven't you? Right now, we need the Phantom Troupe more than ever. Only they can do things we can't openly handle without escalating the conflict," Sheila reminded him pointedly.
But the man countered, unperturbed: "Like when you disguised yourself as an innocent maiden to win the trust of the Kurta Clan youth, then disclosed their hidden location to Chrollo, prompting him to lead the Troupe in a devastating tribal massacre?"
"Don't forget, that operation was authorized and approved. All I did was submit an investigation report," Sheila replied, unmoved.
"Yes. An embellished report," the man sneered sarcastically. "Forget it, I don't care to discuss that with you. However, you need to be careful when dealing with the Kakin Empire this time. Their ancestors originated from the Dark Continent, and they possess a history that any other nation in this world can only dream of, wielding some mysterious power we don't know about."
"I know. But first, I must select a suitable candidate for the leader and have him reorganize the Troupe." When this topic came up, Sheila immediately looked intensely frustrated. She had been certain of success, only to fail so completely. Especially Allen's eyes when he brushed past her; she was sure that any move on her part would have resulted in being instantly torn to shreds by a furious attack.
"Go talk to the elders in Meteor City. I believe they should be willing to make some compromises. Additionally, I advise you not to approach Allen again. I feel he is the same type of person as the Hunter Association's Chairman Netero. If you truly anger him, he will absolutely disregard the power structure behind you and take you out in an instant," the man warned her directly.
Sheila smiled bitterly and nodded: "You don't need to tell me that; I've already felt it. And I also noticed that the Kurta Clan survivor has now learned Nen. We need to be especially cautious of him."
"You should be the one who needs to be especially cautious, shouldn't you? After all, in a sense, you are the prime culprit behind the massacre. I'm very curious: if that survivor knew that his own kindness and gullibility gave you the opportunity, would he break down in agonizing self-reproach? Of course, before the mental breakdown, he'd likely tear you to pieces first. Goodbye, Pigeon. I hope I see you alive at the next gathering. Ha ha ha ha ha!"
Accompanying the malicious laughter, the man quickly hung up the phone. Hearing the busy signal, Sheila's face immediately became extremely grim. She muttered in a voice only she could hear: "No! I absolutely cannot let that Kurta Clan survivor continue to live! I have to find a way to eliminate him!"
Just as the words left her mouth, a disturbing image of a fanatic who collected many Scarlet Eyes quickly appeared in her mind.
Perhaps... arranging a fateful battle for the last Kurta Clan survivor, ending in a mutual kill with his opponent, would be a good choice. In that case, the Kurta Clan would cease to exist in this world, and she wouldn't have to worry about the events of that year being uncovered.