Especially for Uvogin and the others, people like that were utterly intolerable.
Thus, Uvogin simply tore off that person's big head and let it meet his small one.
Feitan and Machi, meanwhile, looted all the high-ranking official's household treasures and wealth.
As for Shalnark, he used the hunter license he had earned to investigate the official, uncovering numerous pieces of criminal evidence such as embezzlement, bribery, misappropriation of national and public assets, and reckless disregard for human life.
Indeed, over the past few years, Shalnark had not been idle.
Like Chrollo, he continued to progress, absorbing vast amounts of knowledge from the world.
He worked even harder and ultimately secured this hunter's license.
Originally, after Shalnark became a professional hunter, Luke admired him and wanted to bring him into the Hunter Association headquarters.
But in the end, Shalnark politely declined.
In his words: "Compared to sitting in an office, shackled by meaningless power struggles with others… I prefer to face people head-on out in the world."
Shalnark didn't like or suit the office environment.
Having grown up in Meteor City, he had truly been wild since childhood.
He knew that with the way he already did things, joining the Hunter Association would only create unnecessary trouble for Luke.
It was better to be with Chrollo and the others, living freely in the world.
Although actions outside were more dangerous, he preferred the freedom they entailed.
Luke respected everyone's choices, not only Shalnark's but also those of every member of the Phantom Troupe.
Thus, as they carried out these deeds, they incurred the wrath of a V5 country.
Once a manhunt order was issued against them, they faced the greatest crisis and challenge since the Phantom Troupe's founding.
After all, V5 represented the world's largest overt power block.
The V5 group consisted of: United States of Saherta, Federation of Ochima, Mimbo Republic, Kukan'yu Kingdom, and Begerossé Union.
Even deploying a small portion of their power was enough to trouble Chrollo and the others immensely.
However, although being pursued forced them to scatter, Chrollo and the others enjoyed it.
To be able to confront the most violent national machinery in the world…
Thinking of it this way was rather thrilling.
Luke didn't intervene, letting them act freely.
Meanwhile, Franklin recommended a new applicant to Luke, someone he considered suitable for joining the Phantom Troupe.
This person was named Omokage.
Originally, in the plot, he was the first no. 4 of the Phantom Troupe.
He first appeared in the first Hunter × Hunter movie, Phantom Rouge.
The story primarily follows the events in Yorknew City, where Kurapika tracks the Phantom Troupe and encounters his old friend, Pairo.
Under emotional turmoil, Kurapika has his eyes stolen, his tribe's treasured Scarlet Eyes.
Then, Kurapika, now blind, joins Gon, Killua, and others in a joint investigation.
During this, the mysterious girl, Retz, and Hisoka provided clues, gradually revealing the connection between the Phantom Troupe's former member, Omokage, and the current events.
Omokage, former Phantom Troupe member no. 4, was also Hisoka's predecessor as the 4th member.
Like Chrollo, he was a Specialization type.
He was also the brother of the mysterious girl, Retz, who called himself the Doll Maker of Gods.
After his puppet was defeated by Hisoka, he left the Phantom Troupe.
Omokage was also a collector specializing in eyes.
His purpose for joining the troupe was to collect the members' puppets, and he left after completing his goal.
Later, Omokage coveted the Phantom Troupe's power.
After Uvogin's death, he created a puppet of Uvogin and took Uvogin's eyes from the corpse.
This enraged the Phantom Troupe, who pursued him.
At the same time, he used Pairo's puppet to take Kurapika's eyes.
Eventually, Omokage drew the attention of the protagonists and a highly popular antagonist, facing a two-front assault.
Unsurprisingly, he was defeated by Gon, Kurapika, Killua, and Leorio.
Finally, he was killed painfully by his own younger sister, Retz.
The reason was that Retz herself was a puppet.
But unlike normal puppets, generally made by Omokage himself, this Retz puppet was crafted from her living flesh.
Omokage, essentially a brother with extreme obsession, loved his sister to an abnormal and perverse degree.
He wanted her to have eternal youth and life, which drove him to craft her into a living puppet.
In doing so, he paid the ultimate price, sacrificing his beloved sister and only blood relative, to gain the Nen ability of Soul Doll.
Soul Doll: Allows control of one's crafted puppets, though they have no eyes. Puppets can retain their original memories and use the limited Nen abilities of the original host.
This ability had two branches: Soul Call and Doll Catcher.
Soul Call: When a puppet makes eye contact with someone, it can steal that person's eyes. If the puppet is defeated, the eyes return to their owner.
Doll Catcher: Allows him to merge puppets with himself and use their Nen ability.
Effectively, he could steal others' eyes via puppets and attach the puppets to himself, allowing long-range and close-range combat capabilities.
Omokage used these Nen abilities to desecrate Uvogin's grave, take his eyes, steal Kurapika's eyes using Pairo, and take Gon's eyes using Illumi's puppet.
He even created puppets of Pakunoda, Shizuku, Feitan, Chrollo, Hisoka, Machi, and Nobunaga.
During battles with Gon and others, he attached Franklin and Phinks' puppets to himself for additional attacks.
He seemed versatile in both close and long-range combat, yet ultimately, he fell to Gon's fists.
The stolen eyes returned to their original owners.
All his crafted puppets were destroyed by the Phantom Troupe, and Omokage disappeared with Retz in the burning mansion.
This marked a not entirely satisfying end to his insane life.
Luke had no interest in such a deranged lunatic.
He gave Franklin a few excuses and had him reject Omokage's recruitment.
Omokage's original purpose for joining the troupe was impure; he sought other members' puppets.
Such a calamity was better left to others.
However… speaking of the Phantom Troupe's no. 4 member, the most memorable 4th member has yet to appear…
According to the timeline, Hisoka is expected to join the Phantom Troupe next year.
However, it's not impossible to encounter him earlier.
…
"So, are you not planning to go to Whale Island next?"
After they had mostly finished the hotpot, fully sated, and tasted the dessert afterward, Luke casually asked Ging Freecss.
"If I have the chance, I'll take a look."