Joey's message to Mizaistom was brief:
"I might have the corpses of Phantom Troupe members. How do I cash in?"
Mizaistom's reply came almost instantly:
"Where are you!?"
"Heaven's Arena."
"Ten minutes. I'll have people there. Payment will be transferred based on target identity."
"OK, don't rush. I'll send full details soon."
"You seemed to know exactly which abilities Chrollo would use," said Hisoka, leading the way.
"I've thought it over, but I can't figure out where you got that intel."
The words made Joey glance up.
Still, his tone was calm:
"I'd planted surveillance devices throughout the arena. I heard all your conversations."
Hisoka turned, wagging a finger.
"Nope. That's impossible.
The moment I sensed your presence, I scanned the stage.
There were no disguised lifeforms anywhere.
So you're lying."
He was utterly confident.
Joey didn't flinch.
"Maybe your inspection wasn't thorough enough."
"Let's go with that."
Hisoka shrugged it off without pressing.
Then, casually:
"So—if you had to buy your own life, what would you offer?"
The knife was out.
Joey's brows furrowed.
"You planning to kill me? That's unnecessary. I've been cooperative. We don't even have a conflict."
"I'm not saying I'll kill you. I might even offer you a favor.
But a deal still needs fair payment, no?"
Hisoka's voice was smooth, almost coaxing:
"Is Kite your mentor?
Maybe I can use you to get a match with him."
"You're threatening me?"
Joey halted.
"You think you've got me cornered? I'm not so sure."
Clouds billowed beside him.
Killer Queen shimmered into view.
Joey might be hurt, but he didn't believe Hisoka was in great shape either.
If it came to a fight—he still had a chance to escape. Maybe even win.
"Threatening? No, no."
Hisoka's voice dipped low, like a predator's purr.
His aura darkened, colder, heavier.
"I'm just proposing a trade.
Let's say… an equivalent exchange.
Two Troupe members' corpses, in return for a match with Kite… and your life."
He raised two fingers.
But Joey's gaze was drawn to the aura threads already woven across nearby walls.
Hisoka had preemptively rigged the field.
Any sudden movement, and they'd be at each other's throats.
"How about this instead?"
Joey countered.
"I'll heal you. Fully restore your body.
In exchange, you give me the corpses—and we forget the Kite nonsense."
His eyes flicked to Hisoka's left arm.
The one that had been blown apart in the arena.
Now looking perfectly intact.
But Joey knew.
Knew Hisoka had faked it—
Bungee Gum molded into shape.
Texture Surprise wrapped around it.
A puppet limb, no more.
Hisoka nodded.
"Just like how you fixed your own arm?"
He glanced at Joey's regrown left limb, then gave a prompt, unhesitating reply:
"Deal."
Too fast.
Joey felt a chill.
It was like Hisoka had been waiting for him to say it.
"I'm curious," Hisoka added.
"How did you know I used Texture Surprise?
Couldn't I have just stitched it back?"
He peeled off the thin veil of aura-skin from his arm, revealing the gum-based construct beneath.
"Of course, I know you won't answer.
Because that's your little secret."
Hisoka grinned.
The bloodlust receded slightly.
"But now… it's our little secret.
Looks like we're destined to be friends, Joey—
Friends who keep each other's secrets.
A boy who can see the future."
Joey didn't explain.
He knew Hisoka would believe only what he wanted to believe.
Still—offering to heal him, not denying the corpse retrieval, all but confirmed Hisoka's guess.
He had no leverage left.
Soon after, Hisoka spotted Shalnark sitting near the public restroom.
He slipped in quietly.
Moments later, he emerged—
holding Kortopi's head.
Shalnark lunged at him,
but without his Nen (still loaned to Chrollo), he was nothing but a dead man walking.
Hisoka killed him easily.
Joey watched the whole thing.
Thus was born… the Toilet War God.
He had to admit, it was kind of fitting.
Kortopi and Shalnark weren't frontline fighters.
Without their abilities, they stood no chance.
Honestly, Joey thought he could've pulled off the same feat.
Still—he'd let Hisoka have the title.
When it was done, Hisoka tossed Kortopi's reshaped head to Joey.
"They're yours now.
Whether you can hold on to them… is your problem."
He turned to leave.
"I've memorized your number.
When you're done, come to my hotel."
"Or else…"
Hisoka's chuckle trailed behind him.
Just then—Joey's phone lit up.
Machi, furious.
He didn't hesitate—
Sent Mizaistom the info immediately, along with the corpses.
Then slipped into a nearby building to hide.
Shalnark's phone rang.
Joey answered.
"Hello? Are you the next of kin?"
His tone was casual. Flat.
On the other end, silence.
Then:
"Where are they?"
Machi's voice, tightly controlled.
"By the park restrooms near Hyakka Square.
Police are already involved.
Bodies will be sent to the station—you can collect them there."
She said nothing more.
Joey tossed the phone in the trash, pulled out his own, and typed a message:
"Targets redirected to police. Whether they're caught is your problem.
PS: From your very broke client."
Mizaistom replied:
"Don't worry! I've got you.
Ever thought of working with us full-time? I'll even cut you in on shares. Serious!"
Joey read the message.
Then deleted it.
Nice offer.
But not yet.
Three minutes later, Mizaistom's people arrived.
They packed up Kortopi and Shalnark with surgical efficiency.
Clearly not their first corpse pickup.
Joey, mission complete, returned to Heaven's Arena.
But when he reached the gates, he found—
No smoke.
No explosions.
Not even a trace of Sheer Heart Attack.
That made him frown.
Had someone… dealt with it?
How?
He wasn't sure.
And the uncertainty nagged at him.
So he found a secluded spot, blasted open a wall with First Bomb, and slipped inside.
Inside the arena, he saw doctors, Hazmat suits, medics everywhere.
No one noticed him.
He snuck behind one suited guard, knocked them out, and stole the uniform.
Now masked, he made his way toward where the severed arm had flown earlier.
He found it.
Still there.
A small relief.
He touched it—
First Bomb activated.
The arm vanished.
Joey turned and walked away, slipping out of the arena without a sound.
The next morning—
Two messages.
One from Hisoka.
One from Mizaistom.
The second was the first payment:
10 million Jenny.
Just a small reward for tipping them off about Machi.
Apparently, she hadn't been caught—
or the payout would've been over 100 million.
As for Shalnark and Kortopi, the bounty process had begun.
Since Joey wasn't a registered Hunter, things would take a bit longer.
He didn't mind.
He wasn't in a rush for the money.
Besides—
Now that Geralt was dealt with, Joey was planning something new.
He was going to enter Heaven's Arena.
As himself.
Joey Joestar.