Hunter X Hunter has many captivating mysteries it has built over decades, but a more recent one, concerning the Phantom Troupe, is one of the most fascinating ones in the series. A recent chapter of the Succession War arc subtly solved this mystery, but also created an even bigger question in the process.

The Phantom Troupe's backstory was revealed for the first time in chapter #397, in their childhood days in Meteor City. They were part of a performing group along with other kids, one of them being Sarasa. One day, she was in a junkyard looking for tapes, and unfortunately, human traffickers happened to be around. The next day, after she missed the performance, Chrollo and the others looked around for her, and they stumbled upon a bag in a forest.

The bag contained the body parts of Sarasa, who was gruesomely cut up for the enjoyment of the traffickers. This incident is what led to the formation of the Phantom Troupe, and their objective was to find the culprits. Finally, the mystery of the culprit and what happened to them has been revealed.

Sarasa's Killer Has Gotten What He Deserved

Chrollo May Have Gotten His Revenge Years Ago

In chapter #405 of Hunter X Hunter, it was revealed that Bonolenov was actually the Hisoka who had an altercation with the mafia in previous chapters, and he was disguising himself as their mortal enemy on the orders of Chrollo. Bonolenov, while transforming into another person after spotting Hisoka, was thinking about how troubled Chrollo was by the entire situation around Hisoka and their hunt for him, and how the other were trying to get to the Joker before Chrollo did to help their leader.

Meanwhile, in the background, a large TV screen projected a story about a public eulogy to Mr. Risnorth, a known philanthropist who was murdered a decade ago. While this may have seemed like a weird and disconnected piece of information, at closer inspection, Risnorth had the same mole on his chin and bump on the nose as the man who murdered Sarasa.

Furthermore, it was revealed that Risnorth was the chairman of a foundation that helped children, which explains how he was able to abduct children and traffic them. This small detail is dark and gruesome, and further reinforces the tragic backstory of how a group of carefree children became the most feared criminals in the world. Another interesting detail is that it seems Risnorth's secret life wasn't exposed to the public. However, the most interesting detail is that the Phantom Troupe did not claim the murder, which is still considered unsolved, and paints other actions of the group in a different light.

The Kurta Clan Genocide Is Made More Mysterious

What Happened On That Fateful Day Is More Confusing Now

One of the most polarizing discussions in Hunter X Hunter is the brutal genocide of the Kurta Clan, and what really went down on that day. A popular theory is that the Troupe got revenge after something transpired, and this is due to the message they left after the incident. "We'll accept anything you leave here, but don't ever take anything away from us." This was used once as retaliation for an injustice committed against a resident of Meteor City, so it is accurate to say this message is left after seeking revenge.

However, if it is in fact Chrollo and the Troupe who murdered Risnorth, the fact they didn't leave the message afterward is very confusing and contradicts every possible theory that relies on the message. The only possible scenarios are either that they didn't kill Risnorth, which is very unlikely given they're the only ones who have a vendetta against him, or the message has a deeper meaning than just for revenge or claiming a kill. Regardless, the Kurta massacre remains a huge mystery that just got even more intriguing.

The Phantom Troupe's End Is Near

Bonolenov also said that this would be the end of their performance, hinting that the Phantom Troupe would be no more after they find and kill Hisoka. The performance here refers to the fact that Chrollo and the Troupe are taking up the persona of villains to ensure criminals don't infiltrate Meteor City and commit crimes like Sarasa's murder. They are protectors of their hometown, as demonstrated in the Chimera Ant arc where they took care of Zazan and her underlings who were wreaking havoc.

Uvogin, Pakunoda, Kortopi, and Shalnark; the Troupe has lost many in such a short span, and Hisoka was either involved with the deaths or perpetrated them himself. The group has been operating for many years, and they've never incurred such casualties, so Hisoka is their biggest priority. To that extent, Chrollo is looking to steal a certain unnamed ability that will end him once and for all. It is quite poetic that the maniacal Jester will be the end of the Troupe's performance.

The Phantom Troupe is one of Hunter X Hunter's most interesting and mysterious entities despite having a backstory and a lot of screen time. The Kurta genocide is still a mystery that the series needs to resolve, but the revelation of the fate of Sarasa's killer has added a whole new layer of intrigue and mystery, while the Succession War is still raging.