Kurapika was sitting at the Yorknew Mafia Auction, trying to bid for the eyes of his dead clan, the Kurta clan. He wanted to avenge his clan by collecting their stolen scarlet eyes, which had been gouged out by the Phantom Troupe after they killed all the Kurtas, besides him.

However, his boss, Light Nostrade, sent him to collect them for his daughter, Neon Nostrade, instead.