In another city, a bloody drama unfolded inside a heavily guarded mansion.
This was the home of the Sandy family.
Now it had become a battlefield.
The assassination team led by Mondel had defeated the mafia members of the Sandy family with astonishing speed. Ordinary weapons were useless against a powerful Nen user.
Apparently, the Sandy Family had been forewarned of the Dons' intention to eliminate them. They'd deployed considerable manpower and hired several Nen users in response.
Given Chrollo's cunning nature, the Fells' desire to eliminate the Sandy family had to be real and not an act. Otherwise, he might discover the truth.
Chrollo's performance had been flawless. He'd used a dagger to slit the throat of a Nen user before following Mondel into the magnificent mansion. Facing the densely packed gunmen inside, they began their second massacre.
Mondel and Chrollo worked together in perfect coordination. All the enemies in the first floor lobby were quickly eliminated. It wasn't due to any implicit understanding between them, rather Chrollo adapted to Mondel's thoughts and actions, making their battle more efficient and effortless.
The credit was all Chrollo's.
Mondel moved bonelessly, wielding a samurai sword while crawling across the ground like a loach. Running at incredible speed, he struck from impossible angles, his blade slicing a Nen user in half with a single strike.
"Find your target," he shouted at Chrollo, rising to his feet.
Chrollo's eyes flickered at the words, and after a moment's hesitation, he ran toward the corridor.
Mondel watched his back, expressionless, as he continued to attack the approaching enemies.
On the second floor, there were more enemies, but they were just ordinary people that Chrollo could easily handle. The Sandy family's resistance proved futile against the Dons' process.
However, the sounds of the fierce battle from the first floor soon died down, and an eerie silence fell over the mansion.
Mondel and his other teammates had not followed Chrollo deeper into the house.
Standing by the stairs leading to the third floor, Chrollo slowly closed his eyes, bowed his head, and smiled softly. "How clever. The plan was not laid out from the beginning, but gradually revealed over time, otherwise I would have discovered it myself."
"When was I exposed?"
"He seems to have been suspicious of me."
"So Feitan and Franklin are in trouble as well?"
By now, the villa had fallen completely silent.
Chrollo was sure that no one was left above the third floor. If Mondel had known the whole plan in advance, Chrollo would have been sure to spot any signs of deception.
Snap, snap.
Suddenly, footsteps broke the silence.
Chrollo opened his eyes, a smile still on his face as he looked towards the stairs.
Figures descended from both the left and right staircases.
Eight in total!
"Well, if it isn't the spider-headed leader of the Phantom Troupe, Chrollo," a middle-aged man wearing an officer's cap greeted him with an imposing aura.
"Hello, everyone from the Association," Chrollo twirled the dagger in his hand, his gentle smile unwavering.
"Oh? You guessed it. How unusual."
The middle-aged man raised his eyebrows.
"You want to fight here? Perhaps we could find a more spacious place? That way, everyone can show off their skills better," Chrollo suggested with a smile.
Several hunters became uneasy at his composure. They had never seen a criminal so calm in such a dire situation.
It didn't seem like an act.
"This room will suffice. If it's too wide, I'm afraid you might escape," the middle-aged man replied calmly.
Chrollo shrugged and slowly removed his black suit until only his white shirt remained. Gripping his dagger with both hands, he took a stance. "Before we begin, may I ask a question?"
"I would like to know the answer so that I can accept it even in defeat."
"Speak."
"Did the Association discover our information or did Oboro tell you?"
"He told us," the man replied. "The Association doesn't have the resources to deal with small fry like you, the most powerful hunters won't take on missions like this. Only we don't mind the trouble and are willing to make the journey."
"Thank you." Chrollo looked at him sincerely. "If I kill you, I'll do my best to minimize your suffering."
The man laughed at that. "You're quite a gentleman, I can hardly believe that someone like you could be such a vicious criminal."
As soon as those words left his mouth, the Association's capture team sprang into action. A large Nen-manifested net materialized above Chrollo and descended to ensnare him.
The battle had begun.
Meanwhile, in the hospital ward
All five Yin Beasts were present.
Oboro was reading as usual.
Franklin sensed something wrong with the atmosphere in the room, as several Yin Beasts watched him with knowing eyes.
That put him on alert.
Everyone was in perfect silence.
When Oboro read, they weren't allowed to make the slightest noise.
Beep beep beep'
Owl's phone rang and he answered it openly.
"Understood."
After a short exchange, he hung up.
Looking at Oboro, he reported: "Sir, just as you predicted, the first group failed. Everyone from the association died."
"Mm." Oboro's eyes remained fixed on his book as he replied indifferently.
"Kumbo."
After a while, Oboro called out without lifting his head.
"Yes."
The Yin Beast got up from his stool.
"Do you like numbers?"
"Numbers?"
"Pick a number between 1 and 12, what would you choose?"
Oboro's words caused the temperature in the room to plummet.
Franklin's pupils dilated.
He fell silent.
Countless thoughts raced through his mind as the sense of unease that had been gnawing at him suddenly increased tenfold.
"What's wrong? Don't be silent. Remember, zero is not an option and five can't be chosen. Let me guess, you prefer seven?" On the bed, Oboro closed his book and looked over with a smile.
A shiver ran from Franklin's feet to the back of his head.
With a click, he lowered his arms and removed his rings without warning. The next moment, he aimed directly at Oboro.
Whoosh!
But he was still too slow. A black shadow had anticipated this and had already rushed in front of him. Its limbs and face transformed into bestial forms as sharp claws slashed across his chest, leaving bloody gashes.
At the same time, the white-haired Yin Beast leapt up and used its feet like a vise to force Franklin's arms down, causing his aim to go wide.
At that moment, Owl positioned himself between Oboro and Franklin.
The Bat Yin Beast, closest to its target, scooped up Oboro and crashed through the window, taking flight.
After circling briefly in the air, it landed, placing Oboro safely on the ground before swooping back toward the station.
Inside the room, Owl watched as Franklin threw off his companion with one arm and retreated. "You've worked so hard to maintain your disguise these past few days, if it weren't for our lord's orders to play with you, you would have died long ago."
The white-haired beast rose from the rubble of the collapsed wall, spitting blood with a fierce expression. "He's quite capable!"
"Go back!" Owl's expression changed as he suddenly shouted.
The Yin Beasts reacted immediately.
Franklin's arms trembled as his ten fingers sprayed Nen bullets like a machine gun, the lethality and sheer firepower so overwhelming that the Yin Beasts dared not face them directly.
A single hit could be fatal!
The station was instantly riddled with holes, even the metal walls were shattered by the dense Nen ammunition, and it was extremely difficult to get close under such intense fire.
Franklin raised a hand to the ceiling. Dust and debris rained down as his bullets struck.
Taking long strides, Franklin ran straight for the broken window, leaping from dozens of feet up. He couldn't risk being trapped inside. Outside offered a glimmer of hope. Beyond the Yin Beasts, there were dozens of other Nen users.
But as he took to the air, a piercing sound wave hit him. Franklin's vision blacked out, his hearing failed, and he momentarily lost control of his body.
The Bat Yin Beast had struck.
Franklin forced himself to stay conscious, but the impact threw his aim off. The Bat's superior air mobility allowed it to evade his desperate shots.
BANG!
Franklin crashed to the ground like a stone.
Oboro stood not far away, protected by three layers of defenses.
Owl and the others jumped down from the upper floors, using the outer wall to cushion their fall.
Ratatatatatat!
Franklin fought through his injuries and turned to aim his Nen ability at those in front of Oboro, unleashing another burst of fire.
Though some of the gangsters used Nen to defend themselves, they couldn't completely negate the damage - Franklin's Nen bullets had devastating penetration and density.
The front line of defenders was reduced to bloody sieves in an instant.
But the Yin Beasts counterattacked.
The Dog Yin Beast seized the opportunity, its agile movements bringing it to Franklin's back, where it sunk its teeth into the flesh.
Sensing danger, Franklin tried to turn his weapons around, but his attacker had closed the distance too quickly.
Above him, the Bat swooped down, unleashing another wave of disorienting sound.
Franklin's movements slowed.
Owl flashed to Franklin's side and landed a devastating kick to his temple.
The blow sent the massive Franklin tumbling.
But even as he fell, a Nen bullet grazed Owl's cheek, shattering his sunglasses and nearly taking his head off.
Cold sweat trickled down Owl's scalp.
Such resilience and reflexes! And this was five against one.
From a safe distance, Oboro calmly addressed the men protecting him: "No need to guard me now."
"Yes, sir."
A group of Nen users sprang into action and charged Franklin.
Oboro understood the strength of the Phantom Troop better than anyone. Against Feitan or Uvogin, the five Yin Beasts might prove useless, but Franklin's abilities had inherent limitations.
His advantage lay in wide area destruction and killing, which required a fixed position for optimal output. He needed time and space to unleash his full potential, and the five Yin Beasts would certainly defeat him.
However, in terms of raw physical strength, Nen capacity, and combat experience, the Yin Beasts were still inferior to Franklin. Even if they won, there would be a price to pay.
Standing idly by while his men died would be wasteful.
Even though Oboro looked down on the Yin Beasts, they were still the gang's "assets," useful thugs. Their deaths would be unfortunate.
The outcome was already decided.
Oboro stopped watching the battle and turned his eyes to the blue sky above.
Today, the weather was beautiful again.