Soon, the entire western section was swept clean under Machi Komacine's relentless attacks, guided by Rimo's precise control.
And from time to time, Rimo would quietly bring Machi along to deal with the few enemies that slipped past the rest of the Phantom Troupe.
There was no helping it.
They had only been exposed to Nen for a short time far from the level seen later during the Yorknew City Auction. The fact that they could already fight off dozens of armed Mafia members with Ten and basic Ren was already impressive.
And this was in an open forest filled with obstacles and limited visibility.
If it were a narrow indoor environment
They might have been overwhelmed in a single exchange.
So being able to win at all was already a success.
Letting a few enemies escape was completely normal.
However, to build their confidence properly, Rimo deliberately concealed his presence throughout the operation.
It wasn't because he wanted to babysit them
In fact, they were the ones helping him.
This entire mission was a private deal between Rimo and the Nostrade Family.
Strictly speaking
The troupe had no obligation to participate.
So it was only natural for Rimo to ensure their safety from the shadows.
As the number of Mafia members stationed across the mountain steadily decreased, the situation gradually shifted.
From cautious skirmishes and retreats
To active pursuit and extermination.
With Rimo secretly supporting them through wide-range En
The remaining forces of the Fanobi family were quickly hunted down.
"Yo you're finally here? Wow… why does everyone look so miserable?"
Rimo's voice rang out lazily.
At the hilltop manor, he was reclining comfortably on a chair one conjured through Nen, resembling the principles of Conjuration similar to abilities used by members like Shizuku Murasaki.
In his hand
A drink.
Completely relaxed.
In stark contrast
Chrollo Lucilfer and the others stood covered in blood and dust.
Machi, standing beside Rimo, couldn't help but laugh.
After all
She had witnessed everything Rimo had done behind the scenes.
Hearing her laughter, Rimo glanced sideways and gave her a playful wink.
The rest of the troupe looked at the two of them
Clean.
Comfortable.
Relaxing.
Then looked at themselves
Filthy.
Exhausted.
For a moment, several of them felt the urge to attack Rimo.
But after recalling the overwhelming difference in strength
They all silently suppressed the thought.
"Who the hell can be as abnormal as you…"
That single sentence summed up everyone's feelings.
"Alright," Chrollo stepped forward, calmly restoring order.
"Have all sectors been cleared?"
"Hmph! Of course!" Uvogin snorted proudly.
"I can crush hundreds of those weaklings anytime!"
Naturally
The part where he and Nobunaga Hazama were forced into retreat under heavy machine-gun fire…
Was something they had already agreed never to mention.
Feitan crossed his arms and sneered.
"Hmph. Fireflies daring to rival the sun."
Even Franklin Bordeau looked like he wanted to say something but chose silence.
Chrollo then glanced at Rimo.
"Our side is finished as well."
With his intelligence, how could he not notice?
The number of enemies they faced earlier
Did not match the number they eliminated.
From the beginning, Chrollo had estimated the scale of the encirclement.
The discrepancy, combined with subtle environmental traces
Made Rimo's hidden intervention obvious.
But since Rimo chose not to mention it
Chrollo said nothing.
"Clap."
Rimo brought everyone's attention back to himself.
"Since all areas are cleared…"
"It's time to meet the real targets."
With that, he stood up and walked calmly toward the manor.
Behind him
The troupe followed, killing intent rising.
The outside of the manor was eerily quiet.
But Rimo didn't believe the Fanobi family had collapsed so easily.
More likely
They had gathered their remaining forces inside for a final ambush.
"Bam !"
With a single kick
The manor gates burst open.
As expected
Armed men filled the interior.
"They're here! FIRE!!"
A panicked voice shouted from the second floor.
Instantly
Gunmen lined the railings and opened fire.
Among them
Three RPG launchers.
Faced with this overwhelming barrage, Rimo smiled faintly and stepped forward, placing himself in front of the troupe.
He raised both hands.
"Activate."
His Nen expanded outward.
Unlike before, this time his technique extended beyond his body, forming a protective space more than ten centimeters thick fully enveloping the group.
At its core, it resembled a refined application of Nen principles combining extreme aura control with spatial distortion, far beyond standard techniques like Ten or Ken.
"Om !"
As bullets and rockets reached the boundary
They stopped.
Frozen mid-air.
Ripples spread across the invisible barrier, like distorted space itself rejecting intrusion.
Everything
Bullets.
Explosives.
All halted.
Nothing could pass.
"Monster ! What is this?! Keep firing! Destroy him!!"
The terrified voice screamed again.
More gunfire.
More rockets.
Over a dozen RPG rounds were launched in rapid succession.
It was enough to destroy a building
Yet all of it remained suspended.
Rimo's expression darkened slightly.
He flipped his hands.
"Return it."
In an instant
Every suspended projectile rotated.
Now aimed
At the shooters.
Panic erupted upstairs.
They fired even more desperately
Abandoning coordination entirely.
But that only added to their own destruction.
"Go."
With a single command
Everything was released.
A storm of bullets tore through the front line.
Then
Explosions.
RPG rounds detonated across the second floor.
The entire upper structure collapsed.
Flames.
Shockwaves.
Dust engulfed everything.
The manor trembled violently as debris fell from above.
For a moment
Visibility dropped to almost nothing.
Rimo frowned.
Then
He released a surge of aura.
A powerful burst of Ren, far exceeding what was demonstrated by Hisoka Morow during his intimidation display at the Heavens Arena.
The pressure alone was enough to affect the environment.
A wave of force spread outward from his feet
Sweeping everything away.
Dust.
Smoke.
Debris.
All cleared instantly.
What remained
Was the shattered interior of the manor.
Walls broken.
Ceiling collapsed.
And silence
Signaling the complete destruction of the Fanobi family's last resistance.
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