Chapter 69: The Cuckoo Occupies the Nest
Ronin didn't care what Owl thought.
Chakra threads effortlessly pierced into Owl's body. The Shadow Beast's mouth snapped shut, silencing any potential scream.
Neon, showing great initiative, stepped forward and untied Owl from the chair.
Ronin gave her an approving look. He twitched his fingers, and Owl stood up like a marionette.
Kurapika dispelled his chains, returning Owl's stolen ability.
Ronin experimented with the puppet controls. Soon, Owl's aura flared, and a large cloth materialized in his hands.
The process was smooth, though Owl's movements were slightly stiff and robotic.
The cloth swooped down over the chair. The moment it covered the furniture, it twisted and shrank. In less than a second, the chair vanished, replaced by a tiny cloth packet the size of a handkerchief.
"Not bad," Ronin smiled with satisfaction.
To Neon and Kurapika, that smile looked distinctly villainous.
"Your ability is truly versatile. It feels like you can do anything you set your mind to. Specialists are amazing," Neon sighed with envy.
In this group, she was the only "natural" Specialist. The other two were freaks of nature.
Ronin didn't bother explaining. Even if he did, they wouldn't understand the concept of Ninjutsu.
"Let's go," Ronin commanded. Owl conjured the cloth again.
This time, instead of targeting an object, Owl threw the cloth over his own head.
In an instant, Owl vanished.
Only the Chakra threads remained connected to Ronin's fingers, leading into the small cloth packet on the floor.
Ronin tied the threads to his pinky finger and tucked the packet containing Owl into his ninja pouch.
Although the Chakra threads were somewhat visible, it was a worthy trade-off. Being able to deploy Fun Fun Cloth at will was a massive strategic advantage.
Yadan Hotel.
A prestigious five-star hotel in Yorknew City. The guests here were either rich or powerful.
Raymond, one of the Ten Dons, returned to the hotel immediately after the meeting. He owned the place, and despite having a secure estate, he felt safer on his own turf.
It was a pity Owl was likely dead.
Now, his only remaining capable subordinate was a reserve Shadow Beast candidate named Mole.
Mole was a short man with large, spade-like hands that looked decidedly inhuman. He was a Demi-human.
He had always been overshadowed by Owl, but was still a top-tier fighter within the Mafia. With Owl gone, Mole saw an opportunity to rise.
However, he had heard rumors that Raymond hadn't included him in the list of candidates for the next generation of Shadow Beasts. This confused and angered him.
Raymond didn't bother explaining anything to Mole.
He was busy contacting assassins. The Ten Dons had approved a proposal to hire professional killers to deal with the Phantom Troupe.
Raymond had hired the Zoldyck Family before. Their efficiency was impeccable, and their service was top-notch. The only downside was the price.
But Raymond wasn't short on money. His first thought was to call the Zoldycks.
"Boss, if we can separate them, I'm confident I can kill a Spider one-on-one," Mole couldn't help but interrupt, stepping forward.
His small eyes gleamed with ambition.
If he could get the assassin's fee for himself, he could prove his worth. He knew he couldn't beat Owl, but he was confident against Worm.
Unfortunately, each Don could only sponsor one Shadow Beast. As long as Owl was alive, Mole had no chance.
Regarding the annihilation of the Shadow Beasts, Mole believed they were just stupid and arrogant.
If it were him, even if he were stronger, he would ambush the enemy, not charge in with a bunch of gunmen like an idiot.
Raymond frowned.
Before he could reprimand Mole, a mocking laugh echoed through the room.
"You? With that stumpy body? Challenging the Phantom Troupe? Don't make me laugh," Ronin floated in through the window.
Using Ultralight-Weight Rock Technique, his mobility was unparalleled.
He didn't expect to hear such delusional nonsense upon arrival.
Mole's aura was loose and unrefined—barely better than the crippled fighters at Heavens Arena.
With that level of strength, where did he get the confidence to fight the Troupe? Was he planning to kill them with laughter?
"Who are you?" Mole immediately jumped in front of Raymond, fulfilling his duty as a bodyguard.
He raised his hands, revealing sharp claws. Aura concentrated on them, making them glint dangerously. It looked somewhat threatening.
Raymond recognized Ronin instantly.
"Ronin," Raymond displayed the composure expected of a Mafia Don. "You're here... does that mean Owl betrayed me?"
"More or less," Ronin ignored Mole entirely. "I assume you know why I'm here."
"If you kill me, the Mafia won't stop hunting you. Why not let me live? We might be able to cooperate," Raymond knew Mole was useless against Ronin. To survive, he had to negotiate.
Ronin shook his head. "Sorry. A dead you is the best version of you for me."
Raymond's pupils contracted. His hand darted toward the gun at his waist.
But someone was faster.
Mole bolted.
Not toward Ronin, but toward the door.
The moment Mole saw Ronin and sensed his aura, he realized the massive gap in their strength. Fighting meant death.
But even fleeing was too slow.
As Mole turned to run, his gaze accidentally met Ronin's Three-Tomoe Sharingan.
Genjutsu: Shiranui.
Phantom flames erupted from Mole's feet. Agonizing pain seared through his nerves, paralyzing him.
Raymond froze, his hand still on his gun. He watched in horror as Mole collapsed, convulsing on the floor, without Ronin even lifting a finger.
I'm going to die.
Ronin raised his hand, pointing a finger at Raymond like a gun.
"Bang."
A Nen bullet shot from his fingertip, piercing Raymond's skull before he could even blink.
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