Although the Ten Dons and the Shadow Beasts are rather "low‑key" in the original work, this encounter truly startled Xiang Nan.
Judging by how tight their security is and by how grand their headquarters looks, the Ten Dons are no different from the monarch of a small country.
Viewed not from a national but from a social perspective, the Ten Dons really do stand at the very pinnacle.
They are later killed by Illumi, of course… yet their downfall is actually not Illumi's doing, but Maha Zoldyck's.
That old monster of the Zoldyck clan is someone before whom even Netero is but a kid.
The fact that the Phantom Troupe could hire both Illumi and Maha to take on the Ten Dons shows just how much wealth the Spiders have plundered over the years—an astronomical fortune.
In the Yorknew arc, Maha only appears because, after finishing a job, the Zoldyck family planned a "team‑building vacation," prompting that reclusive monster to show himself.
It is also possible that Chrollo contacted Illumi and got a "discounted rate."
The Ten Dons were simply unlucky: they crossed paths with some of the most frightening Nen users alive.
Otherwise, given their defenses, they might still have been eliminated, but certainly not so quickly.
Xiang Nan and Mia can enter the main gate and make it all the way to the palace at the heart of the estate for one crucial reason: the Nen‑user guards have concluded that they are "harmless."
Without that judgment, they would never have met a Ten Don.
Edisaps—that is the name of the Ten Don they are here to see.
Right now a guide is leading the two of them in circles through towering halls and past one opulent corridor after another to reach this dignitary.
Along the way Xiang Nan notices many items on display.
Some are very unconventional—rather than scrolls or ornaments, they are biological organs preserved in jars of liquid. Some are clearly human; others are obviously beasts, even magical beasts.
Stroking his chin, Xiang Nan recalls dim fragments of the original plot. He remembers that many characters and story elements hinted at the "huge secrets" hidden in the Hunter × Hunter world; what readers and viewers see is only the tip of the iceberg.
For example, in that room where Silva talks with Killua, the ceiling has a row of grotesque reliefs—stone carvings of some life‑form that looks nothing like any species ordinary people know.
And the Kakin Empire's fourth prince, the perverse collector Tserriednich, has the same hobby.
In addition to the Scarlet Eyes, his collection room is crammed with jars containing human organs and body parts.
Even the chair he sits on is made of bones.
"These people in power… their tastes really aren't all that different," Xiang Nan thinks to himself.
"This Ten Don's Nen‑armed forces number fifty‑odd people. At one point all Ten Dons together could muster at least two hundred Nen users—nearly a third of the Hunter Association. Astonishing."
From the moment he stepped through the gate, Xiang Nan has sensed many hidden gazes and surveillance.
Nen auras surround him, close enough that, though he cannot gauge their exact positions or distances, he knows they are nearby.
In other words, as "guests," if he makes any sudden move he will likely be subdued almost instantly.
Soon they arrive at a side hall inside the palace. Their guide pushes the door open and gestures for Xiang Nan and Mia to enter.
At a glance they see a bald old man quietly dining at a table cast entirely in gold.
His beard is white; he wears a loose purple robe; deep wrinkles line his face—he must be past seventy.
He ignores their arrival and continues eating, not even looking up.
Behind him stand numerous attendants, ready to obey his slightest order.
Yet beside the old man sits someone utterly out of place in this solemn atmosphere.
Compared with the Ten Don, Xiang Nan is instantly intrigued by this newcomer.
It is none other than Owl, leader of the Shadow Beasts.
A pair of sunglasses rests on his nose; his brown hair is a tangled mess; his clothes look unwashed and badly creased.
He wears flip‑flops—altogether the picture of a slovenly man who disdains personal hygiene.
Even before a Ten Don he slouches, half reclining in his chair and glancing about.
The Ten Don takes no offense at Owl's posture.
"So, they're here…"
More animated than the aloof Don, Owl pushes up his shades and turns toward Xiang Nan.
The very next second he tilts his head and notices Porcupine, who has followed the pair inside.
"Whoa… you're still alive? I thought you were dead!" He waves casually at Porcupine.
Porcupine's face remains blank and he gives no reply.
"Hmm?"
Owl raises an eyebrow.
After a moment's study he fixes his eyes on Xiang Nan. "What did you do to him?"
"Nothing much…" Xiang Nan smiles. "I just… accidentally gave him a head injury during our fight."
He says it in a scholarly tone—an accidental injury…
"..."
Owl's expression doesn't change. He rises from his chair.
He approaches, but Porcupine's stiff gaze flicks aside and he immediately backs away to keep his distance.
"You did that alone?"
Owl looks at Xiang Nan.
"Of course not… some colleagues died too, but in the end I was the only one left alive," Xiang Nan answers calmly.
"That's impressive. You're the first ever to survive an encounter with us Shadow Beasts."
Owl chuckles. "You certainly feel strong—different from the average Nen user."
With that he suddenly points to Xiang Nan's trench coat. "No need to keep that on… I'm not sure what you're hiding inside."
A glint flashes in Xiang Nan's eye.
The coat's lining contains many concealed straps. To an untrained eye they are almost invisible; the guards' cursory search earlier found no clues.
Being allowed through the gate implied the perceived threat was minimal.
Xiang Nan hadn't expected Owl to spot the issue at once.
Smiling faintly, he removes the coat.
Owl takes it and deftly draws a scalpel from the cloth, holding it up for inspection.
"A scalpel?"
"Yes."
"Your weapon?"
"That's right."
"Interesting."
Owl grins. "Knowing my teammates' temperaments, even if it was a free‑for‑all back there, for him to be hurt this badly it must have ended up one‑on‑one. Meaning you're stronger than he is. I'm curious—how did you manage it?"
"His Nen ability is tricky… but not without weaknesses. Take sound, for instance."
Xiang Nan replies evenly.
Owl's eyes gleam with interest.
"Hmm… he's alive, but he's basically useless now."
He glances at Porcupine, then back at Xiang Nan. "You've guessed who I am, haven't you…"
"You already told me—you're a Shadow Beast," Xiang Nan answers.
Cough, cough.
At that moment the distant Ten Don clears his throat, cutting their exchange short.
He wipes his mouth with a napkin and glances at Mia, who is visibly tense and uneasy.
Owl wisely falls silent.
"Edi-sama."
Mia steps forward in fear and respect, bowing slightly.
"Sit."
The Ten Don says coolly.
It is clear he intends to have a formal talk with Mia.
Owl turns away at once, tossing over his shoulder to Xiang Nan, "Come with me…"
Obviously the Ten Don and Mia's discussion is not for their ears.
Nor is the Don himself interested in whatever is going on between Owl and Xiang Nan.
Such is the nature of those in power:
They… see others merely as tools.
Xiang Nan realizes it too—
It wasn't the Ten Don who wanted to meet him; the one who truly sought him out… was Owl.