Kurapika, Melody, and the others soon appeared in a car at the far end of the road.
But the Shadow Beasts weren't after them.
Their real targets were the Phantom Troupe members chasing right behind that car.
"I'll go first," Owl said to Xiang Nan and the others.
He meant he'd try using his Nen ability to take out the Troupe members chasing them—preferably in one blow.
Phinks's eyes turned cold when he heard that.
Xiang Nan immediately shot him a warning glance.
Phinks knew what Owl's ability could do. If he really wrapped the whole car using that red cloth—his so-called "Fun Fun Cloth"—then their comrades could actually be in serious danger.
But under Xiang Nan's gaze, Phinks held himself back.
Sure, it was risky. But considering how weak these Shadow Beasts were, he figured... their guys wouldn't fall for something like that. Right?
Whoosh!
Down on the road below, the mafia car sped by, swerving dangerously.
As the second vehicle came up behind it, Owl suddenly leapt through the air and landed on top of it. The giant red cloth in his hand unfurled instantly, wrapping around the still-moving car. Then, as it shrank into a small bundle, he bent down and picked it up off the ground.
The little red pouch dangled between his fingers, swaying side to side. Muffled whimpers came from inside—someone was clearly caught.
It was Nobunaga!
Owl looked up at the few survivors who'd managed to jump out of the car just in time.
Nobunaga!
"You guys… definitely aren't average," Owl said flatly.
He wasn't slow—his Nen ability was fast. And this was a premeditated ambush. They popped out suddenly and hit the Troupe out of nowhere. Even with the element of surprise, the Troupe members still reacted in time. Impressive.
Machi, Shizuku, and Feitan.
What caught Owl off guard was how calm they were. No panic at all.
It was like... they expected this.
"Hurry up—they're getting away," Machi said, staring at the Nen thread between her fingers.
"Feitan, hold him off. Shizuku and I will go after them."
She said it and moved out immediately, Shizuku right behind her. Neither of them even acknowledged Owl as they sprinted off.
"…Huh?"
That reaction made Owl freeze for a second.
He wasn't the only Shadow Beast on the scene. Xiang Nan and the other five were up on the hill, and all of them had released their aura.
There's no way the Troupe hadn't noticed.
Were they just that arrogant?
Even if they didn't take the Shadow Beasts seriously, this was straight-up reckless.
And with the Beasts right here, how could they just ignore them and run off after their allies?
"Heh… finally showing yourselves, huh?"
Up on the hill, the other Shadow Beasts were already grinning as they locked onto Feitan and the others below.
"Too bad for you—you ran into us. This is where you die…"
Bat was just about to start bragging—
Crack.
His neck snapped clean at a 90-degree angle.
Didn't even get to make a move—killed instantly.
At the same time, the other two Shadow Beasts had their heads smashed in by Phinks' fists.
They never saw it coming. All their attention was on the Phantom Troupe—none of them expected the traitor was in their own ranks. Phinks took out all three in a flash.
After the kills, Phinks casually wiped his hands with a white handkerchief, shoved his hands in his pockets, and leapt down the slope.
Owl was stunned by how fast it all went down.
But his instincts kicked in quickly—this newcomer... he's a mole.
And probably working with the Troupe. Otherwise, why wait until now to make his move?
"Porcupine! Let's go!"
Owl's eyes narrowed, and he started to retreat.
At the same time, he shouted to Xiang Nan—
But before he could even move, a shadow slammed into his back.
"Don't move."
It was Feitan, face half-exposed, voice ice-cold.
Smack!
The two clashed mid-air for a moment before Owl was slammed to the ground. Feitan pinned one of his arms and stepped on his head.
Feitan's eyes gleamed with bloodlust. He grabbed Owl's arm, ready to snap it—
But just then, a hand landed on his shoulder.
Stopping him.
"He's not on the kill list. I already told Chrollo, and Chrollo told you, didn't he?" Xiang Nan said calmly, standing beside him.
Feitan squinted.
His heart skipped a beat—he hadn't even noticed Xiang Nan approach.
"Chrollo doesn't give me orders."
Feitan's grip tightened. He still seemed ready to break Owl's arm.
"So what—you spiders wanna pick a fight with me now?"
Xiang Nan's voice dropped, his smile turning eerie.
"You sure about that?"
"..."
Feitan didn't answer.
"…Feitan," Phinks called out.
"If he wants that piece of trash, let him have it. Not worth killing."
"Tch."
Feitan clicked his tongue, released Owl, and stepped back. Owl was left in the dirt, beaten and confused.
Only now did Owl realize—Xiang Nan was a mole too.
If Phinks was a Troupe member, he could kinda understand. He hadn't been with the Beasts long.
But Xiang Nan? He'd already earned the Shadow Beasts' trust, even been acknowledged by them. And that was before the Ten Dons had even decided to hold the auction in Yorknew. How had the Troupe been planning this far in advance?
"…Why?"
Owl looked at Xiang Nan, his voice calm.
He'd seen a lot, being part of the Shadow Beasts. He wasn't afraid to die.
But still—why would Xiang Nan betray the Ten Dons?
Especially when the Zatobi family's Mia was still under their control?
"No real reason. The Ten Dons just aren't worth anything to me anymore," Xiang Nan said, not bothering to explain further. "Unless something unexpected happens, they'll all be dead soon. From now on, you follow me."
Owl hesitated.
He was about to speak, but Xiang Nan locked eyes with him.
"There's no choice. As of now, the Shadow Beasts no longer exist."
"The Mafia will report to the Ten Dons that every Shadow Beast died on the front lines—killed by the spiders. You and me included."
"…"
Owl said nothing.
Meanwhile, Phinks had already gotten the update from Feitan—Uvogin had been taken.
Machi and Shizuku were gone.
"…You know something, don't you?"
Phinks turned to Xiang Nan.
Before this operation, Chrollo had warned that Xiang Nan said something unpredictable might happen.
And now, it was clear—whoever that chain-using Nen specialist was, they were the reason.
Phinks couldn't believe it. He knew how strong Uvogin was. Even after wiping out four Shadow Beasts and taking a few hits, there's no way he'd just get "taken" in the blink of an eye with zero resistance.
If someone really pulled that off… just how strong were they?
"Relax. He's not dead—yet,"
Xiang Nan replied casually.