Pakunoda was ruled out first—after all, her fate was sealed by Kurapika. There was no need for Ron to intervene further.
The same went for Kortopi. In just over six months, he and Shalnark would be killed by Hisoka in a bathroom.
This left Machi and Nobunaga.
At the time, Chrollo had been standing near Machi, restrained by Kurapika's Judgment Chain, making it difficult to move freely.
Moreover, Nobunaga, a firm adherent of the warrior's code, possessed unparalleled willpower. Ron decided to target him, as defeating him would yield greater gains.
He glanced at Nobunaga's lifeless body, which Machi was meticulously sewing back together. A faint smile crossed Ronnel's lips.
...
On the streets of Yorknew City…
A car sped along the wide road.
"Thank you so much, Sapai. Without your help, our plan might not have worked," Leorio said, gripping the steering wheel as he glanced at the passenger beside him.
"It's nothing," Sapai replied with a warm smile. "You're Gon and Killua's friend, and that makes you my friend too. It's only right for friends to help each other."
Sapai's gaze flicked to the rearview mirror. In the backseat, Chrollo sat silently, bound by chains. Melody was on his left, and Kurapika—disguised as a man—was on his right.
"Who's this, and why is he tied up?" Sapai wondered silently. The tense atmosphere kept him from voicing the question aloud.
"I didn't expect you'd disguise yourself as a man to capture me," Chrollo remarked, his voice calm yet edged with surprise.
The tension in the car thickened. Kurapika's eyes flared red as she dropped her disguise. Her sharp words and Chrollo's retorts filled the car, but the journey continued under the moonlight. The vehicle hurtled toward the Lingong Airport on the outskirts of Youkexin City.
...
Inside Hotel…
"They're here," Kortopi announced.
Ronnel turned to the automatic doors just as Shalnark, Feitan, and Phinks entered.
The Hotel Beitacle, ravaged earlier, had been partially restored.
"What happened?" Phinks demanded, his sharp gaze taking in the scene.
The faint metallic tang of blood in the air made the trio's expressions even grimmer.
"A power outage occurred. The leader was taken by the chain user, and Nobunaga was killed by a mysterious assailant," Ronnel explained calmly.
"We sent you the details via text. You should know this already."
"I know," Phinks growled. "But how can we just accept this?! Where's Nobunaga's body?"
"Machi stitched him up. I've placed him in my bag for safekeeping," Ron replied evenly.
Phinks gritted his teeth, fury evident on his face. "Why didn't you chase after them?"
Ronnel met his glare. "We didn't have enough manpower. Nobunaga was down, and we had to protect the hostages. Splitting our forces would've been risky."
"And there's no way of knowing if that mysterious assailant was lying in wait outside, or if they've infiltrated the hotel. A reckless pursuit could've ended in an ambush," Ronnel added.
He continued with measured confidence, "This opponent overpowered even the leader, using multiple Nen abilities. We don't even know their identity or appearance."
Feitan's gaze lingered on Kortopi and Pakunoda before he fell silent, taking the letter Shalnark offered him.
A Change in Perspective
"Speaking of that mysterious individual," Shalnark began, rubbing his chin thoughtfully, "I've gathered some intriguing intel today. The leader hired the Zoldyck family to eliminate the Ten Dons. That action triggered a power struggle in the underworld, with groups making bold moves."
Feitan crossed his arms. "And what did you find?"
"The Ten Dons formed an assassination group to target us. Based on the leader's description and my research, I've narrowed it down to three suspects."
"Who?" Phinks demanded.
"One is Kurapika, the Chainsman," Shalnark began, "but we can rule her out—"
"Agreed," Machi interjected.
Shalnark nodded. "That leaves two: Kay Taylor, a lone gunman, and Paikasi, a martial artist from a prestigious school."
"A martial artist?" Feitan's eyes narrowed.
"Yes. His resume is sparse—most of his time was spent training. He's accepted only a few commissions, which aligns with the leader's description of a combat-obsessed martial artist," Shalnark concluded.
Phinks frowned. "So he's our best lead?"
"For now," Shalnark admitted.
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