"My Nen ability lets me revive once. As long as you guys get back to the main world before my 'death' timer runs out, it'll count as mission complete," Xiang Nan explained. "In other words, I've got a way to dodge the system's penalty."
The yellow-skinned cursed spirit stayed quiet. He couldn't tell if the man was bluffing or not. Nen abilities could be strange, but if this guy really had something like that… there was no way to just test it in front of everyone.
Abilities like that would have strict conditions, and Xiang Nan had already said it only worked once.
Still… tricking the system that way sounded possible.
"Pariston, Mizaistom, Cheadle… all three Zodiacs are here. And you just killed a Hunter Association member — they've probably noticed and are already heading over. They'll be here soon." Xiang Nan went on, "If you want my advice, take out Pariston first — he's the biggest threat. Cheadle's not a combat type, and while Mizaistom's ability can be a pain, you guys should be able to handle him."
When the cursed spirit didn't respond, Xiang Nan narrowed his eyes under the brim of his hat.
"Fine, keep doubting me. You'll see soon enough if I'm telling the truth. But right now, you don't have a lot of options. Jogo and Hanami don't understand how strong Netero is or how this world works, but the three of you should. Even without me, you'd still have to fight these major players. I'm just making your job easier and cutting down the risk."
He stepped forward, hands out like a prisoner waiting for cuffs.
"I'll be your hostage. That should help you feel better, right?"
"My offer's not small. If I had any hidden agenda, you could kill me anytime."
After he took a few steps, a blur of movement appeared behind him — Hanami.
A thick plant trunk burst out of the ground at Xiang Nan's feet, coiling around him like a giant snake and locking him in place.
Smaller branches shot out like chains, binding his limbs.
Hanami pressed a dagger-sharp fingertip to his neck, drawing a thin line of blood.
"Trustworthy?" Hanami asked the yellow-skinned cursed spirit.
For Hanami and Jogo, this was their first time on a multiverse battlefield. They didn't know much about other worlds, and a lot of what Xiang Nan said went over their heads. But they understood the main point — he was surrendering.
Geto and Mahito had sent Hanami along partly to keep Jogo in check, so he wouldn't mess up the plan. Hanami's calm, and getting an advantage before a fight matters to him. The real question was whether this Hunter could be trusted.
He'd moved first to keep Jogo from killing the guy by accident, like earlier.
"He's not wrong — we're in a bad spot. Without his help, pulling this off will be tough. And it doesn't look like he's secretly working with the Hunters to trap us. If he's willing to be a hostage, and things play out like he said, we can trust him more. If not, we kill him. He's a player — he's not dumb enough to gamble with his own life."
The yellow-skinned cursed spirit studied Xiang Nan, who stayed calm even with Hanami's fingertip at his throat.
"What's your name?"
"Xiang Nan."
Jogo's attention was still locked on the distant fight between Netero and Jed.
He clearly wanted to see the strongest Nen user in the Hunter world for himself.
"Jogo," Hanami said, reading his friend's thoughts, "don't do anything reckless. Otherwise, Geto and Mahito will be pissed."
"Tch… like those two idiots can boss me around," Jogo scoffed.
But he didn't make a move. For once, he stuck to the plan.
They were here to find something that could kill or counter Satoru Gojo.
…
In a hidden spot nearby, Illumi watched as Xiang Nan was taken away as a hostage, his expression unreadable.
He'd assumed Xiang Nan was about to strike — but instead, the guy had surrendered.
Of course… to Illumi, this was still part of the hunt. The cursed spirits just hadn't realized it yet. For a skilled hunter, trapping prey could be done in a hundred ways, and brains were just as deadly as blades.
"They don't really understand Hunters or Nen," Illumi thought. "That means Xiang Nan can feed them half-truths. In this situation, they can't verify anything. As long as it fits their shallow idea of how Nen works, they'll buy it."
He understood now why Xiang Nan had told him to "watch and learn" earlier — he was talking about this kind of hunting. You don't have to fight to kill. Words and psychology can hit just as hard.
In Illumi's eyes, the cursed spirits were already tangled in Xiang Nan's net and didn't even know it.
"But this method isn't for everyone," Illumi mused. "You need deep intel, sharp insight, and, most importantly, the ability to read people — to understand their logic, personality, and motives."
He melted back into the shadows.
This kind of high-risk hunt wasn't for most people.
If he tried it, it could easily backfire, and he wouldn't be able to gain the target's trust so quickly.
…
With Xiang Nan's guidance, Jogo's group began moving quickly through Yorknew City.
Before, they'd had no leads and no clear targets. Now, with Xiang Nan on board, everything was laid out.
Hanami personally guarded him.
Even after agreeing to his plan, he clearly wasn't ready to let his guard down.
Xiang Nan stayed calm.
For him, it came down to one simple thing — they were here for the mission. If they failed, nothing else mattered.
And with Netero's presence looming, the pressure would only get worse. They needed him.
Simple as that.
No tricks, no overcomplication.
"Next up… your turn, Pariston," Xiang Nan thought, a faint smile in his eyes.