Hello everyone. I'm Gon Freecss, and "living Shadow Beast" sounds kind of weird when you say it out loud. Anyway, they're apparently cooperating, so we asked for their help during the decisive battle.
"...I'm sowwy I got cawwied away pwease fowgive me I'll behave."
In a hotel room where the Nostrade Family was staying, Shadow Beast Rabid Dog, who'd literally had his prized weapon teeth shattered, sat in formal seiza position.
"You have no complaints about us continuing to imprison the Phantom Troupe members, right? And tell the Ten Dons we'd like their help during the decisive battle if possible—that it's a chance to catch them all in one net."
"Once you're done reporting, come back. I'll fix you up with even better teeth than before."
"Yesh, I'll go wight now, be wight back."
Whether his confidence had been broken along with his weapon teeth, Rabid Dog—whose arrogance when he arrived had vanished—returned to make his report while bowing unnecessarily.
"Impressive. I felt I couldn't beat any of the Shadow Beasts, but you didn't even take him seriously."
About an hour earlier on the morning of the auction's second day, Dalzollene had visited the Ten Dons together with the Family's Big Boss, Light Nostrade. They'd been asked about handing over the captured Shalnark and the others and future command authority, but Light—still wanting achievements—and Dalzollene—who felt Gon was scarier after seeing a Shadow Beast in person—declined.
After some commotion, Rabid Dog, one of the Shadow Beasts' top combat forces, came to verify, and they successfully secured primary control for Kurapika rather than the Ten Dons or Nostrade Family.
"There are ten Shadow Beasts and one seems like a courier, so I wasn't expecting much, but some are genuinely strong. Even you or Kurapika would be in danger, right?"
"Even with Scarlet Eyes, it'd be close. I never expected to make Gon bleed while using Ren."
Against Rabid Dog, who'd proposed a fight to establish hierarchy, Gon reverted to his base form and used Ren to intimidate him for the time being.
Perhaps thanks to the deadly situations he'd survived, Rabid Dog broke into a cold sweat but bit down with aura-infused teeth without hesitation.
The teeth stopped against Gon's forearm, blocked by his robust extensor digitorum muscle.
Still showing the Shadow Beast's pride, he infused more aura, and one tooth finally pierced—but tragedy struck when Gon reflexively pulled his arm back at the prick, tearing out most of the teeth.
After apologetically collecting the teeth, Gon now sat formally receiving a lecture from Leorio.
"It barely hurt, so why'd you pull away so fast? You've been fine getting pierced completely through before."
"When Gin's puppies were play-biting and suddenly bit hard, I got startled and kinda instinctively pulled back."
"Ah well, he's the one who suggested it, so can't be helped. Still, apologize when he comes back."
Then Leorio worked on making dentures from Rabid Dog's teeth using One-Man Doctor, while other members began discussions to select the decisive battleground.
As they continued discussing while examining various factors, Gon suddenly jumped as if convulsing.
"Muscles Mean Power came back. Still in progress, but let's check on Feitan."
Leaving Leorio with remaining work and Dalzollene as communications, Gon's group and several Nostrade members headed to the confinement location.
In a room of the back-alley private hospital that the Nostrade Family had temporarily purchased to confine Shalnark and Feitan, an unbelievable scene unfolded.
"No way. How can this be happening?"
Shalnark—who'd survived various deadly situations and created and witnessed countless gruesome scenes that made one look away—involuntarily showed weakness and averted his eyes from the cruel interrogation.
"Stop it! You don't need to go that far!"
The mere fact that he might be next was eroding his ironclad mental fortitude that didn't even fear death.
"More! Hit harder!! That won't make him talk at all!"
"Here! How's this! Has your ability returned!?"
"My ability's back! Hit harder, are you mocking me!?"
"This is full power, dammit!"
"Please stop!!"
At the end of Shalnark's trembling gaze, Feitan—being whipped by Nostrade member Basho—had undergone complete character collapse.
Feitan, afflicted by Manipulator Basho's ability Instant Lover (180 minutes), was being controlled by its effects. Combined with pain being converted to pleasure, he'd become a pitiful sight.
"So permanently binding ability types was impossible after all. How about it, Shalnark? If you answer our questions truthfully, we won't use Instant Lover on you."
"Just ask me anything! I'll spill about members' sexual preferences, whatever!"
Against Shalnark, who declared with a twisted smile, Kurapika began asking questions while confirming with Dowsing Chain.
"We're going to have a decisive battle with the remaining Spiders. What do you think—will they come?"
"From what I heard, if you provoked them that much, they'll definitely come. Most would've stayed even without provocation, and given Chrollo's personality, as long as Feitan and I are alive, everyone will come."
"I see. We're considering the suburban wasteland for the battleground. What do you think?"
"That's a bad move. If you know everyone's abilities, you know Franklin's and Bonolenov's too, right? I don't know what abilities you have, but you'll definitely be at a disadvantage."
Kurapika frowned at Shalnark's smooth answers and became suspicious precisely because he wasn't lying.
"You can sell out your comrades' information so readily. You're not thinking something sinister, are you?"
"Huh? I'm not thinking anything in particular. To be honest, I don't think you can win. I'll be made to talk anyway with that woman's ability, and compared to losing thinking capacity, this info is cheap."
Even Kurapika's ability confirmed he meant it sincerely, giving another sense of the Phantom Troupe's cohesion and ability.
"There's no way you guys, who can move this meticulously, haven't noticed the answer I just gave. Stop the pointless stuff and get to the main topic already."
Perhaps understanding there was nothing more he could do, his unshaken demeanor was enough to irritate Kurapika instead.
"...In case of decisive battle, tell me everything about each member's role and movements, and predictable trump cards."
"Sure sure. It'll be long—you good with notes?"
From there, even after the exhausted Basho put Feitan to sleep with drugs and left, Shalnark continued discussing battle situations predicted from everything he knew. This included many elements Kurapika hadn't considered, but after about five predictions, he noticed Shalnark's intent and interrupted.
"Stop once. Which are the top three likeliest possibilities? Or haven't you mentioned them yet?"
"Tch, you noticed? I think the first ones I mentioned are most likely, in order."
The plan to confuse or trouble them with excessive information failed. After confirming there were no lies, Kurapika judged further engagement would only mislead him and began preparing to administer drugs to Shalnark.
"That's fine. I don't enjoy talking with you either. You'd better get annihilated after being defeated."
Though his heart was disturbed by that brazen smile, he administered the drugs without showing it in attitude or voice.
Even after losing consciousness, the confident smile never disappeared from Shalnark's face.
***
Around the time the sun was about to set, voices of surprise and joy echoed through a hotel room where the Nostrade Family was staying.
"Th-these are my teeth? The aura flow is good and the bite strength has increased! More than that, they have the pure whiteness of fresh snow!?"
When Kurapika's group returned to the hotel, Rabid Dog's treatment had just finished. Checking his teeth repeatedly in the mirror, he was captivated by their greater power and beauty than before.
"Learned a lot. I didn't carve divine script, but I infused my aura so they should be enhanced for a while. Also, well, I thought about bite alignment and shaved a bit, removed tartar and stuff, so brush your teeth properly."
"Thank you, Doctor! With this, I've obtained strength a level above!"
His earlier dejection when leaving nowhere to be found, Rabid Dog—having obtained new weapon teeth—returned like a dog diving into snow, yelling "Yahoo!"
"That stupid dog, don't push all the work on me, damn it."
Though his role was guiding to the hotel, the one complaining about Rabid Dog immediately returning was a lanky man in shirt, slacks, and sandals—Shadow Beast Owl.
"Ugh, we've got too few in our group with brains for negotiation. There's a limit even for combat specialists. I'm not asking for refinement or education, but at least appearances..."
"Sorry for the trouble. You're the courier who took out the auction items? So, what did the Ten Dons say?"
Unlike Owl, who had a quiet impression, his companion chattered annoyingly. Kurapika pressed for the main point with an aggressive question.
"Ah right. Orders are to definitely inform them about the decisive battle. The Shadow Beasts will also move, and regardless of internal circumstances, they want it to appear the Ten Dons responded. If you can't accept that, do whatever you want."
"An offer I couldn't wish for more. We can even officially announce the Ten Dons resolved things. Our goal is the Spiders' annihilation—we're not particularly attached to what we gain from it."
"Wait Kurapika, aren't you sad about the bounty?"
"Yeah yeah! Think how many Chocorobo-kuns that could buy!"
Ignoring the noisy peanut gallery, Kurapika and Owl continued discussing. After sharing rough strategy and battleground candidates, they decided to let the Ten Dons choose only the location.
"Man, you're reasonable and smart. Hey, wanna be a Shadow Beast? No seats open, but with your skills, you could take a few members' spots."
"I'll think about it. Earliest timing is tonight—confirm that with the Ten Dons too. If there's anything else—"
"Kurapika, just got word from Melody that all the Phantom Troupe left the abandoned building. Direction's into Yorknew, not out. From what she heard, they thought waiting was stupid so they're taking action."
At Leorio's report, both Kurapika and Owl's eyes sharpened, and they began preparing their respective actions.
"Shadow Beasts are ready to move immediately. The battlefield will probably be this major intersection with an adjacent plaza. I'll rush back and finish things, so phone contact from now on is fine, yeah?"
"Understood. This is a wiretap-resistant radio the Nostrade Family prepared. Use this for communication."
As Owl hurried back to the Ten Dons, Kurapika also turned to Gon's group for final confirmation.
"Leorio, you were treating Rabid Dog—do you have aura left?"
"If I rest a bit, no problem. I'll be fully recovered by the decisive battle."
"Killua, can you fight? Depending on circumstances, you could work support."
"Don't underestimate me. Lately I've gotten much better at suppressing the needle. Worst case I have ranged options, so I won't disgrace myself."
"Gin, sorry, but you're key this time. I think we'll push you quite hard, but I'm counting on you."
"Guma!!"
"...Gon, I don't want to ask this of you—no, let me order it. I'll take on your sins. Trample everything."
"It's okay, Kurapika. The Phantom Troupe isn't weak enough to die easily. And if I do kill them, that's my sin and my achievement. I was prepared when I started aiming to be the ultimate Gon-san."
"I'm sor—thank you. We move as soon as the Ten Dons contact us. Until then, heighten your concentration. Everyone, let's win!!"
Gon's group and the Nostrade Family members answered Kurapika's declaration with powerful responses.
***
The morning after Chrollo's blood-sacrifice declaration, despite the early hour, all Troupe members had gathered to discuss what came next.
Regarding the biggest point—how to handle non-combatants like Pakunoda—they settled on Chrollo and Machi staying with them and not interfering with the battle line unless absolutely necessary.
"We've got the chain bastard and his companions plus Shadow Beasts, but you're not saying we don't have enough people, right?"
"Nope, not enough! Not enough people to kill!! After we kill everyone, we'll massacre all the Mafia including those Ten Dons bastards!!"
While no one responded to Uvogin's radical shouting, conversely no one tried to stop him either.
This was influenced by the combatants being overly motivated, but also because even Franklin—who usually stepped back to consider the whole Troupe—was leaning forward after being outsmarted.
"Wait a bit on the Ten Dons. After we rescue Shal and do some investigation."
Chrollo had a plan in his head to use the Ten Dons in a scheme to smoothly steal auction items. But first came dealing with the defiant Gon's group, and he'd already considered strategies for swift crushing last night.
"First, everyone receive memories of the chain bastard and companions from Pakunoda. Remember one companion, Leorio, particularly well. Don't kill him—prioritize incapacitating him above all."
As Pakunoda shared memories with Memory Bomb in sequence, members who understood Leorio among them nodded and directed exasperated looks at Chrollo.
"Boss, sure this guy's a rare healing type, but can we afford that luxury?"
Phinks asked on everyone's behalf, but Chrollo answered it was an order considering the Troupe more than his own desires.
"Based only on Hisoka's memories and the call impression, I judged the chain bastard is quite soft and a half-baked avenger. The two who were abducted are definitely alive, but even so, with no guarantee they're unharmed, I want to increase healing options."
"Chain guy's a Kurta Clan survivor, so if he knows what we did to them, Feitan's probably been beaten up pretty bad."
"Really? Then won't he retaliate with Pain Packer?"
"Shalnark's Black Voice didn't work, so they've probably taken some countermeasures, right?"
Having regained some composure after a night, members exchanged opinions actively unlike last night, hammering out details. There was no sign of underestimating opponents who'd learned Nen less than a year ago—only firm resolve to crush them with full power.
"The Zoldyck brat's combat style is still predictable, but this Gon and Gin are unclear. Hey Hisoka, don't you know anything more about these two?"
"Hmm, I remember sparring with them briefly at the Hunter Exam, but if I forgot, I guess they didn't do anything particularly flashy. ♦"
Hisoka answered Franklin's question without any guilt about forgetting, but other members who knew he quickly forgot uninteresting things didn't find it suspicious and moved on.
"We've mostly shared information. We leave here after dark."
"Huh? Weren't we waiting for contact from chain bastard?"
At the declaration to move before Kurapika's contact arrived, Uvogin voiced doubt, but Chrollo stated his thoughts matter-of-factly without changing expression.
"The only prohibition was leaving Yorknew City, so there's no problem. I can only call their thinking naive—it's transparent they want to catch us all at once while everyone's gathered. Besides, contact will come soon enough. The decisive battle is tonight."
Hearing those words, each member steeled themselves anew and raised war cries to annihilate the arrogant enemy.
The Spiders, with attention focused on Kurapika, couldn't notice the email the Clown sent behind their backs.
Clown and Spiders, Muscle and Shadow—in Yorknew City where the concentration of powerhouses was broken, the countdown to Armageddon had started.
***
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