The large eye creature controlled by Momoze easily passed through the walls and floated into District 6.
It truly seemed invisible—no one reacted to its presence as it drifted near Izunavi.
Through Momoze's live descriptions, Joey noted something else: the creature hadn't encountered any Nen users.
In District 6, the only known Nen users—at least to Joey and Kurapika—were three: Izunavi, the First Prince's private soldier Orudo, and a Hunter Association member named Juliano.
None of them appeared.
Instead, many other individuals moved about, completely indifferent to the floating creature.
Suddenly, Momoze said, "My eyelids feel heavy… I might fall asleep any second… I'm suddenly really exhausted."
Joey rubbed his chin. Perhaps it wasn't other Nen users, but something else—something that could passively invade intruders: the Guardian Spirit Beast of the Sixth Prince.
He suspected that the creature had been latched onto by one of those black matchstick-like beasts.
Their attack patterns remained unknown, but if the Sixth Prince's Beast resembled the Eighth Prince's, then it was a slow-burn type—something that worked gradually over time.
So even if the thing had attached itself to the eye monster, it likely wouldn't be harmful in the short term.
But then—Joey froze.
He realized something.
According to what was known, the Guardian Beasts, like their Princes, weren't supposed to initiate hostilities directly.
Even the First Prince, as aggressive as he was, had to rely on spies, intelligence gathering, and careful assassinations—never direct moves, never overt interference.
The Succession War, despite being a deathmatch, still operated under strict rules.
Even during the early-stage chaos when the Guardian Beasts first manifested, none of them had clashed or even touched each other.
But now?
The Twelfth Prince's Guardian Beast had barely entered District 6 before being parasitized. Even if it was just a projection, that meant something massive:
The rules of the Succession War had changed after the Coffin Zone was destroyed.
That intel alone made Momoze's mission a resounding success.
Hearing Joey say this, Momoze managed a tired smile.
Kurapika added, "That's not all. If the Sixth Prince's Guardian Beast is acting, then anyone under the Sixth Prince who can use Nen will likely notice something's off—even if they can't see the eye monster. It's enough for them to realize there's an intruder."
He was right.
Momoze's monster had deliberately avoided the prince's quarters and hadn't run into many people. That alone lowered the odds of being discovered.
Still, Kurapika's warning was valid—if anyone noticed and laid a trap in advance, their entire assessment would be off.
Joey took it seriously.
Meanwhile, his insect swarms had begun infiltrating District 6, moving methodically.
With Orudo present, Joey had already resigned himself to losing many insects.
If that tipped off the First Prince that Joey had returned to Deck 1, so be it.
Joey believed that even if the First Prince knew, he wouldn't alert the royal army.
But then something unexpected happened.
The insects weren't attacked at all.
No interception.
Joey's first thought: Orudo hadn't activated his En.
The bugs couldn't sense En, so Joey couldn't be sure—but Orudo might just be observing first before acting.
Either way, Joey took the opportunity to send a bee—one meant to carry a message—directly toward Izunavi.
The large eye had already spotted him. Izunavi sensed something, growing tense.
"He doesn't seem to see the eye creature," Momoze said.
Joey and Kurapika made the same judgment at once.
Joey had Momoze keep the creature still to avoid spooking Izunavi, and sped up the bee's navigation.
As soon as it emerged from the ventilation duct, Momoze confirmed:
"He sees the bee."
Joey glanced at her. The combo of her ability and Gold Experience was like a live surveillance feed.
No visuals, just descriptions—but still better than risking his precious surveillance equipment.
Those cameras were top-grade. Once used, they were gone for good. Kite had said replacements wouldn't come until they reached the Provisional Continent.
The bee zipped around the room, transmitting info directly to Izunavi.
Then—
BANG.
A door slammed.
"Royal Army," Joey muttered, glancing at Kurapika.
They'd arrived earlier than expected. Worse—breaking into District 12's rooms required royal authorization.
This was no random sweep. Nasubi had given the kill order.
"I can delay them a little. Not for long," Kurapika offered.
"That's enough." Joey had just finished sending most of the message. He included an urgent prompt for Izunavi to act fast.
Momoze remained focused, ignoring the noise. Her closed eyes tracked Izunavi's every move.
"He seems… off," she murmured.
Joey couldn't see Izunavi himself, only Momoze's words. That left margin for error.
More importantly—because princes couldn't see Guardian Beasts (including their own), Momoze's view of Izunavi might lack something critical:
The Sixth Prince's Beast could already be attached to him.
A subtle deviation—but one that could be fatal.
Suddenly, Joey's brow furrowed.
The bee was dead.
Ambushed.
But by whom?
Orudo?
Izunavi?
Juliano?
The elusive Sixth Prince?
Joey's mind raced with possibilities.
He turned to Momoze—hoping she'd seen something.
What he saw made him freeze.
Momoze had gone pale. Her breaths shallow, frightened.
Sensing his gaze, she gasped and sat up. "Sorry… I just saw… a huge hand reach out behind me and grab me… crushed me completely."
Her voice trembled. Tears welled.
Clearly, the shock had gotten to her.
And from her tone, the connection between her and the eye creature was extremely intimate.
So its destruction did hurt her—at least mentally.
She wasn't a fighter. After something like this, she might not have the courage to use her ability again.
And the hand came from behind her—meaning it wasn't Izunavi who killed the eye.
So who was it?
More of Joey's insects were dying—seemingly at random spots.
As if every corner of District 6 was now aware of them.
BAM!
Another door slam snapped Joey out of thought.
No time to analyze. He had to extract Momoze and Kurapika now.
Kurapika's power wasn't built for direct blockades.
But Weather Report had already appeared on Joey's shoulder.
If the door hadn't been broken already, it was thanks to its atmospheric pressure field.
Otherwise, that flimsy wood would've shattered long ago.
And considering this was the Twelfth Prince's room, such brute-force entry revealed the army's stance toward her.
"Discarded? Or actively targeted?" Kurapika mused aloud.
"Both," Joey replied. "If the Succession War is nullified, then the restrictions on Nasubi are gone. He can kill princes directly now. No need for formalities."
He thought of the wrathful auras hidden in the Coffin Zone's caskets.
"Maybe killing princes even benefits Nasubi," Kurapika said, beating Joey to the punch.
Joey summoned Killer Queen, locking eyes with Kurapika—same thought.
The problem was, they still lacked evidence.
And Joey wasn't sure whether the Guardian Beasts dragged into the dark realm by the Thirteenth Prince's beast had returned under Nasubi's control.
Too many unknowns.
Even now, Joey barely understood the full nature of the Coffin Zone.
What was that ritual urn for? Could Nasubi now claim dead princes' beasts for himself?
The floor crumbled—Killer Queen had detonated a hole to Deck 2.
Joey didn't hesitate.
His En detected soldiers outside, prepping firearms.
Weather Report's air pressure wouldn't hold against bullets for long—especially since Joey's own aura reserves were low.
He'd spent plenty during the earlier battle. Rain, lightning, cold, wind, fog—all cost aura. He'd even used clones and expanded En to mislead Nasubi.
He was running on fumes.
Thankfully, he wasn't alone.
Kurapika silently picked up the weakened Momoze.
He and Joey exchanged a look.
Then both jumped into the hole.
Bang bang bang!
Gunshots rang behind them as they dropped.
The area below was no living quarter—it was a screening room.
It was barely after 5 a.m.
Only a few people lingered there.
Their landing startled a couple at the back row—mid-makeout.
The man froze.
The woman screamed.
Joey's En had already expanded. The scream died before it finished.
Neither Joey nor Kurapika gave them a glance. They bolted for the exit.
Only once they left did sound return—screams, gunfire, and the movie's audio.
"Wasn't that… the Twelfth Prince?" the man whispered, shaking.
But beneath his fear—there was something else.
Excitement.
(End of Chapter)