Um?!
Machi, who was still eating strawberry cake, suddenly stopped moving.
Her spoon froze in midair, and her pupils shrank slightly.
"What's wrong?" Rimo immediately noticed Machi's abnormal reaction and asked in a low voice.
"I have a bad feeling." Machi frowned lightly. Just now, a sudden sense of panic rose from deep inside her body. She knew very clearly that this was not imagination, but a warning from her innate sixth sense, the same intuition that had saved her countless times in Meteor City.
Hearing this, Rimo narrowed his eyes slightly. "You mean Uvogin and Nobunaga are in danger?"
Machi shook her head slowly. "No… it's us."
"Jie hahahaha! Machi, you're still hiding with that pretty boy inside? Hurry up and come out. This time, Uvogin and Nobunaga aren't here. Who do you think can protect you now? Jie hahahaha!"
Before Machi could explain further, a hoarse, arrogant voice rang out loudly from outside, full of malice and greed.
Rimo's expression changed slightly. He immediately turned his head and looked at the simple surveillance monitor installed near the door, a device he had materialized earlier.
On the screen, a man with a twisted face and a missing arm stood outside their station. His left sleeve was empty, fluttering slightly in the polluted wind. Behind him were more than a dozen men, all carrying crude weapons, their eyes full of excitement and desire.
"It's Os!" Machi's pupils contracted sharply. "How could it be him? Didn't he try to secretly escape Meteor City and get hunted by the elders' guards? How is he still alive?!"
Os was considered one of the strongest figures in this area of Meteor City, second only to monsters like Uvogin and Nobunaga. For a long time, his group had clashed repeatedly with theirs over territory and resources.
Not long ago, Os had grown tired of life in Meteor City and tried to flee without permission. As punishment, he was hunted down by the elders' direct enforcers, people who used Nen.
In Meteor City, once the elders move, survival is almost impossible.
Machi had always believed Os was dead.
Yet now, although he had lost an arm, he was still standing here.
"But why would he dare to provoke us?" Machi frowned deeply. "Even if Uvogin and Nobunaga are temporarily away, if we stall until they return, Os still won't end well."
That was what logic said.
But her sixth sense screamed danger.
"If you're smart, come out now," Os shouted again, his eyes glued to the clean white buildings behind the gate. "I don't want to ruin such a nice place. Come out obediently, and I'll give you a quick death."
The contrast was obvious.
The smooth walls, clean stairs, and intact structures were completely out of place in Meteor City, where garbage mountains and broken steel ruled everything.
"This is where humans should live…" Os licked his lips greedily. "This place should belong to me."
The men behind him grew restless.
"Boss, this place is insane!"
"If I could live here, I'd trade ten years of my life!"
"Look at those walls… I've never seen anything like this."
Rimo stood up calmly.
"Machi, stay inside," he said softly.
"If possible, I don't want to fight people before I even learn how to read," Rimo added half-seriously. "But that doesn't mean I'll let someone step on my head."
"I'll go with you." Machi stood up immediately, without hesitation.
"Machi—" Rimo paused.
He saw the determination in her eyes.
For someone who grew up in Meteor City, hiding behind others was not protection. It was humiliation.
In this place, everyone fights.
Even in the Phantom Troupe, non-frontline members still stand together when battle comes.
Rimo understood.
"…Alright," he nodded. "I'll handle Os. You deal with the trash."
Machi nodded slightly.
The two walked out together.
Seeing them appear, Os grinned widely. "Good, very obedient. Don't worry, I keep my word."
Then his eyes landed on Machi.
"Machi," he laughed greedily. "Come to my side. As long as you do, I promise you'll live well. You can even keep this place. Just stay with me."
His men burst into laughter.
But what answered them was a flash of cold light.
A throwing knife flew out instantly.
Os's expression changed. He tilted his head at the last moment.
The knife missed him.
But the man who had laughed the loudest behind him wasn't so lucky.
Puff!
The blade pierced straight through his forehead, pinning him to the ground. Blood spread across the dirt, his smile still frozen on his face.
Rimo pinched his nose lightly. "Has anyone ever told you your mouth stinks? Talking too much gets you killed."
Os's smile vanished.
He wasn't stupid.
This entire operation had been carefully planned. He had deliberately spread rumors about Allen and Karen attacking Uvogin's station, forcing Uvogin and Nobunaga to leave.
If everyone left, he would raid the base.
If only one left, he would kill them.
If both left, he would take hostages.
And he still had a secret weapon.
But now, something was wrong.
He hadn't even seen where Rimo's knife came from.
Looking at Rimo's loose home clothes, there was nowhere to hide weapons.
After surviving a Nen pursuit, Os knew better than anyone how dangerous unseen abilities were.
He hesitated.
"…Who are you?" Os asked coldly. "I've never heard of someone like you in this area."
Rimo smiled slightly.
"My name is Ba Ba," he said calmly. "If that's too annoying, you can call me a bully."
The wind howled softly through Meteor City.
And Os realized—
He might have made a fatal mistake.