It wasn't that they were overwhelmingly strong
It was that the driver was far too weak.
In Rimo's eyes, the current Phantom Troupe had not yet reached their peak. Compared to their future selves during the Yorknew City Auction incident, their Nen mastery was still in development. At best, with proper aura control like Ten and Ren, they could resist or deflect small-arms fire to a certain extent.
But against ordinary Mafia gunmen
This level of strength was more than enough.
"Right side."
Rimo, moving swiftly through the forest, suddenly spoke.
Behind him, Machi Komacine instantly understood and changed direction without hesitation, circling to the right flank.
This was because Rimo had been maintaining En ever since they got out of the car.
With his current aura capacity, his En extended nearly two hundred meters in radius far beyond what an average Nen user could sustain at their level.
Within that range
Every movement was under his perception.
Compared to the basic Nen principles taught by Wing, Rimo's control was already approaching a far more advanced stage.
So for the movements of the Fanobi family, Rimo could be said to have complete awareness.
After entering the forest, Rimo deliberately began letting Machi take the lead in fights.
Whenever he sensed small patrol groups three to five armed men
He would leave them entirely to her.
After all
Without real combat, there could be no growth.
Even though the current troupe already possessed overwhelming strength against ordinary enemies, there were still modern systems like surveillance cameras in this world.
Before long
"Woo woo !"
A sharp alarm echoed through the forest.
"Intruders!"
"Hurry up!"
"Grab your weapons!"
Voices erupted from all directions.
Rimo spread his hands slightly toward Machi.
"Looks like the warm-up is over."
"Be careful."
Without hesitation, Machi leapt upward and concealed herself among the trees, following their earlier plan.
Rimo, however, remained where he stood
Alone.
Surrounded.
Dozens… then hundreds of gunmen gathered, their weapons aimed directly at him.
Yet Rimo remained completely relaxed.
After a brief commotion, a Mafia cadre pushed his way to the front and glared at him.
"Never seen you before. You're not from Cambie Town. Which family sent you?"
Rimo clapped lightly.
"Good observation. You're right I'm not from here."
"As for who I belong to… let's say the Nostrade Family. I have a deal with them."
"Nostrade?"
The cadre sneered.
"We were just about to teach those bastards a lesson. Didn't expect them to fight back."
He waved his hand dismissively and began stepping back.
"Doesn't matter. Kill him."
To him
Rimo was already dead.
"Oh, right."
The cadre added casually:
"For answering honestly, I'll let you die quickly."
"Yes, boss!"
In an instant
Gunfire erupted.
"Da-da-da !"
Muzzles flashed.
Shell casings clattered to the ground.
Bullets tore through the air.
"Puff! Puff!"
The sound of impact followed.
"…Hm?"
The cadre froze.
Something was wrong.
That sound
It wasn't coming from the target.
He turned back
And red filled his vision.
Blood.
Fragments.
After wiping his eyes, what he saw made his mind go blank.
His men
Were all down.
Every single one.
Bodies riddled with bullet holes lay scattered across the ground.
Only a few remained alive, groaning weakly.
The earth had turned dark red with blood.
And Rimo
Still stood there.
Untouched.
The bullets had never even reached him.
Through precise aura control combining Ten with instantaneous reaction he had deflected and redirected the incoming fire in the blink of an eye.
And he had deliberately avoided the cadre.
With a slight motion of his hand
Rimo vanished.
Then reappeared directly in front of the stunned man.
"Thanks for your kindness earlier."
His tone was calm mirroring the cadre's own words.
"I'll return the favor."
Before the man could react
A sharp motion.
Then
Silence.
The cadre collapsed instantly, eliminated before he could even finish speaking.
From the trees above, Machi dropped down lightly.
Without hesitation, she began finishing off the remaining survivors.
This was a habit she had developed back in Meteor City
Never leave enemies alive.
"Let's go."
"Mm."
Under Rimo's En, the entire western section had already been cleared.
What remained were only scattered groups.
As they moved deeper into the mountain, the terrain narrowed
And gradually, the presence of the other troupe members entered Rimo's perception.
They were fine.
Somewhat messy but safe.
Without Rimo's overwhelming support, their progress was slower, but still steady.
Hearing this, Machi's tense expression relaxed slightly.
She resumed fighting at her own pace.
From a short distance away, Rimo watched her with a faint smile.
For some reason
Just knowing he was there gave her a sense of absolute security.
And her attacks grew sharper.
More decisive.
Only by becoming stronger
Could she keep up with him.
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