Luo Ning didn't care one bit about what Owl was thinking.
Chakra threads pierced easily into Owl's body. In the next second, Owl's mouth hung open, but no sound could escape his throat.
Neon, showing her keen intuition, stepped forward and untied the ropes binding Owl to the chair.
Luo Ning cast an approving glance her way. With a slight twitch of his fingers, Owl rose from the chair.
Kurapika's chains shifted, and he decisively returned the stolen ability to Owl.
Luo Ning studied the process carefully. Soon, Nen aura surged from Owl's body, and a large cloth quickly materialized in his hands.
Throughout the entire process, only Owl's physical movements remained somewhat stiff.
The cloth swept toward the chair. The moment the massive fabric covered the furniture, it began to twist and shrink. In less than a second, everything went still. Where the chair had once stood, only a tiny bundle remained, small enough to be pinched between two fingers.
"Not bad," Luo Ning said, a satisfied smile playing at the corners of his lips.
However, in the eyes of both Neon and Kurapika, that smile carried more than a hint of a villainous air.
Still, Neon was amazed by Luo Ning's methods.
"Your abilities are truly ever-changing. It's as if anything you want to do can be accomplished. What a miraculous Specialization," Neon said, her voice tinged with envy.
In their team, only she—a natural-born Nen user—was a pure Specialist.
The other two were absolute monsters.
Luo Ning had no intention of explaining himself. Even if he did, he doubted either of them would understand.
"Let's go." Luo Ning signaled for Owl to manifest another cloth.
This time, the cloth wasn't aimed at an object; instead, it was draped directly over Owl's own head.
In the next instant, Owl vanished from everyone's sight.
Only the chakra threads on Luo Ning's fingers remained connected to Owl, trailing into the small bundle.
Luo Ning wound the chakra threads around his pinky and tucked the bundle containing Owl into his ninja tool pouch. Although the threads were still somewhat visible, it served as a decent disguise.
At the very least, compared to the benefits of controlling Owl to use the Incredible Convenient Cloth, Luo Ning could easily accept this minor drawback.
The Adan Hotel was a fairly famous star-rated establishment in Yorknew City.
Those who stayed here were almost exclusively the wealthy or the powerful.
After the meeting with the Ten Community Leaders ended, Raymond had returned to the Adan Hotel. This was simply because the hotel was one of his many properties.
While the previous manor was secluded, it couldn't provide the same sense of security as being on his own turf.
It was a pity that Owl was likely dead. This meant the only capable subordinate he had left was a reserve member of the Shadow Beasts, Mole.
Mole was a short man with hands that looked entirely non-human, resembling a subhuman hybrid.
He had always been overshadowed by Owl, but he was still a top-tier expert within the mafia. Now that Owl was almost certainly dead, the thought of moving up the ranks naturally crossed his mind.
However, he had heard that Raymond's recommendations for the next generation of Shadow Beasts didn't include him, which left him somewhat confused.
Raymond had no intention of explaining his reasoning to Mole.
Instead, he was actively contacting assassins. During the earlier meeting, the Ten Community Leaders had approved the proposal to hire professional assassins to deal with the Phantom Troupe.
Raymond had hired members of the Zoldyck family before.
Their efficiency in completing missions was beyond reproach, and their service was impeccable. The only downside was the price.
But the one thing Raymond didn't lack was money.
So, when the thought of hiring killers arose, his first instinct was to contact the Zoldyck family.
"Actually, as long as we can separate the enemies, I am confident I can solo a member of the Troupe," Mole couldn't help but speak up.
His small eyes glinted with a sharp, shrewd light.
If the money intended for the assassins could be given to him instead, he was certain he could complete the task more perfectly than any so-called professional.
He couldn't beat Owl, but he was highly confident he could take on someone like Worm from the Shadow Beasts.
Unfortunately, each member of the Ten Community Leaders could only provide one Shadow Beast. As long as Owl held the position over him, he had no chance of becoming a Shadow Beast himself.
As for the news that the Shadow Beasts had been wiped out by the Phantom Troupe?
In Mole's view, the Shadow Beasts were simply too stupid and arrogant!
If it were him, even if he were stronger than the opponent, he would choose a sneak attack rather than launching a raid alongside those ordinary mafia thugs carrying guns.
Raymond frowned slightly.
But before he could say anything, a sudden, mocking laugh rang out in the room.
"A shorty like you wants to challenge the Phantom Troupe? Stop making me laugh, will you?" Luo Ning had entered through the window.
The Earth Style: Super Light-Weight Rock Jutsu gave him unparalleled mobility.
He just hadn't expected to hear such a delusional statement from this dwarf-like fellow the moment he arrived.
In Luo Ning's eyes, the flimsy Ten surrounding the man's body was no better than those of the crippled challengers at Heaven's Arena who had merely undergone the 'baptism.'
It was nowhere near enough!
With that level of power, where did he get the nerve to think he could deal with the Phantom Troupe?
Did he plan on telling jokes until they died of laughter?
"Who are you?" Mole immediately fulfilled his duty as a bodyguard, stepping in front of Raymond the moment he spotted Luo Ning.
At the same time, he bared his sharp claws.
A significant amount of Nen gathered on those cold, gleaming talons, making him look somewhat imposing.
Raymond, however, recognized Luo Ning immediately.
"Luo Ning, isn't it?" Raymond displayed the composure and steadiness expected of a mafia leader. "For you to appear here... did Owl betray me?"
"You could say that." Luo Ning ignored Mole entirely. "I think you already know why I'm here."
"If you kill me, the mafia won't stop hunting you. It's better to let me live; perhaps there's still a chance for us to cooperate," Raymond said, knowing full well that Mole couldn't be relied upon.
If he wanted to live today, he had to rely on himself.
Luo Ning shook his head. "Sorry, but a dead you is the best version of you for me."
Raymond's pupils shrank, and his hand moved toward his waist.
But someone was faster than him—Mole. The moment Luo Ning refused the offer, Mole lunged.
However, he didn't charge at Luo Ning. Instead, he spun around and bolted toward the door.
The moment he had seen Luo Ning, he had gauged the gap between them by observing Luo Ning's aura.
If he chose to attack, he would die!
But his movements were still too slow.
Because the moment he prepared to flee, his gaze met Luo Ning's three-tomoe Sharingan.
Flames erupted from Mole's feet, and a pain that seared the very soul spread through his entire body!
Raymond's hand froze on the pistol at his waist. He watched clearly as Mole collapsed to the ground, twitching in agony, without Luo Ning even lifting a finger.
'I'm going to die!'
Luo Ning raised his hand and pointed a finger at Raymond. "Bang!"
A Nen bullet streaked from his fingertip, piercing Raymond's skull before the man could even process what was happening.
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