"I really can't run anymore..."
Claudius leaned against the corner of a small warehouse, panting like a dying man.
His slicked-back hair was a mess from running nearly ten kilometers. His suit jacket had been lost somewhere on the road. His leather shoes had been thrown off from the very beginning. Because his body's defense had been strengthened by Ten, the soles of his feet should be covered in blood blisters and rotting flesh by now.
Probably because of this, Claudius had great faith in the theory of Prison Elephant, who'd stayed behind to cover their escape. This was also true—if Prison Elephant hadn't given him this power, how could he have run so fast?
"We can't stop yet. It's only a small distance. They'll be able to find us soon."
"Liam-Bratt," sitting next to him, suddenly opened his eyes and frowned slightly.
While he was running wildly with Claudius here, at the other end, the two Spiders with unknown numbers had already dealt with "Liam-Prison Elephant" and the other Shadow Beast left behind.
The latter was at the end of his rope. Purely a last stand.
The former... Actually, if there'd been teammate cooperation—even if not a Troupe specialist like Kurapika, even if just Shizuku providing support—"Liam-Prison Elephant" would've wanted to fight and try using Star Marks on that person disguised as Machi, and the other gum-chewing bomber.
But the current situation was two opponents teaming up. "Liam-Prison Elephant" couldn't handle four hands with just two fists.
People controlled by Liam using Star Marks could only use Manipulation-type Nen abilities—for example, if a person controlled by Star Mark used another Star Mark, it could be transferred from person to person. Or they could use Flying Star Bubbles. This was actually quite difficult because it involved some Emission techniques. Therefore, depending on the quality of the vessel he was possessing at the time, using Flying Star Bubbles would be smooth or not.
Of course, there was also the most important ability: Flowing Star Strike. Without this ability, when Liam had possessed Purple Ape earlier, he would've been taken down by "Machi" in a few moves.
There was a huge gap in raw power between Purple Ape and "Machi."
Without Flowing Star Strike to compensate, it was hard to imagine how he would've fought back.
Alternatively, Liam could withdraw his consciousness and let the person controlled by Star Mark use their own Nen ability through commands. For example with Prison Elephant—you could order Prison Elephant to use his own Nen ability. The problem was if Liam released possession, he'd lose control of the battle situation. Without the blessing of Flowing Star Strike, even if the opponent was only "Machi," the result was self-evident.
Under such circumstances, the success rate of "Liam-Prison Elephant" using Star Marks was difficult to guarantee.
Once it failed, leaking Star Mark intelligence was highly probable.
Moreover, "Machi" might soon deduce that both people had been controlled by the same Manipulation ability based on the similar close combat skills of "Prison Elephant" and "Purple Ape."
To sum up: after judging the Star Mark wouldn't succeed, "Liam-Prison Elephant" didn't bother at all. He'd directly found an opportunity to die.
While chewing gum girl Bambie detonated his head, he'd scratched his palm with his fingernail, destroying the Star Mark. Killing all traces. Completely deleting his account.
Then the pressure came to "Liam-Bratt's" side.
At least, before Claudius used up his remaining aura, he couldn't be chased and captured by those two
While Liam was thinking, Claudius next to him finished catching his breath and made a phone call. His tone seemed fierce, but the panic on his face didn't fade, making him look stern and cowardly at the same time.
"After running so far, they won't come after us." After hanging up, Claudius murmured to himself.
"Liam-Bratt" said, "They're already on the way."
"You can really run."
Two figures on the road moved like lightning, flying along, and soon spotted a semi-abandoned gas station by the roadside ahead.
"Machi" stopped with her hands in her pockets. Bambie jogged up behind her.
"Too slow." "Machi" raised her hand and looked at it. There was no watch on her wrist at all.
"I don't like sports." Bambie calmly walked into the semi-abandoned gas station. "They ran away. Why keep chasing them?"
"Do you have any self-respect? We're thieves! How can we let something we're targeting escape?"
Machi said disdainfully.
Two minutes later, they'd searched around the gas station and found no one.
Bambie said, "Seems they changed direction midway."
"You were fooled." Machi's face darkened. "It's all your fault!"
"Why blame me?" Bambie peeled off a piece of chewing gum and threw it in her mouth. "I know I'm very powerful, but I'm not powerful enough to cover a ten-kilometer radius. Please don't mythologize me too much."
A vein popped on "Machi's" forehead.
"Don't worry. It'll take them some time to find this place."
In the small warehouse, "Liam-Bratt" said.
He glanced at the cell phone clenched in Claudius's hand, the man looking nervous. "It's useless to call more people. You should've seen the Phantom Troupe's level. Do you really think the gang is qualified to deal with them? The difference in strength is too big."
Claudius said with dissatisfaction, "You have to think of a way, right? Just let them go like this? If they can sneak into the Ten Dons' meeting room today, who knows if they'll suddenly appear at our family tomorrow and start killing?"
"Liam-Bratt" said, "Will they or won't they?"
Claudius asked in shock, "What do you mean? Does it mean whether we survive or not depends entirely on the Phantom Troupe's mood? They can kill whenever they want?"
Liam recalled many scenes from the Yorknew arc in the manga and said fairly, "Although it's a bit exaggerated, it seems to be true. The reason gangsters like you are alive may just be good luck. You haven't had to deal with people like the Phantom Troupe before. Of course, if you have support from V5 or something like that, just pretend I didn't say anything."
Claudius was horrified for a long time, then suddenly asked in confusion, "'You'?"
"Liam-Bratt" patted him on the shoulder, stared into the latter's eyes, and ordered, "When you get back, send the treasure map and True Martial Ksitigarbha Buddha statue to..."
Where to send it?
The first and most secure target that came to Liam's mind was actually a person's name: Biscuit.
Send it to the Hunter Association and have Biscuit collect it?
Aunt Biscuit wasn't Netero. She wasn't that devious. She definitely wouldn't take what belonged to others, especially "children." The size of the True Martial Ksitigarbha Buddha statue could be considered a gem. It would probably please the old lady... However, Biscuit traveled all over the world. If she didn't sign for it at the Hunter Association for a while, he wouldn't be able to get it for the time being.
"Bratt, what are you talking about!" Claudius slapped "Liam-Bratt's" hand away angrily and scolded, "Even if we're in the same boat—"
"Shh. Shut up." "Liam-Bratt" was displeased.
Claudius immediately closed his mouth, with a look of horror on his face. He wanted to speak, but his lips seemed to have ideas of their own and remained tightly closed, unmoved.
"Wait a minute. The True Martial Ksitigarbha statue is in your hands, right?" "Liam-Bratt" looked suspiciously at Claudius, who was shutting his mouth and whining in vain. "If it's in your hands, slap yourself on the left cheek. If it's not in your hands, slap the right cheek. Use more force. It doesn't count if there's no handprint."
Claudius watched in disbelief as his hand moved on its own and gave himself a hard slap on the face.