The scene descended into chaos.
Attendees scrambled to leave the venue, abandoning the auction midway. Whatever treasures were up for grabs, survival took precedence. No one wanted to stick around to find out just how much destruction the attackers could unleash.
Kaizen scanned the chaos, identifying several figures in the fray.
A young man with short black hair stood out, the source of the earlier air explosions. Nearby, a blonde girl with sharp eyes wielded a sniper rifle, taking precise shots at members of the Mafia Community—mainly targeting high-ranking cadres.
Then there was a bald, muscular man, radiating the aura of a classic Enhancer-type Nen user. His brute strength was a stark contrast to the blonde girl, who had just conjured a heavy gun, her demeanor cold and calculated.
The chaos caused by these four attackers had the entire auction venue spiraling into disarray.
"Four Nen users of C-rank," Kaizen muttered to himself. "Not bad in terms of raw power, but their overall strength depends on the specifics of their abilities."
The faint aura radiating from the group sparked a memory in Kaizen's mind.
When he was in Orion, he had once ordered Altan to infiltrate an arsenal. Although the Mafia Community had failed to detect Altan's movements, they had discovered traces of another intruder.
That man, Kaizen recalled, was Kinlf— with the ability to turn living people into human bombs. A terrifyingly destructive skill. Kinlf had proven strong enough to keep the Mafia Community at bay until the Shadow Beasts intervened.
"Kinlf's strength rivaled the Seven Deadly Sins," Kaizen mused, thinking back on his investigation. The remnants of Kinlf's group had hailed from the Kokang Republic, a nation obliterated by the Mafia Community. Their hatred for the syndicate ran deep, driving them to exact vengeance.
Kaizen glanced towards the exit. Amid the fleeing crowd, he spotted Melina, being escorted by an older woman. Melina kept glancing back, her worried eyes scanning the chaos.
"She's looking for me," Kaizen realized.
Deciding to reassure her, he sent her a quick email. But he had no intention of leaving the auction just yet.
The observer's role was to observe.
This attack, chaotic as it was, presented a valuable opportunity for Kaizen to study the situation and improve his observational abilities.
From his vantage point on a nearby rooftop, Kaizen analyzed the scene. Compared to the infamous Phantom Troupe's assault on the Yorknew Auction, this group fell woefully short.
"The Shadow Beasts haven't even stepped in yet," Kaizen noted. "And these attackers are already on the defensive. This is nothing like the carnage caused by the Phantom Troupe."
The Mafia Community had already deployed their security forces—senior cadres bolstered by private guards from other mafia families. Just like Kurapika had been employed by the Nostrade family, these guards were hired muscle, loyal only to their paymasters.
But it was clear the attackers were faltering.
"Stop them! Don't let them escape!" a furious old man roared from an elevated position.
A bald, middle-aged man stepped forward, standing firm to cover his companions' retreat.
"I'll hold them off. Go!" he barked.
The blonde girl dematerialized her heavy weapon and bolted for the exit, moving with startling speed.
But before she could get far, a shadow flashed across the room.
Pfft!
The blonde girl staggered, clutching her side as black blood oozed from the wound. Her pupils dilated in shock.
"Mila!" the black-haired youth screamed, releasing an explosive burst of air to force back the enemy. But his efforts only trapped them further, as more Shadow Beasts closed in.
"It's over," Kaizen muttered, shaking his head.
Initially, he had anticipated a fierce battle. But after observing the attackers, he realized their power was nowhere near the level of the Phantom Troupe.
As the situation calmed, Kaizen leapt down from the rooftop, making his way toward another exit.
Suddenly, a figure hurtled through the air, crashing into the ground nearby.
Kaizen spared it a glance but didn't slow down—until a green figure stepped into his path.
The lizard-like Shadow Beast eyed him suspiciously.
"We've met before," it growled.
Kaizen's expression remained neutral. During his time in Orion, he had adjusted his appearance using the Zoldyck family's ancestral techniques. While not as meticulous as Illumi's transformations, it was enough to mask his identity.
"I'm just a guest," Kaizen said calmly, holding out an invitation letter. "I have no connection to them. Do whatever you need to, but leave me out of it."
The lizard frowned. "You seem familiar, but I can't place you. Regardless, you're not leaving. Someone else will determine whether you're innocent or not."
Kaizen sighed. "I was planning to let you live. Why insist on dying?"
Before the lizard could react, a figure appeared behind it—a Nen construct Kaizen had conjured. The construct restrained the lizard, binding its movements.
Boom!
The Killer Queen materialized next, smashing the back of the lizard's head with a wooden staff. A silent explosion followed, and the lizard's head vanished without a trace.
Kaizen turned toward a patch of grass nearby. "You can stop hiding. Come out now."
No response.
Frowning, Kaizen pushed aside the grass, revealing the unconscious blonde girl who had been flung there earlier. He hesitated for a moment before scooping her up and carrying her away.
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