The interrogation was far worse than anyone had anticipated. Instead of subsiding, the intensity escalated, filling the air with gut-wrenching screams that echoed through the halls.
Even Ross and Lisa, hiding nearby, could hear every agonized cry. The latter two silently thanked their lucky stars they hadn't revealed themselves; otherwise, they too would be enduring a fate worse than death.
Holding their breath, they activated Zetsu desperately, trying to suppress their presence.
In the interrogation room, Franklin, Phinks, and the others had extracted information from Leiert and Paikasi. However, their answers left much to be desired.
"Only one person in Paikasi? No sign of this so-called mysterious individual? And the ten Dons' assassin network is how we're supposed to find them?"
Phinks crossed his arms, his tone dripping with disdain as he mocked Leiert.
"You're telling us we need to rely on those dead fools to track this 'powerful' enigma?"
Frustration simmered among the group as Feitan continued his relentless questioning, the tortured screams ignored by all but their source.
"Should we round up the remaining bodyguards and drag them in for interrogation?" Bonolenov suggested coldly, observing the two broken men slumped before them.
"They've probably already run off in fear," Phinks said, his arms still crossed.
"I used Gyo earlier and didn't detect any other Nen users nearby," Franklin interjected. "They've either fled or are concealing themselves with Zetsu. Judging by the state of these guards, it's likely they've scattered."
From Bonolenov's testimony, they confirmed that Ross, despite his use of origami, wasn't a Specialist. His paper manipulation was unrelated to controlling paper with Nen.
Additionally, the surveillance footage confirmed Ross had stayed at the hotel the previous night. This eliminated the possibility that he was the ally who assisted the Zoldyck family's escape.
Though both abilities involved paper, the Nen techniques clearly differed.
To make matters worse, the Phantom Troupe received troubling news:
When Nobunaga was killed and Chrollo was captured at the Hotel Beitacle, all the bodyguards of the Leiert family had been accounted for in the same building. None had stepped outside.
This effectively cleared the Leiert family of direct involvement. While the possibility of an alibi created by an advanced Nen technique, like a clone, remained, it was evident that neither Paikasi nor Leiert knew anything substantial.
As the group processed this dead end, Feitan's attacks grew more ferocious, leaving the two captives unconscious and bloodied.
"What now?" Phinks asked impatiently, staring at the carnage.
"Do we just let this go? Or keep digging?" He drummed his fingers against his arm as he spoke.
"It's likely the mysterious individual is avoiding us because they fear retaliation," Ronnel interjected, his voice calm but measured.
"The leader mentioned before that their Nen abilities lacked visible restrictions. This could mean two things: either the limitations are well hidden, or there's a delayed backlash. I'm leaning toward the latter.
"Think about it. At the Hotel Beitacle, they took out Nobunaga and retreated immediately. If they could continue fighting, they would've engaged Machi, me, or the others. Instead, they made one decisive move and fled. That suggests their abilities come at a steep cost."
Franklin frowned but nodded slightly. "It's possible. Still, we need to focus on recovering the boss and dealing with this enemy later."
For now, it seemed the search for the mysterious Nen user would be shelved.
"Stay alert and avoid splitting up," Franklin instructed after a brief silence.
"Whatever," Feitan muttered, twirling his blade. "If they show up, I'll deal with them."
With that, the group departed, leaving the room in disarray. Ron lingered for a moment, surveying the bodies strewn across the blood-stained floor. He shook his head and followed the others out.
Faintly, he overheard Feitan and Phinks talking ahead of him.
"I heard there are some interesting items up for auction this time," Feitan said. "Might be worth a look."
"Let's go together, then," Phinks replied. "You're into games, right? I heard there's a rare one being sold—might be your kind of thing."
Their voices faded as the group disappeared into the corridor.
Back in the room, the silence was deafening, broken only by the slow, steady drip of blood pooling on the floor.
At the door, Kay Taylor entered, his face pale.
"Why don't they ever listen to reason?" he muttered, staring at the wreckage.
Behind him, Ross and Lisa shivered uncontrollably, their terror evident. The sight of Leiert and Paikasi's mutilated bodies left them nauseous.
"Fortunately... Fortunately, we didn't show ourselves."
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