Recalling Zhang Lei's instructions in his mind, Tenftory adjusted his glasses and began to sort through the situation.
"In this case, we need to pay attention to the Fourth Prince's side, the Fifth Prince's side, and... the First Prince."
Thinking this through, the big-nosed Tenftory couldn't help glancing at the tall, sinister-looking man standing proudly in front of all the guards in full military uniform.
This was the man sent by Prince Benjamin—the cruel-faced Furykov.
At the moment, Furykov wore a terrifying smile.
"Didn't expect to be invited into the enemy's territory, huh..."
"This way, not only can I observe the surroundings firsthand, I can judge their behavior—how they train, how they speak, how they act. Every detail gives me information."
"Even though it's not Nen, it's a skill I developed through my own perception—a form of intuition refined through experience. Still, it lets me tell apart Nen users from non-users."
"Well, if they're here undercover like the association members, that's fine. But if their mission overlaps with mine... then I'll have no choice but to invoke my right to self-defense once they activate their abilities!"
"I'm ready to fight. Anytime! Just come at me!"
"Everyone here's putting on a show, but I can feel the tension behind it all. I don't need to watch your expressions to sense your fake calm. In that case, rather than standing by... better to strike first."
Furykov crossed his arms. After making his judgment, he began gathering aura, letting it spread through his entire body.
Just as his energy surged, one of the four pretending to be unaware of Nen silently muttered:
A hidden Nen ability instantly activated in the conference hall.
...
At that same moment, in the lounge behind the conference hall, Ronnel—assigned to protect Queen Oito—opened his eyes slowly from the sofa.
"Another one using their ability already?"
...
Inside the hall, under the watchful eyes of many guards, Kurapika and Bill finally stepped onto the podium.
But what they did next left the guards puzzled.
Using double-sided tape, they marked a white line across the floor and ushered all the guards behind it.
"First, let me make this clear. No one is to cross this white line. For security reasons, anyone who does will be escorted out immediately."
"Also, do not show hostility toward the escort team in our quarters. Depending on the situation, we may use force without warning."
After finishing, Kurapika explained a few basic rules of the Nen instruction conference to everyone present.
...
**Step. **
Right then, a guard from the Fourth Prince's faction brazenly stepped over the line.
His terrible acting and smug grin made it obvious—he was here to provoke.
Kurapika's expression hardened. "Name and affiliation?"
"Huh? Are you talking to me?"
"Answer."
Myuhan played dumb, ignoring him—until Danjin, another of the Fourth Prince's guards, tapped his shoulder to prompt him.
"I'm the Fourth Prince's private soldier, Myuhan. Pleasure to meet ya~"
His careless, mocking tone made Kurapika's brow twitch.
"Myuhan. This is your final warning. Step back behind the line."
"Huh?" His face feigned confusion, then he glanced down and acted as if something had dawned on him.
"Ah, whoops~! How careless of me. My bad. Won't happen again, promise! I'm a man of principle!"
Kurapika remained silent, staring at him coldly. He knew this type. Guys like Myuhan always had more to say—usually something worse.
As expected...
"But promises only work if both parties stick to them, right? That's what I think, at least. If someone breaks their word, well... I snap."
His eyes narrowed as he stared straight at Kurapika.
"You do plan to keep your promise, don't you? Or are you just stalling for time?"
The other guards kept quiet, waiting to see how Kurapika would respond.
"In two weeks, I'll ensure everyone here understands how to use Nen—just as I said from the beginning."
Kurapika stayed composed, unfazed by the provocation.
He locked eyes with Myuhan, voice sharp.
"Is this how you usually talk to people? Like some low-level thug? If so, it says a lot about the prince you serve."
"...What did you say?!"
The moment Kurapika insulted his prince, Myuhan's eyes went bloodshot. Fury exploded across his face as he stepped forward, ready to charge.
Kurapika, having anticipated this, swiftly pulled a gun from inside his coat. Danjin, sensing danger, quickly grabbed Myuhan's shoulder to hold him back.
But it was too late.
Kurapika hadn't even raised the pistol yet when—
"Bang!"
"Aaaaahhh!!"
A sudden crack echoed through the hall—followed by a scream that pierced the room.
Every guard turned in shock.
Myuhan, clutching the side of his face, broke free from Danjin's grip and collapsed, howling like a wounded beast.
Blood streamed from between his fingers, spilling down his cheek.
"My eyes... my eyes... EYES!!!"
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)