Chapter 148: The Shadow Beast's Attitude
Field Family Headquarters
The grand palace, nestled halfway up the mountain, shone brightly under countless lights, illuminating the night as if it were day.
From the mountain slope down to the broad road below, everything was packed tight.
Vehicles from countless gangs formed long, snaking lines, and servants were busy clearing paths ... there wasn't even room to park.
"What a sight…"
Xia Ke and his companions couldn't help but exclaim as they stepped out of their cars and took in the scene.
Many gang leaders were also leaving their vehicles and walking in orderly lines toward the mountain path.
Everyone behaved with utmost courtesy. There were no brawls, no shouting even those with notoriously short tempers didn't dare act recklessly here.
After all, this was the Field Family's headquarters, and more importantly ...
the Ten Dons were present.
"Are we really just walking in like this…? If the Field Family is on alert, they might already be watching us."
Number 5, Quartz, scanned the surroundings warily.
The Field headquarters sat deep in a mountain range their entire private territory.
Chrollo and Feitan, who had both worked as the family's guards in the past, knew the area well its defenses were nearly impenetrable, leaving almost no blind spots.
From the moment anyone began climbing the mountain, countless surveillance cameras would be watching.
Still, the cameras weren't the biggest problem.
"With so many guests, this banquet only requires an invitation to enter. The Field Family won't recognize you or Duan. Enter through the main gate we'll slip in elsewhere and meet you later."
Shalnark checked his phone and added,
"Remember cause a little chaos in three minutes."
Duan, a thin, pale man with a frail appearance, nodded silently.
He was currently No. 7 of the Phantom Troupe, replacing Franklin.
"Another route?"
Quartz looked surprised.
"See you soon."
Shalnark waved casually before leaving with the others.
Even though the Field territory was heavily guarded, Chrollo and Feitan had infiltrated it before sneaking back in was not difficult for them.
Meanwhile, Quartz and Duan followed the crowd up the mountain.
At the current pace, it would take at least half an hour to reach the summit on foot.
After parting ways, Quartz and Duan dissolved into black shadows, gliding swiftly through the throngs of people.
Those nearby only felt a sudden gust of cold wind. When they turned, no one was there.
A few startled guests stumbled or cursed at each other, thinking they'd been shoved but no one dared make a scene here.
After weaving through the crowd for a while, the two finally reached the main entrance of the Field palace.
Keeping track of the time, Quartz saw that the three minutes Shalnark had mentioned were almost up. He glanced at Duan.
A mafia boss standing in line noticed the two figures suddenly appear ahead of him. Their attire clearly didn't match any of the other guests. He was about to curse at them when Duan suddenly turned, snatched the invitation from his hand, and inspected it coldly.
"Warren, that's your name, right?"
Duan's icy tone made the man's blood run cold.
"Y-Yeah… And who are you supposed to be?"
the mafia boss replied, forcing a grin.
Duan didn't answer. He grabbed another guest's invitation as well and looked it over. Then, without warning, he activated his Nen ability, whispering something to both men.
Moments later, the expressions on their faces twisted strangely and, to everyone's shock, the two bosses began brawling violently.
No matter how the others tried to stop them, they fought like madmen, exchanging brutal blows.
Soon, a middle-aged man who appeared to be an important figure in one of the gangs stepped forward, trying to break it up ...
but suddenly, he too joined the fight.
What began as a quarrel between two people erupted into a full-scale brawl.
The Field Family guards reacted swiftly. Administrative staff rushed in to restore order and drag the combatants away.
When the gang leaders finally calmed down, none of them remembered what had happened.
The Nen users among the Field guards frowned and spoke into their radios:
"Nen users have infiltrated the area."
For the Ten Dons' safety, Nen-using guests were forbidden from entering the palace; all protective measures were under the direct control of the Field security corps.
Only the Ten Dons' private armed units had unrestricted access.
"Understood."
Meanwhile, far from the noise, in a dark corner near the palace perimeter, the ten Shadow Beasts, led by Owl, were waiting silently.
Owl lowered his walkie-talkie.
"Looks like we've got troublemakers."
"Heh, serves them right,"
chuckled Leech, grinning.
"Do they even know what kind of occasion this is? What family would dare pull something like that here?"
"Who knows… gangsters are always restless,"
Owl muttered, scratching his ear lazily.
Earthworm, standing nearby, seemed about to speak but one cold glance from behind Owl's glasses made him fall silent.
After a pause, Owl finally said, his tone deliberately vague,
"I heard a rumor… that the Phantom Troupe, which disappeared long ago, might show up tonight. If that's true, that person said we shouldn't act rashly. We should withdraw for now. Thoughts?"
"The Spiders?!"
The moment he said it, several Shadow Beasts stiffened.
"That person… Haze?"
someone muttered, eyes narrowing.
The meaning behind Owl's words was clear ...
if the rumor was true, they would avoid direct conflict with the Phantom Troupe and retreat.
"Hey, hey, are you serious?! This is the perfect chance to wipe them all out in one blow and you want to run away? What about the Ten Dons?!"
Sick Dog barked angrily, saliva flying as he shouted.
The others also turned to Owl, waiting for his response.
"This is that person's order,"
Owl sighed.
"We serve the Ten Dons, not one man. Even if you're our leader, you can't impose your will on us,"
Leech said sharply.
Half of the Shadow Beasts had seen Haze before ...
back when he was weak, weaker even than an ordinary person.
The legends surrounding him were shocking, but to them, he hadn't seemed so terrifying.
Back then, they'd nearly annihilated the Phantom Troupe yet because of Haze's "interference," their enemies escaped.
At least… that's what Sick Dog and the others believed.
And now, it was happening again?
The Field Family had grown immensely powerful but as the Ten Dons' elite strike force, the Shadow Beasts answered to them as a collective, not to any individual.
Earthworm silently stepped up beside Owl ...
showing his support.
He'd seen firsthand how terrifying the recovered Haze truly was.
Just one look from him had been enough to make his blood freeze.
Besides, he now served directly under the Field Family.
"Where are they now?"
Owl asked, scratching his head and glancing at the others.
He had expected this reaction.
He didn't plan to argue further.
That person's old assessment of the Shadow Beasts had been painfully accurate ...
a bunch of brainless fools.
In the end, four members including Owl voiced their support:
Earthworm, Bat, and Porcupine among them.
"Relax,"
Owl said lightly, squinting.
"I was only joking it's just a rumor, not confirmed. No need to panic."
He couldn't afford to admit the truth.
If the Ten Dons found out too soon, things could get complicated.
To Owl, siding with that person with Haze felt like the smarter choice now.
"Heh… what a joke,"
Leech muttered, rolling his eyes.
"Honestly, I almost hope the Spiders really do show up. I'm still pissed we let them escape last time."
"Owl, what's wrong with you? When did you start taking orders from the Field Family?"
"I respect their authority,"
Owl replied calmly,
"but Haze isn't one of the Ten Dons anymore. You need to understand that."
"Alright, alright, don't take it so seriously,"
he added, waving a hand dismissively as he started walking forward.
"Let's just go catch the rat that slipped in."
(End of Chapter 148)