Xiang Nan had already learned the general picture—from Porcupine—of the Nen‑user strike force that Edi, one of the Twelve Dons, had been raising.
That included … every Nen user's abilities and fighting style, and even background details on the other Shadow Beasts.
Following Owl, Xiang Nan left the side hall, exited the main palace, and headed to another sector of the territory.
Behind a cluster of buildings stood several soaring white towers—almost like an office district—but when Xiang Nan drew closer he saw that in front of the ninety‑‑odd‑story blocks there was an open area, apparently meant for rest.
Lined up there were mobile and stationary target racks, forming a small range where people could practice live fire.
At the moment, some gang members were drilling; others smoked in twos and threes, chatting idly.
A knot of mafiosi, waving cash and shouting bets, ringed two men locked in a bloody fist‑fight, each of them drenched in gore.
Xiang Nan's expression shifted ever so slightly.
So … this must be the recreation zone inside the territory.
The appearance of Owl and Xiang Nan drew a few looks, but most of the gangsters merely nodded to Owl.
What really caught Xiang Nan's eye were a handful of figures in the corners of the grounds, radiating an unmistakably "other" aura.
The Shadow Beasts were here!
Xiang Nan narrowed his eyes in amusement.
Had they come to see him?
"In the underworld, anything about the Shadow Beasts is classified, right? It concerns the safety of the Twelve Dons, after all … Are you sure it's okay for these people to see you?" Xiang Nan asked Owl, who was walking ahead with his hands in his pockets.
He meant the ordinary mafiosi around them.
"Those guys?" Owl glanced at the gang members. "They're the security detail here. Barring accidents they'll spend their whole lives inside these walls; without orders they can't take a single step outside … and they hardly ever make contact with the outside world."
"Sorry, everyone. Could you clear out for a bit? We've got business," Owl said, clapping his hands.
At once the nearby gangsters stopped what they were doing and walked off.
Moments later only Owl and the full complement of Shadow Beasts remained—nine people in total.
Count Porcupine, who had trailed after Xiang Nan and Owl, and that made the entire roster.
As leader, Owl explained Porcupine's situation to the others.
"This is the guy who 'took out' Porcupine … from the Zatobi family. If I'm not mistaken, you're from Meteor City, right?" he said, introducing Xiang Nan.
"Mm‑hmm," Xiang Nan replied perfunctorily.
"Him? Doesn't look like much … That loser Porcupine actually lost to a nobody ?" muttered a dark‑skinned, white‑haired man, sizing Xiang Nan up.
"I told you: with his strength, Porcupine never deserved the Shadow Beast name—we should've kicked him out long ago," said a slim, handsome young man, flicking his fringe. Along with Owl, he looked the most "normal" of the group.
Just then a figure slipped soundlessly behind Xiang Nan and sniffed him. The man spat on the ground, clicked his tongue, and murmured, "Smells pretty good …"
What he really meant was the smell of blood.
Apparently he could pick up something "off" in a person's aura.
The group made their remarks right in front of Xiang Nan.
Rabid Dog's sudden approach was an outright provocation, yet Xiang Nan stayed calm and turned to Owl. "What's this—my trial?"
After all, thanks to him the Shadow Beasts had lost a member. With the whole team gathered , retaliation was a distinct possibility.
"No, you've got it wrong," Owl said, pushing up his shades. "Everyone's just curious—that's all. You are, after all, the first person ever to kill one of us."
"You've already been sold by the elders of Meteor City to the Zatobi family, correct?" he went on.
"That's right," Xiang Nan said.
"In that case, you now belong to the mafia—property of the Zatobi family. Getting in here means you passed the Gatekeeper's inspection: background clean, safety rating acceptable. Therefore, given your abilities, from this moment on you'll take Porcupine's spot and become one of the Shadow Beasts." Owl spoke calmly, making no attempt to ask Xiang Nan's opinion.
There was a domineering note beneath the words.
"Shadow Beast, eh?" Xiang Nan glanced at the others. "Sounds … fine."
"Don't celebrate yet—it's only provisional," said Leech, a rotund man with a bowl‑cut, chuckling. "We still have to vet your background. If you check out, then you're in."
"Consider it an honor to join us. From now on you're a man of the Ten Dons. That status is something most people can't even dream of. But like Porcupine, you'd better have skills we respect. Otherwise … if you jeopardize a Don's plan or botch a mission, you'll be 'delisted' just the same."
As the words fell, Porcupine—standing behind Xiang Nan—had his head sliced into several pieces and died instantly.
The killer was the long‑haired pretty boy from earlier. His finger bones were unnaturally long and slender, like twigs sheathed in skin; when he channeled Nen, his nails lengthened into blades.
None of the Shadow Beasts' expressions changed at their comrade's death; someone even gave a cold laugh.
"No point keeping trash that stains the Twelve Dons' name …" said a purple‑skinned bald man bristling with sharp needles like a porcupine—another of the Beasts' bizarre figures.
There were several whose gender Xiang Nan could hardly judge without hearing them speak.
Where Porcupine's body had fallen, a mound of earth suddenly rose, split open, and a grotesque earthworm‑like creature surfaced halfway, dragging the corpse slowly into the ground.
"That'll do for now," Owl said, taking out his phone. "Once your background checks out, I'll call you. Day‑to‑day, just follow Edi-sama's orders; I've already cleared things with the Twelve Dons. If a situation arises that calls for the whole team, I'll be in touch." ᴜᴘᴅᴀᴛᴇ ꜰʀᴏᴍ NovєlFіre.net
Getting all the Shadow Beasts together was rare—each normally served a different Don. Only Porcupine's special case had brought them all here to size up this newcomer.
Xiang Nan and Owl exchanged contact information.
"One reminder: we Shadow Beasts keep almost no rules. Just one—the Ten Dons' orders are absolute. Never disobey, and guard their safety with everything you've got. Do that, and the rest is up to you. With the Dons behind you, you can do whatever you like in the underworld."
After a bit more small talk, Owl said a word and turned away.
The other Beasts trailed after him, heading off to their respective corners of the world.
Watching them recede, Xiang Nan chuckled softly.
So joining the Shadow Beasts was supposed to be some great honor?
Forget them—he didn't even think much of the Phantom Troupe.
"It's child's play … but I'm idle anyway, so I'll amuse myself with them," he thought with a grin.