With a clang, the warehouse door was violently pushed open.
The person whom Shalnark had been waiting for finally arrived.
A pallid, cold-faced fellow with thin brows and eyes, both hands in his pockets, strode in.
He wore his hair parted down the center in a dark-blue style, with a tall collar covering half his face, painted with a skull motif. Interestingly, his physique was "childlike," and he wore a windbreaker similar to Xiang Nan's—just of different make and style, fully covering his body.
This was Phantom Troupe's No. 2, Feitan Portor.
"Hey there, Feitan... you're here," Shalnark, who hadn't seen his companion for a while, waved enthusiastically.
At once, Xiang Nan's brow rose slightly.
A troublesome character… has shown up.
Among the Phantom Troupe's pure combat members, Feitan was a Transformation-type Nen user, cold and merciless, adept at interrogation.
In Xiang Nan's view, if Shalnark and some others could barely be considered "somewhat normal," then people like Feitan, Phinks, and Uvogin were the ones who fully embodied their personal impulses.
Though they acted under the team's plan in some sense, they didn't necessarily obey Chrollo unconditionally—occasionally, there might be internal friction, even hostility… Feitan, in particular, had a prickly temperament beneath that seemingly placid exterior, no less irritable than Uvogin. Friend or foe, he recognized no ties nor empathy.
He grew up that way, and none of these Troupe members were exactly chummy.
Right upon stepping in, Feitan narrowed his eyes at the few unfamiliar faces—Xiang Nan's group, specifically. In reality, he could only see Xiang Nan himself. Approaching Shalnark, his cold gaze with hidden menace never left Xiang Nan.
"Who're these small fries?"
Feitan spoke in a frosty tone, full of hostility, caring nothing for politeness, nor for any hidden complexities or external environment. He said whatever he wanted.
"Oh, these are some helpers I hired," Shalnark walked over, grinning.
At that word, Feitan's brow furrowed, looking somewhat baffled.
"Since when did we need help? And why so urgent to call me here?"
"Nothing major," Shalnark scratched his head,
"Where's Phinks? I thought you'd both arrive together…"
Feitan gave no answer.
"Ahahaha…don't be mad. This situation's a bit unusual, plus hiring them is just to ensure someone delivers cargo to Meteor City," Shalnark sensed Feitan's displeasure and promptly tried consoling him, pulling him aside to talk in hushed tones.
Feitan occasionally glanced over at Xiang Nan with eyes like a venomous serpent.
"We even need these useless people? I can drive the van back myself."
"Having more manpower spares you some trouble, doesn't it?"
Knowing full well Feitan's disposition, Shalnark obviously knew how to dissuade him.
"So… If I'm not satisfied, I can kill them at any time?" The latest_epɪ_sodes are on_the novelFɪre.net
Feitan said recklessly, cracking his knuckles.
"Don't do that…they're working for us, at least. Don't scare them off."
Shalnark forced a laugh, eyeing Xiang Nan out of concern that he might react. Fortunately, although Xiang Nan heard every bit, he remained calm.
Shalnark thought it over but was still uneasy, so he suddenly leaned close, whispering something into Feitan's ear.
No one knew what Shalnark said, but right afterward, Feitan instantly jerked around, glaring at Xiang Nan as though poised to kill him.
Shalnark promptly clamped a hand on Feitan's shoulder with a grave expression and shook his head.
At a distance, Xiang Nan merely smiled without a word, calmly waiting for them to finish discussing.
After a short time, they seemed to reach an agreement.
Shalnark and Feitan walked back together.
"Seventeen… we'll leave this mission to you," Shalnark said with a bright smile.
Xiang Nan likewise smiled.
At this point, Machi, who had been unconscious, finally came to. She looked around and, sensing her body was sound, promptly rose to her feet, glaring coldly at Xiang Nan—mingled with anger in her gaze.
"You guys drive," Feitan ordered, hands in pockets, his tone one of command as he opened the van door, seating himself in the passenger side.
Xiang Nan had Dylan take the wheel, while he himself sat in the back.
He recognized Feitan's personality and, since Shalnark and the others were present—and regardless, the mission had to move along—Xiang Nan saw no reason to create more friction on trivial matters, risking the mission's completion. He just wanted to end this job soon and clear the round.
Thus, not long after Xiang Nan's initial contact with that Phantom Troupe small team, they drove off in the small van, following the planned route.
In the vehicle, Feitan's legs were propped against the dashboard, silent.
His chilling presence seemed to cool the inside air to freezing. The driver, Dylan, barely dared to breathe. Though he couldn't see who Feitan really was in the Troupe, being so close to what was effectively the embodiment of Death made him feel on pins and needles. He clearly sensed something ominous in the van.
Feitan stared at Xiang Nan through the rearview mirror and said, "You better be useful. Otherwise, before the enemy even takes a shot, I'll be slicing you guys up, so you don't get in my way."
"No need for that threat."
Xiang Nan, eyes shut as though resting, retorted,
"Leaving aside whether you can kill me, the others are protected by Nameless Town's power and you can't harm them at all. If you're so eager to deal with someone, think about how to handle the predicament in front of us… Given all that your Troupe pulled off in Glam, I doubt we can waltz right out without trouble from the mafia or the wealthy magnate Howell's private forces. They've already locked down the entire district around Glam Gas Land."
"You're… questioning me?!"
Feitan's voice at once turned icy, brimming with lethal hostility.
Xiang Nan merely gave a faint smile and took out his phone again.
Facing it, he said on speaker, "I think maybe you should dispatch some other Troupe members to travel with us… We haven't gone far yet. Otherwise, we'll end up in a life-or-death spat before meeting any enemies. Frankly, he annoys me."
On the other end came Shalnark's awkward laugh.
Shalnark's tone softened, as if pleading.
Feitan's forehead veins bulged as he let out a "tsk," evidently quite peeved, his eyes still fixed on Xiang Nan like a hawk. The killing intent did not subside in the least, but at length, he forcibly reined in any impulse to act. He did still possess some reason, apparently.
Xiang Nan saw this and hung up.
Yet Feitan continued glaring at him, so Xiang Nan again shut his eyes, letting him stare if he really wanted to.
Half an hour later, Feitan stood alone on the roadside, watching the van's taillights recede in the distance.
His brow veins protruded another trace.
Because… Shalnark's "consideration" had him switch Franklin in place of Feitan.
They'd… dumped him on the street.
"Feitan, don't be mad… I just felt leaving you behind can better attract the Glam Gas Land mafia's fire, so you can quickly wipe them out, giving Franklin and the others more time to break out."
Shalnark's voice came from the phone in his hand, an attempt at appeasing him.
"You're messing with me?"
Feitan's grip almost crushed the phone.
"No, I really thought it through, seriously…"
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