Half X Confrontation X Grey Elder's Move
Chrollo's lips finally curved into a smile.
What's the reason?
"District 13, I'll give you half."
Nubia's fist was only three meters away from Jiang Ye's chest.
Two meters.
One meter.
The next second, Chrollo moved.
No one saw how he moved.
One moment he was on the pile of scrap metal, the next he was standing in front of Jiang Ye, holding that inconspicuous coin between his right index and middle fingers.
Clang!
Nubia's fist slammed into the coin, and the golden flames and psychic energy collided, creating a visible shockwave that sent debris flying in all directions.
Chrollo took a step back, his shoe leaving a shallow mark on the ground.
Nubia took a half step back.
"Enhancement."
Chrollo flicked his fingers, his tone revealing no sign of strain.
"Not bad."
Nubia stared at Chrollo's face, his pupils contracting sharply.
He recognized him.
"Phantom Troupe... Chrollo Lucilfer!"
The entire hall fell silent once more.
Grey Elder suddenly stood up in the distance, his wine glass swaying slightly, spilling dark red liquid onto his sleeve, but he was completely unaware.
The three flag bearers turned pale. The wind blades in the hands of the wind blade flag bearer dissipated, Conjuration even forgot to maintain the earthen wall.
Even the Shalnark raised an eyebrow and whistled.
Jiang Ye leaned against the Toad's side, panting heavily, but a smile played on his lips.
Nubia.
Jiang Ye raised his hand and pointed in Chrollo's direction.
"Now you have more than just me as your opponent."
Chrollo turned his head, his gray-black eyes looking at Jiang Ye.
"Half."
"Half."
Jiang Ye nodded.
Chrollo turned back to look at Nubia.
"So now..."
He flicked the coin into the air, caught it, and held it in his palm.
"Let's begin."
Nubia's expression changed completely.
He stared at Chrollo for three seconds, then glanced at Jiang Ye, and finally turned his gaze to Grey Elder in the distance.
Grey Elder stood behind the gunners' formation, his fiery eyes fixed intently on the center of the battlefield, his lips pressed tightly together, giving no signal.
Nubia took a deep breath, and the golden flames subsided, compressing back onto his body.
He took one step back, two steps, three steps, and then turned around.
"Walk."
The three flag bearers, as if granted a pardon, scrambled to catch up.
Grey Elder's gunmen also put away their guns and retreated. The dark mass of people came and went quickly, and in a short while, most of the battlefield was empty.
Jiang Ye watched Nubia's figure disappear into the end of the scrap heap, and finally couldn't hold on any longer. His knees buckled and he knelt on the ground. The outline of the Toad also dissipated into a cloud of black mist and merged into the shadow.
The nue let out a low cry from high above, flapped its wings and landed at his feet, its yellow vertical pupils staring warily at Chrollo.
Chrollo looked down at Jiang Ye.
"Half."
"What you just said."
Jiang Ye coughed twice, looked up, and smiled like a fox who had stolen a chicken.
"Let me catch my breath first."
The Shalnark walked over from the side, squatted down, and looked at Jiang Ye.
"Hey kid, do you know who you were just doing business with?"
Jiang Ye glanced at him.
"The Phantom Troupe, led by Chrollo Lucilfer."
The Shalnark was taken aback.
You know?
"Know."
Jiang Ye sat up straighter, leaning against Nue's warm, feathered belly.
"So what?"
The Shalnark blinked and glanced back at Chrollo.
Chrollo didn't say anything, but simply put the coin back in his pocket and turned to walk towards the pile of scrap metal.
He took two steps and then stopped.
"I want half of District 13 in person."
"Make a deal."
Jiang Ye did not refuse.
Chrollo continued walking forward.
The Shalnark followed behind him, took a few steps, then turned back to look at Jiang Ye, a smile playing on his lips, as if he were looking at an interesting toy.
Once the two figures disappeared behind the pile of scrap metal, Iron Wall and Bago finally rushed out from behind the cover.
"Alliance Leader!"
Iron Wall grabbed Jiang Ye and lifted him up with his rough hands.
Are you alright?
Jiang Ye leaned against the thick arm of the Iron Wall and shook his head.
"It's okay, I just ran out of gas."
Bago stood to the side, his eyes still fixed on the direction Chrollo had disappeared, his expression as if he had seen a ghost.
"Leader, was that... really the leader of the Phantom Troupe?"
"Um."
"You're discussing business with him?"
"Um."
"Give him half of District 13?"
Jiang Ye raised his head and glanced at Bago.
"Let him hold off Nubia for me first."
"As for the other half, we'll talk about that when he has the ability to take it from me."
Bago paused for three seconds, then grinned.
I knew it.
Iron Wall frowned and helped Jiang Ye sit down next to Nue, lowering his voice.
"Leader, where's the elephant?"
Jiang Ye looked down at his shadow.
Deep within the shadows, a massive hieroglyphic silhouette lay silently, larger than the silhouettes of the Divine Dogs, Toad, and ye, but its edges trembled slightly, as if unwilling to be confined inside, occasionally bulging up and then deflating, like a muffled thunderclap that could explode at any moment.
"It's been locked up."
"But it can't be kept closed for too long."
Iron Wall's expression changed.
"What's the meaning?"
"It means that next time it comes out, I have to really beat it to a pulp."
Jiang Ye looked up at the gray Sky Manipulation, the curve of his lips carrying a chilling quality that sent shivers down Iron Wall's spine.
"And at that time, no one can be present."
Iron Wall was silent for a few seconds, then nodded.
Shattered Eye ran quickly from a distance, a rare hint of tension in his light-colored pupils.
"Leader, there's movement from Grey Elder's side."
Jiang Ye raised his head.
What's that noise?
"The armored guard beside him went towards the Central City."
Shattered Eye crouched down and whispered.
They were walking very fast, as if they were delivering some urgent message.
Jiang Ye and Iron Wall exchanged a glance.
"Ten Dons."
Jiang Ye uttered these three words.
Iron Wall's Adam's apple bobbed slightly.
Jiang Ye leaned against the Nue's feathered belly and slowly closed his eyes.
The Max Elephant throbbed again in his shadow, like a dull heartbeat.
"OK."
He opened his eyes and smiled.
"Let them come."
"Come on, I'll take one down."
"Give me ten..."
He raised his hand, spread his fingers, and then clenched them into a fist.
"I'll take on ten."
Looking at the twelve-year-old boy, covered in blood and exhausted, barely able to stand, Iron Wall didn't find it funny.
He felt the hairs on the back of his head stand on end.
On top of the scrap metal frame on the outskirts of the battlefield, Machi appeared beside Chrollo at some point, her pinkish-purple ponytail swaying slightly in the wind.
Why are you helping him?
Chrollo glanced at the boy leaning against Nue in the distance, chatting and laughing with his subordinates, and a slight smile curved his lips.
"Because I want to see..."
He tossed the coin up and caught it.
"How big can a vagrant who can make a crazed Nen Beast roll back into the shadows grow?"
Machi tilted her head.
What if he doesn't grow to the age you're satisfied with?
Chrollo put the coin in his pocket and turned to walk towards Central City.
"Then I'll take it back myself."
His voice was faint, as if it were carried away by the wind.
In the distance, Grey Elder put down his wine glass and whispered something to the armored guard who had just returned beside him.
The armored guards bowed and retreated, then rushed towards the Central City.
Grey Elder stood by the window, gazing in the direction of the battlefield, his charcoal-fire-like eyes flickering uncertainly in the dim light.
"The Ten Dons should have received the news by now."
He muttered to himself, a cold smile playing on his lips.
"Chrollo Lucilfer... This game in District 13 is getting more and more interesting."
He turned around and walked towards the door.
"Prepare the car."
"I want to go to Central City myself."