When Kings Do Not Meet X Powerful Forces Join Hands X Retreat
Jiang Ye did not reply.
He was calculating his remaining energy. He had just suppressed Max Elephant, and his energy was already limited. Maintaining Divine Dog: Totality was already his limit. If this dragged on any longer, even Hun wouldn't be able to hold on.
Just then, a figure emerged from the shadow of the steel frame atop the scrap iron pile on the north side of the steel casting workshop.
Chrollo Lucilfer had one hand in the pocket of his long black trench coat, his grey-black eyes calmly sweeping across the battlefield.
He stood atop the pile of scrap metal, the wind blowing from the north lifting the hem of his trench coat, revealing his wispy hair and the inverted cross tattoo on his forehead, which stood out vividly in the gray-white sunlight.
The owl noticed it first.
He turned his head, his gaze falling on Chrollo through his sunglasses, his fingers, which had been pushing up his glasses, paused in mid-air.
Chrollo tilted his head, his gaze falling on the owl and the Worm, his tone indifferent.
Half of District 13 is mine.
Owl didn't speak. The Worm's muddy head turned 180 degrees, its dark yellow eyes staring at Chrollo for two seconds before turning back to stare at Iron Wall.
"Are you one of Grey Elder's men?"
Chrollo asked.
Xiao remained silent for a moment.
"Directly under the Ten Dons."
That's perfect.
Chrollo jumped down from the pile of scrap metal, landing almost silently, the hem of his trench coat hanging down to his feet.
"Go back and tell Grey Elder that he should come and talk to me personally about the matter in District 13."
Xiao's lips twitched.
He recognized the face: an inverted cross tattoo on the forehead, a long black trench coat, and silver earrings.
Chrollo Lucilfer, leader of the Phantom Troupe!
The Worm was still locked in a stalemate with the Iron Wall, but the owl didn't make another move.
Because a second person appeared.
From the shadows on the other side of the steel casting workshop, Illumi Zoldyck Family emerged silently.
Long black hair cascaded down to her waist, her completely black eyes calmly swept across the battlefield, and her pale face looked like a lifeless doll in the gray-white sunlight.
He stopped three steps away from Jiang Ye and tilted his head slightly.
"Agent."
Illumi's voice was completely flat.
"The Grey Elder's people?"
Jiang Ye glanced at him but didn't explain further.
"Um."
Illumi shifted her gaze from Jiang Ye to Xiao and Worm. Her completely black eyes showed no emotion, but Xiao's back was visibly tense.
He recognized the Zoldyck Family.
"The Shadow Beasts."
Illumi's tone was flat.
"Sent by the Ten Dons?"
The owl's Adam's apple bobbed.
"The Zoldyck Family is getting involved in District 13's affairs?"
He is the Zoldyck Family agent in District 13.
Illumi's face was expressionless when she said this.
"The Zoldyck Family commission channel is under his control."
Xiao remained silent for a few seconds.
He glanced at Illumi, then at Chrollo, and finally fixed his gaze on Jiang Ye.
The leader of the Phantom Troupe, and the eldest son of the Zoldyck Family.
On his side, there was only him and the Worm.
The Worm was still struggling with the Iron Wall, but when the owl snapped his fingers, the Worm paused, retracted its mud arms, and shrank halfway into the soil.
"Withdraw."
The owl uttered only one word.
The Worm tilted its muddy head to the side, then slid into the soil with a gurgling sound. The mud on the ground quickly seeped away, leaving only a shallow mud pit a few seconds later.
Xiao took two steps back and adjusted his sunglasses.
"I've delivered the message."
He glanced at Chrollo.
"The matter of District 13 will be discussed by Grey Elder in person."
After saying that, he turned and left.
Without looking back, his pace was neither fast nor slow, and his figure disappeared among the piles of scrap metal.
Chrollo didn't stop them, and Illumi didn't move either.
Jiang Ye stood still, his shoulders slumping. He pulled the Divine Dog: Totality back into the shadows, took a deep breath, his breath almost gone.
What are you doing here?
He glanced at Chrollo.
"Your people told me that Grey Elder sent someone to scout the area under the steel foundry."
Chrollo put his hands back in his pockets, his grey-black eyes looking at him.
"Half of District 13 is mine. Someone's digging a hole in my territory, so I came to check it out."
He spoke of it casually.
Jiang Ye then looked at Irmie.
Illumi tilted her head, her completely black eyes shifting from Chrollo to Jiang Ye's face.
"It wouldn't look good if word got out that the Zoldyck Family's agent was taken away by the Ten Dons ' men."
Jiang Ye didn't ask any more questions.
Iron Wall leaned closer, shield covered in mud and scratches. He was panting heavily, glancing at Chrollo and then at Illumi. His lips moved, but he didn't ask anything.
Gray Beak came up from behind, still clutching his dagger, and whispered in Jiang Ye's ear.
"Alliance Leader, these two..."
"One of our own."
Jiang Ye said three words, his tone very calm.
"Temporary."
Chrollo had already turned and walked north, the hem of his trench coat sweeping across the rubble of the scrap metal pile. After a few steps, he tilted his head to the side.
"What are your plans regarding Grey Elder?"
Jiang Ye watched his retreating figure.
"He sent someone to probe my situation, so I have to return the favor."
Chrollo's lips curled into a smile, as if he had heard something amusing.
He didn't say anything more, and his figure quickly disappeared behind the pile of scrap metal.
Illumi was still standing there.
He pulled a flat black box from inside his collar. It was about the size of a palm, with a smooth surface and an indicator light embedded in one corner.
"Did you bring your agent's credentials?"
"I brought it."
"That's good."
Illumi tucked the flat box back into his collar, his completely black eyes sweeping over the Iron Wall and the Gray Beak.
"Next time someone from Grey Elder comes, show your credentials."
"The Shadow Beasts won't directly break ties with the Zoldyck Family."
After he finished speaking, he turned and left, his steps as light as if he were walking on water.
Jiang Ye stood still and looked down at his shadow.
The outline of the Max Elephant lay hidden deep within, more stable than before.
The matter of the Worm is not over yet, and Grey Elder will not stop just because Owl has withdrawn.
"Iron Wall."
"Exist."
"Remove the cordon line, and continue clearing the area within 500 meters of the steel casting workshop."
Jiang Ye turned around and walked towards the workshop door.
"I'll rest for two days, then I'll go visit Grey Elder Hui."
Iron Wall paused for a moment.
"You're going in person?"
"He sent someone to spy on me, and if I don't go, he'll send someone else."
Jiang Ye pushed open the iron gate, his steps continuing.
"Next time, there might be more than two."
He walked into the workshop, glanced back at the direction where Chrollo and Illumi had disappeared to the north, and a slight smile appeared on his lips.
One side needs half of District 13's actual territory, the other needs a smooth passage through the Zoldyck Family.
If Grey Elder really intends to break off relations, he'll have to weigh the weight of all three families.
What he needs most right now is time.
The final round of suppression is still needed to Max Elephant Manchuria.
Once that thing is completely back in its cage, the sixth form of the Ten Shadows Technique can be used.
He glanced down at his shadow; the Max Elephant's silhouette lay silently, like a thunderbolt ready to explode at any moment.
"Just bear with it for two more days."
He closed the workshop's iron gate, the sound of the latch locking echoing in the empty workshop.
On the main road leading from Central City to District 13, Owl sat in the passenger seat of a stretched armored limousine, speaking into the car phone.
"I didn't bring it back."
"Chrollo is here, and Illumi is here too."
There was a three-second silence on the microphone before Grey Elder's voice came through, calm and unhurried.
"Then let's put it aside for now."
Xiao tilted his head. "Release?"
"We'll make our move when he's completely subdued Max Elephant."
There was a hint of amusement in Grey Elder's voice.
The stronger he becomes, the more uneasy the Ten Dons become.
"I won't need to urge him; the Shadow Beasts will come to him on its own."
Xiao hung up the phone, leaned back in his seat, and looked out the car window at the gray sky through his narrow, long eyes behind his sunglasses.
"Little brat, how much faster can you grow?"