The next day, Kaizen came across some key information.
Recently, there's been tension at the Shen Dojo, with a gang known as the Wilhelm family causing trouble. They claim allegiance to the global underworld.
However, Altan couldn't find anything online linking them to gluttony specifically—just a few similar incidents. Dozens, sometimes hundreds of people have vanished without a trace, leaving only bloodstains behind, no bodies.
"If it's tied to the world's gangsters, we shouldn't worry too much," Kaizen murmured. He knew a fair bit about them. The organization's leaders called the Ten Dons, self-proclaimed global crime lords. But their reach doesn't encompass true global control.
Groups like the V5 or the Kakin Empire's underground circles lie beyond the Ten Dons' grasp. They only hold a tentative alliance with the Elders of Meteor City. Though their influence might extend here and there, they lack real control over Meteor City.
The Ten Dons rely on their elite enforcers, the Shadow Beasts, a group of ten Nen users. Skilled as they are, they're not especially powerful among Nen users. In the original story, four of them fought Uvogin and were quickly crushed. It shows they aren't particularly formidable.
The other six members also fell when facing the Phantom Troupe members.
"At the time of the Yorknew arc, Chrollo was already the strongest in the Troupe," Kaizen thought aloud. "Feitan came next, with Uvogin, Phinks, and Nobunaga following. Then there was Shalnark, Machi…" He recalled how Zeno had assessed Chrollo back then. In a one-on-one, Chrollo had a nine-in-ten chance of winning.
"The support members of the Troupe, though, were B-rank at best," Kaizen added. "As for the Shadow Beasts, they aren't even on that level."
"With my current abilities, facing the Phantom Troupe from Yorknew era isn't out of reach for me if I'm targeting the support members," Kaizen reflected. "Even if a single Shadow Beast is slightly stronger than I am, it's not by much."
Kaizen instructed Altan, "Keep an eye on the current status of the Shadow Beasts from the Ten Dons."
Although the Shadow Beasts are a secret asset of the world's gangsters, belonging directly to the Ten Dons, they can't operate completely under the radar. Any activity leaves traces online.
Soon enough, Altan found a list.
"Gluttony isn't on it," Kaizen observed. "If that guy isn't even a Shadow Beast, then he's not worth my concern."
In the original story, it was Maha Zoldyck who was tasked with killing the Ten Dons. Kaizen guessed that this wasn't due to the Nen abilities of these crime bosses but rather due to the Ten Dons' elusive hideout that required Maha's unmatched skills.
Still, Kaizen had no intention of underestimating Gluttony, even if he doubted the criminal's strength. Better to play it safe.
With a thought, he summoned a figure.
A young man appeared in front of Kaizen. Kaizen handed him a baseball bat imbued with Killer Queen's power.
"Raiken, go to this location," Kaizen ordered, passing him the bat. "If possible, lead the target to an area with surveillance." Then he turned to Altan. "Hack into the city's monitoring systems, Altan."
Raiken opened a window and leapt straight from the 200th floor. Such a drop posed no problem for him. Even some top death row inmates without Nen could pull it off, for Raiken, it was easy.
Altan quickly hacked into multiple surveillance systems. Kaizen's laptop screen soon displayed several feeds, each showing Raiken's movements.
Raiken approached an area near Heavens Arena.
Carlisle stood by a window, gazing out with a clouded expression, lost in unpleasant thoughts. A figure caught his attention—Raiken, looking up at him from the alley below.
Carlisle recognized the figure and felt a spark of hope.
"Master Gluttony," he murmured.
Gluttony, however, wasn't focused on Carlisle, he was eyeing Raiken with narrowed eyes.
"A Nen Beast?" he muttered.
"Where are you hiding?" Gluttony's grin spread wide. "Coming to me willingly, huh? How convenient—I'm not full yet!"
In an instant, he lunged forward with a sonic boom. The ground quaked as Gluttony's form blurred, closing the distance to Raiken. A fierce aura wrapped around his body, like an unbreakable shield.
Carlisle froze.
"What's going on?"
Then he noticed Raiken—standing there casually, a young man with short red hair, his posture relaxed. Even as Gluttony charged at him, Raiken looked almost bored, exuding a quiet strength. A baseball bat hung at his side.
"A Nen Beast? Whose could it be?" Carlisle thought, considering Kaizen. He had seen Kaizen's Nen Beast before—a pink, humanoid figure, grotesque yet distinct.
"This is nothing like Kaizen's Nen Beast. There's no way Kaizen could summon another so quickly, even if he is a genius," Carlisle reasoned. "And besides, Master Gluttony wouldn't bother with a beast of Kaizen's level. This must be something that provoked him."
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