Not long after, Zeno's phone rang again.
Zeno picked up the phone and answered.
"I understand. I'll be there as soon as possible."
Zeno turned to Ron.
"Ron, the Elders of Meteor City have agreed to my terms, and Silva is on his way here as fast as he can. I'll leave shortly, and you should find a safer place."
"You can go to the Sky Arena or that park where that Nen exorcist resides."
Zeno had left the Zoldyck Manor to secretly protect Ron. However, now a conflicting task has arisen.
The KUTE Gang of Thieves were far too dangerous, and Zeno couldn't allow Ron to go.
He had already surveyed the area and ensured that no one was lurking around, planning to harm Ron. That's why he made this arrangement.
After the mission, Zeno would return as quickly as possible.
"Grandpa Zeno, can I go and watch the fight?"
"No."
Zeno firmly rejected it.
"Your strength is too weak."
Even though Ron had used his Nen ability to trick Old O, causing Old O to lose an arm, that didn't mean Ron was strong enough.
The situation ahead was unpredictable.
If the KUTE targeted Ron, the likelihood of him being in danger was high.
"Grandpa Zeno, I'm not talking about going myself."
Ron explained, "I want to send my Nen Beast."
With a thought, Ron summoned Hanma Baki to appear beside him.
Alongside him appeared Killer Queen, his weapon imbued with her ability.
Ron spoke.
"Grandpa Zeno, I want Hanma Baki to go with you, and also bring an item imbued with Killer Queen's power. That should help a bit."
"Hanma Baki is my Nen Beast, and even if it's killed, I can summon it again at any time."
"And my connection with my Nen Beast isn't so weak that it can be harmed by any normal Nen abilities the opponent might have."
Zeno looked at Hanma Baki, hesitated for a moment, and then nodded.
"Alright."
A fight like this was impossible for Ron to ignore.
However, Zeno was sure that he would never allow Ron's main body to go. And Ron wasn't so reckless as to risk his life just to watch a battle.
But sending a Nen Beast? That was completely fine.
Ron's Nen ability allowed Hanma Baki to travel far away from him.
Once it arrived, Ron would directly spur it into action.
Since the distance was too far for a visual link, he would have to wait for Hanma Baki to return or disappear to read its experience. But that wasn't a major issue.
"It's almost time. I'm leaving."
"Goodbye, Grandpa Zeno."
Hanma Baki followed Zeno closely behind.
Automatic Nen Beasts had this particular advantage.
On the other side, the Hunter Association also had hunters who had accepted the mission.
Ron gazed out the window.
"I wonder who will be the one to deal with the KUTE Thieves this time."
In the original storyline, it was Ging Freecss who took care of the KUTE Thieves.
A powerful Nen user.
At a young age, he had already ranked as one of the top five Nen users in the world.
He was on par with Netero and Maha Zoldyck.
Ron didn't know who the other two were, but he was certain they wouldn't be weak either.
Ging's strength was above that of Zeno and Silva. (T/N is this legit?!)
But now, because of Ron's appearance, things have changed slightly.
The KUTE Thieves had encountered Ron and Zeno in Meteor City, and Old O had lost an arm in the process.
It was certain because of this, that the Elders of Meteor City, have hired the Zoldyck family.
"Grandpa Zeno and Uncle Silva are only responsible for one of the KUTE Thieves," Ron pondered curiously, "Who will handle the other three?"
The "Mad Beast" continued to retreat, step by step, steadily.
They had been holding their ground for quite a long time.
But ultimately, the gap in strength was undeniable.
Boom!
Old K smiled.
"Finally caught you!"
"You've been running for hours, like a rat, and now you're nearly exhausted, right?"
"Die!"
The bare-chested young man was hit by Old K's Nen Beast and sent flying, his chest caved in from the impact.
On the other side, the twins were already seriously wounded, barely holding on.
The situation of the bald butcher, the suited man, and the white-haired youth was still somewhat stable.
If it weren't for the Elders' subordinates continuously providing reinforcements, the Mad Beast would have lost long ago.
As for the member of the Mad Beast who had left earlier, he dared not return.
"How much longer until they arrive?" the Elder asked.
After hearing the report from his subordinate, the Elder's face sweating to the point it looked like it was dipped in water.
"Lord Elder, both the Hunter Association and the Zoldyck family are on their way. They're moving at full speed and should be here soon."
But the Elder remained anxious.
He didn't know how much longer the Mad Beast and his own subordinates could hold out.
If they couldn't hang on, the next target would be himself.
The Elder didn't want to die.
He didn't want to die at the hands of the KUTE Thieves.
At this moment, some of the Elders were regretting their previous decisions.
"What if we hadn't sent the Mad Beast to engage? Would the KUTE Thieves have just completed their plan and left?"
But the Elders knew very well that there was no turning back now.
The conflict between them and the KUTE Thieves had escalated beyond repair. One side would have to perish for the other to survive.
----
Puchi!
A spray of blood shot out.
One of the twins was struck in the heart, a huge hole ripped open in her chest.
Old U pressed the attack.
"Die!"
The woman collapsed.
The remaining woman's face turned ashen.
"Sister!"
Old U snorted coldly.
"Don't worry. Your turn is coming up soon."
The bald butcher was also nearing his limit, panting heavily.
The Frenzied Beast's side was worsening.
"Still not here?" the suited man kept glancing behind him.
At that moment...
Boom!
A massive sound echoed through the air, and the ground split open, creating a gap. A gigantic black creature emerged from the crack, its eyes darting around.
Squeak!
It was a giant rat.
But not just any rat.
It was, like the giant cockroach Ron had encountered earlier, a disaster itself.
"It's here!"
All four members of the KUTE Thieves looked towards the beast.
The KUTE Thieves had come to Meteor City for this very disaster.
They had orchestrated it, sacrificing countless lives to birth this disaster.
Once the disaster was born, they would kill it and gather materials to craft their Nen Tools.
For Ron and the others, for the people of Meteor City, and for the Mad Beast.
The KUTE Thieves treated them as nothing but a necessary casualty.
Old K surveyed the area.
"Don't waste time with them. Kill them as soon as possible!"
"Yes."
Thus, the members of the KUTE Thieves intensified their attacks.
The white-haired youth was killed instantly!