Joey still didn't fully understand the logic behind the bounty classification system.
Take the Phantom Troupe — a band of elite Nen users with countless crimes under their belt — yet they were only ranked high-risk A-rank criminals.
But then you had the Shadow Beasts, clearly weaker in comparison, also pulling A-rank or B-rank designations.
It felt like, by that logic, the Troupe almost came off as underwhelming.
But were they really weak?
Absolutely not.
Their strength had been proven in numerous battles — unless you were a seasoned Nen user, you had no right to even talk about touching a member of the Troupe.
As for comparing them to the Chimera Ants, the systems for evaluating danger were completely different. Their respective threat levels to the world weren't even comparable.
"Forget rank. What's their ability?"
Joey wasn't concerned with their titles — abilities were what mattered.
"The one with the glasses is named Jamie, specializes in tracking. The big one is Arturo, a former prison warden who's skilled in interrogation and breaking people."
Joey nodded. Big guy screamed Manipulator, no doubt.
His Nen probably centered on control-based abilities developed from his prison days.
"So that means Pokkle's been manipulated." Joey concluded aloud.
"I don't know," Ponzu replied weakly.
Not that her answer mattered. Joey's focus was on assessing what state Pokkle was in — a mindless puppet, or a conscious hostage?
If he wanted to save him, it wasn't going to be easy.
Another bullet came — Killer Queen batted it away, but this time Joey felt something odd.
"The power increased?" he muttered, biting a nail. "Is it because they're getting closer? Or did they change the conditions — like using a bigger fragment?"
Judging from the new force behind that shot, he figured he'd have to catch one of them to be sure.
From the moment they'd met, Joey had been collecting data, making guesses, playing mental chess.
This was what Kite had drilled into him over and over again — Nen Battle Lesson One: Infinite Hypothesis.
Using scraps of intel — appearance, habits, clothing, expressions, speech, weaponry, emotion — to reconstruct a probable picture of an opponent's Nen ability.
That way, even in the face of unexpected events, you could remain calm, shift tactics, and respond with deadly precision.
This wasn't a gimmick — it was the core survival instinct of any real Nen user.
Be it fighting Chimera Ants, or the two Kakin operatives, every experience was part of that long journey.
You grew through real combat.
Every tiny sliver of understanding could tip the scales between life and death.
Because Nen battles weren't just a test of aura capacity — they were mind games, kill-or-be-killed chess matches of application and deception.
While Joey ran through his theories, the Kakin duo were busy analyzing him as well.
"If touching the fragments still causes explosions, then it's likely not aura-based contact, but biological stimuli — heat, skin, something alive," Jamie said, adjusting his glasses.
He glanced at the charred stump that used to be Pokkle's arm, face pulped in a blast.
"The explosion begins from within. Aura can mitigate it, but the damage is mostly internal. The power seems constant, not variable."
A raspy voice added, "Strong enough, yeah. Matches what Pokkle told us. Probably fixed power output. Aura shielding helps, but it's not lethal unless taken full force."
"If it hits me twice, I'm done," he admitted.
Jamie shook his head. "According to Pokkle, 'Kira Yoshikage' only awakened Nen a month ago. That's not enough time to develop complex multi-type abilities like spatial emission or remote control."
"Plus, his aura control — his En and Ryu were damn smooth when I scoped him earlier. He's clearly focused on the fundamentals."
"That coin?" Arturo asked.
Jamie's eyes flicked. "I suspect it's the Nen beast's ability, not his. No aura lingers on the coin — meaning he probably isn't the one detonating them directly."
"That kind of beast would require serious conditions to conjure," the raspy man muttered. "Limitations. Contracts. Must drain a ton of Nen. Maybe damaging the beast hurts him. Maybe there's a time delay. Cooldown between bombs."
Jamie smiled. "Exactly. Which is why I'll handle the next round of testing."
He spread his hand — dozens of tiny aura orbs bloomed in his palm, falling to the ground where they quickly formed miniature Nen beasts.
They scurried ahead like rats.
"If I mix in a bit of Conjuration, I can simulate texture. For heat? That's your job, Arturo."
Arturo nodded, pulled out a stun gun, and electrocuted the little beasts.
The aura rippled, and their temperatures spiked.
"Recharge every three minutes — should be good," Arturo said, grabbing one. "Feels real enough."
Jamie reloaded his revolver — six fresh bullets slid into the cylinder. With each round, he slipped in a different Nen-shielded coin shard.
Then he casually raised the gun and fired without looking.
The bullet spiraled with a wicked grin etched in aura — just before it vanished into rippling space.
Jamie sniffed the air. "Close. Let's go."
Arturo yanked Pokkle's limp body like luggage and followed.
The next bullet didn't meet Killer Queen's symbol this time — it hit his palm, wrapped in "Ken".
A flash of searing heat flared through his hand — but Killer Queen clenched his fingers tight.
By the time he opened them, both the bullet and a coin shard rested in his grip.
A tiny Nen beast peeked its head from the coin.
Joey's miniature Nen bullet blasted it before it could squeak.
Gone.
"So it's based on shard size. Larger piece, stronger shot. That rules out time-based scaling."
Joey chewed his nail again. His arched brows twisted in concentration.
"But if the bullet can't hurt me, and yet they're still firing them — that means the attached Nen beasts are feeding them direction and distance."
A tracking system.
But how many shards did they still have?
Joey grinned.
"Maybe I should send them a few more myself."
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