The Spider Mother was a manifestation of Nasubi's powerful desire for control.
Therefore, one of the Spider Mother's abilities was control. As a monarch, his duty was to control the subjects under his command.
Having undergone multiple transformations, the Spider Mother now possessed Manipulation-type abilities of absolute nature.
Typically, the most common Manipulation abilities were those that turned controlled targets into mindless puppets, thereby lowering the control requirements. Control types like suggestion and hypnosis lacked clear and effective results.
The Spider Mother's Manipulation ability, much like Hisoka's Transmutation ability enhanced through death, had both reached their peak.
Hisoka could effortlessly regenerate severed limbs, while the Spider Mother's Manipulation ability could alter the thoughts of a controlled target, implanting the concept of loyalty into their mind.
This nature was far more terrifying than forcibly controlling a target.
Apart from this Manipulation ability, which is extremely useful to Nasubi, the Spider Mother could also enhance itself by devouring powerful Nen Users.
When that powerful Nen Fluctuation arrived moments ago, the instantly manifested Spider Mother immediately identified the source of the fluctuation as food.
However, Nasubi believed that powerful Nen Users were relatively rare control materials, so he disagreed with the Spider Mother treating this still-unidentified Nen User as food.
Nasubi's firm rejection left the Spider Mother quite displeased.
"I don't want to repeat myself."
Nasubi walked towards the stage exit.
The Spider Mother slowly vanished, transforming into Aura and returning within Nasubi's body.
As Nasubi's Nen Beast, it had to obey his commands.
…
Sunshade Area.
"What's wrong with them?"
A bespectacled, scholarly-looking man put down the [Journey to the New World] in his hand and looked puzzledly at the combat team members who had accompanied them.
Looking around, every combat team member's face showed grave expressions.
When the troublemakers first went on a killing spree among the crowd, these members hadn't reacted much.
Now, as the Kakin Empire was almost done dealing with the troublemakers, they instead looked as if they had encountered some formidable enemy.
The scholarly man was one of the heads of the International Permit Agencies, but he was not a Nen User, so he hadn't sensed the fluctuation that only Nen Users could perceive.
Sitting beside the scholarly man were four men in casual clothes. Nominally his assistants, they were essentially his bodyguards, each one a Nen User.
"A terrifying individual just popped up."
"Mhm, I wonder who it is. If that person is aligned with the terrorists, Kakin might suffer heavy losses again."
"Stop gloating over there. Judging by the terrorists' modus operandi, it seems like they intend to kill everyone present. If there really is such a fearsome figure among the terrorists, we might get caught up in it."
"Are you being too nervous? Our side alone has a thousand Nen Users. No matter how strong the opponent is, there's only one of them. How could they possibly cause a stir?"
"In any case, unless they specifically target us, we should avoid meaningless fights if possible. Our manpower is reserved for the Labyrinth City in the Dark Continent… it shouldn't be wasted here."
Listening to his assistants' conversation, the scholarly man habitually adjusted his glasses and calmly asked, "So, you're saying there's a dangerous figure among the terrorists, but it won't pose a threat to us?"
The assistants all turned their gaze to the scholarly man.
"That's essentially it."
"Anyway, no matter what happens, anyone who wants to harm you will have to step over our corpses."
Hearing their words, the scholarly man smiled wryly, then instinctively glanced at a middle-aged man with sharp, angular features seated nearby.
The scholarly man knew that the age on that middle-aged official's ID was far from his actual middle years.
That middle-aged man was the official in charge of this voyage operation, and also one of the survivors never officially acknowledged by the authorities. Like Beyond, he had been to the Dark Continent and returned safely.
However, like Beyond, this official had failed to successfully bring back Hope.
This International Permit Agencies' operation had several goals, both overt and covert.
Among the covert goals was one led by this official: to return to the ancient Labyrinth City on the Dark Continent and retrieve the priceless Hope… the herb capable of curing all diseases.
…
"Such a twisted sense of humor, hiding so deep and for so long." Beyond stood up, looking towards the direction from which the Nen Fluctuation came, an interested expression appearing on his face.
The sunshade area wasn't a stage… it didn't have a commanding height, so it was impossible to get a complete view of the field from here.
After the terrorists began slaughtering civilians, they had been observing with an indifferent attitude. Unless the terrorists threatened them, they would not intervene.
The reason was the same as the International Permit Agencies': they wouldn't waste their limited manpower on such a pointless matter.
Pariston looked at the standing Beyond and asked, "Do you know who that person is?"
Every powerful Nen User in the team turned their gaze to Beyond, curiosity in their eyes.
Especially the twin-tailed, sailor-uniform-wearing machine-girl, whose attention was the most focused.
She was the second strongest combatant in the team, right after Beyond.
Her heightened focus wasn't due to a love for battle, but because she had already defined the unidentified person emitting the Nen Fluctuation as a potential threat.
Following one of the logical guidelines for machine behavior, once identified as a threat, it must be monitored closely.
When necessary, the threat should be nipped in the bud.
Meeting the searching looks from the team members around him, Beyond was momentarily baffled. He looked back at everyone and said, "How would I know who that is?"
"...?"
'Then why did you say something like that earlier?'
Pariston silently thought to himself, while the other team members all looked speechless.
"Move, or not move?" Someone asked.
"Of course, continue watching the show. Only someone kicked in the head by a donkey would go provoke such a dangerous person," Beyond said seriously.
'Damn it!'
'Weren't you the most interested one here!'
...
In a forest several kilometers away from the Kakin temporary base, flocks of birds flew out in alarm.
Ging and Sheila looked towards the direction of the Kakin temporary base.
"That is..."
Sheila's eyes turned grave.
By the time she realized it, the hairs all over her body were already standing on end.
"It's probably Law. He succeeded."
An unusual light flickered in Ging's eyes.
The Aura transmitted here carried no sense of danger, yet it had an undeniable presence.
…
The battlefield.
Kuro couldn't help but manifest his form, floating in mid-air and looking at Law, whose body surface surged with immense Aura.
"What happened to staying low-key?"
"Because it feels so good."
Law stretched lazily, then retracted the Aura into his body, everything returning to calm.
"Your issue is resolved, and luckily that guy didn't show up. Let's get out of here quickly," Kuro said nervously.
His form was already showing signs of instability, indicating that the white guy from the book was about to seize the initiative. It was fortunate Law's seal was broken, so there was no need to keep hunting assailants.
After all, each assailant killed added 'X' number of white pages to the book, which he couldn't handle.
Hearing Kuro's words, Law smiled, a gleam flashing in his eyes.
"I want to test my current power."
"..."