The Strongest Assassin of the Zoldyck Family!

Misty turned when she heard Gon's voice.

"You're still far from ready," she said bluntly. "That man's strength was on a completely different level than yours. He's been using Nen far longer too."

Phinks's strength ranked near the top of the Phantom Troupe. His raw power was second only to Uvogin's. His ability might seem simple and a little slow, but if it connected, the damage was devastating. Alone he could be outmaneuvered—but with proper teamwork, he was extremely dangerous.

"If I'm not mistaken, he actually held back at the start," Misty added, folding her arms. "It was only later, when things started slipping, that I stepped in."

Gon fell silent.

Not long after, they all reached the street outside.

Nina came to a stop. "Alright, our task is complete. The hotel's just ahead—you can head there yourselves. It should be safe. We have other business to attend to."

With that, Nina vanished.

Shizuku and Misty followed immediately, reappearing atop a tall rooftop.

Ponzu, and Machi were already waiting there.

Five people in total.

Misty looked toward the hotel. "That little cousin of Big Brother seems pretty weak."

Misty's personality was blunt—she spoke and acted without hesitation. That's why she had tried to sneak into Ron's room that night, and why she had dared to alter Shizuku's notebook.

"Well, Killua did start learning Nen later," Nina remarked, then turned to Ponzu. "Ponzu, didn't you and Killua take the Hunter Exam together?"

"Yes," Ponzu nodded. "During the exam, Killua's strength far surpassed mine. I didn't even make it past the second-to-last test."

"Right now his combat power may still lag behind me—but that's only because I learned Nen first. He'll surpass me soon."

Ponzu knew herself well.

Her talent wasn't exceptional—not on par with Hanzo's, and barely stronger than Ruco's.

What made her valuable to Ron's team was her support-type ability.

Ponzu still didn't know about Oster's experiments.

Nor did she know that Ron had already acquired from Oster a method that might give her a chance to reach S-rank.

Nina, who had some familiarity with other Nen school of thought, added thoughtfully, "Killua's path as a Nen user is different from ours… different from Ron's too. Who knows which of us will go further?"

"That's easy," Misty said without hesitation. "Big Brother will go the furthest."

"I agree," Ponzu added firmly.

After their experiences in the United States of Saherta, Ponzu had no doubts about Ron's strength. In her mind, no one among their generation could compare to him.

Ron was fighting battles that belonged to the previous era.

Meanwhile, Nina moved closer to Machi, who seemed lost in thought.

"Machi, are you okay?"

Machi snapped out of it and shook her head slightly. "I'm fine."

She had watched the Phantom Troupe today, and the feelings stirred inside her were hard to explain. She cared about them, but didn't know what kind of relationship she should now have with them.

That's why she chose not to appear before them—she didn't know how to face them yet.

Nina picked up on this immediately.

"Ron hasn't given us any new orders. We're free for now. Machi, do you want to do anything? Go anywhere?"

Machi hesitated. "Not really."

"Then come shopping with us."

Nina gently took Machi's arm.

Machi tensed for a moment, but quickly relaxed again.

"Shopping?"

"That's right," Nina said cheerfully. "All of us, together."

Misty and the others all turned to look.

After a brief pause, Machi nodded. "Alright."

Machi was officially part of Ron's team now—she would follow orders and could be trusted on missions. But she hadn't fully integrated yet.

Her joining had been sudden.

Before this, she hadn't even intended to join another group.

She had only agreed because it was the condition for saving the Phantom Troupe.

And while Machi was reliable, truly blending into the team wasn't something that could happen overnight.

Nina understood this perfectly—that's why she took the initiative to pull Machi in, hoping to speed up that process.

After Ron saved them, Nina had made a quiet decision: from that day forward, her life belonged to Ron.

Whatever he needed, she would do.

The team was very close to Ron, but each expressed it differently.

Shizuku thought of herself as Ron's maid—whatever he asked for, she would do, no matter how embarrassing.

Misty thought of herself as Ron's future bride—since the day Ron rescued her from Red Tron's men, she had decided that. Now she was simply waiting until that time.

Ponzu already saw herself as Ron's wife. She was determined to keep growing stronger, so she could support him better.

Machi, for now, saw herself only as an ally—loyal to the team, but not yet fully part of it.

The five of them left the chaotic auction hall far behind and headed to the other side of the city, where they entered a bustling shopping mall.

Crowds moved in and out of stores.

For Machi, this was a novel experience.

She'd been to malls before, but never really shopped. She would go, buy what she needed, and leave.

And her closest friends—Nobunaga and Uvogin—hardly ever set foot in such places.

There weren't many women in the Phantom Troupe.

Her relationship with Pakunoda wasn't bad, but they'd never been particularly close.

Certainly nothing like what Nina and the others were showing her now.

At first, it felt unfamiliar.

But deep down… Machi didn't dislike it.

"Machi, try this outfit," Nina said, holding up some clothes. "I bet it'll look great on you."

Machi hesitated. "Will it really suit me?"

"Of course it will," Nina smiled, gently pushing Machi toward the changing room. "Just try it."

Machi relented.

When she came back out, the others lit up.

"So pretty!" Nina exclaimed. "I knew it would suit you perfectly."

She pulled Machi in front of a mirror.

"Look—what do you think?"

Machi studied her reflection.

This was a style she had never tried before.

"…It does look good," she admitted quietly. Then, turning to Nina: "Thank you."

"You don't need to thank me," Nina said, smiling warmly. "We're teammates."

"…Teammates."

That word echoed in Machi's mind, leaving her momentarily dazed.