The spider hunt ends here.
The only three still alive are Machi, Nobunaga, and Uvogin. Whether Hisoka will attempt anything further remains unknown.
As for Nobunaga and Uvogin's unexpected appearance on the Isle of Heroes, it was not something Oboro had planned in advance. He had expected the Phantom Troupe to invade the Fells' residence, but he couldn't be sure how many would come. He hadn't expected that they would attack Yugi, so their presence only disturbed his vision and divided his attention - with little effect in the end.
Even if every member of the Phantom Troupe had entered Hero Island, they would have posed no real threat to the game.
The island's defenses were simply too strong, too complete. In addition to the Nen users led by Mondel, Oboro had personally recruited several Nen masters to create the "Player Contract" rules. Anyone who entered the game would be automatically assimilated as a player and bound by these rules. Chrollo and the others couldn't have caused any significant trouble.
The most they could have accomplished was to destroy a few teleportation points at sea - minor outposts in the grand scheme of things.
There was no strategic reason to spare Machi alone; Chrollo's death would undoubtedly have a profound effect on Uvogin and Nobunaga. Both have volatile temperaments. Could they truly follow Chrollo's final command and refrain from seeking vengeance against the Fells family?
The meaning of Chrollo's last words to Machi couldn't have been clearer.
The Fells family, or more specifically Oboro, represents a power they simply cannot afford to challenge.
It's not something that can be overcome by effort or clever planning. The near annihilation of the Phantom Troupe proves once again that beyond his raw strength, Oboro is equally extraordinary in tactics and cunning.
With Chrollo and Shalnark dead, the Spider has effectively lost both his soul and his brain.
Machi understands this reality, but Uvogin and Nobunaga operate purely on emotion.
A path that will likely get them killed.
By the next morning, the palace had been almost completely cleaned by hundreds of Fells Family operatives working through the night.
At the same time, criminal organizations around the world received the news.
The Fells Family signal!
There was no point in trying to contain it. So many people - countless heads of smaller families who had operated in the underworld for decades - immediately realized what this incident meant. Many had already made private calls to share the news. The bold ones had already mobilized, ordering their subordinates to quickly seize the power, industries, and territories left behind by the dead family leaders. The more cautious awaited David's instructions, afraid to act rashly.
The Fells couldn't control everyone.
The news could not be suppressed.
David and Fils Lily had begun to deploy personnel, sending private forces under Owl's command to several continents, establishing links with local organizations. Their immediate priority was to assist competent groups in stabilizing regional situations, then to deeply embed the Fells' influence.
It was inevitable, however, that fierce power struggles would erupt throughout the underworld in the coming weeks.
The local mafias would not necessarily submit to the Fells' control.
This was a rare opportunity for a dramatic shift in power dynamics.
The "rule of the Ten Dons," which had seemed unshakable for so long, had finally been broken.
All the major families now had a chance to claim power.
With the middle and upper families decimated, smaller organizations suddenly found opportunities for advancement.
In a luxurious bedroom, Oboro studied a list of names in his hand.
"The families from the Kakin Empire, they didn't come?"
"No. Even though the invitations were sent out under the authority of the Ten Dons, several of the top family bosses from Kakin only sent recorded videos of congratulations," David reported respectfully, standing in front of the sofa.
"Honeypot Number 3 is dead?"
Oboro sat cross-legged on the leather sofa and tossed aside the document listing the participants of last night's banquet.
"Dead," David nodded.
The abortion of the Zodiac expedition meant that the spy the Fells had planted in the Kakin royal family had been exposed. Maybe it was a countermove from beyond, or maybe it was Pariston's interference, or maybe it was internal turmoil within the royal family itself.
But the first two possibilities seemed the most likely.
The timing was too perfect to be a coincidence.
Honeypot Number 3's death was inevitable - she had been chosen as a sacrificial pawn by Oboro himself.
Two other women remained in the Honeypot operation. One served as the secret lover of King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou, and had already borne him a son, though without official recognition. The other had successfully infiltrated the Ninth Prince's inner circle and was currently in a relationship with him.
"The criminal organizations in the Kakin Empire are quite unique. Even though the Ten Dons who used to control them are still alive, they only maintain influence over certain mid- and high-ranking families," David explained.
"Probably because of the military intervention," Oboro smiled knowingly.
"That's right."
No matter how powerful, criminal organizations could never truly compete with a regular army.
The territories claimed by the Mafia only affected regional industries, economies, political figures, and social foundations. They could never truly shake the core foundation of a nation. For countries were the domains of their royal families - the real power brokers. The Mafia merely existed as parasites on that land.
However, through carefully orchestrated plans developed over years, the Fells family had successfully "corrupted" many royal families. They had placed agents in official institutions, important departments, and even military structures.
In some nations, the Fells Family honeypots had been given official status.
In essence, the Fells Family could no longer be accurately described as a mere "criminal organization.
Still, their infiltration of the Kakin Empire had yielded minimal results.
After much preparation, they had finally found a woman capable of attracting King Nasubi's attention, but she remained a second-tier woman in the end.
The second line - also called the double line - referred to illegitimate heirs.
Children who could never obtain legitimate succession, who could never live openly in the "sunlight," whose identities remained unrecognized. From birth, their faces were marked with a blade, leaving conspicuous scars.
This was a grim compromise.
At the cost of public invisibility, they were allowed to exist in the shadows.
Refusal meant execution.
"There has been no movement from the Ninth Prince. Our honeypot tried to get him to record a video in his princely capacity to test his attitude toward us, but he refused. He has an exceptionally upright character and seems quite disgusted with our organization," David added.
"So that means Honeypot Number 2's identity has been compromised, right? He knows that we are behind her," Oboro said quietly.
"Yes."
"It looks like Number 2 won't survive much longer, leaving only Number 1."
Oboro took the remote control from the table and turned on the TV. "Don't worry about these things for now. Our primary focus must be the unification of the entire underground network. Once completed, the criminal organizations - entities dismissed as insignificant by the national powers, including the V5 - will be completely transformed into a force they can no longer ignore."
"After all, who would have thought that a stray dog would grow into a vicious wolf?" he mused playfully.
The television screen flickered to life, showing a live broadcast.
A female reporter stood by the side of the road, watching luxury cars speed by on the highway. "Dear viewers, I'm near the residence of a prominent crime boss. As you can see, cars are leaving in an orderly fashion. This section of road has been blocked off, and the occupants of these vehicles are powerful figures with criminal connections. According to reliable information, last night, right here, on this mountain visible to our cameras, this magnificent palace," "a major incident occurred, capable of reshaping the entire underworld, known as the 'Black Tide Incident'. The scene before us confirms the authenticity of our information. We're continuing to investigate and hope..."
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Before the reporter could finish, a car stopped abruptly in front of her.
The window rolled down, revealing a thug who raised his gun and fired into the air. The sharp reports startled the reporter and cameraman, causing them to stagger as the broadcast image shook violently.
"Get out of here! Do you want to die?"
"What network are you from? Do you think you can just walk in here?"
"Do you think I won't put a bullet in you right now?"
The fleshy-faced gunman continued to shout profanities during the live broadcast.
Then the TV signal cut out completely.
No one knows what happened next.
"So they've already informed the media about the Black Tide incident? Interesting," Oboro smiled silently.