Chapter 92: Franklin
The next day, Franklin stepped out of the car and stopped in front of the hospital where his target was recovering.
Looking around, he noticed mafia members stationed every few steps and not just ordinary ones.
There were also quite a few Nen users.
"At least dozens," Franklin thought as his eyes scanned the surroundings.
He wasn't referring to the common mobsters there were hundreds of those. He meant trained Nen users.
A force like this would be meaningless to the Phantom Troupe.
But breaking through dozens of Nen users would take time.
When he looked up, he saw something strange a massive flying creature circling above the hospital in the night sky.
It looked like some kind of beast or magical bird.
But magical beasts didn't exist in cities.
"Nen?" Franklin exhaled slowly.
Even the sky was under surveillance.
This place wasn't far from the Hunter Association headquarters…
"Are you Kumbo, the one Mondel mentioned?" asked a gang leader smoking a cigarette in the distance.
"That's me," Franklin nodded.
"Follow me," the man said casually, flicking his cigarette away.
Franklin followed him into the building and immediately narrowed his eyes.
The place was empty.
No doctors, no nurses.
Only gang members patrolled each hallway, and every floor's supervisor radiated Nen.
"The Fields Family doesn't have that many Nen users," Franklin thought. "Where did they get so many?"
Even the elevator was guarded identification checks, constant surveillance.
According to Chrollo's instructions, Franklin's mission wasn't just to gain Haze's trust, but also to learn the hospital's structure inside out.
That way, when the Brigade attacked, they could break in swiftly and coordinate with him to capture Haze.
The two entered the elevator. The doors slid shut.
The gang leader glanced at Franklin and said coldly:
"Your mission is to protect the master personally. You'll stay in the room twenty-four hours a day, stopping anyone suspicious and alerting us to any danger. Remember your life is worthless. Protecting the master comes first. For a newcomer like you, this is a rare chance to rise. Plenty are jealous. But if you mess up or anger him "
"I understand," Franklin replied calmly.
As expected, there was no need for disguise anymore.
He was no longer treated like a "client" but clearly as "the master's man."
Still…
"Shouldn't I be guarding outside the door?" Franklin asked smoothly. "Wouldn't staying inside violate his privacy?"
"Don't ask questions. Just follow orders," the man replied, voice sharp.
"Understood."
Moments later, the elevator doors opened floor 21.
They walked through several turns until they reached the hospital suite.
The entire 21st floor had been remodeled now one massive apartment. Every person in sight radiated Nen.
The leader knocked, then stepped aside as the door opened.
"Sir, the guard assigned by the family has arrived," he said respectfully.
Franklin approached calmly, bowed, and said, "Sir."
So weak… weaker than an ordinary human.
And yet this man killed Phinks…
Even injured, he could do that?
Franklin's face stayed neutral, but his mind was racing.
He could probably kill the real Ten Dons right now but there were three other men in the room, each with an overwhelming aura.
These weren't ordinary people.
He could ignore them and attack the target directly but the aftermath would be messy. Better to wait and observe.
Haze smiled faintly.
Franklin's microexpressions revealed almost nothing.
Within the Phantom Troupe, Franklin was like an older brother calm, dependable, cautious.
Unlike impulsive members like Phinks, Feitan, Nobunaga, or Uvogin, Franklin always carried himself with restraint.
He was also a steadfast believer in Chrollo's judgment.
Owl, Sick Dog, and Porcupine also watched the newcomer closely.
Without a word from Haze, the gang leader quietly withdrew.
Only Haze and the five Nen users remained.
Phils Lily had already returned to the Republic of Padokia.
"Kumbo, right?" Haze asked after a long silence.
Franklin didn't lift his head. "Yes."
"You're from Meteor City?"
"Yes."
"Meteor City's a good place," Haze said mildly. "No one outside knows much about it."
"Let's get acquainted," he said, gesturing for Franklin to stand.
Franklin rose to his full height towering and broad as Owl stepped forward.
"Shadow Beast Owl," the man said, extending his hand.
Franklin shook it firmly.
Owl then pointed toward Sick Dog and Porcupine, introducing them as well.
Sick Dog's eyes were full of contempt; Porcupine barely cared.
"It's just how they are," Owl chuckled. "Don't take it personally."
Only he and Haze knew Franklin's true identity.
Before arriving, the Ten Dons had only been told that the Fields Family had found traces of the Phantom Troupe's activity the details were left to Haze's discretion.
Franklin nodded slightly and sat quietly on a bench.
Haze returned to his reading without comment.
The Shadow Beasts…
The gang leader had mentioned they were the Ten Dons' private army a force shrouded in secrecy because anyone who saw them died.
It reminded Franklin of the Troupe.
Chrollo had said they were the only group that might truly pose a problem.
"So… that person accompanying old David must also be a Shadow Beast," Franklin thought, glancing sidelong at the three men in the room.
If the Fells Family's Shadow Beasts were stationed here, then there might be others hidden elsewhere in the hospital.
After all, the Ten Dons maintained close contact.
Chrollo and Franklin had assumed there would be only one or two Shadow Beasts.
But now… there were at least five.
"The flying one in the sky makes six… Half the Shadow Beasts, gathered just to protect him? With this much defense… who are they really guarding against? Us? Or something else?"
"Did he… sense us?"
Franklin's heart tightened.
"We have to warn the leader the sooner, the better."
But how to escape?
Just as he was considering it, Haze lying in bed suddenly spoke, his voice almost like a telepathic command:
"Kumbo… go to the cafeteria and bring me something to eat."
"Yes, sir."
Franklin stood, turned, and left.
Once outside, confirming he was alone and unwatched, he pulled out his phone.
He called Chrollo.
It rang no answer.
Then Feitan also no response.
He was about to try Knight when footsteps echoed behind him.
Franklin pocketed his phone instantly.
"What are you doing?"
He turned it was Xiao.
The man smiled.
"Looking for the restaurant."
"The restaurant's not here it's downstairs, on the twentieth floor," Xiao said, pointing down. He slipped a hand into his pocket and patted Franklin on the back.
"Relax, newbie. Don't be so tense. Take your time, get familiar with the place. If you've got questions, just ask."
"Yes," Franklin nodded.
"Come on, I'll show you."
Xiao led the way kindly.
More than ten minutes later, Franklin returned with the snack the chef had prepared and personally served it to Haze.
"Lost a few minutes," Xiao joked. "This guy got lost."
"Sorry," Franklin said immediately, lowering his head.
"It's fine," Haze smiled gently. He looked at the food and suddenly said to Owl, "Something's missing… juice."
At that, Owl calmly took a pager from his pocket. "Bring some juice," he ordered through it.
…
The atmosphere in the room shifted instantly.
Franklin's unease grew.
Why make him fetch food when a simple pager could do it?
He couldn't reach Chrollo or Feitan.
But according to Chrollo's analysis, there was no way they'd been discovered.
"You all right?" Haze asked suddenly.
Franklin shook his head lightly.
"I won't punish you for something so trivial," Haze said warmly. "You're new here you'll get used to things soon enough."
"Thank you, sir," Franklin replied quietly.
Then he sat again.
He chose to trust Chrollo's judgment.
The leader was never wrong.
Haze put down his book and began eating.
"By the way," he said suddenly, "have you found anything on those people?"
"Not yet," Owl replied. "No idea who they are. But it seems they've been watching this place for a while."
He chuckled.
Franklin, who had just sat down and regained his calm, froze instantly.
His expression changed for the first time.
"Maybe some enemy you've made?" Owl suggested.
"An enemy?" Haze smiled faintly. "I've killed too many to remember them all… but one in particular stands out."
"Oh?" Owl raised a brow. "Who?"
"A man with a spider tattoo. Number Five. Quite strong."
"How did you kill him?"
"Want to know?"
"Sure, but don't ruin your appetite."
"Telling it would just make me angry again."
"That was during the Hunter Exam… back then…"
(End of Chapter)