Inside the Sommetali Building auction hall, the Black Tiger Gang receded like a ebbing tide.
The heavy doors slammed shut behind them, and the sound of footsteps quickly faded into the distance.
The venue instantly descended into chaos.
Several mafia bosses slammed their fists onto the tables, standing up with ashen faces as wine glasses and plates rattled loudly.
"Notify our men immediately! Send people over and seal off every transportation hub in Yorknew City!"
A middle-aged man with a face full of scars shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Daring to rob us? They're looking for death!"
Another elderly man in a white suit stood up, his voice low but brimming with fury.
"Spread this news to every gang coming to Yorknew! We must catch them! Let them know the consequences of touching our people!"
Many mafia members stood up one after another, heading toward the exit with grim expressions.
Their firearms and weapons were all stored in the first-floor lobby—by regulation, weapons were not allowed inside the auction hall.
Now, they were going to retrieve their weapons, hunt down that group, and make them pay in blood.
Dalzollene quickly regained his composure and turned to give Kurapika instructions.
"Kurapika, you and Basho pursue them. This is a good opportunity; follow them from behind and notify us immediately if anything happens. Melody, Linssen, and I will escort the boss out first."
Kurapika nodded.
"Understood."
Basho also nodded.
The two turned and quickly followed the crowd of mafia members.
Dalzollene watched them leave, then waved for Melody and Linssen to protect Neon as they exited through the side door.
Neon still had no idea what was happening, looking bewildered as she was pulled along.
Outside the Sommetali Building.
Pedestrians on the street had long since fled in terror from the previous gunfire, leaving behind only empty roads and a few abandoned vehicles.
The streetlights were still on, casting dim yellow spots of light onto the deserted street.
Black Tiger led all his members out to the street to rendezvous with the backup team.
Shaqimono and Tocino had already died under the siege of George and the Black Tiger Gang members.
Over twenty people gathered together, carrying cloth bags stuffed with treasures, the edges of jewelry and metal artifacts peeking out from the openings.
Their faces were filled with the excitement of their success; some grinned, some celebrated with each other, and others lit cigarettes and took deep drags.
Black Tiger raised his hand, silencing the commotion.
"Don't be in such a hurry to leave."
His gaze swept toward the building's entrance, a hint of cunning flashing in his eyes.
"They will definitely chase us out."
Colin stepped forward, his brow slightly furrowed.
"Should we take care of them?"
Black Tiger grinned, revealing a row of yellow teeth.
"Let's let them have a taste of rocket launchers."
He waved his hand, and two members stepped out from the back of the group, each carrying a rocket launcher on their shoulder.
The launcher bodies glinted coldly under the streetlights, the warheads ready in the tubes.
They crouched down, bracing the launchers on their shoulders and aiming at the building's entrance.
The other members quickly scattered to find cover; some crouched behind cars, some hid behind trash cans, and some leaned against walls, all muzzles pointed in the same direction.
Inside the building, hundreds of mafia members had already retrieved their weapons.
Holding pistols, submachine guns, and rifles, they surged out of the main doors with grim faces.
Some were still on the phone calling for backup, some were cursing loudly, and others were looking down to check their magazines.
The leaders stood on the steps, looking around to see where the Black Tiger Gang had gone.
"Where are they?"
"They ran pretty fast!"
"Split up and search! They're carrying so much stuff, they can't have gone far!"
Seeing them emerge, Black Tiger's lips curled up, and he let out a sharp whistle.
The shrill whistle pierced the night sky.
The mafia members whipped their heads around, looking toward the source of the sound.
They saw Black Tiger.
They saw the two men crouching beside him with rocket launchers on their shoulders. The dark muzzles were pointed straight at the building's entrance.
"Rocket launchers—!!!"
Someone screamed at the top of their lungs.
"Run—!!!"
Too late.
Boom! Boom!
Two streaks of fire erupted from the muzzles, trailing white smoke as they tore through the night sky, flying straight toward the entrance of the Sommetali Building.
The rockets shredded the air, letting out sharp, whistling screams.
And then—
Explosion.
A violent blast engulfed the building's entrance.
Flames shot up into the sky, the orange-red light illuminating the entire street.
The glass curtain walls shattered, countless shards raining down like a storm, glinting piercingly under the streetlights.
Screams, wails, and cries for help blended together, only to be drowned out by the roar of the explosion.
Severed limbs and debris were scattered everywhere, and blood spread across the stone pavement, forming dark red rivulets.
Kurapika and Basho were a few steps behind.
When they emerged from the stairwell, the explosion was occurring right outside the main doors.
The shockwave, carrying glass shards and rubble, rushed toward them, and the two instantly ducked behind a thick stone pillar.
A piece of debris cut a gash on Kurapika's forehead, but he kept his eyes fixed forward.
Basho's hands trembled slightly.
The aftershocks of the explosion gradually dissipated.
Dust and smoke filled the air, obscuring the light from the streetlights.
Bodies were everywhere on the ground—some charred, some mutilated beyond recognition by glass shards, and others lying motionless as blood slowly pooled beneath them.
Some were still alive, moaning in agony and struggling to crawl up, only to leave trails of blood on the ground.
Black Tiger stood in the distance and laughed toward the sky, his laughter echoing through the night, shrill and arrogant.
"Good! Daring to chase us out is just looking for death!"
Behind him, the mafia members who had successfully avoided the blast poked their heads out from behind cover; seeing the carnage on the ground, their eyes turned red with rage.
Someone raised their gun and fired wildly toward the Black Tiger Gang.
Bang, bang, bang, bang—!!!
The gunfire rang out, bullets tracing dense trajectories through the night.
The Black Tiger Gang immediately returned fire.
Gunshots, shouts, and curses merged into a cacophony; bullets struck walls, sending sparks flying, hit car bodies, leaving holes, and smashed into streetlights, causing the covers to explode and glass shards to scatter.
The street flickered with firelight and was thick with gunpowder smoke.
Colin held his gun, firing as he walked over to Black Tiger's side, whispering in a low voice.
"Big Brother, it's time to go!"
There was a hint of urgency in his voice.
If they didn't leave now, they would be in trouble once the main mafia forces surrounded them.
This was Yorknew, a gathering place for the world's mafia; thousands of men were already on their way.
Every second of delay was a gamble with their lives.
Black Tiger nodded.
He knew the gravity of the situation. Although he wanted to kill a few more, his reason told him it was time to leave.
"Brothers, we retreat!"
He turned and waved toward the alleyway.
Just as the words left his mouth—
Whoosh—!!!
A sound of something tearing through the air came from the sky.
It wasn't the wind, but something heavier, more oppressive, falling rapidly from a great height.
Everyone looked up at the same time.
In the sky, a black shadow was rapidly enlarging.
He fell from high above, his speed so fast it tore through the air, leaving a blurred trajectory in the night sky.
Boom—!!!
The ground exploded.
Debris flew everywhere, and dust shot into the sky.
An airwave expanded outward from the point of impact, knocking the surrounding people off balance.
Vehicles on the street were pushed several meters by the airwave, their bodies covered in dust and rubble.