Hearing Ian’s words, Uvogin felt like a child caught making a mistake by a parent, filled with apprehension.
He hesitated, unsure of how to explain himself for a moment.
His face flushed red before he finally replied, “Sorry for making you guys worry…” Ian glanced at him without pressing the issue, simply saying calmly, “Forget it.
If you don’t want to talk about it now, you can tell us whenever you’re ready.
Let’s get out of here first.” As he spoke, aura gathered in his hands.
Reaching out from under the Invisibility Cape, he firmly gripped the iron lock on the cell door.
Seeing his action, Uvogin hesitated and warned, “Wait, those locks are incredibly sturdy.
I tried…” Before he could finish his sentence, a sharp crack echoed.
The twisted lock fell to the ground with a crisp clatter.
Ian looked up in slight confusion.
“What’s wrong, Uvogin?
What were you saying?” Sweat dropping down his face, Uvogin quickly scratched his head.
“N-Nothing…” Inwardly, however, he was utterly astonished.
When he first awakened his aura, he had been full of confidence in his own strength.
But after being easily defeated by Ron, and now witnessing the sheer physical power Ian displayed, he finally realized that there was always a bigger fish in the sea.
Naturally, Uvogin had attempted to break out earlier.
But these metal cages were specially crafted by the Third Elder’s subordinates.
After all, this prison occasionally hosted deathmatches for the entertainment of important figures.
To ensure visual thrills, they inevitably locked up Nen users from time to time.
An average Nen user couldn’t even dent these cages and locks, let alone someone like Uvogin who had only recently awakened his abilities.
“Hurry up and get in here!” As soon as Uvogin stepped out of the cell, Ian quickly lifted the Invisibility Cape, making room for him and gesturing for him to enter.
The moment he slipped underneath, Uvogin looked around curiously, finding the experience entirely novel.
Mimicking Ian, he lowered his voice.
“Ian…
what is this?
Another new gadget?” Ian whispered back, “Exactly.
I can let you play with it later.
Although it won’t do much against skilled Nen users, it’s still a pretty fun item.
For now, let’s just get out of here.
Here, hold up this side of the cape.
We’re walking straight out, so be careful not to make any noise.” As he handed the edge of the cape to Uvogin, Ian shook his small hands and muttered, “That lock was pretty tough.
Even using aura, it made my hands sting.
If I hadn’t used aura, I probably wouldn’t have been able to do anything about it…
You’re lucky, Uvogin.
Otherwise, we might have had to come up with a different rescue plan…” Hearing this, Uvogin swallowed his words.
He really wanted to tell Ian that he was already ridiculously strong…
considering Uvogin himself couldn’t even budge it.
The two retraced Ian’s steps, slowly making their way out.
It was as if nothing had happened; Uvogin simply vanished from the cell.
Aside from the shattered pieces of the iron lock left on the floor, it was a perfectly executed crime.
Concealed beneath the Invisibility Cape, the duo walked down the corridors, descended the stairs, and slipped right past a line of prison guards.
Due to his injuries, Uvogin couldn’t move very fast.
As they brushed past the guards, he nervously held his breath.
It was a surreal feeling to look out from under the cape and realize the people outside couldn’t see them at all.
Uvogin couldn’t help but marvel inwardly.
*’As expected of Ian.
He always manages to pull out these miraculous gadgets at the most critical moments.’* While Ian and Uvogin’s escape proceeded smoothly, every second felt like an eternity for those waiting outside in the dark.
Outside the prison.
Machi, Nobunaga, and the others were currently hiding in a concealed patch of tall grass.
“I wonder if Ian managed to find Uvogin alright,” Nobunaga said, looking up at the sky with a hint of worry.
“Relax, that idiot won’t get into trouble.
Besides, since Ian made a move, I’m sure he wouldn’t do anything he wasn’t confident in!” Machi glanced at Nobunaga, her tone steady.
Feitan looked impatient.
For someone with his volatile temper, sitting around doing nothing was akin to torture.
If given the choice, he would much rather have a massive brawl with the Third Elder’s men.
Chrollo’s eyes were as calm as an ancient well.
He had no doubt that Ian would successfully rescue Uvogin.
The Invisibility Cape was a Nen artifact that introduced massive variables, an anomaly that completely bypassed conventional rescue plans.
His mind was currently wandering, quietly conceptualizing the future of his own Nen abilities.
Franklin remained as reticent as ever.
Despite his hulking, somewhat dopey appearance, no one could ever quite figure out what he was thinking.
As for Pakunoda, she kept casting anxious glances toward the prison entrance.
She couldn’t quite articulate her feelings toward Ian—someone they hadn’t known for long, yet who had brought a miraculous gift to the orphans.
But regardless, she desperately hoped he wouldn’t get hurt.
Less than half an hour had passed.
Tap…
tap…
tap…
The slow sound of approaching footsteps put everyone on high alert.
Chrollo, Feitan, Nobunaga, and the others turned their heads toward the nearby clearing.
Machi’s face lit up with joy as she lowered her voice.
“Is that you, Ian?” Suddenly, it felt as though a heavy weight had settled right beside her in the hidden brush.
“Phew…
Everything went pretty smoothly.
I managed to bring this guy back!” As a transparent ripple slowly lifted, the group saw a smiling Ian supporting Uvogin.
Uvogin’s face flushed slightly.
Though he hated being seen in such a miserable state, he still greeted everyone.
“Yo, sorry for the trouble this time!” “Pfft…
Hahaha!
Uvogin, you idiot, how did you end up looking so stupid?!” Nobunaga couldn’t hold back upon seeing Uvogin’s bruised and battered face, nearly doubling over in laughter.
Wiping away a tear, he callously leaned in close to Uvogin.
Gesturing at the injuries on Uvogin’s face as if reenacting the beating, he clicked his tongue.
“Look at this!
You must have taken at least three punches from this angle.
You moron, has Ian been feeding you too well lately?
You couldn’t even dodge!” “And here!
Man…
this is just tragic…
You probably couldn’t even raise your elbows to block, you just had to take the beating raw!” Nobunaga stared at Uvogin with dead fish eyes, his mouth running a mile a minute.
Uvogin took a deep breath, the veins popping on his forehead growing increasingly prominent.
Finally, unable to hold back his frustration at Nobunaga’s relentless roasting, he snapped.
“Bastard!
I’m just young, that’s all!
You think I couldn’t beat that guy?
I’ll pay him back double for all of this sooner or later!
And you, you idiot, if you faced that bastard, you probably wouldn’t last five seconds!
No, you wouldn’t even last three!” Seeing Uvogin lose his temper, Nobunaga covered his mouth with a grin, refusing to let up.
“Right, right, right.
So…
does that mean you only lasted five seconds against him?” Hearing this, Uvogin was absolutely fuming, his face turning beet red.
Machi and Ian quickly grabbed hold of him.
“Alright, alright, Nobunaga is just joking.” “Bastard!
Ian, Machi, let me go!
I’m gonna kill this guy!” In response, Nobunaga simply put his hands behind his head and whistled, teasing, “Looks like you’ve still got plenty of energy.
Let’s save the fighting for after you’ve healed up.
After all…
I don’t want to bully the sick and disabled…” Everyone watched the scene with amusement.
Even the hot-tempered Feitan watched quietly, saying nothing.
The noisy bickering made it feel as though they had returned to their childhood days.
“Alright, stop messing around for now,” Ian said softly.
“Even though we rescued Uvogin, it’s still not certain if we can get away smoothly.
We need to leave this place as soon as possible.
Let’s move first.
Oh, right, Uvogin, I didn’t have time to ask you earlier.
You should be able to tell us now, right?
What exactly happened to you?”