"Alright, alright."
Kaizen and Ponzu switched seats.
Ponzu moved into the driver's seat.
Kaizen sat up front in the passenger seat.
Taking advantage of the downtime, he closed his eyes for a short rest.
There was a high chance things would get violent tonight.
According to the intel from Tucker, their opponent wasn't beyond Kaizen's abilities to handle.
Especially now, after the appearance of Toriko, Kaizen's strength had grown significantly.
Still, even if it was just a rabbit, a lion should go all out.
Kaizen needed to be in peak condition.
The journey was divided into three segments:
The first—three hours.
The second—four hours.
And the last—another three.
Kaizen drove for six hours, Ponzu for four. After ten hours total, they finally reached the city Tucker had mentioned.
Kaizen stored the car in his Sumas space and stepped into the city.
He found a quiet corner, pulled out his phone, and made a call.
"Tuck, I'm here."
"Excellent," Tucker responded, the surprise in his tone barely concealed. "Where exactly? I'll send someone to pick you up."
Kaizen glanced around and picked a visible landmark.
After a moment, Tucker said, "Alright, wait there. My people will be there soon."
...
A car pulled up shortly after.
Kaizen scanned the area to confirm there was nothing suspicious, then nodded for Ponzu to follow.
Tucker was an old acquaintance.
They weren't as close as Kaizen and Wendy, but their relationship was decent.
Still, even a good friend couldn't be fully trusted—not unless they were family.
And Tucker wasn't a Zoldyck.
Kaizen stayed alert. That was just his way.
"Kaizen-san, Tucker-san asked me to bring you straight to him. Who's this?" the driver asked, glancing at Ponzu.
"My team."
Kaizen didn't elaborate.
"Got it~"
The driver didn't pry further.
They drove north. The city looked normal on the surface—crowds, traffic—but there was an undercurrent of unease.
Kaizen was familiar with this country.
He knew at a glance: the city mirrored the nation—outwardly stable, inwardly rotten.
Eventually, a manor appeared on the horizon.
The car approached a side gate.
A butler peeked out, confirmed the driver's identity, and let them through.
Not far inside, a familiar figure came out to greet them.
It was Tucker.
Older than Kaizen by a bit, but much weaker in terms of strength. Tucker was currently just a B-rank Nen user.
Kaizen exhaled softly.
"Kaizen. Long time no see."
"Yeah. Been a while, Tucker."
They shook hands.
Tucker nodded toward Ponzu. "And this is...?"
"Ponzu. She's part of my team."
"Hello," she said politely.
"Hello," Tucker replied with a nod.
That was the end of the pleasantries.
Tucker led them to a high vantage point in the manor. From here, the whole estate was visible—wide grounds, dense buildings, and bright lights concentrated in the central area.
Tall walls surrounded the property. Sentry towers and patrol guards dotted the perimeter.
Most of the guards were ordinary people.
But the team leaders were Nen users.
As far as defense went, this place was tight.
Tucker pointed toward the central building.
"That's where Karoo is. He's our target to protect."
"According to earlier reports, the Dark Night group plans to assassinate him in the next few days."
"We still don't know what method they'll use."
"It could be infiltration, a frontal assault, or some elaborate trick."
"This group is insane."
"They specifically target people of high status. And they always make sure the target knows they're coming."
"They've succeeded every time."
"Even when we prepped in advance, we couldn't stop them."
"They've made a name for themselves."
"They're not just killing—they're building a reputation."
"People in this country fear them like the plague."
"They're more dangerous than the Red Trang gang we once investigated."
Tucker's eyes gleamed with loathing. His hatred for the Dark Night was clear.
"Kaizen, I'm counting on you tonight."
Kaizen looked over calmly.
"I'll handle the job I accepted. Nothing more."
"I understand."
Tucker respected the Zoldyck code.
That was just how they operated.
"Then I'll leave this area to you. I'll take the east side."
"...Alright."
Tucker turned to leave.
A young man glanced back and forth between Tucker and Kaizen before hurrying after.
"Tucker-san, who is that guy? Is he really worth your respect? He doesn't seem that strong. And the way he acts—so arrogant. Isn't he just a mercenary?"
"Shut your mouth!"
Tucker shot him a glare.
"You don't know anything."
"Kaizen's not just a friend. He's stronger than I am."
"If you can't understand that, just keep quiet."
"I don't need foolish subordinates. Next time you talk like that, you're gone."
The young man lowered his head quickly.
"Y-yes, Tucker-san. I was wrong."
Tucker snorted and walked off.
The young man watched him go, eyes flickering with resentment.
"Arrogant bastard."
"You think you're special?"
"You're just a toy to the nobles."
"The moment they get bored of you, you'll be discarded."
"And when that happens, I'll be the one they turn to."
...
Once Tucker left, only Kaizen and Ponzu remained.
"Captain, what's our next move?"
Kaizen nodded.
"This is a good chance to get real combat data. Spread your bees throughout the manor. Keep Bee Radar active."
"Got it."
Ponzu summoned her bee radar.
A dozen small bees buzzed out, flying in different directions.
They blended in perfectly—not unusual in a city like this.
The hum of their wings was barely audible.
Ponzu monitored the radar as tiny dots lit up the screen, each one representing a bee's signal.
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