Chapter 146: Zeno × Silva
March 15th arrived before long.
During this time, the Field family had been preparing for Cheko's rise to power. The cities near their base had turned into battlegrounds for gangs, and even ordinary people had begun to hear rumors.
These outlaws from the underworld seemed to have come to pay respects to a powerful mafia figure.
Everything appeared calm nothing unusual.
There was still no sign of the Spiders' movements.
Haze could already foresee what would happen on March 18th.
"...You should move on."
Kurapika's solitary training had come to an end after less than two months.
First came the forced awakening of Nen; second, Haze directly provided him with ideas for development, saving Kurapika the trouble of figuring things out on his own. These two stages usually consumed the most time, but Haze had shortened them drastically. In less than two months, he guided Kurapika in laying a solid Nen foundation, then in becoming familiar with and mastering his abilities.
As a teacher, Haze was excellent ... so Kurapika's progress was naturally swift.
Although his talent didn't quite compare to Killua's or Gon's, it was still far above that of an average person.
The transformed Kurapika now carried chains on his right hand. His eyes and demeanor had lost their innocence. During this time, Haze not only supervised his training but also taught him much about Nen users and the surrounding world.
He gave Kurapika a foundational understanding of Nen ...
especially of the Phantom Troupe,
and how their power compared to that of ordinary users.
"...You're not leaving?"
Kurapika asked calmly, glancing up at a private spacecraft hovering above them.
Three days remained until the decisive date. If Haze didn't depart soon, it would be too late.
"Don't worry, I'll be there… But if you stay with me now, you'll get dragged into trouble," Haze replied with a faint smile.
The Field family's private ship landed nearby, and a group of subordinates in black suits ... along with several Nen users ... stepped out and bowed respectfully to Haze.
"Trouble?"
Kurapika frowned slightly but didn't press the issue.
He then boarded a small ship and departed.
The Nen users who disembarked formed a line before Haze.
"Not bad," Haze muttered with a small nod.
He wasn't referring to their strength.
After that, Haze didn't go anywhere else; he simply stayed deep within the mountains.
Hours later, as night fell and the stars began to gleam along the horizon, his phone suddenly rang.
Without surprise, Haze answered.
"You've arrived?"
"Yes."
Inside one of the Field family's palaces, Illumi Zoldyck responded.
Beside him were David and Field Lily, the latter seated in a wheelchair.
"So in this little game… I only need to protect these two, right? The rest don't matter?" Illumi asked.
"That's right," Haze confirmed.
"What about the Ten Dons?" Illumi pressed.
"The Ten Dons are also members of the Mafia. Strictly speaking, they're allies of the Field family in this game. If anything goes wrong, even the death of a few could shake the entire underworld structure, causing global chaos."
"And your fee is per person," Haze added dryly, aware of the reminder hidden in Illumi's tone.
"There's no need… they're just decoys."
"You plan to use the Spiders to kill the Ten Dons? To tighten your control over the criminal world? No wonder you didn't transfer them ... you're raising the stakes, huh?" Illumi smirked. "I've dealt with Chrollo before; he's cautious. In this case, if those two don't appear, it'll raise suspicion. And he surely knows how important they are to you."
"I can help you kill the Spiders, you know. I'll even give you a discount," Illumi offered again, hoping for extra pay. "Besides eliminating targets, I'm also excellent at keeping clients alive."
"No need," Haze yawned. "You're just an observer in this game. Just watch. You're not short on money, are you?"
"…"
That was a veiled jab at Illumi's stinginess ... and he caught it.
"Besides what I pay you, Hisoka also gave you a bonus," Haze added quietly. "Don't think I don't know."
"Ah… by the way, where are you now?" Illumi asked, awkwardly changing the subject.
"I'll send my location later ... so your two relatives won't have to search for me."
"You guessed it?" Illumi's tone revealed mild surprise.
"Your grandfather and father, right?" Haze smiled.
"Exactly. That's why I said I could help you deal with them. With those two around, you might not make it in time."
"As long as it's not Maha… it's fine," Haze replied calmly.
He had already been keeping an eye on the bounty placed on him by the Zoldyck family. Even if the Phantom Troupe could afford to hire them, they would have to alter the mission. If the target was assassination, it would likely be Maha himself who came.
Sending Zeno and Silva instead likely meant only interference.
In such a case, hiding was pointless ...
Even without Illumi's notice, Zeno and Silva could find him easily.
That was the strength of the Zoldycks ... their unparalleled experience as assassins,
a legacy that placed them firmly atop the killer hierarchy.
Even without official channels, the moment a conflict erupted in the Republic of Padokia, there was always the risk of being discovered.
"Confident, aren't you?" Illumi muttered.
"You have my exact location too. That info didn't come cheap, right?"
"Mhm," Haze replied. He knew Illumi well ... greedy to the core, always scheming for profit.
Each Zoldyck worked independently, but on tough jobs, they cooperated for mutual benefit. However, money was always the decisive factor. Merely selling Haze's coordinates probably earned Zeno and Silva a generous sum.
"That's all," Haze said, hanging up.
Illumi also ended the call. He glanced at his younger brother, Kurt, standing beside him ... dressed in a dark kimono, his features delicate and almost feminine.
Then he turned toward David and Field Lily.
"Do you need my help to kill the Spiders? I've known Haze for years, but this will be our first meeting. If you become my clients, I can offer a first-time discount."
"Everything within the Field family is under that man's control," David replied respectfully. "Since he's already made his arrangements, we have no right to interfere with his thoughts or plans."
"I see." Illumi nodded and said no more.
March 18th, Noon.
Haze finally welcomed the "guests" he had been expecting.
A commotion erupted in the forest ...
countless birds fled in terror,
and the cries of frightened beasts echoed through the trees.
It was as if something monstrous was approaching.
Haze, who had been lying on the ground seemingly asleep, stretched lazily and smiled.
"So, you've finally arrived…"
Several Field family Nen users nearby sensed something and their expressions darkened.
A minute later, two figures appeared side by side in their line of sight. The invisible pressure radiating from them seemed to darken the once-bright sky, casting the area in a cold, shadowy gloom.
The mafia members around Haze went pale under the crushing aura.
They could feel their willpower and fighting spirit being devoured.
"You two aren't lost, are you?" Haze asked with a teasing grin, stopping about ten steps away.
Zeno stood with his hands clasped behind his back, giving a slight bow.
Silva, still and silent, spared only a passing glance at the others before ignoring them completely.
"Hmph. Arrogant brat… didn't even try to run," Zeno cracked his neck and sneered.
Silva, ever decisive and efficient, wasted no time. Both he and Haze knew why they were here.
"Father," Silva muttered, stepping forward.
A surge of violent Nen exploded from his body, his gaze fixed on Haze.
It was their first face-to-face meeting in years.
But the Zoldycks had never stopped collecting intel on Haze.
They even knew how many national-level Hunters ... Nen elites ... had fallen to him during his time with the Association.
Now, seeing him in person, Silva was certain of one thing:
In a one-on-one fight… he might not win.
Calling his father along had definitely been the right call.
Words weren't needed ... Zeno immediately understood Silva's thoughts.
Their coordination was instinctive, born of experience.
Zeno too unleashed an overwhelming aura. The twin eruptions of Nen were like volcanic blasts; their life force far surpassed the limits of a normal human body ... they were like walking natural disasters.
Silva's plan was simple:
wipe out Haze's subordinates instantly,
let Zeno hold him off,
then finish the fight together ... two-on-one.
One was world-class.
The other, sub-world-class at his peak.
Compared to them, Haze appeared absurdly relaxed.
His calmness only made their tension grow heavier.
Just as Zeno took a step forward, preparing to strike ...
Haze raised his hand and laughed softly.
"You two are here to stop me, right? That means there's no need to fight. Why waste the effort?"
"Huh?"
Both assassins froze mid-step.
"What do you mean?" Zeno narrowed his eyes.
"I never planned to leave… nor to return to the Field territory," Haze said.
"What's your game, boy?" Zeno demanded. "Think you can fool me?"
"I'm already here. Even if you leave now, it'll be too late if you don't keep me under watch… right?"
"…"
"In short, your job is to monitor me. As long as I behave, you get paid easily."
Silva glanced at his father.
Indeed… Haze didn't seem interested in fighting at all.
"Every passing second makes my words more believable," Haze added with a smirk, then lay back down again.
"The scenery's beautiful here. The night view's even better."
Something's off… Zeno thought.
But since Haze had no intention of fighting, there was no point in forcing one. Watching him would suffice.
Still, they couldn't let their guard down.
Silva sat cross-legged, eyes locked on Haze.
Zeno walked off in another direction.
(End of Chapter)