Risotto's POV
It was getting close to evening. It was slowly starting to get dark.
Risotto and everyone else walked slowly down the street and listened to Giaccio, Illuso, and Melone's report.
- ...Well, when those bastards took off I went back in. - Finished Gyaccio's report.
- I see, - Said Risotto, - So they are 'probing' us.
- Now we have to be as careful as possible. - Said Prosciutto lighting a cigarette, -They will probably want to check us again, and maybe even decide to start acting seriously.
- I think it's time to start acting ourselves. Let's find where these rats are hiding and finish them off before they can attack us. - Giaccio was relatively calm.
- We can't, it's too risky. - Risotto replied, 'We have too little information so far. If we attack now, we may suffer casualties. Besides, we don't know where they're hiding. We need to wait carefully and gather information.
- That's a good plan, but how long should we wait? - Prosciutto asked.
- As long as it takes. There's no need to hurry.
They walked in silence for almost a minute before Pesci asked a question.
- Boss, what do you think our chances are?
- Considering that Gyaccio almost defeated one of them, we have a good chance. But we should also consider that they may not have fought at full strength. But I still think we can do it.
- We definitely have a good chance,' Prosciutto said, 'But there's still one problem, and you know what it is.
- Yes... Their boss. We have no idea who he is, what he has in mind, or why he needs us.
The sun was almost down. They finally got home and talked about what had happened for a while.
Meanwhile. Genii Ryodan's temporary base.
It was almost dark, and only a bunch of candles illuminated this old room, located in some old and abandoned multi-storey building, somewhere on the outskirts of the city. Many of the rooms had ruined furniture, broken windows, and peeling wallpaper.
The samurai who had attacked Gyaccio was sitting on a rock, and in front of him stood a short blond boy dressed in purple clothes. The boy was bandaging the samurai's hands.
- Ouch! You bastard! - The samurai was in pain, - Can't you take it easy?
- Be patient. If Uvogin hadn't intervened, you could have lost your hands. So you got off easy. - The boy answered him
- I know! By the way, why didn't you want to fight, Uvogin? - The samurai turned to the big man who was standing aside in the shade.
- You think I didn't want to? I wanted to fight. But that's just the boss's orders. I'm more interested in why you lost to him so easily, Nobunaga? - Uvogin asked with a slight smirk.
- How was I to know that he would be so strong? And besides, I didn't fight seriously.
After a while the sun finally set. They lit more candles, dragged a whole table from the next room and started playing cards.
- I still don't understand, - Uvogin said, - Why do these guys need the boss?
- I don't know, - Nobunaga answered, - But he said that they should be eliminated, because they could become a serious problem for our business.
- Why don't we just take them all down at once? Why do we have to be so careful? - Uvogin asked again.
- The boss said that we should first assess their strength a little, and then act seriously. - Replied the boy.
They were silent for a few seconds, after which Uvogin spoke.
- By the way, Shalnark, what happened to Hisoka? - Uvogin turned to the boy.
- So you don't know yet, then? He fought in the Celestial Arena and lost, and you wouldn't believe who.
- Who?
- The leader of the guys we're after.
- Oh, really? Is he really that strong?
- I wouldn't say so. They said the fight was almost even. Machi was watching the fight, she'll give us more details when she gets back.
- Well, fuck it, we'll talk about it later, let's keep playing cards. - Said Uvogin after which they continued playing cards without returning to the previous conversation.
Soon the sound of footsteps was heard. A man of medium height, with black slicked back hair, wearing a cloak with an inverted crucifix on the back, a cross tattooed on his forehead, entered the room. It was their boss, Kuroro Lucifer.
- Oh, hey boss. - Said Shalnark, and the others picked up on it.
- Hello, - He said in a rather calm and pleasant voice, - Glad you're in one piece.
- So boss, what do we do next? - Asked Uvogin.
- For now, we're gonna lay low and wait it out. And in about two months we'll get serious.
- I can't wait. - Said Uvogin with a smile on his face.
- I'm going to rest. You recover too, and keep your guard up.
Kuroro left their room and went to the floor above, occasionally looking around to make sure no one was following him. He went into some room that was in pretty good condition. At least there was a fairly intact and clean bed to sleep on.
Suddenly there was a phone call. He answered it.
- How are you doing Kuroro? - A voice came from the phone. - How's the destruction of our enemies going?
- Firstly, not our enemies, but yours. And secondly: I've already gathered enough information, and in about two months, we'll begin to get serious.
- What's taking so long? You're taking too long.
- I'm not going to risk my men. You told me yourself they're quite dangerous, and as it turns out, they are. If I were to send my men into an attack, I'd risk heavy casualties. Plus we have other things to do besides hunting them.
- You're being too cautious. Even if you take heavy casualties, you can still fight your own battles.
- You think I can handle all of them?
- Don't worry about that. If anything, I can help you. With me, you'll have no equal. With me, you can climb to the top of the world.
Kuroro grew a little gloomy. Talking to a man on the phone was obviously not very pleasant for him.
- Whatever you say... - He dropped the call.
Pulling off his cloak, he collapsed onto the bed.
- Top of the world? No equal? - He began to say to himself, -I don't care about any of that. I have a feeling this isn't going to end well.
========== The Lull ==========
The city of Yorkshire. Perhaps one of the most important cities in the world. It's a centre of commerce and corruption. With its entire appearance, structure, even smell, it speaks of being the collective image of the corrupt and corrupt cities of America. In its centre were a great number of hotels, shops, restaurants, and many other buildings that were mostly inaccessible to ordinary people. And on the outskirts were dilapidated and desolate slums.
During the time that Risotto and his companions had lived in this city, they had become more or less accustomed to it. But some of them could not get used to it, like Giaccio, who sometimes liked to get nostalgic about Italy and argue about the city. Others understood him well, but they also realised that now they would probably never go back, so they would have to get used to the conditions here anyway.
Time was running out. Risotto began to take on various assignments. Mostly he did assignments for the mafia, which mostly required him to guard 'important bigwigs'. At least they paid well. Over time, he began to build up a reputation.
It had been almost two months since his last meeting with Genya Ryodan.
One day Risotto was walking around town with Prosciutto and Pesci.
- It's been a while since they've shown up. - Said Prosciutto, -Do you think they've decided to leave us? - He turned to Risotto.
- I don't think so. They wouldn't just leave us behind. Now they probably decided to lie low for a while, so that they could strike later.
- That's probably true. The question is, when will they strike again, and how hard will their next strike be?
- It's hard to say. But it won't be easy.
After a while, they returned to their home where Gyacho met them at the entrance to the building.
- Hey, boss. - He said, 'You've got visitors there.
- Guests? Who is it?
- From what I understand, it's some mafia prick. He's got some business with you.
They went upstairs to their apartment. Risotto went to his flat where his guest was waiting. He was a short, middle-aged man, dressed in a classic black suit.
- Hello, - He began, - You must be Mr Risotto Nero?
- I am. Do you have some business with me?
- First, let's sit down.
Together they sat down at the table.
- So what business do you have with me? - Risotto asked.
- I take it you know whose interests I represent?
Risotto nodded silently.
- You see, soon there will be an Auction 'festival' where all the richest Auction Houses will auction the rarest and most expensive treasures. But our clients are worried about the safety of these very treasures.
- And why would such powerful people want extra security? What or who are you afraid of?
- If it were just ordinary thieves, we wouldn't have come to you. The thing is, we're afraid of being attacked by the Genii Ryodan. They definitely won't want to miss an opportunity like this.
After saying that, Risotto perked up a bit.
- I see you're interested. Good. I got a good reference on you. And I see you've got quite a few people under your command. That's good, extra security won't be a problem.
- And when does this Auction of yours start?
- In about a week.
Risotto's been thinking about it for a while.
- All right, I agree. My men and I will guard you and your treasure.
- That's fine. We'll contact you again in a little while to discuss the details.
The man said his goodbyes and headed out.
Risotto sat at the table and drank the tea he had just prepared. A couple of minutes later, Prosciutto entered the flat.
- What's up? - He asked. - What did he want?
Risotto sat silently at the table for another ten seconds, immersed in his thoughts, and then he spoke.
- We have a new job, Prosciutto. We're gonna guard the Mafia.
- What? Tell me more about it.
- As it turns out, there will soon be some important Auction, where all the richest Auction Houses will auction the rarest and most expensive treasures.
- And they want to hire us to guard those treasures, am I right? - Prosciutto made a guess.
- Quite right. But that's not the point. The point is that the auctioneers are afraid that Genii Ryodan might attack, so they want to hire us.
- Genei Ryodan?! Wait, but why-' Prosciutto abruptly interrupted. It seems he was beginning to realise the whole situation.
- Do you understand now? - Said Risotto with a slight smile.
- It all makes sense now. That's why they haven't attacked all this time. They want to wait for the Auction and attack us there. So they're gonna kill two birds with one stone.
- But we're not gonna give them that easy. - Said Risotto with determination in his voice. - They think they can finish us off and take the treasure, but instead they'll find their own destruction.
Prosciutto smiled.
- That's the kind of attitude I like. But we still have to be careful. Who knows what they're capable of.
- Of course.
Prosciutto left the flat and went to tell everyone else about the current situation.
Risotto continued to sit at the table and ponder.
'One week. Only one week left until probably the first serious clash with Genya Ryodan. But how good are our chances? Speaking of me, I've already reached my limit about a month ago, and this battle will be a major test for me. I think the others will be able to handle it too, they're not stupid and can use their abilities wisely. But there's still something that worries me. It's Prosciutto. I sincerely hope he doesn't have to let his stand out, because he could kill everyone at the Auction.'
He pondered for a moment longer, after which he went to bed.
The next day. Everyone went about their business. Risotto just sat by the window and pondered various things. From the window he could see that Prosciutto and Pesci were patrolling the neighbourhood. Formaggio was walking in the street and playing with stray cats. Illuso was sitting on a bench not far from Formaggio and playing on his phone. Melone and Gyaccio were playing a console in the neighbouring flat. You could tell by Giaccio's occasional swearing, and he seemed to be getting a lot of heat.
Risotto, meanwhile, was doing some kind of training. He was trying to increase his level of iron manipulation. He did this by trying to recreate a rose in his hand as accurately as possible, and he did it quite well. However, this rose was completely cold and lifeless, though there was a certain beauty to it.
Risotto was making it fly in the air. With each metre, it was getting harder and harder to control. Now, however, the manipulation radius had expanded. Whereas before it was a maximum of ten metres, he could now manipulate the iron at twice that distance. However, it was still difficult to manipulate at such a complex level as manipulating iron in blood, it still required at least ten metres.
Suddenly, the phone rang. Risotto placed the rose on the table and answered the call.
- Alo, Risotto, it's me, Kurapika. - A voice came out from the phone, which really belonged to Kurapika.
'Well, finally.' - Thought Risotto with a slight smile on his face.
- Finally. - He said. - I take it you've already mastered Nen?
- I have. I thought you told me to call you as soon as I got hold of Nen.
- You're right. I have a very interesting proposition for you.
- What is it?
- Well, I'm currently fighting against Genya Ryodan, and I'd like to invite you to join me.
- What?! Kurapika was surprised. Risotto could feel his eyes turning a little red even over the phone.
- So, do you agree?
- Wait, wait, wait. The offer is interesting, but I already have another plan to hunt the Spiders.
- I suggest you forget about it. I already have a team to help me fight them. I've also got information that they're about to rob the Yorkshire Auction. We've been hired as security. And they'll probably want to steal the treasure and kill us.
- They're after you?
- Yes. Though we don't know why. I'll tell you more about it if you join us. Come to Yorkshire, our base is there.
- I don't know...' He was silent for almost ten seconds before he spoke again. - All right, so be it. I was going there anyway. I'll be there in a couple of days or so.
- That's fine. When you get there, call me, I'll tell you where to meet me. I'll be waiting for you.
- See you soon. - He said and dropped the call.
Risotto put the phone away and took his metal rose in his hand.
'Great. Looks like we have another ally now. One can only hope he has enough strength for this confrontation.' - Risotto thought while looking at his rose.
***
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