"Captain, our target has appeared."
Late at night in Zerta City, at a Zatobi Family facility—a secluded industrial zone—Garo lowered his specialized infrared binoculars and made his report.
"Copy that. All units be advised, commence the operation."
Xiang Nan's voice crackled through the earpiece.
This privately owned industrial park was one of the Zatobi Family's assets. At the moment, nearly no workers were there—only a few mafia soldiers patrolling, because the majority of their men had been sent out to clash with the Vick Family.
…
"He's here already?"
In the factory's surveillance room, Mia watched Xiang Nan anxiously.
She was quite aware of how terrifying Nen users could be.
"Yes."
Xiang Nan nodded.
Their surveillance screens showed no sign of Makosi; clearly, he'd avoided all the cameras. Even the mafia guards hadn't noticed him. For a Nen user, infiltrating this heavily guarded space was child's play.
"As long as you can guarantee my safety, I'll agree to anything."
Mia suddenly turned serious toward Xiang Nan.
From her perspective, if she could stay alive, she still had a shot at rebuilding the Zatobi Family's prestige. She'd willingly sacrifice the entire family if it saved her own life.
Smart as she was, she quickly realized Xiang Nan's plan: he was using her as bait to lure out Vick's Nen user. In other words, Xiang Nan was prepared to sacrifice her to kill the Nen user. From the start, she'd only been a tool to him.
"Don't worry…I won't let you die." Xiang Nan read her misgivings, giving her a faint smile and drumming his fingers on the console. This woman truly had sharp instincts—she also knew how to read the situation. A rare female mafia boss, she'd be willing to forfeit her entire family if it meant survival. That resolute streak and broad vision showed she was capable of handling big things.
Xiang Nan had learned about the Zatobi Family's past. Mia stood out from a crowd of potential heirs and took firm control of the inner circle. Her cunning and leadership were no joke.
"Given our time together, you've probably guessed a bit about who I am—but you couldn't find any files on me, right?" Xiang Nan said calmly, staring at Mia. "To be frank, we're a special-ops squad from the army. The resources and power we can mobilize are way beyond what you imagine. If we really wanted to destroy a few local mafia families, we wouldn't have to jump through all these hoops."
"…"
Mia's face paled.
"Our operation only targets certain unruly Nen users. You mafia bosses… aren't really on the menu. You might say everything happening in Zerta City right now is just my personal interest."
"…"
Mia couldn't fully grasp what Xiang Nan meant.
"Do you know why I sought you out?" Xiang Nan smoothly changed the subject. "Because you're sensible—someone who knows how to adapt, like how you latched onto a bigger mafia group. I'll keep my promise: I'll help you become the sole remaining force in Zerta City. In return, you'll serve as my 'eyes' in the underworld."
"I may need intel on the underworld later; I want your assistance. With my help, your Zatobi Family can grow even stronger. We can have a mutually beneficial partnership." Xiang Nan's words were polite, but Mia wasn't foolish. She heard the real message: from now on, he would be the hidden master of the Zatobi Family, and she'd be a docile pawn.
"Captain, the target might've entered Zone 4. We can't pinpoint him or follow."
A teammate's voice came over Xiang Nan's earpiece.
"He's coming. You'd better decide quickly," Xiang Nan said, switching off the surveillance feed. His expression cooled. If Mia refused, she'd be left as bait with no hope of rescue; if she accepted, he'd intervene and save her life. She had no real alternative—completely passive.
"All right."
Mia gave a simple nod.
"I despise betrayal. Once this is over, if I find you've been scheming behind my back, we'll definitely meet again."
"Pleasure doing business," Xiang Nan said calmly.
"…"
Mia stayed silent.
…
Elsewhere, in the darkness, a figure flickered across the ground and rooftops like a phantom. His speed made him virtually undetectable to the mafia patrols. Even though dozens of meters away, a few armed goons strolled around, not one of them sensed his presence. It was as if he passed right before their eyes without raising any alarm.
That man was Makosi, the Emitter from the Vick Family.
His blond hair gleamed in the faint light, and he even hummed a little tune with one hand in a pocket, strolling casually among the factory buildings. He looked more like a tourist than a murderer. But his relaxed demeanor masked keen vigilance.
In the underworld, Vick was Zerta City's strongest mafia, overshadowing Zatobi. They'd even planted spies inside Zatobi, yet the details about any "outside help" Mia might have found remained elusive. The timeframe was too short, and Mia had kept everything well under wraps.
Meanwhile, on the streets, the two families were still locked in fierce combat. But they'd received a tip about Mia's "safe house." The place bristled with normal guards, irrelevant to Makosi. He could essentially walk right past them unnoticed, especially after activating his aura technique—Zetsu—to hide his presence.
"No special aura so far… No sign of another Nen user."
Makosi murmured quietly. He ran a hand along the cold walls, glancing warily around. Though he seemed at ease, he was ready for trouble.
If the enemy did have a strong ally, they would be unstoppable. But if they truly had a trump card, they wouldn't be letting Zatobi's men fight so desperately. That was Makosi's logic. Without absolute clarity, it was best to probe carefully. He also didn't want to show his hand unless sure he could kill Mia in one strike.
"Heh…"
Makosi smoothed his slicked-back blond hair, then bent slightly, activating his Nen ability. From his sleeve, rats started spilling out, gathering in a pack at his feet. Amusingly, each rat's head carried a small numbered tag, from 1 to 30, exactly 30 rats.
With a single mental command, the swarm scurried off up the stairs.
~~~
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