Part 69: Infiltrating X The X Underworld

"It's an insignia of Hades."

As soon as I heard that name of a god, not to mention the god of the underworld, there were many things that were flowing in my mind, but there was one thing that I was sure of.

It was the Hades Auction Management.

They were the auction agency that my father worked at before as an auctioneer. It was also the reason why he was under house arrest and even betraying him by not giving the money he deserved.

That means that they were the ones who burned our house down. It's not just that they hurt him like before, fooling him into betraying me, but they also destroyed the home that we were living in.

At that time, I didn't feel any emotion other than anger, and all I could think of was to go to their building and destroy it with my own hands.

I wanted to watch them suffer. I wanted to watch them struggling and being tortured.

I wanted to kill them.

Then, my breathing suddenly became unusual. It was like the whole atmosphere became thin and my mind could only think of that one thing.

I started imagining myself bathing in their own blood while repeatedly stabbing and torturing them. Even without doing anything, I could hear their screams of pain inside my head. I couldn't help but make it real, right here and now.

"Secco?"

As I was about to get lost in my train of thought, I heard a familiar voice echoing in my mind. Then, I came back to reality. I lifted my head and saw Killua wearing a worried face.

"Are you alright?" He asked. He must have noticed me feeling down at what I heard. True, there's nothing that I could hide from him.

"Y-Yeah, I'm fine..." I tried to lie, along with a fake smile, but for the nth time, I knew that it wasn't working.

I was ashamed of myself for pouring too many emotions in front of Killua. And not just him, even Gon and Alluka too. I must try to hide my anger from them or else, they'll think that I'm a terrible person.

But at least right now, I have a clue my father could possibly be. When I checked the house a year ago, I expected that he will come back. Then, little did I know, something bad happened to him.

So I decided to infiltrate Hades' headquarters in order to look for him. Of course, I wouldn't hurt them unless it will be necessary. I'll just need answers to my questions, and they're the only ones who can give them.

Alluka and Gon started walking in the direction towards Grenno's office to return, seemed oblivious about what was happening right now. As they finally disappeared in my sight under the moonlight sky, I went to the opposite road.

The desire to go and give Hades the taste of their own medicine filled my mind right now. I couldn't think of anything else other than revenge and bringing back my father. He was the only family I have, and I couldn't afford to lose him.

"Where are you going?"

All of a sudden, a familiar voice from behind made me stop in my tracks, but I didn't flinch. Even without turning my head to take a peek at his face, I already know that it was Killua. That cold voice that was threatening one's life couldn't just belong to someone else. I've never heard it for a long time.

But I didn't listen, no matter how I wanted to turn my head to look at his face, especially those cobalt blue eyes under the moonlight. What I will do right now is much more important.

I continued to walk after refusing to answer his question. I don't have time for it.

"Hey!" He yelled, seems like picking a fight with me. It doesn't seem scary like before, but it was still commanding.

At the same time, he pushed my shoulder so I can turn my head to him. There, I saw his eyes, but they seemed different. It wasn't sparkling and cheerful. I could see wordiness written on it.

Of course, I couldn't just deny him after looking at me like that. Thus, all I did was to continued walking.

"To Hades," I answered. He already knew where I am going, but he would prefer for me to say it. He wanted me to realize what I am doing, but I can't just back down now.

With that, I continued walking. Thankfully, the Hades Auction Management HQ was just a few streets ahead of us. There's no need for transportation.

But it seems like he doesn't like what I just responded to. Of course. There's no psychological trick that could stop me from getting my revenge.

"Stop it!" He yelled, but I didn't bother to turn my head around. I expected that he will just give me deadly glares. I could even feel the gaze tingling my back.

But of course, that didn't stop me. I pretended I didn't hear anything and just took a step forward.

I couldn't help but feel that he was annoying me. It made me irritated just to hear him trying to stop me.

"Are you listening?" He yelled once again and this time, my anger skyrocketed to the top level. "It's dangerous, you idiot!"

He was irritating. He was frustrating. Out of nowhere, I had the feeling that I don't want him around anymore. That I don't need him anymore.

"I don't care."

Because my blood is already boiling in rage, I said those words while looking into his eyes. I want to threaten him to mind his business, but I wasn't sure if that's what he was seeing in my face right now.

He seemed shocked because of it. Cold sweat poured from his forehead and his eyes were shivering as he has never seen me like this before.

That was the time I realize that I wasn't being myself anymore, and me too, made myself surprised. I couldn't help but to have the same expression as Killua.

What am I saying? What am I doing?

He was just worried about my safety and yet, I denied it so strongly. It's like he wasn't my friend at all. It's like I didn't love him at all.

I couldn't help but question my own mind again. I'm not even sure if this is my brain inside me. Because it felt like someone else's.

It also happened earlier and the other day. It felt like I was too angry over something so simple, whether it's a cat stealing my meal or an errand interrupting our fun times.

I have to change this mindset.

"I-I'm sorry..." I said, with my head lowered, refused to let him see my face. Now, I'm too embarrassed to look at him.

He was precious to me and yet, I thought of him as an annoying person. I don't know if he'll forgive me, and I don't know if I'll forgive myself.

I lifted my head and released a fake smile. Of course, he could see right through it, but I couldn't think of anything else to make him believe my words.

"Don't worry, Killua," I said. "I'll be fine on my own. I just wanted to talk to them."

And another lie, but I don't care anymore. He already knew the anger I could feel towards Hades, but he just didn't want to talk to me about it. There's nothing I could do about him. He might follow me as I go towards their headquarters.

With those words, I continued walking to my destination. I could feel his presence behind me, but I just ignored it. As long as he won't interrupt in my plans, I wouldn't mind him following me.

After an hour, we finally made it to the headquarters. The tall and massive building blended along with the others and not to mention, there was no logo or sign displayed in front of the door.

It would be hard for normal people to look for it, keeping the government from discovering their illegal auctions. But since my father always stopping in this place whenever I go to school before, I already know that they were residing here.

And I hope that they were ready to face me and my wrath.

I couldn't be able to enter the front door due to the bunch of guards roaming around it, and they seemed tough with their big-built bodies. So I decided to go to their back yard and there, I saw a closed door surrounded by two guards and lesser security.

I remembered my father tried to sneak me in when we got the chance back in my childhood. It was nerve-racking, but at least we ended up not getting caught.

After just a few minutes, we managed to eliminate the two guards by knocking them unconscious. Killua didn't have a choice but to help me with my goal of talking with the head. Unless I'll do something funny, he won't try to stop me for now.

That made me felt relieved. I never intended to argue with him in the first place. He and the others are my precious friend, and I don't want to lose them.

***

The hallway was empty and quiet, and it seemed that their footsteps blended along with it. With their cautious walking in the corridors of the building, they didn't encounter anyone that could threaten them. If there was, then they weren't that hard to stop.

Killua and Secco refused to talk as both of them tried to predict each other's next move. If one will do something bad, breaking the silence between them, then the other one will be the one to fix it. Both of them didn't like each other's company, but in order to lessen their suspicions, they didn't have a choice but to go along with the flow.

But at the same time, a shadow was peeking at the corner of another hallway, staring at the two teens. Their smile widened, reaching both of their ears. They couldn't stop themselves from getting excited over the scene.

Even though he couldn't be able to see it, Killua felt the eyes looking at them. It sent chills down his spine. It was like someone had been licking his ears and breathing on his back. His body hair also stood straight.

He would turn around and look for it out of curiosity, but he knew that it was the worst plan to lure them out. Thus, he continued following Secco, pretending that he never felt the intense aura behind him.

Still, he couldn't help but drop cold sweat from his head. True, he faced numerous strong and scary opponents and allies before, but this time, it wasn't just the fear. It was the creeps.

His friend seemed to not felt the presence. Since she was now filled with anger, she was too focused on the matter at hand.

Then, they ended up in an intersection along the way. Secco never went to the top of the building, where the heads are having a meeting, but she knew the way to it.

It was the right hallway, so she turned around towards that side. With few floors left to travel, she will end up at the top.

Meanwhile, Killua chose to walk the other way. It was like she never tried even to follow her in the first place.

He tried to get the shadow away from Secco in order to keep her safe, thus letting him getting followed. He could still feel them from behind him. If he was an ordinary kid, he would cry and run away.

Secco doesn't seem to notice this, which is even better on his side. After knowing about her state, that when she will feel angry, she will feel much worse. He doesn't want that to happen.

The hallway that he walked through ended up on a corner, with a locked storage room beside it. Nowhere else to run, he turned around on his back and prepared for any threat ahead.

"Come out!" He yelled, inviting the stalker himself. He waited for it to respond to what he said while positioning into one of his battle poses.

Then, footsteps started to be heard in the corridor as it slowly revealing itself from the dark.

"Heh... So you found me." He said as the footsteps kept getting closer and closer from where Killua stood.

Finally, he revealed himself from him, but still, his wide smile couldn't be able to remove, showing his sharp pointy teeth like that of a shark.

His eyes were bright ruby red, as well as the nerves on his eyeballs. Because of his hood, his face wasn't completely shown, but Killua could see his purple wrinkled skin behind it. This continued to the tip of his fingers.

It's like he was a monster in just a shape of a human being.

"The name's Maurice." He introduced, as he walked forward step by step. "Killua, right? From the famous assassin family."

It wasn't a surprise to the young boy. His family was popular in the underground society, especially in Yorknew City.

"Well, you'll be a good collection to Secco's anger." He added. Then, his red eyes glowed more as he glared at him intensely. His smirk became wider, that even his skin couldn't stretch more.

"If you get killed, that is."