[135]: Neon Again

Seeing Maro's offended expression,

Gon immediately shut his mouth.

That reaction…

It pretty much confirmed the auction had ties to Pelisha

By mid-August, Cyr and his group finally arrived in Yorknew City.

But the atmosphere this time…

Was completely different from before.

It was as if everyone had suddenly become kind and welcoming,

Like the entire city was filled with good-hearted people.

Even when they ate at restaurants or went shopping,

There were people rushing to cover their bills—

Which completely stunned Gon, who was visiting for the first time.

"Is this place really run by the mafia?"

He asked, utterly confused.

Sure, it was nice that people were so friendly,

But when he thought about how this city was crawling with gangsters,

It just didn't add up.

"You know what? I feel the same way."

Killua nodded in agreement.

Based on everything he knew about the mafia…

How could a city under their control feel so wholesome?

"…That's because every place we've been to belongs to the mafia."

Cyr replied casually,

While inspecting an old, worn-out shrine.

Their hotel was owned by Pelisha.

The restaurants too.

And most of the shops?

Also had some mafia connections.

So the reason people were treating them so well

Was because the gangsters here probably recognized him and Maro.

"That's exactly why it's weird!"

Killua muttered under his breath.

If the mafia was being this nice,

They definitely had some kind of hidden agenda.

But…

Even if they did, it wasn't his problem.

A carefree smirk appeared on Killua's face.

He didn't like killing innocent or good-hearted people.

He hated being used as an assassin.

But if he had to kill someone—

He wouldn't hesitate.

"Neon said she's coming to Yorknew too…"

Cyr muttered, taking a crunching bite out of some unknown fruit,

Eyes focused on his phone.

"Tch…"

Killua turned his head toward Maro,

Because he had just heard the grinding sound of clenched teeth.

And it wasn't his imagination.

"That woman…"

Maro's fists tightened,

Knuckles cracking from the pressure.

"How dare she disturb you again?!

She really doesn't know her place!"

Woman?

Connected to Cyr??

Killua and Gon exchanged glances,

Their ears immediately perking up,

Holding their breath—

Because this was starting to sound like juicy gossip.

"Hmm… Didn't Dalzollene say he was wiring us some money?" Cyr shrugged.

"Let's just think of her as a client."

A very wealthy client.

After getting Cyr's contact,

Neon had been bombarding him with messages,

Sometimes sending dozens a day.

Even when he ignored her, she kept sending them—

Sharing every little detail of her life,

As if he were her best friend.

Cyr was starting to suspect she actually saw him as her BFF.

But every single time Neon spammed him,

Dalzollene would end up sending money to Maro.

By now, all those random payments had added up to…

About 10 billion Jenny.

So Cyr had yet to block her,

Figuring he might as well get paid for being a terrible listener.

"Neon… Who's that?"

Killua's eyes suddenly curved,

His expression dripping with mischief.

"Don't tell me she's your…"

His voice was loaded with implication,

A smirk full of undeniable innuendo—

As if he and Cyr were both in on some secret.

"My fans… are just like Maro."

Cyr thought for a moment, glanced at Maro, and spoke with certainty.

Obsessive fangirls and fanboys—

They were essentially the same.

And honestly…

Neon's devotion was just about on par with Maro's.

The only difference?

Maro's obsession was a lot more twisted.

At least Neon never considered killing every other fan.

But Maro?

Maro genuinely wanted to eliminate anyone who got too close to Cyr.

"Ugh… Never mind."

Killua instantly lost interest.

If she was like Maro,

That meant she was like his own shut-in older brother,

The chubby otaku who screamed "Wife!"

At his anime figurines.

"Neon said she wants to hang out with us…"

Cyr absentmindedly touched his chin, then suddenly looked at Maro.

"Ask Dalzollene if the Nostrade family is ready to pay up."

The silver-haired, blue-eyed boy's lips curled into a mocking smile,

His tone light and teasing,

But his gaze was eerily calm and detached.

Like an observer who would never be moved by anything.

—

August 31st

Neon Nostrade's private airship landed at Rim Palace Airport.

A group of people transferred to black sedans—

Newly appointed bodyguards were assigned to different cars,

While Dalzollene, as team captain, sat with Neon herself.

A fleet of black sedans moved through the city streets, yet no one batted an eye.

Because during this season,

This kind of scene was a daily occurrence in Yorknew.

Mafia bosses from all over the world

Were arriving with increasingly ridiculous entourages.

Compared to them,

The Nostrade convoy was actually pretty low-key.

Inside the car,

Dalzollene handed the purple-blue-haired girl a thick stack of papers,

Each containing detailed information on different people.

"This is the September list—"

But before he could finish,

He was cut off.

"This is too much.

Didn't I already say I wouldn't do it if it got this bad?"

Neon turned her head away,

Clearly uninterested in taking the papers.

"Yes, but these people have close ties to your father…" Dalzollene sighed, trying to convince her.

Being stuck between the Boss and the Young Miss was hell.

"Dad's a liar anyway."

Neon huffed, crossing her arms.

"He promised to come with me,

But I bet he's with his mistress again."

"Uh…"

Dalzollene winced,

Completely at a loss for words.

"Cyr is in Yorknew too."

Neon's eyes suddenly lit up,

Her voice taking on a demanding tone.

"Unless… Let me go find him!"

"…"

Dalzollene expression stiffened.

He wanted to say that Cyr would probably

charge them an outrageous amount,

But then he remembered the Boss's orders—

"Whatever Neon wants, she gets."

"…Alright."

Dalzollene nodded.

"Then it's settled!"

Neon happily snatched the stack of papers,

Finally willing to start work.

Every month, her "job" was to use her abilities

To make prophecies for various mafia bosses and big shots.

As soon as she finished,

She excitedly pulled out her phone.

"Let's go find Cyr!"

Dalzollene didn't even have time to stop her

Before she suddenly froze.

"…He says he just got busy with something else.

No time to hang out."

"Ugh…"

She slumped into her seat,

Pouting in frustration.

"…"

Dalzollene sighed and pulled out his own phone,

Preparing to negotiate with someone.

Somewhere in Yorknew…

Cyr was leisurely strolling down a busy street,

Eating, drinking, and casually bargain-hunting.

Then—

He suddenly stopped.

A thin trickle of blood slid from his nostril.

Without missing a beat,

He pulled out a tissue,

Casually wiping his nosebleed.

"Oi, what's wrong with you?"

Killua eyed him suspiciously.

"Got a bit too much heat."

Cyr's reply was nonchalant,

But his gaze was locked on something distant—

Something far beyond what Killua could see.

Some decently strong people

Had just entered Yorknew's borders.

The Spiders?

The auction was starting tomorrow,

So they'd probably make their move

Either tonight or tomorrow.

As he thought about it,

Cyr casually sent Neon a message—

"Busy. No time."

The Nostrades were generous,

But this?

This was finally getting interesting.

And money could take a backseat—

For now.

°°°

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