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"If it were that simple, I wouldn't be hiring you," Alex said as he finished the last sip of his drink and set the glass back down. He looked directly at Elijah. "Also, don't forget—you promised me three 50% discounts."

"Ugh… Don't worry. I'm not the type to back out of a deal," Elijah sighed, leaning forward to refill Alex's glass. He then pulled a cigar from the nearby box and offered it to Alex.

During the fourth round of the Hunter Exam, the two had crossed paths because of Killian, and Alex used that chance to request Elijah's business card. Later, when Alex fought Hisoka, Elijah even stepped in to save Hisoka.

Logically, there should've been animosity between them. But the reason things were so amicable now was because, after the Hunter Exam, Elijah had taken the initiative to reach out.

Even though the contact info came from the card Elijah had given him, the Zoldyck family's intelligence network made it easy to track Alex down.

As for Elijah's motive? It was to resolve the conflict that arose from saving Hisoka. Alex had nearly killed Hisoka, and his strength made him a threat Elijah couldn't ignore. So, to avoid having a powerful enemy, Elijah offered three 50% discounts as compensation—and Alex accepted.

Three 50% discounts might not seem like much, but for someone like Elijah, whose assassination fees were sky-high, that kind of deal could save a fortune.

Alex accepted the cigar and, using a fine thread between his fingers, neatly sliced off the tip.

A flame sparked in front of him—it was Shiba, who extended her slender index finger and casually ignited it with a flick.

Unfazed, Alex leaned in and lit the cigar, puffing slowly. The rising smoke added a haze of mystery to his face.

"Good to hear. If you want, I can transfer the payment in advance," he said, exhaling a thin stream of smoke.

Elijah glanced briefly at Shiba, whose flame had vanished as quickly as it appeared, and then returned his attention to Alex.

"No need. You can call me when the time comes," Elijah replied. "But when you said it was 'possible'—does that mean you haven't completely decided whether to go after the Phantom Troupe yet?"

"That's right," Alex said calmly, tapping ash from his cigar. "The opportunity I'm expecting hasn't fully materialized. But whether it happens soon or not, it's just a matter of time before I deal with them."

"Got it. Just let me know when you're ready," Elijah said with a nod, acknowledging the unofficial order.

"Now that business is done, let's talk about something more personal," Alex said with a sly grin. "When we last spoke, you mentioned something called the 'Taboo List.' What exactly is that? I've been curious ever since."

Elijah didn't hesitate to answer.

"Ah, that. The Taboo List is a list of people we, as a family, will never take assassination contracts against. Basically, it includes people we can't afford to offend."

"So there are limits to who the Zoldyck family will go after?" Alex asked, intrigued.

"Yes. And it's not a secret," Elijah said casually. "The list exists for good reason."

Alex leaned back thoughtfully. "So what qualifies someone to be on that list?"

Though he was currently the client, there was always the chance that someone might one day place a hit on him. Knowing how the Zoldyck family operated was vital.

"Power and influence," Elijah explained. "Once your strength or authority reaches a certain threshold, you're considered untouchable."

"Like a senior member of the V5… or someone as powerful as Netero?" Alex asked, his eyes glinting.

"Exactly," Elijah nodded. "Those kinds of people are on the list."

He then looked at Alex with a slight smirk.

"If you want to get on it, you'll have to work hard. I might not be able to accept your contracts anymore—but my father or grandfather might still take the job."

"Fair enough," Alex chuckled. "It's good motivation to keep getting stronger."

He wasn't naive. Just because the Zoldycks were playing nice now didn't mean they wouldn't take a contract on him in the future—especially if the money was right.

After a pause, Alex glanced at Elijah and asked, "By the way, do you have Hisoka's contact information?"

Elijah froze for a brief moment, his hand halfway to his glass.

"Hisoka? Haven't seen him in a while," he said after a beat. "The last time was when I saved him. He hired me back then."

He took a sip of wine and looked back at Alex, feigning curiosity.

Alex smirked knowingly. He didn't believe for a second that Elijah had truly lost contact with Hisoka.

"Relax. I just want to talk to him. Oh, and if he hasn't fully recovered yet, never mind—I'll find him myself."

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