chapter 12

Author's Note: Yes, I wasn't killed and isekai'd by Truck-kun so I'm back.

I want to say that the publishing schedule will be a minimum of 3 to 4 chapters per week and there will be more if my schedule is free.

Hiro's POV

"For the girl named Neon Nostrade, I managed to contact and negotiate with her father," said Illumi calmly.

"Of course, this was made possible so quickly thanks to our family's relationships and the mafia."

"Normally, you should soon receive a long list containing all the enemies and business rivals of the Nostrade family that you'll have to eliminate in exchange for which you'll be able to get this Neon whenever you want."

After answering me, Illumi walked to the other side of the alley.

"Before I leave you until next time, there's something that keeps bothering me for a few weeks while observing you," said Illumi with his back turned.

"Why are you taking all these risks since our fight? From my new understanding of you, you're more the type to take your time in everything, no?" Illumi asked calmly.

I can clearly feel that Illumi had no ulterior motive in asking me this question.

When I listened to Illumi's words, I couldn't help but think back to my fight with him and compare it to other fights that would take place in the future in this world.

"Illumi, all you need to know about me for now is that I desire only more power and nothing harmful to our family," I said, emphasizing the words "our family".

"If you have nothing more to say then goodbye," I said, leaving without looking at Illumi's expression.

...

It had been a few hours since I parted ways with Illumi and night had already fallen.

I had just left a cybercafe after reading the data on the flash drive.

"This time, Illumi gave me a hell of a mission," I muttered with a slightly savage smile on my face.

This time, my target was a rising star of the Celestial Tower, a certain Aoi Kunieda.

According to the information Illumi had given me, she would come from a line of once respected swordmasters but unfortunately, they were in decline for unknown reasons.

The client wanted her dead or captured because she didn't want to become one of his concubines.

Personally, I find it immature to try to kill or abduct a woman when she refuses your advances.

Anyway, the private life of the client and the target was none of my concern, what mattered were the data on her martial skills and whether she could satisfy me.

(author's note: I do not mean satisfy in that way)

"Here it is, this is where she's staying," I said to no one in particular.

Unfortunately, I had developed this bad habit from reading too many books and having no one to discuss them with.

After sneaking into the hotel mentioned in the data Illumi had provided, I started heading towards her hotel room which had already been indicated to me among the information on the flash drive.

I wonder why she'd go sleep in a cheap hotel? Especially since there were very few security cameras.

Normally, a fighter on the 200th floor of the Tower has a superb room reserved for them there, but why is she in a hotel like this?

My extremely sensitive sense of danger due to my contract with the wolf demon and my training in a family of lunatics was nagging me.

"I was expecting you, kid," said an old man sitting alone on the floor in a hallway holding a katana.

"It was a trap after all, huh?" I involuntarily let out.

"Not quite," said the old man, standing up.

After he stood up, I could see him better: an old man with a face marked by wrinkles, white hair and black eyes.

He wore a kimono or similar garment and his gaze contained no murderous intent, which is weird for a fighter knowing he's facing an assassin.

"If you're here it's because you accepted the request to eliminate or capture my granddaughter placed on the black market, right?" asked the old man, now known as a member of the target's family.

He's strange, it's the first time I've had an opponent like this in front of me.

He gives off a relaxed atmosphere but my instincts gained from the wolf demon tell me he's extremely dangerous and I currently trust my instincts completely.

"Might I have the honor of knowing the name of this esteemed elder?" I asked, slowly walking towards him.

Currently, I'm much stronger than when I fought Illumi, I've trained a lot without worrying about being watched since Illumi is currently on my side.

"I see that despite your profession, you maintain a certain level of courtesy," said the old man with a sardonic smile before launching a kick.

Which I obviously blocked using my knee and I took advantage of the force generated by his kick to step back and take some distance.

"You're not bad fighter for your age," said the old man, nodding to no one in particular.

"Wouldn't you rather be my student instead of continuing with such a profession? With your talent it's a shame you continue down this path," the old man kindly asked, as if he hadn't just attacked me mere seconds ago.

"Sorry old man but my current life isn't so bad and a piece of advice: if you don't take this seriously, soon you're liable to lose a limb, if not your life," I said without noticing a smile on my face that could only be described as bestial.

"Bold words I'm hearing there and I can only hope you'll live up to them," he said, unsheathing his katana.

"Tell me your name so I can remember it," he said, taking a fighting stance.

"Since one of us will die, I might as well say it: my name is Hiro Zoldyck and I'm the one who will take the life of your granddaughter and yours," I said, unleashing all my murderous intent.

"Zoldyck? Interesting, indeed I have to take this more seriously if I don't want to lose a limb or even my life," thought old Ittôsai while shifting his Ten to Ren.

This resulted in a heaviness in the atmosphere of the hallway and various cracks appeared in the ground where he stood.

This old man is perhaps stronger than current Illumi, the pressure I'm feeling has increased again.

"Wolf demon," I said mentally to activate our contract.

"You're contacting me again?"

"This time, do not give me vague information or enigmatic messages about the future, or else I will no longer merge with you," said the wolf demon, with resentment clearly audible.

"Now is not the time to be resentful," I mentally replied.