Future
Machi, ever the observant one, was the first to break the silence. "Neon Nostrade, I presume?" she inquired, her tone neutral yet inviting.
Neon nodded timidly, her fingers playing with the hem of her dress. "Yes, that's me. I apologize for intruding. I... I needed to see King Haruto."
Haruto observed her silently for a moment, the weight of his gaze making her fidget even more. Finally, he spoke, his voice calm and measured. "You're here now. Speak."
Taking a deep breath, Neon bowed, her azure eyes flickering with unease. "I had a vision last night," she began, her voice tremulous. She hesitated for a moment before carefully extracting a folded piece of paper from the pocket of her dress. With another bow, she presented it to Haruto.
Without a word, Canary reached out and took the paper, unfolding it and reading the contents aloud for the room to hear:
"Amidst the shadows, a clandestine market thrives,
Where dark hearts in silence, scheme and connive.
Upon nightfall, gather they shall, the lords of deceit,
In pursuit of the elusive, their ambitions to meet.
In the veil of the morrow, descends a monarch unseen,
From a realm afar, his aura serene yet keen.
His presence a mystery, veiled in twilight's guise,
A harbinger of change, beneath the moonlit skies.
Amidst whispers of fate, the chains of destiny tighten,
Upon the lords of shadows, fear and hope brightly lighten.
As the king unveils the morrow, old reigns shall cease,
In his wake, lie the seeds of peril or peace.
In the dance of destiny, light's fate intertwines,
With the king of the veiled realm, where the star aligns.
In the grasp of the unknown, destiny's dual face,
A pioneer of tomorrows, or apocalypse's embrace."
The room fell silent after the reading, the weight of the prediction hanging in the air. Neon's fingers continued to nervously play with the hem of her dress, waiting for someone to speak.
Machi was the first to break the silence. "Intriguing," she murmured, leaning back in her chair, "Your visions are renowned in the Mafia world, after all. But what prompted you to bring this to us, specifically to Haruto?"
Haruto met Machi's piercing gaze, his voice level as he responded, "Simple. I am in the prediction."
The immediate reactions varied across the room. Machi's eyes widened in surprise, while Kortopi merely took another sip of his tea, though his gaze had intensified. Canary looked over at Haruto, her eyes filled with questions.
Neon, however, looked nothing short of amazed. Her blue eyes were round with wonder as she stared at Haruto. "You... figured it out so quickly. The Mafia Bosses have teams that try to decode my predictions. They decided to skip the auction yesterday based on it, but none could identify who this mysterious king was."
Haruto offered a slight, almost amused, smile. "Your predictions are layered, but sometimes, things become clearer when you're the subject."
Neon looked like she was about to say something but paused when Haruto continued, his voice softer, yet still assertive, "That alone wouldn't prompt you to seek me out. There's more, isn't there?"
Shocked to her core, Neon bowed once again and handed over another piece of paper. She had never assumed the young-looking king to be so adept at reading people. "I predicted this for my guard, Baise, after the previous one. I cannot predict my own future, so my father ordered Baise to follow me everywhere, even to death, and this was her prediction."
Canary once again took the paper, her voice clear and steady as she read:
"In the heart of the city, where danger does lurk,
Guardian shadow stands tall, amidst the chaos and murk.
Her duty unwavering, by the maiden's side she stays,
To protect and to serve, through nights and through days.
The gathering of wealth, where treachery's rife,
A choice to be made, risking her very life.
Should she tread into darkness, doom would be near,
But a voice whispers caution, a warning so clear.
To a realm unfamiliar, a beacon calls forth,
Following the king, seeking true value and worth.
Venturing deep into lands, where few dare to tread,
She finds prosperity blooming, where others see dread.
Yet in the tapestry of fate, where paths intertwine,
Her journey with the veiled king, under stars that align.
Choices made in the moment, to peril or praise,
Decide the destiny of the guardian's days."
The room seemed to absorb the gravity of the words, each individual processing the potential implications. Haruto, after a brief pause, was the first to respond.
Haruto then asked, "So you're suggesting that your safety and prosperity are tied to my path?"
Neon, now accustomed to Haruto's perceptiveness, simply bowed her head in acknowledgment. "Yes, your majesty. Both Baise and I believe that accompanying you ensures our well-being. Without your presence, we feel our end may be imminent. I beseech you to consider our loyalty and devotion to your cause."
Haruto regarded Neon with an evaluating look. He could sense her Nen, which, as he had anticipated, was raw and unrefined – but that made sense. A refined Nen user would not typically be assigned the role of a Mafia Seer.
He turned to face Canary, his trust in her evident. "Your call," he said simply.
Canary smiled gently, her decision clear in her eyes. She stood, beckoning Neon to follow. "Come with me, Neon. Let's meet Baise and decide from there."
Neon hesitated for a brief moment before nodding and following Canary, the weight of her fate heavy on her shoulders.
Machi leaned back, arching an eyebrow. "Quite the morning you've had," she commented, her tone teasing.
Kortopi merely sipped his tea, his face expressionless, though the briefest hint of a smirk played at the corner of his lips.
Haruto leaned back in his chair, his gaze distant, reflecting on the turn of events. Without looking at Machi, he said, "It's not even noon, and our day has already been... eventful."
Machi laughed softly. "Indeed, but with you around, isn't every day an adventure?"
Haruto just smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly.
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