Chapter 249: Showdown and Family Members Gradually Revealed!

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"Who are you, really?"

Reborn, having noticed the peculiarities in Ace's behavior, could no longer suppress his curiosity and finally asked.

It wasn't as if he was paranoid.

But Ace's behavior over the past two days had been far too abnormal. Reborn had long been seeking an opportunity to have a proper conversation with him.

Even though Reborn was the world's most powerful assassin...

Watching a seemingly ordinary person with no special abilities transform into a terrifying monster capable of breaking through mountains of rocks after just two days of basic physical training... 

It would make anyone uneasy.

Coupled with the equally mysterious Growlithe at Ace's side...

This strange combination had made it impossible for Reborn to sit idly by.

Under the moonlight.

Ace, caught off guard by Reborn's question, was momentarily stunned.

He blinked in hesitation.

After a moment, he seemed to come to his senses, smiling as he said:

"We've worked so well together these past two days... I thought you'd never ask me that question."

"Well," Reborn replied, lowering the brim of his hat with a calm voice, "more and more people know I'm here in Japan... Before things get more complicated, I figured it's best to clarify everything."

"Hmm..."

Ace clicked his tongue, then grinned.

"In that case, I won't hide it from you."

"You may have noticed by now—I'm not a native of this world."

"In fact, I come from a sea world called the 'Pirate World'."

"Luckily, I caught the attention of a certain individual, and now I work as an investigator for the 'Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce'. I was sent here under orders to investigate this world."

"The Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce?"

Reborn's baby-like face suddenly showed disbelief upon hearing Ace's answer.

Despite all he had seen in his lifetime, this revelation left him momentarily stunned.

For a brief moment, he even wondered if he was dreaming.

However...

As he looked at the sincere smile on Ace's face, Reborn's years of intuition told him...

Everything Ace said was true!

Taking a deep breath, for the first time, a serious expression appeared on Reborn's face.

"That's... quite the answer," he murmured.

In truth...

Reborn had initially suspected that Ace might be a future version of a Vongola.

After all, in the world of mafia families, time travel wasn't simple, but it wasn't entirely impossible either. Several organizations had mastered it.

But Ace's explanation was even more outlandish than Reborn had anticipated.

However...

Reborn quickly regained his composure. With a single leap, he jumped onto a nearby bookcase, looking Ace directly in the eyes with an intense calm.

"So, what's your real purpose in becoming Tsuna's tutor?"

"Purpose?"

Ace smiled, waving his hand dismissively.

"Don't overthink it. It's not that complicated."

"Honestly, I'm just a rookie investigator who recently joined the Chamber of Commerce."

"The reason I'm here is simply because the Chamber of Commerce believes that training Tsuna will help me complete my investigation. That's all."

"Chamber of Commerce? Investigation?" Reborn's voice tightened, a flicker of doubt flashing in his eyes. "What exactly are you investigating in this world?"

"Well, that..."

Ace hesitated briefly, then smiled apologetically and said, "I'm afraid I can't say for sure. I haven't been with the Chamber of Commerce long enough to know their true objectives..."

"But rest assured..."

"My presence here will bring a great opportunity—not just for this world, but for you as well!"

"An... opportunity?"

Reborn was once again puzzled.

Every word Ace spoke was beyond his usual frame of reference, making even the world's greatest assassin feel like a student absorbing every word of a lecture, constantly asking questions.

For the sake of future cooperation, Ace answered Reborn's questions patiently, one by one.

Half an hour later...

Tsuna's bedroom returned to its usual quiet.

Reborn stood on the bookcase, his expression hidden beneath the brim of his black hat, making it impossible to discern his thoughts.

After Ace's thorough explanations, Reborn now understood the existence of the 'Transdimensional Chamber of Commerce', the role of dimensional merchants, and Ace's position as a world investigator.

To further help Reborn grasp the situation, Ace had explained in detail the effects of the pirate world's transformation and the arrival of the dimensional merchants.

He also helped Reborn understand that, once Ace's investigation was complete, this world would eventually encounter a being that transcended dimensions and stood above all others...

Ace's superior—the dimensional merchant!

"A Dimensional Merchant Who Can Grant Any Wish!?"

Upon hearing Ace's introduction, Reborn's eyes narrowed in thought, and an idea suddenly sparked within him.

"If such a being truly exists... Perhaps the curse of the Rainbow Arcobaleno can be lifted!"

Reborn—Vongola's most trusted ally and the world's strongest assassin—had been carrying a heavy burden. 

For alongside his immense power...

He was also one of the [Cursed Babies], protectors of this world's secrets, whose soul was bound to the Arcobaleno pacifier. A curse that had turned him into a baby, and held him captive in this form.

"If Ace is telling the truth..." 

Reborn raised his head, gazing out the window. In the distant night sky, a meteor streaked across the heavens, shining brightly against the darkness.

At that moment, Reborn made a decision.

He turned to Ace, his youthful face breaking into a mysterious smile. Stretching out his small hand, he said, "It seems I now have another reason, besides the Ninth's orders, to train Tsuna."

"I hope this dimensional merchant you speak of can fulfill my deepest wish."

Ace's lips curled into a grin as he shook hands with Reborn.

"Of course!"

The night passed quietly.

After their heart-to-heart, the two tutors quickly resumed their nightly routine, made their beds, and drifted peacefully to sleep.

...

...

The next morning.

As the sun rose, Reborn wasted no time in waking Tsuna up.

Since Ace handled Tsuna's physical training after school, Reborn took on the more traditional responsibilities of a tutor in the mornings.

'BOOM!'

A sudden explosion echoed from Tsuna's bedroom.

The intact window shattered instantly, sending shards of glass flying in all directions.

Tsuna, holding a math book in hand, stood there with an afro and a dazed expression on his face.

It wasn't until the black smoke cleared that he snapped back to reality. He slammed the math book down on the table and yelled at Reborn:

"Hey! Reborn!"

"In what world does a tutor throw bombs at you for answering a math question wrong!?"

"Huh?"

Reborn, who was just about to ask another question, glanced casually at Ace, who was still sound asleep beside them. With a devilish grin, Reborn replied:

"In 'our' world, of course!"

"This is how I teach!"

"..." 

"This can't be right!!!"

In an attempt to avoid being blown up again, Tsuna desperately tried to reason with Reborn.

But all he received in return was Reborn's merciless smile and sharp remarks.

At that moment, Tsuna's eyes drifted toward the window.

Since the glass had been completely blown out, the scene outside was clearly visible.

On a tree branch just outside his room, a young boy dressed in a cow suit—complete with horns—was perched. He was holding a massive rocket launcher, almost twice his size, aimed directly at the house.

Inside, Reborn continued rattling off the latest math formulas to Tsuna.

Tsuna rushed over in a panic and pointed urgently out the window.

"W-Wait a minute, Reborn!"

"Look over there!"

Just as Tsuna spoke, the boy outside take a grenade from his afro, pulled the pin, and laughed maniacally:

"Go to hell, Reborn!"

Then...

'Crack!'

The tree branch the boy had been resting on suddenly snapped.

Still clutching the grenade, the boy plummeted to the ground.

Then...

'BOOM!'

The grenade exploded.

The violent shockwave flung the boy through the air, and he landed hard outside the courtyard.

"..."

As Tsuna watched the boy's string of reckless actions, an unsettling thought crossed his mind:

It seems like my life is descending into chaos again...

Sure enough, just a few minutes later, the little boy barged into his room without a second thought.

"Hey, hey! Infiltration successful!!!" 

"Long time no see, Reborn!"

"It's me, Lambo!"

"What!?" Tsuna's face drained of color as he stared at Lambo, who had just barged in. 

After all, this was a kid who casually pulled out grenades. Who knew what he'd do next?

Yet, despite Lambo's energetic greeting, Reborn didn't even acknowledge him. Instead, he calmly pointed at the mathematical formula in the textbook and continued his lecture:

"This formula is a must for the exam, Tsuna. You need to memorize it."

"..."

Ignored, Lambo's face darkened, a visible black line forming on his forehead. Furious, he threw a punch at Reborn.

But...

'Bam!'

With a simple motion, Reborn effortlessly blocked Lambo's attack and sent him flying across the room, slamming him into the wall.

"W-what in the world is happening…" 

Tsuna glanced at the cracks in the wall, then at the shattered window, and finally the courtyard outside, which was in utter ruins. Even in the midst of all this destruction, Ace remained sound asleep.

At that moment, Tsuna realized one undeniable fact:

His peaceful life was slipping further and further away.

"...Sigh..." 

Resigned to his fate, Tsuna let out a long sigh. 

Although the past two days of physical training hadn't strengthened his body much, it had definitely toughened his spirit.

Shaking off his distractions, Tsuna turned his focus back to the incomprehensible content of his textbook, doing his best to ignore the "minor" chaos in his life.

Once morning lessons were over, Tsuna rushed out the door, toast clamped between his teeth, as he dashed toward school.

In theory, given the time, he should have made it with ease.

However...

Reborn and Ace, using the excuse of "training," had held him back until just ten minutes before class started.

Running through the streets from home to school, Tsuna couldn't help but sigh at the absurdity of his life.

"Ever since I met Reborn and Ace-sensei, more and more weirdos have been showing up around me..."

First, there was Hayato Gokudera, who always had a stash of bombs ready to go, then there was the mysterious Takeshi Yamamoto, who had inexplicably joined them. And now, this morning, a strange kid named Lambo had appeared out of nowhere.

"I can't even imagine what other weirdos I'll run into next..."

"Sigh..."

With that thought, Tsuna quickened his pace, determined to make it to school before the bell rang.

'Thud!'

A cloud of dust rose up behind Tsuna as he sprinted. He hadn't even realized it yet, but his physical fitness had greatly improved over the past two days.

Although...

He still couldn't break rocks with his bare hands.

When he finally reached school, Tsuna slipped into the classroom just as the bell rang.

Under the watchful eye of the morning class teacher, he gave a sheepish smile, quickly took his seat, and pulled out his textbook.

Time passed slowly, and after enduring several lessons from various teachers, Tsuna managed to survive the morning classes.

Finally, it was time for lunch break.

...

...

At the same time.

Outside the gates of Namimori Middle School.

"We're here!" 

Ace strode through the gates of the school, holding a massive lunchbox in one hand and carrying Reborn on his shoulder.

According to Reborn, something interesting was supposed to happen at school today, and Ace, being an investigator of this world, was eager to see if there were any intriguing items involved.

So, after Nana prepared the lunchbox, Ace had immediately set off for the school, Reborn in tow.

As they walked across the campus, observing the students laughing and chatting, Reborn, who was perched on Ace's shoulder with his legs crossed, rubbed his chin thoughtfully. He made a figure eight with his hands as he mused aloud:

"At this time, Tsuna and the others are likely looking for a place to have lunch. Given his personality, and with two guys like Hayato and Takeshi by his side, Tsuna would probably pick a quiet spot, like the rooftop, to avoid attracting attention."

"Oh, is that so?"

Taking Reborn's analysis to heart, Ace headed towards the maintenance ladder rather than taking the main stairs, in an effort to avoid any unnecessary attention.

When they finally reached the rooftop, they spotted Tsuna, Hayato, and Takeshi.

But across from the trio stood a small boy in a cow suit, holding a rocket launcher.

"Huh? Isn't that the little guy from this morning?" Ace asked, clearly taken aback.

Reborn nodded. "Lambo, an assassin from the Bovino Family, a small-time mafia group."

"This kid can't be older than five, right?" Ace stared at Lambo in astonishment. "And he's already out here working as a hitman? Seems like your world isn't as peaceful as it looks."

Reborn grinned in response but said nothing. He wasn't about to reveal that the Bovino Family was actually a subordinate family to the Vongola, or that Lambo had been specially dispatched to serve as one of Tsuna's future guardians.

Meanwhile, on the rooftop.

Lambo, looking proud as ever, brandished his rocket launcher and introduced himself:

"Hey, hey, hey!"

"I am Lambo, the killer from the Bovino Family in Italy!"

"I'm five years old this year!"

"My favorite food is grape-flavored candy!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Lambo aimed his rocket launcher at Tsuna.

"You must be one of Reborn's underlings, right!? If I defeat you, Reborn will definitely come out to fight me!"

"Jūdaime, please be careful!" 

Hearing the word "killer," Hayato, Tsuna's self-proclaimed right-hand man, immediately leaped into action. Standing in front of Tsuna, he shouted:

"Stay back, Jūdaime!"

"Leave this to me!"

In a flash, Hayato whipped out several sticks of dynamite, lighting their fuses instantly. The bombs sailed through the air and surrounded Lambo.

"Huh?!"

Blinking in confusion at the dynamite around him, Lambo's big eyes darted back and forth.

Then...

'BOOM!'

A massive explosion rocked the rooftop.

Tsuna's mouth twitched slightly. For some reason, he was getting used to explosions of this magnitude after just two days.

A gentle breeze swept across the rooftop, dispersing the smoke and dust from the blast.

Lambo, now sporting an afro and tattered clothes, slowly rose to his feet. Though looking a bit worse for wear, he was unharmed. As he crawled to his feet, he muttered to himself:

"Patience... patience..."

The next second.

The five-year-old Lambo, back to his normal self, burst into tears.

"Waaaahhhhh..."

As if in retaliation, he pulled a massive rocket launcher—three times his height—from the depths of his hair, almost like it was a fourth-dimensional space.

Just then, a notification flashed in Ace's mind who was watching the show.

[Space-Time Law Object Detected. Integrating it will increase world investigation by 5%.]