Screech!
Accompanied by the ear-splitting sound of emergency braking, a black sedan came to a stop in front of the hotel owned by the Cabrelli Mafia family.
Agostino, engulfed by tension and terror, flung open the car door and rushed inside without a word. Although he knew such a reckless move might provoke the merciless mob, the thought that his youngest son, Allen, might currently be getting beaten, tortured, or brutally murdered filled his heart with an inexpressible intensity of pain and guilt.
But the moment he stepped into the lobby, the merchant who walked the gray line suddenly realized something was amiss.
The receptionist, the hostesses, and all the thugs in black suits were gone. All that remained was the chaos of a scene suggesting a massive brawl.
Suddenly!
With a ding-dong sound, the elevator doors slowly opened.
Two familiar figures stepped out shoulder-to-shoulder. One was none other than the establishment's owner and a prominent figure in the Mafia Alliance, Marcus Cabrelli, and the other was Allen. Although the two were separated by nearly forty years in age, they were chatting and laughing without hindrance, looking from afar like old friends reunited after a long separation.
Why?
What on earth had happened?
Agostino stood rooted to the spot, completely taken aback, unsure whether he should step forward and greet them or grab his son and run away.
At that moment, Marcus noticed him and immediately laughed as he came forward. "Oh! Agostino! My old friend! What brings you here?"
"I…"
Agostino was clearly uncomfortable with the overly enthusiastic attitude, completely unsure how to respond. He knew that during their usual dealings, the man always maintained a cold and superior demeanor. A sudden 180-degree reversal would be hard for anyone to process.
"Relax. I've decided not to pursue the matter of the lost auction items anymore, and our business partnership will continue as usual," Marcus said, lightly patting the merchant's shoulder.
"You're not pursuing it! Really?"
Hearing this, Agostino's eyes lit up, and his previous despair instantly turned into excitement.
"Of course, it's true! Because you have a good son, a very formidable and remarkable son. I'm truly envious! It seems you and your family business are about to take off."
Marcus glanced out of the corner of his eye at the young boy next to him, who wore a gentle smile. Outsiders would probably never know that this seemingly harmless boy, who even gave off a shy impression, was a terrifying Nen user who had killed over twenty bodyguards and gunmen without batting an eye, only to sit down and chat with him afterward.
"Allen?"
Agostino wasn't foolish. He immediately realized the change in attitude must be related to his youngest son, and he instinctively looked over.
"Don't misunderstand, Father. Marcus-san is just being polite. I merely struck a bargain with him," Allen explained calmly.
"Heh-heh, yes, a bargain," Marcus self-deprecatingly chuckled. This was the first time in his life he had conducted a deal while his life was actively under threat. However, considering the powerful effects of those miraculous items, especially the Healing Potions, he felt he hadn't lost much. After all, gunmen could be replaced, and bodyguards could be rehired, but an opportunity to climb higher could be regretted for a lifetime if missed.
"In that case, now that the bargain is concluded, may I take him home?" Agostino cautiously inquired.
At this moment, even a fool, let alone an astute merchant like him, could feel that the atmosphere was wrong. He couldn't shake the feeling, perhaps an illusion, that the extremely powerful Mafia boss seemed somewhat intimidated by his youngest son.
"Anytime! Furthermore, if you encounter any problems or troubles in your business in the future, you are always welcome to come to me. I will solve them all for you. Because that is also part of the bargain."
After saying this, Marcus Cabrelli pulled out his phone, making a call to someone as he took the elevator back upstairs.
Watching him disappear completely, Agostino pulled Allen into the car and motioned for the driver to leave. Although he tried several times on the way home to ask his son what exactly he had done to make a cold-blooded Mafia boss change his attitude, he ultimately held back.
It was evident from their conversation, gestures, and expressions that neither Marcus nor Allen intended to disclose the contents of the bargain or what had transpired between them. But one thing was certain: Allen had held the absolute advantage and initiative in this deal, and Marcus, a high-ranking member of the Mafia Alliance, was the weaker party.
The drive continued in silence until the car finally pulled up at the entrance of the villa.
As he opened the car door, Agostino finally broke the silence, speaking in a very low voice, "Thank you. Thank you for saving this family and all our lives."
"It's nothing. After all, I am a member of this family, too. Isn't it natural for me to do my part?" Allen responded with a smile.
His mood was clearly excellent; his entire being radiated happiness and joy. With the crisis perfectly resolved, he could distinctly feel that the Enhancement Nen ability residual from the original owner was no longer as difficult to control and manipulate as before. On the contrary, it was fusing with his own Nen at an incredible speed.
Undoubtedly, this was related to some kind of Vow and Restriction that had been greatly amplified after death. Only when all the original owner's obsessions and wishes were completely fulfilled would this Enhancement ability truly become Allen's own; until then, he was merely borrowing it.
Looking into his youngest son's deep, calm eyes, Agostino's face showed a look of relief. "You're right. We are family, a family that will always look out for each other. Come on, let's go tell your brothers and sisters the good news. I'm sure they've been waiting anxiously. Also, during dinner, I hope you'll tell us about this year's Hunter Exam. I'm sure it will be quite interesting."
"I'd be happy to," Allen agreed without hesitation.
After this incident, he was basically certain that the more he integrated into this family, the stronger the residual Nen of the original owner would become, and the easier it would be to control. Moreover, he didn't dislike the feeling, even somewhat enjoying being unconditionally cared for and loved, knowing that no matter what he experienced outside, he had a home as a final safe harbor.
Of course, when recounting the Hunter Exam, he would be selective in what he shared. He decided it was best not to let these ordinary people, who knew nothing of Nen, hear the gory details of Hisoka's bloodlust after wounding the examiner.