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It wasn't just the Hitmen who fell silent.
In fact, within the tavern at that moment, Miss Spider was the most shocked of all.
Unlike the other Hitmen present, as the owner of the "House of Death" tavern and a Warden-class Officer in Hitman Town, Miss Spider was a true confidante of Drag Peclo, the "Major Undertaker" and Emperor of the Underground World.
Therefore, the information she possessed was naturally far more extensive.
"These are indeed CP-9 documents, and..."
She couldn't confirm Blueno and Fukuro's identities, but she recognized the World Government and CP-9's distinctive emblems on the documents Zishu had produced.
More importantly:
"That severed head... it really is King Wapol."
She recognized Wapol. Compared to the secretive CP-9 agents, the appearance of a king from a World Government–affiliated nation was obviously no secret!
So she could almost be certain.
"What this person is saying is very likely true, and his identity…"
The third member of the Twelve Zodiac, Zishu, had actually appeared on Coffin Island!
"I must report this to Lord Drug Peclo immediately!" Miss Spider thought to herself.
Then she heard Zishu's voice: "Miss, may I issue the mission now?"
She subconsciously raised her head and met the slightly cold gaze beneath the rat-head mask.
That single look made the Miss Spider, who had originally wanted to stall for time, instantly break out in a cold sweat.
Her instincts, honed by years of dealing with Hitmen, were telling her…
If she dared to brush him off… she would die!
"…Naturally," She managed to say, her voice strained. "You can post a mission, specify your desired reward, and wait for someone to accept it."
This was a privilege reserved for the truly elite Hitmen… they didn't seek missions; those in need came to them.
"Excellent," Zishu said softly. "Then post a mission for me."
"The assassination targets I accept are limited to one type: Kings and Nobles who oppress the common people or engage in human trafficking."
"Regardless of whether such unjust tyrants are members of World Government-affiliated nations, if they meet these criteria, I will take their heads."
After saying that, he raised his hand and took out a sheet of paper.
"As for the reward for me to act, each job is priced at 2 Billion Beli. If you can provide the metals listed here, each type of metal can offset 30 million Beli."
"Of course, I only need one portion of each metal."
With that, he handed the list directly to Miss Spider.
"…"
And the entire tavern once again fell into dead silence.
"He's insane!"
Almost every Hitman present, Miss Spider included, had the same word rise in their minds.
Kings, nobles… or in other words, rulers!
Rulers like the ones Zishu described were naturally tyrants, and countless people wanted them dead. But no one had ever dared to openly put a price tag on their heads the way Zishu just had.
Because rulers themselves represented power, and they represented the order of the world.
What Zishu was saying now was practically equivalent to challenging that order all by himself.
Did he have any idea how much danger he would face by publishing such a mission?
Once his whereabouts were exposed, what he would face might not just be the World Government or the Marines, but also other Hitmen hired by those kings!
"Is this guy a lunatic?"
Even Hitmen who lived their lives licking blood off blades didn't know how to describe Zishu anymore.
Yet beneath Zishu's mask, Roy's expression was perfectly calm. The mission he had just published was something he had already thought through long ago.
He had learned the coordinates of Coffin Island from Mr. 1 of Baroque Works.
And after learning about the existence of "Pluton Alloy" through Vegapunk's research facility, he had known he had to make a trip here. Because obtaining the nineteen precious metals needed to refine that alloy through normal means would take far too much time.
Rather than searching for them one by one, publishing a mission and letting them be delivered to his doorstep through the channels of the underground world was undoubtedly the better choice.
And beyond that…
"After collecting the metals and refining 'Pluton Alloy,' I'll still need a buyer who's actually qualified."
This was also the key reason Roy had published this mission.
As a strategic-level resource of immense value, only a handful of factions worldwide possessed both the qualifications and financial capacity to purchase the Pluton Alloy.
Selling it to the World Government, allowing them to more easily enslave the entire world? Or selling it to Kaido, plunging the world into endless war?
Roy would naturally never consider such things.
But coincidentally, among the potential trading partners, there really was one buyer who was extremely suitable in terms of credibility, strength, and the degree of urgent need for Pluton Alloy.
And the content of the mission Roy had just published was precisely aimed at that.
He was certain that as long as he published and carried out this mission, the other party would come knocking sooner or later.
As for what the Hitmen were worrying about, the potential retaliation from the Kings or pursuit by the World Government, Roy couldn't care less.
The special nature of Zishu's clone ability meant that as long as Roy didn't want it, it would be almost impossible for anyone to track down his whereabouts.
What's more…
When the sky falls, the tallest will bear the brunt.
Didn't their Hitman world still have an eldest brother to rely on?
"What do you think, Miss Spider?"
Zishu turned to Miss Spider. "I issued the mission according to the rules set by 'Major Undertaker.' There shouldn't be any problems, right?"
He paused, then added softly, "Or perhaps... the rules of 'Major Undertaker'... no, the rules of the Underground World, aren't actually that important?"
"…"
Miss Spider fell silent.
She naturally knew that if this mission Zishu had published really went into effect, it would definitely trigger enormous consequences. The kind of consequences that even "Major Undertaker" Drug Peclo would find troublesome.
But just as Zishu had said…
In the Underground World, rules were rules.
The six great Emperors of the Underground World ruled this lawless realm and set down these regulations.
But those same rules also bound them.
"Big News" Morgans dominated public opinion and controlled the world's loudspeaker, using both truth and lies to influence the world and achieve his goals.
But as the price for that, he also had to ensure that he was never completely controlled by the World Government. Some news, even if it went directly against the World Government, he still had to release.
The "Hoarder" Giberson's warehouses were piled high with contraband, and all clients had to pay an enormous price for him to store things on their behalf.
But in exchange, he had to guarantee the safety and secrecy of those illegal goods.
And "Major Undertaker" Drug Peclo was no different.
He was the "King of Hitmen," monopolizing the assassination industry and forcing all Hitmen to act according to the rules he had set.
But at the same time, he also had to protect the Hitmen according to those same rules, conceal their information, and publish missions for them.
Even the Emperors of the Underground World were only a part of the rules.
Once they dared to cross those rules, the order of the Underground World would no longer exist, and their thrones would naturally be in constant danger of toppling.
Just like right now…
"…"
All the Hitmen's gazes were fixed on Miss Spider.
And Miss Spider naturally knew that she had no other choice.
The rules set by Drug Peclo could not be broken, at least, not openly.
So she took out a Den Den Mushi.
"Your mission will be published tomorrow. This is your personal message Den Den Mushi. It can't be used for conversation and can't be tapped. It will only transmit a single text message when a client contacts you, notifying you of the time and place to meet."
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(End of Chapter)