---
Unlike the sprawling refuse heaps that defined the rest of Meteor City, its main road stood in stark contrast—immaculately clean, almost eerily so. Not a scrap of trash littered the pavement, and even fallen leaves were a rare sight.
Of course, the bleak, industrial conditions of Meteor City made it nearly impossible for vegetation to thrive. Trees, like luxuries and certainties, were not meant for this place.
"Meteor City is divided into four zones," Chrollo explained as he walked. "Each is governed by a different Council of Elders, with two main roads acting as borders between them."
"In the dumping grounds, violence is common. Killing is tacitly permitted—no one will interfere."
"But here," he gestured subtly, "unauthorized aggression is forbidden."
"Anyone who dares break that rule—dies."
The message was clear, and Kai knew it was directed at him. As an outsider, he lacked the basic awareness of these unspoken laws.
"The one who summoned you is an Elder from Zone Two," Chrollo added. "I wasn't told who—it was simply a request to deliver the message."
Even Chrollo, for all his reputation, dared not pry too deeply when it came to the Elders. Their influence stretched across the city in quiet but undeniable ways.
Kai gave a subtle nod in response. He knew this Chrollo was still years away from becoming the formidable leader of the Phantom Troupe—capable of contending with the might of the Zoldyck family itself.
---
Ten minutes later, they arrived at a white building. It rose six stories tall—unremarkable in most cities, but here, it was the tallest structure around.
The black-suited guards at the gate had clearly been informed of their arrival. They opened the entrance without question.
The inside was a stark contrast to the exterior's minimalist white. The hall was decadently decorated. From the golden trim to the marbled floors, everything screamed opulence.
Kai's sharp eye noted the shimmer of authentic gold in several fixtures.
They were promptly led to a lavish seating area.
"All amenities here are complimentary. Please, make yourselves comfortable," the attendant announced curtly before stepping aside.
Uvogin wasted no time. He seized a roast leg from the table and bit into it—
—and immediately grimaced.
"Blegh."
In the past few days, both he and Nobunaga had grown accustomed to Kai's exceptional cooking. The comparison was unfair to the current spread.
When it came to food, few cultures could match Kai's culinary standards.
Nobunaga wordlessly placed his untouched drumstick back on the plate.
If even the big guy didn't like it, it was probably inedible.
Footsteps echoed down the hallway.
Even before the man arrived, Kai felt the weight of his aura pressing into the room.
A show of power? Kai smirked.
In contrast to Kai's calm, Nobunaga reacted immediately. The sudden shift in pressure put everyone on edge.
Crash!
The table shattered under the strain of their reflexes, food spilling everywhere.
Machi activated her thread-based aura detection technique—a method Kai had helped her refine. Unlike traditional En, it didn't consume much energy and was more sustainable in confined spaces.
Uvogin positioned himself in front of Machi, ready to shield her.
Nobunaga, blade sharp, locked eyes in the same direction as Kai.
A slow, deliberate applause broke the silence.
"Good instincts."
A thin, middle-aged man stepped into view. He lifted his hands to show he meant no harm.
"I am Li Do, one of the Elders of Zone Two," he said. "I've invited you here to propose a cooperative venture."
---
Two hours later, the group walked back in silence.
"I still don't get it," Machi said, breaking the quiet. "Why did you agree to help him?"
"To me, their offer wasn't worth much."
Chrollo nodded. "If you're interested in official identification, I could've arranged something similar."
From his perspective, the Elder's promise of forged identities was the only intriguing part of the deal.
Kai finally answered.
"It's not that complicated," he said. "I told you before—the fastest way to get stronger is through real combat."
"And who else would give me a legitimate reason to fight in Meteor City?"
He paused, then added quietly, "And besides… what he said offended me."
Kai, once an orphan himself, felt a visceral disgust toward Li Do's insinuation: that being poor made one inherently criminal.
Since when was poverty a crime?
Kai's voice turned cold. "When justice becomes a tool of corruption, and darkness no longer lies—it is not evil. It is judgment."
What none of them realized was that this incident—already rooted in Kai's memory—would be the origin of one of Meteor City's most infamous events.
The Meteor City Retribution Incident.
A homeless man was falsely convicted of a murder in the Ochma Federation. He had no identity, no nationality—just his claim of being from Meteor City.
In a rush to close the case, authorities fabricated evidence, denied him a fair trial, and sentenced him to death.
Three years later, the real killer was caught, along with evidence that cleared the deceased man of all charges.
The public outcry was loud—but it came too late.
What followed was methodical and horrifying.
Over time, every individual associated with the unjust execution—police officers, judges, prosecutors, witnesses, jurors, lawyers—was assassinated.
Thirty-one people in total.
Each death bore the mark of surgical planning and cold precision.
"It resembled the handiwork of a known assassin pair," Kai thought. "And if I'm right, the Elder who gave us this mission was likely the one Chrollo kills years from now."
Li Do's terms were clear:
Kill all thirty-one.
No restrictions. No concern for aftermath.
Let the world understand—Meteor City is not to be scorned.
The payment?
Ten million in local currency, and four high-quality identity certificates.
If needed, the Elder Council would even connect them to underworld syndicates for further opportunities.
---
"I don't really care," Uvogin said. "As long as I get to fight."
"What about you, Chrollo?" Nobunaga asked.
"I'll sit this one out," Chrollo replied. "I've got other matters to handle."
Kai gave a nod. He didn't expect Chrollo to get involved. The fact that he helped this far was already more than enough.
"Rest up," Kai said, eyes sharp. "We leave tomorrow."