The room went dead silent. The others, still processing the name, suddenly remembered where they had seen that face before.
A few months ago, Sky Arena had been buzzing about a rising star, a man who had shattered records and demolished every opponent with inhuman ease. The Invincible Larry.
Basho, the martial artist with a rugged build, widened his eyes in disbelief. This was beyond luck, this was like having a dream drop straight into his lap. He had never imagined that one day, a fighter of Larry's caliber would be sitting just a few feet away from him.
Baise, dressed in her usual sultry style, had a very different reaction. Her surprise turned into scheming excitement. 'A man of this level… If I could control him with my Nen ability…' Before she could entertain that thought any further, an overwhelming, suffocating aura washed over her. Her breath hitched.
Cold sweat broke out across her back. Her entire body trembled as if she had been plunged into an icy abyss. Larry had merely glanced at her. And in that moment, she knew, he had sensed her intent.
The oppressive force vanished just as quickly, but Baise remained frozen in place, gasping for air like someone who had just narrowly escaped drowning. The rest of the group looked at her in confusion. What the hell had just happened?
Kurapika, standing beside Larry, was the only one who had a guess. He had seen something similar before. It wasn't a sickness, nor was it just a case of nerves. The only thing that could make someone react like that… was Larry himself.
"So, this is the invincible Larry..."
Melody observed him quietly. She had seen advertisements featuring him before, but seeing him in person was entirely different. The air around him was dense with an unshakable presence, something that couldn't be conveyed through mere broadcasts.
But Larry, as always, ignored the reactions of others. Dalzollene , now much more respectful, hesitated before speaking again. "So, what brings you here today?"
He had wanted to ask if Larry was applying for the bodyguard position, but immediately dismissed the thought as ridiculous. A man of his level? Working as a mere bodyguard? Not even the Ten Dons, the highest figures in the underworld, could afford to hire someone like him.
Realizing that it would be disrespectful to pry, he carefully reworded his question.
Larry casually gestured toward Kurapika. "I'm just here to meet an old friend. I'll be staying with him for a while to handle some business."
He didn't elaborate. But the real reason hung unspoken in the air.
'Business? More like hunting spiders.'
Larry had his own reasons for being in Yorknew. The Phantom Troupe was active here, it was the perfect opportunity to sharpen his skills against real monsters. And, of course, there were other benefits.
He could also use this chance to breed new Pokémon. He could visit the ruins of the Kurta Clan. And most importantly… His eyes flickered toward Melody, sitting quietly at the table across the room. His mind was already at work.
Dalzollene , sharp as ever, quickly picked up on the situation. Without hesitation, he turned to the old butler beside him and gave an immediate order. "Mr. Kurapika doesn't need to take the test, he's already passed!"
The butler nodded and handed out information cards to the remaining applicants, then retrieved a key and unlocked the door that was previously sealed shut. He motioned for Larry and Kurapika to follow him, before closing the door again behind them.
With them gone, Dalzollene turned his attention back to the remaining candidates, a smirk playing at the corners of his lips. Their first test was about to begin.
After arriving at the office, Dalzollene greeted Larry with a warm smile. "Mr. Larry, I've heard your name for a long time, but I never imagined I'd get to meet my idol in person."
Dalzollene wasn't exaggerating, he was genuinely a fan. That was exactly why he had recognized Larry so quickly back in the room.
After a brief conversation, Larry and Kurapika left, leaving Dalzollene alone in the office. He hesitated for a moment, then finally picked up the phone and dialed Light's number.
No one else knew the details of their conversation, but by the end of the call, the two had come to a clear agreement, They had to treat Larry and Kurapika with the utmost care. This wasn't just about respect. This was about survival.
A few days later, Nostrade's private airship touched down, and Neon Nostrade, accompanied by an entourage, boarded a car heading to the city center. Their convoy consisted of five or six vehicles, moving in an orderly procession through the busy streets.
Sitting inside one of the cars, Dalzollene handed a thick stack of documents to the young woman sitting beside him. "Miss, here's today's batch."
Neon pouted, clearly unhappy. "Again?! Didn't I say that if the workload increased any more, I'd refuse?!" She crossed her arms, sulking. The constant divinations drained her energy, and she had no interest in doing extra work.
Dalzollene scratched the back of his head awkwardly. "I'm really sorry, but these are all my close friends…" His words were laced with guilt. He had no choice but to coax and placate her, when Neon got angry, dealing with her became way more troublesome.
Frustrated, Neon immediately pulled out her phone and called her father. After negotiating some "compensation" for her troubles, she was suddenly in a much better mood and got to work without further complaints.
A chilling aura slowly enveloped the space inside the car.
Gripping her pen tightly, Neon's expression shifted. Her once carefree demeanor vanished, replaced by eerie concentration. A dark, almost otherworldly presence radiated from her body, making the atmosphere suffocating.
Her Nen ability, Angel's Automatic Writing, had activated.
A strange, angelic figure manifested at the tip of her pen, guiding her hand as she began writing out prophecy after prophecy in poetic verse.
Sitting nearby, Larry watched the scene unfold through the car window, a small, amused smile playing at his lips.
Angel's Automatic Writing… This was Neon's unique Nen ability, divination through a four-line prophecy.
All the subject had to do was write their name, date of birth, and blood type, and Neon's ability would do the rest, producing cryptic predictions of their future.
There was one major limitation, Neon couldn't predict her own fate. This restriction was common in divination-based abilities, but Larry had already thought of a workaround.
With Ditto's transformation ability, he could simply have it take Neon's form and perform divination for him. That way, the restriction wouldn't apply.It was no wonder Chrollo targeted her ability in the original events. If used correctly, it was an invaluable tool.
Outside, the convoy sped down the dusty road, kicking up clouds of dirt as they passed through the outskirts of the city. Larry's gaze flickered. He had noticed something. A playful smirk formed on his lips.