Republic of Padokea, Zerta City – Inside the Zatobi Family Residence
Mia, head of the Zatobi family, stood respectfully in front of her desk, facing the man seated in the leather chair—Xiang Nan, who had come here right after leaving the Hunter Association.
For the time being, Xiang Nan had no intention of taking on Hunter work.
First, he had other matters to handle.
Second, he did not want Pariston seizing the chance to keep him under surveillance and pass information to Beyond and Hui Guo Rou.
Military cooperation between Padokea and the Kakin Empire was still under way, and Xiang Nan himself was a key element in that partnership. Any small incident could sway either nation's stance. In fact, the two countries had established relations only because Hui Guo Rou had yielded to Xiang Nan's threats—hardly a sincere alliance. The relationship was fragile and could collapse at any moment.
"Get ready… the Zatobi family's businesses must expand outward," Xiang Nan said calmly.
The play had begun. By now, Gon and the others were probably approaching the various underworld families. This also meant Gon would soon go to Heavens Arena and, under Wing's guidance, learn Nen. After that would come the events in Yorknew City. The deaths of the Ten Dons would completely reshape the underworld—an ideal chance for the Zatobi family to move up. For years, the mafia power structure had been frozen in place precisely because of those Ten Dons.
"I want you to become one of the Ten Dons."
"At least within the Republic of Padokea, this entire continent should be your territory."
Xiang Nan fixed his gaze on Mia.
His obvious trump card—the military's power and resources—was now unusable. As a Hunter and a V5 "high‑priority monitored subject," further interaction with Padokea's military could get him expelled from the Association, giving the V5 an excuse to pressure the republic. Thus, the Zatobi family—his hidden card—had to step onto the board.
Xiang Nan had already hinted to Mia that the Ten Dons would soon fall. He had not revealed the plot directly, but had conveyed the idea in veiled terms. The news stunned her; she could scarcely process it. In her mind, people of the Ten Dons' stature were almost untouchable. Even if one died by accident, a subordinate from the same faction would take over. Marginal families, or groups outside the core circle, could never hope to reach that "throne." The underworld's permanence rested not only on the Ten Dons themselves but also on the system they had built.
"The Ten Dons… will die?"
Mia muttered, swallowing hard.
Xiang Nan had not spoken plainly, yet she caught his meaning.
"It's the end of January. Unless something unexpected happens, by September the entire underworld will face a major reshuffle. That gives the Zatobi family more than half a year to prepare and expand. Your first task is to contact your lover—who happens to be a confidant of a Don—devour his family, replace him, and inherit that Don's position." Xiang Nan folded his hands on the desk and smiled at the incredulous woman.
"Th‑that…"
The words sent Mia into panic. Challenging a top predator in the mafia food chain was usually suicidal. The underworld was brutal, and the power web the Dons had woven meant small families survived only by submitting to the strong.
Yet the man before her was one of Padokea's rulers; everything the Zatobi family had achieved—including total control of Zerta City—was thanks to him. If she refused, he could wipe out her family with a flick of his wrist.
"I know what worries you," Xiang Nan said gently. "Even if you eliminate that confidant, you still have to placate the Don's anger. But the underworld values profit above all. As long as you can offer the Don more than the previous subordinate did, you can take the seat. Becoming a Don isn't simple—you must command respect."
"Relax. I'll support you from the shadows.
Once you're a Don's right hand, focus on making the Zatobi family his core faction so that, when he dies, you'll be the natural successor. Leave the rest to me."
"But…" Mia hesitated.
"I chose you because you're smart, capable, and pragmatic," Xiang Nan went on. "It wasn't easy for a woman to become head of the Zatobi family. Don't you want to turn your family into a giant of the underworld—don't you want to become a founder of the new order? The opportunity comes only once. You can refuse, but the mafia families I can approach are not limited to yours. Miss this chance and it's gone. Ask yourself—do you have ambition?"
Mia fell silent. Once she calmed down, her decision was clear. Smiling as though free of greed, she replied earnestly:
"I… will follow your plan."
Xiang Nan smiled.
The underground kingdom the Ten Dons had built could not be dismantled overnight. Even if these ten died, new successors would arise, and no single family could reign alone. Each Don ruled a different region on different continents, like a criminal United Nations. A local force such as the Zatobi family could, at best, become the Don for its own territory; other continents' mafias would never accept it as sovereign. The Dons' influence barely extended beyond their own turf, and only their alliance formed the global underworld.
That resilience was the genius of the Ten Dons: even if one fell, the alliance endured and power kept flowing. But the Yorknew incident would be different—the Ten Dons would die simultaneously, causing chaos beyond imagining.
"How many death‑squad members have come from Meteor City?" Xiang Nan asked.
"A bit over thirty—more than a dozen are Nen users…"
A chill ran down Mia's spine. So this man had set everything in motion long ago; now he was merely drawing in the net.
"Excellent," Xiang Nan nodded.
He had once negotiated privately with Chrollo and the Phantom Troupe. Their conversation touched not only on "the heavens" but also on sweetening the deal for Meteor City—helping it expand outward and gain resources.
The deaths of the Ten Dons and the collapse of the underworld would be the perfect catalyst. For the Zatobi family and Meteor City alike, it would be a win‑win situation.
~~~
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