Chapter 70: The Pact with the Magician
What Lippo wanted to say was that the Yorknew City auction was about to begin. This was a grand event for all mafia organizations across the six continents and ten districts of the world—a celebration for the entire underground world.
Therefore, in the coming period, the Terrio family would likely have no time to bother Mord, as long as he didn't show up in Yorknew City.
He had intended to reassure Mord.
"That brat, hanging up so fast," Lippo grumbled. He didn't call back, thinking it would serve Mord right to live in constant fear, always prepared to deal with assassinations.
Who told him to be so rude?
Meanwhile, Mord had already boarded a train bound for Yorknew City.
A promise made must be kept.
And a debt of vengeance owed must be repaid.
...
The world's largest black market annual auction market was held in Yorknew City, hosted by the Ten Dons, who stood at the pinnacle of the underground world.
The scale of the Yorknew City auction could not be described merely as "grand"—it was nothing short of fantastical.
Thus, it was also known as the Underground Auction, opening on September 1st each year and concluding on September 10th.
In just ten short days, publicly announced auctions alone will see the flow of tens of trillions in funds, with countless rare treasures being auctioned off during this period.
There are also many special auctions dedicated solely to crime-related items.
Not only that, this grand event attracts merchants from all over the world. While the vast majority may not qualify to participate in the large-scale auctions held in the city center, they set up stalls on the spot, forming numerous trading markets.
It can be said that during these ten days, the entire Yorknew City becomes one massive trading market.
Often, it's possible to find treasures at these small stalls as well.
In previous years, there have been many examples where an item was being sold for tens of thousands of Jenny at some unknown stall one moment, only to appear at an auction later that evening and ultimately sell for hundreds of millions.
Because of this, the event also draws many Treasure Hunters.
Mord arrived in Yorknew City on August 20th. Although the auctions hadn't officially begun yet, the entire city was already bustling with activity.
The streets were crowded with people.
The sounds of vendors hawking their goods and buyers haggling were incessant.
Watching the bustling crowd before him, Mord expressionlessly answered his ringing phone.
"You really predicted it. How did you know in advance?"
A magnetic voice came from the other end of the line.
"That doesn't concern our previous transaction. When can you arrive, Hisoka?" Mord spoke.
"Hehe, tonight."
"Understood. Come find me at this location when you arrive." Without waiting for a response, Mord directly hung up.
Far away, aboard an airship ten thousand meters away.
"Sir, is there anything I can help you with?" A flight attendant, noticing a passenger in the front left suddenly trembling violently, thought it might be a sudden illness and quickly went to check on him.
The person didn't respond, instead muttering some strange words.
"He's becoming more and more unfathomable. But the more he's like this, the more fascinating he becomes. It's been so long since we last met—I wonder how much he's grown. I can't wait to see him."
"Sir?"
"Hehehe, I'll have a glass of apple juice, thank you."
"...Certainly."
Only the troupe leader Chrollo can issue the gathering notice for the Phantom Troupe. How did he know?
Hisoka looked at the glass of apple juice in his hand, swirled it, curled his lips, and revealed his signature smile.
...
Late at night.
The location was a church in the suburbs of Yorknew.
This church was not only remote but had been abandoned for a long time. There were no traces of pedestrians in the area, even during the day, let alone at night.
"Quite the choice of location."
Hisoka toyed with the playing cards in his hand, glanced up, and pushed open the dilapidated door in front of him.
As the door slowly swung open.
The figure standing beneath the statue of the Virgin Mary in the center of the church appeared before him.
Hisoka's gaze sharpened, and the smile on his face grew even brighter.
"Has he grown this much in just a few months, Mord?"
In Hisoka's eyes at this moment, Mord was a blade—a sharp, imposing blade.
He had seen this same quality in another member of the Phantom Troupe.
"Nobody followed you, right? Machi was the one who notified you about this operation, wasn't she? Didn't she come to Yorknew City with you?" Mord turned around, ignoring the intense fighting spirit radiating from Hisoka, and spoke.
"No one in this world can track me. She went to join Feitan and the others. It should take about two more days for her to reach Yorknew." Seeing that Mord had no intention of fighting, Hisoka responded with a hint of disappointment.
"Rein in your restless hormones. I'm not the one who will fight you."
Mord looked at Hisoka and said, "I will create an opportunity for you to have a one-on-one battle with that person."
"Better be true, or I can't guarantee what I might do. Someone has to duel with me, after all."
"Tell me, why did you specifically ask me to come to Yorknew City early?" Hisoka asked.
"I need you, as a magician, to perform a magic trick for me."
...
Mord had no interest in the items being auctioned, but he was very interested in the people.
The abilities on Mord's attribute panel destined his path to power to be paved with bleached bones. If someone who appeared out of nowhere suddenly started hunting Nen users on a large scale—even if they were all evil—it would attract significant attention and could even land him on V5's dangerous list, putting him at odds with these massive state apparatuses.
His initial reason for taking the Hunter Exam was to obtain a Hunter License.
Then, as a Criminal Hunter, he would use this license to kill as he sought out criminals one by one, feeding them all to his blade.
Now, this grand event had gathered scum from all over the world in one place, saving him a great deal of trouble.
The information provided on the Hunter website was extremely detailed, and by now, Mord had already compiled a long mental checklist.
Tap.
Mord halted his steps, glanced up, and stopped in front of a building.
Just as he was about to proceed, several men in black blocked his path, eyeing him warily.
"Halt! This is Terrio family territory."
"Then I'm in the right place."
Before the words had fully faded, crimson lines appeared on the necks of the men in black. Mord calmly walked past them as, behind him, scarlet blood gushed forth.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
Not long after Mord entered, several gunshots echoed from inside the building, but they abruptly ceased almost immediately.