Chapter 177 Your Master
A few days later, the Ninth Prince Halkenburg finally gave his answer, promising Haze that he would find a way to arrange a meeting between the First Prince and the two of them at the hotel where they were staying.
Haze kept his word: he ordered Honey Pot's curse lifted and provided the antidote. As for the miniature bomb inside the prince's body, he believed that with Halkenburg capabilities, he could find a hospital able to remove it surgically.
"My lord, the First Prince Benjamin has an extremely dominant personality. Although there is a possibility we can join forces with him, it is not certain that we can make him willingly work for us."
The next day, in the room, before the First Prince Benjamin arrived, a key member of the Field's family who had long been in charge of matters involving the Kakin royal family offered advice to Haze.
This man was Barre: strong, capable… Years ago, he had been hired by the Kakin royal family as an instructor to train palace guards.
He was also a planted agent of the Field's family.
Having spent so long within the royal family, he naturally understood the personalities of the princes very well.
"Then who do you think is the best prince?" asked Haze as he sat on the sofa, eyes on his phone screen.
"Someone who dares to kill other princes and has the ability to clean up the mess… besides the eldest prince, I believe the Second and the Fifth Prince fit that. However, the Second Prince is too arrogant and not the best partner, so… my recommendation is the Fifth Prince."
Barre explained:
"The Fifth Prince is very disciplined, and in his eyes, some of his siblings are disgraceful. He doesn't mind serving as the 'cleaner' of the Kakin Empire, becoming the next king, and purifying the royal environment. Therefore, he also has motivation to kill other princes.
"Secondly, his mother is the queen with the most children in the royal family her power is immense. Even if something is discovered, only she could clean up the aftermath.
"He is also a scholar and scientist. Though cautious, he has been privately searching for cooperation with other princes… and now our presence gives him the perfect opportunity."
"Heh, very good analysis."
Haze turned off his phone and praised him.
Pariston had just sent him information, and his choice was also the Fifth Prince Tsbepa.
Pariston's reasoning wasn't complicated: he only gave one reason stupid.
Naturally, Haze found it easier to manipulate someone like that, someone who would follow the plan.
Additionally, the Fifth Prince lacked backing. He longed for allies. The other princes had loyal followers or political groups, but he being a scientist rarely interacted with gangs or politicians. Even the Ninth Prince Kenbugru, due to frequently voicing his disdain for the Kakin royal family, had gathered unconditional followers.
Thus, if the Field's family helped him, Tsbepa would gladly take the blame… he would never reveal the existence of the Field's family.
Thanks to his mother's influence, he could also minimize the king's punishment.
"But… I am not looking for allies," Haze said calmly. "I am not interested in Kakin's royal succession, nor do I want to support any prince. I only want to reduce the number of royal family members so my people can rise to power."
"…"
Barre seemed to understand yet not completely.
The following day at noon, a convoy of military vehicles stopped at the entrance of the hotel.
The car door opened, and Prince Benjamin stepped out, escorted by several privates.
Haze stood by the window on the top floor, looking down, and smiled faintly.
"Perfect…"
They had finally arrived.
Although the hotel was hundreds of meters tall, Haze could still clearly sense the auras of the soldiers surrounding Benjamin… all Nen users, and strong ones.
According to the rules during the Dark Continent voyage, each prince was limited in how many privates they could bring, so what Haze was seeing was only a fraction of the Nen users Benjamin had trained.
In fact, according to information controlled by the Field's family, Benjamin was training an entire army of Nen users for his future succession to the throne.
An enormous number.
Most importantly, all of them studied at the Royal Military Academy individuals with exceptional basic qualities… elite both physically and mentally.
On the Black Whale, if the Hunter Association had not intervened sending the Zodiacs and others to balance power and reduce conflict and if other princes had remained ignorant of Nen… the First Prince Benjamin would have almost certainly won by overwhelming force.
The soldiers came up first. After confirming the area was safe, Benjamin took the elevator to the top floor.
He was somewhat surprised.
The Ninth Prince Halkenburg who despised royal activities and avoided his siblings had requested to meet, claiming he had something important to discuss regarding the Succession War.
Normally, Benjamin wouldn't bother with the other princes, but since it concerned succession, he came.
In Benjamin's eyes, becoming the next king was destiny.
The other princes could not stop him, nor were they worthy. From the moment they were born, they had declared war on him.
Since it was a battle, as a soldier, he saw no need for mercy.
After a while, the door of the top-floor suite opened, and Benjamin entered.
But the moment he stepped inside, he narrowed his eyes.
In the spacious living room, he did not see the Ninth Prince. Instead, by the window stood a man he did not recognize.
Wearing a black suit that didn't fully hide the muscular build underneath.
"Who are you?" Benjamin asked coldly.
Several soldiers accompanied him.
Haze turned and glanced at them recognizing every face. They had all boarded the Black Whale. They were Benjamin's close confidants.
Barusami, Vincent, Shulikov nine elites in total.
"Allow me to introduce myself. My name is Haze. It was my idea for the Ninth Prince to invite you," Haze said with a smile.
Benjamin with his wild, spiked hair, exaggerated physique, and bulging muscles radiated an intimidating presence… like a walking lion.
Benjamin glanced at one of his men, who immediately took out his phone and called Kenbugru.
After confirming the invitation was legitimate, Balsami the bald, dark-skinned strategist with a scar on his left cheek looked at Haze and said:
" Haze… the Field's family seems to wish to cooperate with you, prince."
After hearing this, Benjamin cast a cold glance at Haze, said nothing, and turned to leave.
The soldiers followed him, eyeing Haze carefully.
They knew the Field's family had recently caused a global uproar apparently harboring ambitions of unifying the world's underworld. They certainly had the influence required to negotiate with the First Prince.
However, Benjamin was unlike the other princes: he was a soldier who believed in military strength.
Compared to relying on external forces, he trusted only himself.
The fact that he didn't immediately kill Haze for wasting his time was… already a concession.
"For you, becoming the next king is guaranteed… But what about after? Even if you become king, expanding Kakin's territory and making your army dominate the world won't be easy. Our Field's family has enough influence to affect the politics of many nations we can accelerate your progress… even allow you to invade and annex other countries within a short time…"
Haze spoke calmly as Benjamin reached the door.
Indeed, Benjamin stopped.
He turned slightly, looking at Haze with one eye, and said coldly:
"If you want to use me if you want to talk cooperation the first thing you must do is submit to me."
He had identified Haze's intentions.
He had some brains, but in Haze's judgement, Benjamin was still reckless and lacking in strategy… a little slow.
"I'm a businessman. I only talk cooperation. If you're not satisfied, you may leave," Haze replied lightly.
Benjamin fully turned back, walked toward Haze with heavy steps, and towered over him.
He stared down at him and spoke each word clearly:
"This is the Kakin Empire… not your gang's den. Our royal government is not a bargaining chip for your games… The only thing you can do, and the only reason I am not executing you right now, is to become one of my men."
Benjamin's eyes glowed with a predatory sharpness if Haze refused, he looked ready to tear him apart like a raging lion.
Since Haze had revealed the Field's family's influence, if he were to leave now, he would undoubtedly join forces with other princes and become Benjamin's enemy.
Benjamin intended to eliminate the threat at its root.
"How dominant," Haze sighed softly.
He glanced at the soldiers nearby watching like spectators, arms crossed, waiting to see how Haze would react.
They were familiar with Benjamin's personality, and this situation was exactly what they expected.
Had Haze not mentioned the Field's family's influence over foreign governments, he might have walked away safely.
But now that he had, it meant the Field's family did indeed intend to interfere with Kakin's regime just as they had with other small nations.
This was bad.
"Hm… looks like negotiations really fell apart."
Haze shrugged, looking directly at the intimidating prince.
"I suppose you really don't know me, do you?"
Benjamin didn't answer but his expression said enough.
He only cared about the succession and international politics. The mafia? He had no interest in understanding it.
If the mafia were a country, perhaps he would care preparing for future Kakin expansion.
"Allow me to introduce myself again. My name is Haze… From now on, you are the one who will serve me with everything you have."
Haze spoke calmly and slowly.
Yes he had never come to negotiate.
He had come to take Benjamin.
(End of chapter)