Yorknew City, outside the Sommetali Building.
As night fell, the entire street was illuminated as bright as day by the lights.
Black sedans pulled up to the entrance one after another. Mafia elites dressed in expensive black suits queued quietly, waiting for security checks to enter.
No one shouted, and no one cut the line. Security personnel at the entrance held metal detectors, conducting strict inspections on every person entering.
Iwailenfu looked around and whispered to his companion with a sigh.
"The elites are truly gathered here... those who have come are all prominent figures from various organizations; some bosses have even arrived in person."
A hint of surprise appeared on Baise's exquisite Face.
"How unexpected!"
Shaqimono, who was beside her, asked.
"What is?"
"It's just an auction,"
Baise replied.
"They could have just sent someone in their place."
Shaqimono shook his head and lowered his voice to explain.
"This is actually a place to compete in style and Face. The party that wins a treasure at a high price must pay five percent to the organizers. In other words, everyone has to pay to trade. Besides showing off your financial power, you can also make yourself known to the world's underworld figures, raising your own value. So, people often spare no expense to win a bid, only to end up forced into bankruptcy."
He paused, his gaze sweeping over the big shots who were currently entering.
"Furthermore, the power structure of the underworld has changed drastically now. The Ten Dons are all dead and have been replaced by a new group. It's even more important to leave a good impression on those big figures."
Tocino leaned in and asked curiously.
"I heard the original Ten Dons offended someone and were all killed. Even their Shadow Beasts unit was wiped out!"
Baise also remarked with emotion.
"I've heard that too. Supposedly it was someone from the Hunter Association. One person could wipe out the entire supreme authority of the underworld. If we encountered him, we probably wouldn't last a minute."
Shaqimono and Tocino nodded in agreement, solemn expressions appearing on their Faces.
What they didn't know was that the person they were talking about was currently walking down the street leisurely with his hands in his pockets.
Leo didn't go to the auction; he sent Dean instead to keep an eye on the situation and see if there were any troublemakers.
Xiaoqing had been left by him in Tote City. That fellow was still in its infancy and needed to continue growing.
Staying at Colton Manor with a massive amount of resources to eat at will was better than following him around everywhere.
He was very much looking forward to Xiaoqing growing a bit more so that he could stand on Xiaoqing's back and fly.
He didn't plan on going to the Mafia's underground auction.
The Genei Ryodan had already been wiped out by him, so the tragic massacre from the original story wouldn't happen.
He had no interest in the auction itself. Those antiques, jewelry, human organs, and artworks were nothing more than a bunch of numbers and useless trifles in his eyes; he couldn't appreciate them anyway.
He planned to stroll through the streets and learn from Gon and the others, using 'Gyo' to look at the antique trinkets on the stalls and pick up a bargain.
The antique market by the roadside was brightly lit, with people coming and going and constant shouting from vendors.
In front of every stall, many people stopped to watch. Some bargained, some held magnifying glasses to examine items closely, and some put down an object that had just been bought with a Face full of regret.
The air was filled with the mixed scent of old wood, copper rust, and dust, as well as the aroma wafting from BBQ stalls.
Leo walked into the market, his gaze sweeping across the stalls one by one.
He used 'Gyo', Nen gathering in his eyes, and the world in his vision instantly changed.
Most objects were dim and dull: ordinary pottery, ordinary stones, ordinary utensils.
But occasionally, an item would glow with a faint light—
That was the Nen attached to it, having undergone a long period of settling, or perhaps the creator had unconsciously used Nen while making it, leaving behind a trace.
Those who can use Nen unconsciously are all Geniuses in their own Domains, just like Komugi.
A Genius who dedicated her life to Gungi, she didn't know Nen, but while playing against the Ant King, she unconsciously activated Nen herself. She was an absolute Genius.
Leo walked and stopped, spending over half an hour browsing the entire market.
He indeed discovered several utensils with faint Nen. Three of them were very cheap, while the other three were ridiculously overpriced and not worth getting.
Leo crouched down and bought those three cheap items.
A palm-sized ancient bronze mirror, a rust-covered copper coin, and a chipped pottery bowl.
The three items together cost him less than a hundred thousand jenny; he didn't even haggle.
He put the items in a bag and walked out of the market in a good mood.
Meanwhile, outside the Sommetali Building.
A group of people had already approached the vicinity of the building.
They crouched in the shadows of an alley. The leader, Black Tiger, stood at the very front, his eyes fixed on the Mafia bosses entering and exiting the building's entrance.
He was burly, with a scar stretching diagonally from his forehead to his jaw, and his eyes held a ferocity unique to desperate outlaws.
"Brothers."
Black Tiger's voice was low, but every word was filled with power.
"We worked so hard to get out of Meteor City, wasn't it just to make big money! This Mafia underground auction has many valuable treasures. Now that the Ten Dons are all dead and replaced by a bunch of newcomers whose Foundation is unstable, if we pull off a heist, we can make a fortune!"
The crowd shouted in low voices.
"The boss is right! Coming out this time was the right move. The outside world is great!"
The second-in-command, Colin, stood beside Black Tiger, his brow slightly furrowed.
He was a size smaller than Black Tiger and wore a pair of glasses, looking much more composed than the others.
"Boss, the Mafia from all over the world has come this time. They have strength in numbers. Could there be danger?"
Black Tiger gave a sinister smile, revealing a mouthful of yellow teeth.
"Don't worry, since I dare to rob them this time, I've naturally made full preparations. I accidentally obtained a high-power weapon. With just one shot, even if they have more people, they'll have to die."
The third-in-command, George, also rubbed his hands excitedly.
"That's great. This auction is worth at least hundreds of billions!"
The light of greed lit up in everyone's eyes.
"The boss is mighty!"
Black Tiger waved his hand with full confidence.
"Brothers, this is our Black Tiger Gang's first operation. We must become famous in one battle! Show our might! Move out!"
The Black Tiger Gang had twenty-three people in total.
Eight of them could use Nen. Besides the leader Black Tiger, Colin, and George, the remaining five were just beginners who had only crudely learned Nen.
They had broken free from the control of the Meteor City Elders and come to the outside world, intending to emulate the Phantom Troupe and do whatever they wanted freely.
The group advanced toward the Sommetali Building in a grand manner.
In a corner of the street opposite the building, Baise, Shaqimono, and Tocino were stationed there, alertly observing the surroundings.
"Security tonight is really tight."
Shaqimono let out a yawn.
"But there shouldn't be any trouble. The new Ten Dons just took office; who would dare to cause trouble at a time like this?"
Baise was about to respond when she caught something moving at the entrance of the alley out of the corner of her eye.
She turned her head, and her pupils suddenly contracted—a group of silhouettes was emerging from the darkness, rushing toward the building's entrance.
"Oh no! Enemy intrusion!"
Shaqimono's expression changed.
"Quick, notify Dalzollene!"
Baise nodded and was just about to take out her phone—
A cold flash of light streaked past her from behind.
Blood instantly gushed from Baise's throat.
Her eyes widened, and her mouth opened, but she couldn't make a sound.
She clutched her neck, and her body slumped down. Blood poured through her fingers, glowing dark red under the streetlights.
Shaqimono and Tocino reacted quickly, rolling to the sides to dodge.
Two gunshots rang out, and bullets hit the spot where they had originally stood, sparks flying from the concrete ground.
Cold sweat poured down their foreheads as they looked at George, who had suddenly appeared behind them.
Several figures also appeared on both sides, surrounding them.
George grinned, his gun still smoking.
"Didn't expect there to be lookouts outside. Colin was right; it's better to be cautious."
He flicked the muzzle of his gun and walked toward Shaqimono and Tocino.
"Don't run. Running is useless."