"Master Nen in just two weeks? That's the highest order Her Highness has ever given me!"
Belerainte's chest burned with determination as he recalled the queen's solemn tone when assigning him this task.
"She called me by name… She believes in me. This is my chance, and I won't waste it!"
Four men nearby—clearly servants—reacted quite differently. Two clung to each other in fear, while the other two tried to suppress their delight.
One of the anxious servants whispered, "Why... why didn't we choose to be guards instead…"
Meanwhile, one of the grinning ones muttered under his breath,
"I finally got out of that room for a few hours. I'm so lucky…"
The frightened two were servants of the Eleventh Prince, Fugetsu. They didn't understand His Highness's strange orders. What business did mere servants have in a place this dangerous?
The two relieved ones belonged to the Tenth Prince, Kacho. They didn't care about rights or wrongs—just escaping from Kacho's suffocating presence for a while was enough to make them happy.
Among the crowd of suited bodyguards and hired muscle, these four stood out like sheep dropped into a pack of wolves.
The Ninth Prince Halkenburg's two guards—Yuhirai, imposing, and Shedule, bespectacled with a pockmarked face—couldn't help but glance at them a second time.
Though surprised by the strange mix of people sent by the Tenth and Eleventh Princes, Yuhirai and Shedule didn't let it distract them. Their orders were clear. With solemn expressions, they touched the small feather sigils marked in blood on the backs of their hands.
"Let's trace the origin of these feathers," Yuhirai muttered. "Even if we have to dig up every scrap of information."
The Ninth Prince had said as much before their departure:
"I suspect these feathers are connected to the Nen Beasts mentioned in that previous call. I need answers—real ones. Do not fail me."
Halkenburg's steady gaze, dignified and kingly even under pressure, had strengthened their resolve.
We won't let His Highness down.
...
The Eighth and Seventh Princes only sent one guard each.
The one dispatched by the Eighth Prince Salé-salé was Mushaho, a soldier captain once assigned to the Fifth Queen Swinko-swinko—Salé-salé's mother.
As someone more invested in indulgence than training, the prince had little interest in Nen. Even so, Mushaho tried to reassure himself:
It's not that the prince wanted to get rid of me... This is an important mission. He must have chosen me for a reason!
He clung to that belief as he tried to maintain his composure.
Not far from him, Satobi, the "guard" sent by the Seventh Prince Luzurus, stood alert, eyes darting across the room.
But Satobi wasn't truly a guard for Luzurus—nor someone hired by him. He was, in fact, a covert operative dispatched by the Second Queen to monitor the Seventh Prince.
Of course, Luzurus had likely seen through this and casually reassigned him here.
Luzurus, currently discussing rehabilitation methods with Basho, wasn't particularly interested in learning Nen. He already had a number of skilled Nen users under his command—including Basho—and preferred to focus on other matters.
Satobi, aware that his cover had been compromised, wasn't discouraged. Instead, he saw it as an opportunity—to gather intel, network with the other guards, and discover everyone's agendas.
Above all, his attention was locked on one yet to arrive: Kurapika.
He's technically just a guard, but every one of them listens to him. He's dangerous—very dangerous.
In Satobi's mind, Kurapika loomed like a powerful enemy yet unseen.
...
The Sixth Prince Tyson had not sent anyone.
But the Fifth Prince Tubeppa had dispatched two: Lieutenant Maor and a trusted soldier named Longhi.
"I hope that guard named Kurapika will be willing to offer some strategic advice."
Tubeppa admired Kurapika's ability to bring together the guards of all the princes under one roof.
Before their departure, Tubeppa gave them a simple, two-part order:
"I don't care if you get close to one of the princes. Your main goal is to build an alliance with Kurapika. Use these two weeks of study to quietly pull him to our side. Also… find out everything you can about that person they call the Morgan Guard."
Tubeppa's true intent was to draw Kurapika into her network—as a strategist, not just a fighter.
Lieutenant Maor and Longhi had taken the instructions seriously.
Morgan is secondary. Kurapika is the real prize.
But with everyone watching, finding a chance to speak with him in secret was no small feat.
Maybe a written letter would be safest… Body language risks being noticed.
...
Elsewhere in the room, the guards sent by the twisted Fourth Prince, Tserriednich, scanned the others with veiled malice.
One of them, Myuhan had a disturbingly open hunger in his eyes.
"If they can't memorize everything in two weeks, I'll kill them all. That's what His Highness ordered! Hehehe…"
The memory of Tserriednich's cold voice played again in Myuhan's mind. It thrilled him.
This is what I live for. His Highness and I—we're made of the same stuff!
"Hey." Next to him, his fellow guard Danjin—taller, broader, and a bit more grounded—reached out and slapped his shoulder.
"Don't just go shouting about it, idiot."
"!!"
...
Standing nearby were the soldiers sent by the Third Prince Zhang Lei. Among them was Tenftory, a longtime confidant with thick glasses and a notably large nose.
Zhang Lei had given him simple but critical instructions:
"Forget about the queens. Focus on those trying to get close to Kurapika. He's the linchpin. Also… look into Sakata, Hashito's situation, and above all, watch your back."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)