Chapter 36: A Restless Heart
Yorknew City. A sprawling metropolis on the western coast of the Yorbian Continent.
It is world-renowned for one event: the world's largest auction, held every year from September 1st to the 10th. During this time, every imaginable treasure—priceless artifacts, lost antiquities, and secret items of immeasurable value—converges here.
Like a giant magnet, it draws in countless collectors, tycoons, and tourists, all driven by dreams and greed. Money flows into Yorknew like a tidal wave, making it one of the planet's most turbulent vortexes of capital.
But where there is great profit, there are always shadows.
The auction is the lifeblood of the Mafia.
The city is ruled by the ten highest dons of the underworld—the Ten Dons. Their terrifyingly efficient combat unit, the Shadow Beasts, consists of ten elite, top-tier Nen users who maintain the city's dark, chaotic order.
However, even chaos needs rules.
By decree of the Mafia, during the ten-day auction, all gang warfare must cease. During this brief period, Yorknew City is not only peaceful; it's often safer than any normal city.
It is a fragile balance, maintained by the threat of absolute violence.
"So this is Yorknew... It's incredible!" Gon pressed his face against the window of the airship, staring down at the endless sea of skyscrapers and the rivers of traffic below.
The city's neon signs glittered even in the daylight, and massive holographic billboards scrolled through a preview of the auction's rarest items.
Killua, hands in his pockets, looked completely unfazed. "This is one of the biggest Mafia cities in the world," he said, patting Gon's shoulder. "All this 'prosperity' on the surface is just a cover. Gunfights can break out at any time. Don't let the calm fool you."
"Killua's right," Kyle said from the front seat, his own eyes gleaming with calculation. "It's dangerous, but it's also one of the fastest places to make money. We have five days until September 1st. We have to earn enough funds to get you two to the next stage."
"Greed Island..." Gon said, his voice firm.
"That's the one." Kyle's expression turned serious. "And the price is no joke. From my intel, the game's starting market price is 5.8 billion Jenny. Once it hits the auction floor and the bidding starts... I estimate it'll open at 8.9 billion."
He paused, letting the weight of the number sink in. "You heard me. That's just the starting bid. The final price could easily be double or triple that."
"E... Eighty-nine BILLION?!" Gon shouted.
Several other passengers on the airship turned to stare, their expressions a mix of mockery and disbelief. They were stressing over million-Jenny deals, and these three brats were talking about billions.
Kyle and Killua both winced in embarrassment. They grabbed Gon and hustled him off the airship as soon as it docked, ducking into a quiet alley.
"Gon, could you try to be cool?" Killua snapped. "Yelling like that is so embarrassing!"
"But, Killua! 8.9 billion! How are we supposed to make that much money in just five days?!"
Kyle sighed. It was an astronomical number. Even with all his meta-knowledge, he had to admit it was daunting. He knew from the "original story" that Gon and Killua didn't end up buying the game, but he wanted to try. He wanted to feel the thrill of earning that kind of cash.
"Where there's a will, there's a way, Gon," Kyle said, a confident smile returning. "First, let's count our ammunition. My bank account has 200 million Jenny. You two?"
Killua, for the first time, looked genuinely embarrassed. He rubbed the back of his neck. "I... uh... I have one million left."
"WHAT?!" Kyle and Gon yelled in unison.
They had each earned over 200 million Jenny just from their time at Heaven's Arena. Kyle had spent a good chunk on supplies and information, but Killua... he had just burned through it.
"On the train here, I saw an online-only, limited-edition collector's set of chocolates..." Killua said, looking away, as if already tasting it. "I... couldn't help myself... and by the time I was done... this is all that was left."
Gon grabbed his arm, his eyes pleading. "Killua... can't we... return them?"
"NO WAY!" Killua jumped back like his tail had been stepped on. "They're limited edition! I haven't even tried one yet!"
Kyle couldn't help but laugh. "It's fine, Gon. That amount doesn't change our plan. Let him have his chocolate." He turned back to Gon. "What about you?"
Gon did the math. "I left 10 million for Aunt Mito. I have... 260 million Jenny."
"Okay," Kyle said, his confidence returning. "260 plus my 200... that's 460 million. That's more than enough. This will be the fulcrum we use to leverage 8.9 billion."
"So what's the plan, Kyle?" Killua asked, his interest piqued.
Kyle looked around, then lowered his voice, his eyes sparkling. "In a place like this, there are only two ways to make that kind of money fast: stealing or gambling. Stealing is against our principles. So, that leaves one answer."
"We gamble."
He winked, but the other two just looked at him with a strong, sinking feeling of dread.
"Kyle... are you sure?" Killua asked, his eyes narrowing. "Gambling is a rigged game. The house always wins. They have a hundred ways to clean you out."
But Kyle was brimming with confidence. "Don't worry. I know my way around a casino. And besides... we're not normal."
He tapped his temple, his voice dropping to an excited whisper. "My Observation Haki isn't strong enough to see the future yet... but my perception is superhuman. In a dice game, if I concentrate... I can probably 'hear' the dice tumbling in the cup."
Kyle's mind was already filled with scenes from "God of Gamblers" movies. The temptation to try it, to be that kind of hustler just once, was too much. His heart was restless, and he couldn't wait to start.