Chapter 42: Full Stage, Preparing for the Performance
Haze stayed in the residence of the Ten Donss for several days.
After the meeting, they didn't allow him to leave right away clearly, they wanted a deeper conversation.
It seemed they were grooming Haze to become a trusted confidant. Yet, as expected, before showing any real respect, they issued several "warnings."
For example, the ambitions of the Fells family were admirable… but Haze had to understand who was truly in charge; without their tacit approval, the Fells family wouldn't be where it was today.
Haze's interactions with Brown were mostly superficial. After eliminating the Kenny family, the casino business was settled.
His reasons for coming this far whether to use the Ten Donss' power, to earn money and pave the way for future Hunters, or simply to play with their private armies in truth, both the Mafia and Heaven's Arena were just waypoints.
Temporary stops on his journey.
And at dawn, he would leave.
"Keeping me here for a few days so you can watch me better, huh…"
That night, Haze stood on the balcony of one of the palaces, feeling the cool breeze as he swirled a glass of red wine in his hand.
He looked out at the rolling palace grounds and muttered to himself.
These past few days, wherever he went, a Nen user had been secretly following and observing his every move.
They were probably reporting to Brown.
Even now, in the room where he lived, there was a "beast" crawling through the grass, watching him, ready to bare its fangs at any moment.
Haze masked himself well, pretending not to notice.
He enjoyed that feeling
the feeling of being treated like prey.
Besides, this stalker was an exceptional and skilled Hunter.
He tried not to appear too excited…
As he'd said before, the world of Hunters was full of powerful individuals. Beyond the main characters, every corner, every field, teemed with extraordinary talents.
A world like that… was far more interesting, wasn't it?
After finishing his wine, Haze returned to his room and prepared to sleep.
The next day, the Ten Donss seemed to have errands to run they were traveling to another continent. Haze was finally free to leave.
His true reward from this trip wasn't the empty talk of the Ten Donss, but the confirmation that they indeed had a group of skilled Nen users especially the one whose presence had warned him.
But they weren't yet the Shadow Beasts (Yin Beasts).
That part of the story hadn't happened yet. Haze had subtly inquired and confirmed that the Ten Donss' Shadow Beasts hadn't appeared though the concept of a private army was already taking shape. The "beast" he sensed watching him was likely the current representative of the Shadow Beasts.
Ten Donss, ten Shadow Beasts each one paired with one Elder, forming a specialized force. The Ten Donss functioned as a single entity, jointly ruling the underworld as a global crime syndicate.
On the way back to Cork, Haze pieced together the fragments of information in his mind.
The presence of the Ten Donss in the underworld had frozen the power structure of the Mafia for a Haze time no one dared to challenge their dominance. For instance, even though the Fells family now appeared powerful, with just one word from Brown, every gang in the region would rise to crush them.
Hundreds of families, even dozens, could bury them without Brown lifting a finger.
He was right the Fells family's current glory existed under his protection.
For now, they were still "one of us."
In the later story of the Kakin Empire's Dark Continent expedition, the Mafia also communicated with crime leaders to locate Hisoka's Phantom Troupe. But the gangs of that era were very different.
When the Ten Donss were later annihilated by the Zoldycks, the underworld fell into chaos, leaderless. Countless new syndicates sprouted like mushrooms after the rain bringing new life to the stagnant swamp that it once was.
Now, however, it was stagnant again.
The Ten Donss would not tolerate any uncontrollable element or signal within their territories.
They had ruled too Haze. Even if the current Elders weren't the same ones who died later, their successors were handpicked confidants almost a hereditary system.
If Brown were to die today, by tomorrow there would already be a new Elder someone already "chosen."
Haze and Badim would be expected to support them unconditionally, and the local influence wouldn't change much, since the Ten Donss had already built an unshakable network of power that ordinary mafia families couldn't dismantle.
And since they were mutual beneficiaries, even if trouble arose, the other nine Elders would back them.
That meant a family like the Fells… had no real hope.
That's why Haze needed extraordinary measures.
To overthrow Brown, he'd have to keep the other nine Elders neutral at least for a while.
It was nearly impossible… but not entirely.
Convincing just two or three of them to support him even slightly could shift the balance.
From Brown's own gossip, Haze realized the Ten Donss weren't entirely unified.
Some resented him.
After all they were gangsters.
"Rising to the top in just a few months… a fantasy," Haze (Haze) thought with a wry smile.
Back at the Fells headquarters, he left matters to Lily and the butler David.
With Lily's intelligence, foresight, and David's efficiency, he had nothing to worry about.
Contacting other Elders overseas had been a total failure Brown hadn't noticed, but if those were Brown's enemies, maybe it wasn't so bad. They could try again.
After all, everyone… has weaknesses.
From the outside, the Ten Donss seemed united.
But only they knew what truly went on inside.
"Meteor Street…" Haze whispered another name.
The strength of the Mafia was deeply tied to Meteor Street.
Driven by survival, its inhabitants were fierce and resilient most had the courage to face death head-on. They were perfect raw material for the Mafia.
Trade between both sides began Haze ago, but it wasn't close until recent years.
Meteor Street provided manpower; the Mafia provided protection. Today, Meteor Street was more self-sufficient, but the cooperation persisted.
Originally, Meteor Street the "world's garbage dump" was persecuted by outsiders.
"The people of Meteor Street aren't considered human, so… no one cares about the consequences of what's done to them."
That was the common belief.
The situation worsened every year, hundreds of children were kidnapped, countless adults killed, their organs and bodies sold. Meteor Street became a lucrative source of income for criminals a miserable and tragic place.
And this very misery… birthed the Phantom Troupe.
Without it, the Spiders would never have existed.
The original troupe members had dreamed of touring the world, like the Moritonio Company Haze once joined.
The only difference the Troupe acted; they performed.
Chrollo dreamed of becoming a great actor.
Uvogin wanted to play "the world's greatest villain."
But the tragedies of Meteor Street's past forced its elders to seek help from outsiders and they turned to the yakuza, forming ties.
Meteor Street's leadership structure resembled the Mafia like a "Council of Elders."
Their upbringing and harsh environment made them naturally suited to becoming Nen users supplying the Mafia with elite fighters.
The Fells family had no members from Meteor Street, since their casino business didn't require that kind of workforce.
"If you have time… you should go take a look."
Haze smiled faintly at the thought.
In the following two months, the region's yakuza forces stabilized, and hostilities faded.
The Fells family's rapid rise became one of the Mafia's few notable events in recent years.
They also began following the Ten Donss' orders, "behaving well." This greatly pleased Brown, who believed Haze was obedient and loyal.
Most importantly, the Fells family kept paying tribute.
Brown was pleased and gradually lowered his guard, starting to consider them as his own.
However, from the very first meeting with the Ten Donss, the Fells had already been secretly colluding with Mafia forces from other continents.
Though Brown had stationed Nen users to watch them, they failed to uncover anything skillfully deceived by Haze.
Eventually, surveillance was lifted a sign of Brown's growing trust.
Meanwhile, Haze had been in seclusion, keeping a low profile…
preparing for what was to come.
The dangers ahead were of the highest order possibly deadly.
"Master."
The next day, in a pitch-black room, Haze sat cross-legged on the floor, his body radiating Nen. His eyes were tightly shut.
David's voice came from outside.
"Enter."
Haze opened his eyes.
"Master, we've made contact with two of the other Ten Donss. The rest believe it's too risky for now. But these two are interested they said they'd be willing to meet us. As for the consequences… we'll take responsibility."
"Just two, huh? …That's fine."
"Go and prepare."
Haze smiled.
To meet with the other Elders, one needed a certain level of prestige and the Fells family clearly had it now.
He had paid a high price for this opportunity.
"Yes."
David turned and left.
"It seems… everything is about to end."
Haze stood slowly.
The stage
was finally set.
Even without an audience, the performance would be grand.
A masterpiece worth every second of preparation.
(End of Chapter)