Chapter 51: The V5 Arrangement
Half a month later, Haze set out to meet the other Ten Dons, heading toward the Ezhen Continent.
It was a different story now after gaining wealth and status. In the past, he had always shared a spaceship with other passengers. But now... the entire ship belonged to him, for his exclusive use.
The interior was heavily guarded packed with mafia bodyguards inside and out.
Although he didn't really need protection… the grandeur was a bit overwhelming.
"Almost a year has passed…"
Haze murmured to himself as he sat on a spacious, soft sofa that could even serve as a bed, legs crossed, gazing out through massive floor-to-ceiling windows that offered a clear view of the vast landscape beyond.
He had gained much over the past year not to mention the resources provided by the Ten Dons and the Mafia.
In the past, his battles with Nen users had been one-on-one, but his time in the underworld had honed his adaptability and diversified his fighting style. He had also witnessed a greater variety of Nen abilities. The brutal conflicts had sharpened both his ki and physical power, greatly strengthening his skill.
His Nen mastery had become far more mature.
Moreover… he had begun to fully integrate and understand the customs of this world.
A sense of reality had emerged he was no longer merely a traveler through time.
He was now a true member of the Hunter World!
His success clearly demonstrated the limit of what a Nen user could achieve.
For ordinary people, becoming the leader of a mafia family was unthinkable much less one of the Ten Dons. Haze believed that besides himself, there were surely others capable of replacing them. However, for those "experts," reaching the top and understanding this world could be achieved in many ways. The mafia was just one of them and Haze had simply chosen this path.
Perhaps it was coincidence… that they had just clashed with the Firth Family.
An amusing thought, really.
Haze flicked his finger, and one of his subordinates immediately handed him a glass of juice.
This was the boss's unique habit he neither smoked nor drank cigars, instead enjoying coffee or juice in his free time. Unlike a typical gangster, he had his own style, though those around him had long grown used to it.
Host: Haze
Age: 20
Combat Class: Battle-Hardened Martial Artist, Senior Nen Master (Upgradeable to: Nen Grandmaster)
Overall Attribute Rating: Human Evolver
Haze glanced at his system panel. Compared to the time before leaving Heaven's Arena, the title "Senior Nen Master" now followed his name three new words.
Taking a sip of juice, he blinked.
His martial arts skill remained the same, but his growth within the mafia had been subtle shaped by real combat experience, strategic thinking, the rapid information processing his mind had adapted to, and Biscuit's emphasis on "heart." At the very least, the quality of Haze's Nen had improved drastically compared to the previous year.
However, once one's strength reached a certain level or, in other words, once one advanced in rank progress inevitably slowed.
"This fighter ranking… it's based on martial arts ability, and the number of techniques matters too. I guess I'll need to learn more. Since attributes rely on the body, I'll need more practice," Haze thought.
He had to proceed step by step haste wouldn't do.
He stood and went to the upper deck of the spaceship. It was empty, except for the entrance where a few suited men stood guard two of them Nen users.
It was worth noting that despite absorbing Brown's assets, the Fields Family had taken a severe blow, with nearly all their personnel wiped out. They urgently needed to expand their resources and fighting power, so David had recently been reaching out to Meteor Street to recruit new members.
The family's current Nen users were drawn from the Mafia's ranks, and their skills were modest.
Haze took off his coat, put on a white shirt, steadied his breathing… and began his martial arts training.
Life depends on movement never neglect it.
The next day, the Fields Family's spaceship landed at a private dock. Numerous mafia vehicles were waiting from early morning.
When Haze emerged, he disembarked and went straight to his destination a hidden, fully sealed research base.
In truth, it was a company specializing in biological research.
Besides meeting with the other Ten Dons, he had another crucial matter the "grand project" that Brown had once been involved in.
A "major client" that the Ten Dons were already in business with.
V5!
Haze wasn't surprised to see the Yakuza and V5 working together. He had expected this it was inevitable.
The Yakuza operated across many industries research companies, weapons, pharmaceuticals. Even to V5, this made them a formidable force. As an official organization, V5 couldn't handle many matters openly; that's where the Yakuza came in.
Haze had used the Ten Dons as a stepping stone, and V5 was one of his main reasons.
A massive gate slowly opened as vehicles rolled into the complex nestled deep in the Gobi Desert, surrounded by electrified fences, watchtowers, bunkers, and surveillance cameras. Patrols inside and out were so dense it seemed not even a fly could get through.
Eventually, the cars stopped. Led by their guide, Haze arrived at an open area. The other nine elders were already seated some chatting, others on their phones.
"Hey," Haze said cheerfully, one hand in his pocket, greeting them with a smile.
"..."
Except for two, the others were seeing Haze for the first time. They hadn't expected someone of his demeanor he didn't seem like a mob boss of their level.
It was as if… he had just come for a casual visit.
"You, huh? So young… rose from a small family and managed to take down Brown. You must've worked hard!"
"We're the mafia. Brown being slaughtered just proves he was trash. He didn't deserve his seat and deserved to be replaced," said a woman who shared a "friendly" relationship with Haze, her tone cold.
"Well done!"
Another elder nodded approvingly.
No one underestimated Haze because of his appearance or age anyone who had reached that position was not to be taken lightly.
"He's here," one of them suddenly said, hanging up his phone, his voice solemn.
Everyone fell silent.
Haze didn't ask anything further and quietly took a seat.
Soon, three suited men appeared. At first glance, they didn't look like gangsters their demeanor was too serious. The leader was a middle-aged man, pale-skinned and slightly plump clearly the one in charge. The other two assistants carried briefcases.
The man's eyes swept across the Ten Dons, pausing briefly on Haze, but he said nothing.
One of his aides handed out protective suits.
Everyone put them on.
"Proceed," the man said, nodding to a researcher.
The ground trembled, and a tunnel rose before them. Lights flickered on, illuminating the dark passage as a group of young white men slowly entered.
"High-ranking V5 officials…"
Walking behind, Haze narrowed his eyes at the plump man's silhouette.
Interesting…
The moment he appeared, he took command of the entire scene.
Though the man spoke little, his arrogance was evident. In his eyes, the Ten Dons leaders of the Mafia were nothing but small fry. Considering V5's attitude even toward Netero, that made perfect sense.
The man clearly knew of Brown's death, yet didn't care to ask. From V5's standpoint, even if the Ten Dons were replaced, it didn't matter as Haze as their project wasn't disrupted.
V5 was composed of the five most powerful nations of the human world: Bergrose United Nations, the Sahilta States, and the Ochima Federation, among others.
In the beginning, these nations had sent joint expeditions into the Dark Continent and brought back the "Five Calamities." While V5 wasn't heavily featured in the original series, every detail hinted that they were the dominant human power a true monster.
The power they possessed and controlled, hidden from the world, was the true foundation of humanity's strength.
To Haze, V5 was equivalent to the five major UN powers from his previous life.
After some inquiries, he learned the official's name Rodman.
A dozen people entered the heart of the base. The first thing they saw was a sea of massive Petri tanks transparent containers filled with strange fluids housing all sorts of creatures: lions, leopards, bears, wolves, insects, microorganisms, and bizarre monsters Haze had never seen before.
Researchers moved busily, holding reports and explaining data to Rodman.
This base this project had been launched by V5 using the Mafia's resources. The Ten Dons supplied funding, while manpower came from elite workers within their industries. V5 had merely dispatched a few leaders to oversee operations nothing more. In truth… it was exploitation.
The goal appeared to be transplanting superior genes or cells to eliminate health risks and side effects in pursuit of human evolution.
The theory of biological evolution seemed inevitable in every world. Humanity always sought a higher form of existence.
Moreover, V5 was well aware of the horrors of the Dark Continent.
The human world might appear peaceful but no one knew when disaster might strike.
"So… they've been preparing all along," Haze thought. It was better to be ready.
If the apocalypse came, at least humanity wouldn't just sit and wait for death.
In that sense, V5 was… quite responsible.
Though he wondered was it really for all humanity, or only for their own nations?
Then he understood why V5 had chosen to involve the Mafia.
They were led into a sealed observation room facing a transparent glass wall.
Beyond the glass were human test subjects men, women, even children of all ages.
At a nod from a researcher, a group of assistants injected them with tubes of purple liquid.
Almost instantly, screams filled the room some writhed in agony, their bodies contorting violently.
Haze watched as a woman's flesh twisted, her body swelling grotesquely as her bones rapidly grew.
She completely deformed and finally died.
Others grew thick hair, becoming almost beast-like.
But they all shared one trait: after being injected, their strength and vitality increased drastically Haze could feel it clearly.
"The drug is still in development," one researcher explained to Rodman, "but compared to six months ago, it's far more stable. Some terminally ill or cancer patients have miraculously survived after injection, though their bodies undergo minor mutations. The better their compatibility, the less deformation occurs. At the same time, their physical abilities and resilience increase dramatically. According to current data, the healthier the subject, the greater the enhancement after injection. Middle-aged men show the lowest mortality rate…"
"Not enough," Rodman said coldly, frowning. "The side effects are still too severe."
Haze glanced at the others. "If this drug is perfected, it'll be incredibly valuable for the Mafia."
It could massively boost the combat effectiveness of their forces. No wonder they worked with V5.
Valuable resources… always in the hands of a few.
They were then led to another area a detention cell.
All surviving test subjects were imprisoned there, each horribly deformed.
The base supervisor began boasting about their "achievements."
But Rodman's face darkened. He turned away in disgust.
"Dispose of them."
V5 wanted nothing to do with such unsightly failures.
One of the Ten Dons signaled his men to clean up the scene.
Soon after, the group returned to the surface.
Their visit was over.
(End of Chapter)
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