Love Called Possession

Coleman could only laugh at that.

He really was quite the narcissist.

Ku'er Ya fiddled with the thread in his hand and spoke nonchalantly.

"If you've already awakened your Nen, then you'd have been able to see everything that just happened clearly. But since you don't have Nen, you can't gather it in your eyes, so you couldn't see what just happened."

"But don't worry. You're still too young. This isn't a good time to awaken your Nen. You'll need to wait at least another year or two. By then, the body's vital energy won't be spreading recklessly, and you won't die from being unable to control it."

As he studied Coleman's smiling face, Ku'er Ya noticed that the boy didn't seem the least bit discouraged or anxious.

He raised an eyebrow.

Was the kid just so easygoing, or had he already mastered control over his expressions?

He wasn't sure, but that didn't stop Ku'er Ya from appreciating the child.

He could even imagine how fascinating the world would be once this kid grew up.

For one thing, the Hunter Association would be driven crazy by this lunatic who refused to play by the rules.

Even without Nen abilities, the boy was already a hunter not to be underestimated.

Coleman stood where he was, letting Ku'er Ya look him over.

He still didn't know how strong Nen users were, but that didn't stop him from standing confidently and casually in front of a Nen-using killer.

He knew full well that he couldn't beat the "beast" standing beside him.

But so what?

Being unable to beat someone didn't mean he couldn't kill them.

As long as Coleman had a chance to catch his breath, his enemy would be the one to die in the end.

Whether he survived himself was another matter.

In short, Coleman believed that if he could kill the person standing in front of him, then that person wasn't a threat.

You could call him arrogant, even conceited.

But he really could kill Ku'er Ya.

For one thing, there were the specially made steel needles coated in snake venom hidden in his sleeves.

Those alone would take half of Ku'er Ya's life.

Coleman had plenty of other poisoned weapons on him, too.

If he couldn't win, he'd use poison. If the poison didn't kill, he'd use more.

If that still didn't work, he'd find a way to call for backup.

There was always some way to kill you.

Some might say that was dishonorable.

What a joke. Who talked about honor with an assassin?

An assassin's code of honor was simple: you died, and he lived.

That was all.

His equipment and abilities gave Coleman the confidence to speak to Ku'er Ya as an equal.

He completely ignored Ku'er Ya's disgusting, unsettling stare and instead asked, puzzled, "That boss over there still seems to be alive."

Watching the scene ahead, Coleman had seen everything that had just happened.

The leader of the bandit group hadn't taken part in the bloody melee at all.

The moment he realized he couldn't stop his men from killing one another, he had calmly and wisely chosen to leave the battle.

He watched from a distance, his gaze cold.

He was an interesting person.

Coleman could tell that the man found the sight of his subordinates killing one another boring.

He even seemed utterly bored and disgusted by it.

That was quite interesting.

A boss who showed no worry or anger at his men.

And he never got involved in the fighting.

Even when the first person to be controlled raised his weapon and killed one of his companions, the boss didn't react at all.

His gaze remained calm and cold.

And yet this cold-hearted man knew how to handle people.

He hadn't personally ordered the first fool killed. Instead, he'd quietly instructed someone else to deal with it.

That way, the blame shifted.

He kept himself completely clear of it.

After thinking for a moment, Coleman reached a conclusion.

This man wasn't cut out to lead.

He was better suited to being alone. Even if he joined an organization, he'd be the sort of double agent—or no, even triple agent—who played every side.

His only loyalty was to himself.

Everyone else was merely a plaything for him when he was in the mood.

Ku'er Ya glanced at Coleman and saw that he was staring ahead.

Following his gaze, he saw that it was fixed on the little brat he'd deliberately left alive.

With a snort, Ku'er Ya scratched his head and leaned lazily against a tree trunk before speaking.

"I know that guy. Or, rather, I've worked with him. He's a pretty interesting kid."

He was an unemployed young man who liked wandering around and assuming all kinds of different identities.

As he spoke, he patted Coleman on the shoulder.

"What's the point of just watching? Why not go make a friend? You two look like you're about the same age, anyway."

Coleman watched the distant figure and muttered, "I'm not even eight. That guy's at least thirty, isn't he?"

"No, he's only sixteen."

"...That's still twice my age."

And that counted as about the same age?

Coleman was a little surprised by Ku'er Ya's answer. Then he figured the man was probably wearing a human-skin mask or something.

After all, if you worked in the underworld, disguises were essential.

Ku'er Ya simply shrugged. "You'll like him."

"Forget it. You go by yourself."

Coleman wasn't in the habit of making friends.

But he was in the habit of using people.

Anyone who became his friend had to be useful to him.

After thinking for a moment, Coleman blinked and turned to the man. "He could become an information broker. I think that'd be a pretty good offer for him."

Someone like that would be incredibly quick at gathering information.

"Hmm, I think that's a great idea."

Thinking about the way the guy operated, Ku'er Ya thought it was an excellent proposal.

Someone who liked dancing on the edge of a knife would never turn down such an interesting offer.

And he could make money from it, too.

Ku'er Ya thought of something and said with a grin, "His disguise skills are top-notch. Don't you feel like seeing them for yourself?"

It'd be so much fun to get the two kids together.

Ku'er Ya loved watching the excitement and completely ignored how the Hunter Association might feel. He wanted to push the two of them together and get them into trouble.

The trouble they caused would definitely shock the entire continent.

If they felt like it.

One was a master of disguise with an incredible ability to gather information.

The other was skilled at pretending and could kill without leaving a trace.

Together, they could open a company that investigated infidelity, caught cheaters, and dealt with them!

The charming older sisters would love it!

Of course, it would be even better if he could join the company.

He could comfort the heartbroken older sisters!

Older sisters who'd just been through a romantic setback needed comforting, too, you know?

That was what you called a full-service company.

From the beginning, to the service, and then to the follow-up care.

The whole package!

In his early thirties, fit and strong, and single for a long time, Ku'er Ya was more than willing to be a friend to women!

As for how he'd comfort them...

Some things were better understood than spoken.

Slurp.

At the thought of that wonderful life, Ku'er Ya couldn't help swallowing.

What a dream life!

But unfortunately, Coleman wasn't going to make friends anytime soon.

Not unless the guy showed him the value of friendship.

After all, he'd only chatted with that guy called Carls for a little while the last time.

When he got home and ran into Illumi, Coleman had been so nervous he'd barely dared look at him.

His own brother had looked as if he wanted to swallow him whole.

The wanton darkness and possessiveness in Illumi's eyes were like an ink-filled vat.

It was terrifying.

But Coleman had been happy.

It was proof that his brother loved him.

Still, afterward, he'd had to spend ages comforting the kid before he could finally get him under control.

He'd managed to keep Illumi from going berserk.

If Illumi found out that he was going to make another friend...

Then Coleman would probably end up locked in the little black room.

It wasn't as if being locked up was so bad.

Especially when Illumi was the one locking him up.

Coleman could accept being locked up without a care, and he even enjoyed everything Illumi did to him.

But if he got locked away, he wouldn't know whether Illumi might be lured away by some other bug.

That wouldn't do.

His brother could only belong to him.

So Coleman had to maintain a degree of freedom so he could keep an eye on Illumi's movements.

If Illumi's whereabouts suddenly went unknown for more than a week, Coleman might just go crazy.

"No, thanks."

As he spoke, Coleman turned around, intending to leave.

He'd gotten what he wanted, including some books about Nen abilities that his family wouldn't let him touch.

There was no reason to stay.

Besides, he'd also given Ku'er Ya the method for making puppets.

Coleman considered the deal over.

"Come on, hey! Don't you want to meet someone like yourself?"

Ku'er Ya spoke faster, trying to keep the kid there.

His beautiful dream had ended before it even began?

That wouldn't do!

Hearing Ku'er Ya, Coleman stopped and looked back. He asked thoughtfully, "What's that guy's name?"

Ku'er Ya was taken aback. He furrowed his brow, dredging the kid's name up from somewhere in his memory.

"Uh, I think it was something like Manster, or something."

Once he got the answer, Coleman nodded casually to show he'd remembered.

Then he spoke as if explaining himself. "I really can't make friends right now. Maybe another time, if we happen to cross paths. You can tell him my name."

"Hm? Why?"

Ku'er Ya didn't understand. How could there be a bad time to make friends?

"My older brother won't let me."

As he said this, Coleman smiled with satisfied pride. "Illumi won't let Coleman make friends, so Coleman won't make friends."

Was that so hard to understand?

His brother was just jealous.

A jealous serpent coiled around its treasure, watching everyone who dared to covet it.

If anyone dared to approach, he'd crush them at any cost.

And Coleman, the treasure, was perfectly happy with that.

His brother's possessiveness was just so...

Indulgent.