The Necklace from His Brother

"Ring 23, winner, Coleman!"

The crisp clang of the bell rang throughout the arena, and cheers of excitement and exhilaration rose from the crowd.

Coleman felt nothing in response. He was just a little bored.

Jeez, not a single one of them can put up a fight.

Still, he had observed all the proper courtesies.

The corners of his lips lifted, and his eyes curved just so.

He shook hands with his terrified opponent, then smiled gently at the referee.

He bowed his head slightly and stepped down from the ring, one measured step at a time.

Each stride was precisely the same length, as if he had measured them beforehand.

The female referee was still staring at him, too stunned to react. It wasn't until the head referee called to her that she hurriedly announced the next match.

Oh my God, how could there be such a pretty little boy?

He's like a doll.

And he's so well-mannered!

Her mind replayed Coleman's little bow over and over, and she couldn't help swooning again.

Oh, God, this is crazy. How can he be so beautiful? When he grows up, he'll surely charm thousands of girls.

Coleman had already left the arena and was now killing time. He exchanged his room key for the floor he planned to move to next and collected his prize money.

The prize money amounted to the cost of a bottle of soda.

Coleman didn't mind. He never had to worry about running out of money.

Even now, his father had frozen his card because he'd run away from home.

But what did that matter?

His mother had given him plenty of pocket money!

And money was still being transferred into his account.

Coleman didn't even have to think about it to know that the letter he'd sent his mother had worked.

In practice, Coleman, the youngest in the family, could be called the richest person in the Zoldyck Family apart from his mother.

After all, his mother kept his father's money under lock and key, his grandfather rarely took money, and Illumi's card had been frozen too.

So, Coleman was the only one who could spend a large amount of money at short notice.

Coleman: Well, what can I say? I'm Mother's favorite.

And because Coleman had kept in touch with Kikyo by letter even after leaving the castle, her need to control him had eased to some extent.

Coleman had always been good at figuring out how to satisfy someone like her.

Wasn't it simply that she wanted to know where you were and control you?

Then give her what she wanted. Don't just give it to her—give it freely, without hesitation.

Make it seem as though she hadn't even asked, but you were insisting on telling her.

And even if she hadn't asked for your love, give that to her too.

Give her enough, and she'll stop trying to force you.

Because your actions will make her believe she can't live without you.

To some extent, she'll think she's the one in control of the relationship.

But in reality?

Who could say?

Coleman smiled faintly and opened his drink.

This trick worked on Mother, so of course it would work on his brother too.

After all, the two of them came from the same stock.

He loosened his shirt collar, revealing a black choker.

It was so tight that it was even making it hard for Coleman to breathe.

Hooking a finger under the stretchy little thing, he raised an eyebrow.

His brother had pretty good taste.

The leather choker was black, with a silver-lettered pattern.

Red lines traced through the silver.

It was beautiful.

Coleman liked it very much.

It was a little uncomfortable, so he had to use a finger to shift the choker into a better position.

A faint red mark appeared against the pale skin of his neck.

Red against white.

Coleman frowned. He hadn't realized his skin was so delicate.

By then, he had crossed the corridor of the Heavens Arena and reached the elevators.

Ding.

The elevator doors opened.

The stench of blood hit him.

Coleman frowned.

From the corner of his eye, he spotted a tall, masked man.

For some reason, the man's left hand had been cleanly severed. In its place was an iron hook.

Scars crisscrossed the skin left exposed.

He looked like trouble.

But that wasn't what caught Coleman's attention.

He had seen this man before.

Three days ago, on the night Coleman had first arrived at the Heavens Arena.

If he wasn't mistaken, the man had recognized him and his brother as members of the Zoldyck Family.

And he wanted to kill them both.

He glanced discreetly at the space around them.

Coleman's lips curved slightly.

Well, now, it's anyone's guess who'll kill whom.

Isn't that right, Pirate Assassin, Gintsman?