Coleman emerged from the woods and headed into town. After a few turns, he entered a discreet room.
"Hello, may I ask...?"
"Would you like something to drink?"
Before the owner could finish speaking, he noticed the short figure standing before him.
The kid looked about ten years old.
What was a child doing here?
Had another kid run away from home?
"Hey, little one, this place is for adults. You can't come in here!"
The man was kind, but his intention to send Coleman away was obvious.
Coleman was used to this by now.
His age and height had always been a serious handicap. Otherwise, he wouldn't have spent an hour working on that painting.
He looked up, his expression blank, and spoke slowly. "Three hundred meters outside town, northeast of the woods. Take care of it."
"Hm?"
The owner froze for a moment, then immediately understood.
So this kid was here to deliver a message.
He quickly nodded. "All right. I'll take care of it at once."
Only a handful of organizations knew that a shop like his also disposed of bodies.
First was the Zoldyck Family, far away.
Second was the Leyton Family mafia.
Third...
That was hard to say. It was something only his superiors would know.
In any case, anyone who could make such a demand so brazenly was someone he couldn't afford to offend.
Coleman thought it over, then took out a token given to him by one of his "friends." He didn't hand over his own Zoldyck Family token.
After all, to be honest, the scene hadn't been particularly pretty.
Coleman didn't want people saying the Zoldycks had produced a freak!
They were all such reliable gentlemen, after all.
And he was merely a rather unusual gentleman among them.
Besides, artists were always lonely.
Coleman understood that ordinary people couldn't appreciate this art.
It was art, after all. If even ordinary people could understand it, how could it be called art?
Only those whose thoughts resonated with his could appreciate an artist's work!
And Coleman, who considered himself one of a kind, never expected anyone else to understand him.
It didn't matter. As long as he was happy.
So, not wanting to scare the workers who disposed of the bodies, Coleman decided to pin the blame on the Leyton Family!
This wasn't the first time he'd done something like this.
It was no big deal. The Leyton Family wouldn't go out of their way to cause trouble for a kid.
Besides, hadn't he helped build their "reputation"?
The fact that he hadn't asked them for money was already generous enough!
With his argument so flimsy and his confidence so great, Coleman managed to convince himself.
As for the Leyton Family...
He'd deal with them if they came looking for him.
If all else failed, his grandfather could help.
Carefree as ever, Coleman happily put the whole matter out of his mind.
What he needed to do now was find the interesting person his grandfather had mentioned.
While darting through the alleys just now, Coleman had indeed run into someone interesting.
Judging by their build and movements, the person looked a lot like the kid Ku'er Ya had introduced him to on the deserted island.
But after taking a closer look, Coleman realized Ku'er Ya had actually been wrong.
The kid wasn't sixteen. Thirteen at most.
As for his height, he must have used some method to force himself taller.
But the consequence of doing that was that he probably wouldn't grow much more.
It was like forcing seedlings to grow. At least the plant hadn't died!
Coleman was now looking for this person who, like him, was darting all over town.
Judging by his skills, he was absolutely perfect for becoming an information broker!
He could run along rooftops and cling to walls.
He could lie at the drop of a hat, and, most importantly, he could do it with complete sincerity!
He had all the basic skills needed to become an information broker!
Coleman was so tempted to lure him back—or find some way to set him on the path of selling information!
He was quite confident he could pull it off!
Worst case, he could just throw money at him!
Coleman didn't believe anyone could turn down money!
Besides, he had plenty of it right now!
So he could tell this currently very broke guy, with all the swagger in the world:
It was just money! He had loads of it!
Of course, it would be even better if he could talk him into it.
If possible, Coleman didn't want to spend a single coin on this.
After all, getting it for free was the best!
"Ah!!"
Screams rose one after another through the banquet hall.
The evening party had already ended. Only a few people remained, chatting here and there, along with some security guards who had nothing to do.
And yet, the young lady of the family that had hosted the party was dead.
She had died right there in front of everyone.
Without a sound, her body had gone limp and fallen over.
At first, no one realized the beautiful young woman was dead.
They thought the party had exhausted her, and that she had simply fainted from fatigue.
But when they hurriedly lifted the girl, they realized...
Her body had no strength in it at all. She was completely limp.
They instinctively held a hand near her nose to feel for breath, but all they felt was cold skin.
The attendant looked horrified, his heart filled with dread. He silently prayed that the young lady had only passed out.
But when he turned her over, he saw blood slowly seeping from her chest.
He swallowed, then reached for her pulse with trembling fingers.
One second.
Two seconds.
Ten seconds.
Nothing!
Nothing at all!
Her breathing and pulse had stopped!
The young lady... the young lady was dead?!
Someone had killed her right under their noses?!
He tremblingly announced the news.
Then the same scene as before unfolded.
Screams rose one after another, and people stared in terror.
The head of the family rushed over, unable to believe what had happened!
Stumbling, the head of the family rushed over almost blindly and gathered his beloved daughter into his arms.
How could this be?
She had just been smiling and greeting him, complaining that the party had gone on too long!
She had just called him an old fool!
How... how had she, in just a little while, ended up... ended up like this?!
His gaze went blank as it slowly drifted to the wound.
The body was completely intact, except for the blood seeping from her chest.
Looking at the wound, the old man seemed to remember something. He glanced around in a panic, searching urgently.
Sure enough, a blood-red "bag" lay on the ground nearby.
The "bag" was still beating faintly.
It was full of life, yet utterly helpless.
The old man opened his mouth to speak, but the words caught in his throat.
That was his beloved daughter's heart!
A living, beating heart!
It had been ripped right out of her!
"Zoldyck!"
He murmured the name.
His gaze was unfocused.
Slowly, anger and hatred filled his eyes.
"Zoldyck!!! I'll never forgive you!!!"
Before you continue