The Godfather

"No need to trouble yourself. I'd like to walk around and get a personal feel for the environment I'll be staying in for the next while." Declining Shack Yak's car, Bred set off on foot.

After thinking it over, he felt that was somewhat inappropriate.

He turned back and politely said, "Thank you very much for your kindness, Ms. Shack Yak... No need to remind me. I assume the Hunter Association's territory would be conspicuous enough anywhere. Once I'm tired of walking, I'll find my way back."

With that said, Bred decisively departed with Mosquito Girl, who was shrouded in a long robe.

"..." Forcibly swallowing the words that had reached her lips, Shack Yak took a drag from her cigarette. "Not cute at all! Is he always so full of his own ideas? He's clearly still just a kid."

Esdeath, seated in the passenger seat, cracked open her eyes slightly but remained coldly silent. Perhaps she was simply exhausted, after all—she had spent an entire night sparring with Netero in basic hand-to-hand combat.

Melard, who had the middle seat all to herself, leaned over Shack Yak's seat. Her dark, gleaming eyes sneakily glanced at Shack Yak's ample chest, and an indescribably suggestive smile curled her lips. Hearing that, she said in a soft, syrupy tone, "Hm? Ah~ He's just a loner. Don't worry about his safety, big sis! When that demi-human super-dangerous beast pet of his gets angry, it's Demon-class!"

"Demon-class?" Shack Yak clicked her tongue. "That's some incredible information."

Kurando Akabane remained silent, quietly reading a medical text. He believed that the more one spoke, the more likely one was to slip up. He constantly reminded himself that he was a World Government spy who had infiltrated the Hunter Association, so he appeared rather reserved overall.

"Mr. Bred is talented. Talented people are always different from everyone else." Even Ging, an outsider, overcame his shy nature and spoke up for Bred.

"Mr.?" Shack Yak started the car, surprised by the way Ging addressed Bred. "He's only six years old, barely half your age!"

Ging stayed silent for a long while before slowly saying, "But in front of him, I'm the one who is truly ignorant and naïve. And he is a good teacher. He taught me Nen. I have every reason to respect him."

"..." Shack Yak had no energy to mock that. Strange things happened every year, but this year had especially many.

Melard abruptly asked, "Do you have a boyfriend, big sis?"

"It's Aunt Shack! I'm much older than you think," Shack Yak corrected, before changing the subject. "Not for now, but stop getting ideas about me. I still have expectations for my future married life! I already told you, I'm an Intelligence Hunter, which means I know your sexual orientation is abnormal. But mine is normal. Besides, you're just a little girl like this—I have no interest in playing forbidden games with you."

Melard rolled her eyes and muttered, "Clever mature women are the worst~ There's totally no chance of getting anywhere!"

"..." Everyone: What were they talking about?

Suddenly—

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Dense gunfire erupted, ringing through the bustling city and echoing between its towering buildings.

Shack Yak glanced at the group, who had suddenly tensed up, and smiled. "Right, everyone, welcome to the 'Gangster Empire'! The legendary lawful lawless zone!"

"..."

"Gangster Empire" was merely a nickname. The city located on this large island was also a nation, its official name being the Mafia Federation Kingdom.

As for the "legendary lawful lawless zone," that referred to the Mafia Federation Kingdom's unusual circumstances. It was a country with no history, founded less than twenty years ago by the Ten Dons—the supreme leaders of the underworld forces controlling the world's five great continents and ten regions. In other words, the so-called mafia bosses.

The Mafia Federation Kingdom was the center and headquarters of the world's mafia. Though the Ten Dons had bestowed laws upon it, people still habitually resolved everything through mafia methods.

Furthermore, because the Mafia Federation Kingdom kept the Celestial Dragons well fed with vast quantities of tribute, it was one of the World Government's allied nations. Yet it never accepted the World Government's jurisdiction, nor did it ever accept the World Government's aid. It devoted itself wholeheartedly to arms sales, smuggling, human trafficking, drug dealing, and other businesses that violated law and morality.

Since its massive tributes kept the Celestial Dragons well fed, the World Government found it difficult to forcibly restrain the Mafia Federation Kingdom. Over time, the Mafia Federation Kingdom evolved into the "legendary lawful lawless zone."

Bred learned all this in ten minutes, after luring several scum who coveted his exquisite looks and intended to kidnap and sell him for a good price into a dark alley, then neatly arranging them.

"Why can the Hunter Association openly establish a branch in the Mafia Federation Kingdom?" Bred asked. "They have Crime Hunters who specifically hunt criminals, as well as Bounty Hunters who hunt people with prices on their heads. That alone should be enough for the Ten Dons to reject the Hunter Association."

"Games between the higher-ups, maybe? Money? Th-this, this, I don't know~"

"Sp-spare us!"

"I'm sorry!"

"..."

The rows of kneeling men were battered and bruised, endlessly crying and begging.

"Boring." Bred snapped his fingers without making a sound.

"Bzzzz~~~ Bzzzz~~~ Bzzzz~~~"

The swarm of mosquitoes danced through the air. In an instant, only several dried corpses remained.

Casting an indifferent sidelong glance, Bred said, "Peeping is impolite. Get over here and apologize, Penguin!"

The figure at the alley entrance was not a penguin, but a boy—merely short, round, and fat, with a sharp nose and narrow eyes. What stood out most was the blue stubble above his upper lip, which did not quite match his age.

Naturally, the chubby boy was unwilling to obediently submit, and immediately turned to run.

Then—

"Bzzzz~~~ Bzzzz~~~"

He raised his hands in surrender, wearing a carefree grin as the mosquito swarm forced him before Bred.

"My deepest apologies. I accidentally offended you, sir~" The chubby boy did his best to sound respectful and sincere. "Please forgive me."

Bred said faintly, "If you let go of the gun behind your back, I might believe you a little."

Cold sweat began to bead more heavily on the chubby boy's forehead.

"It's useless. Just scrap metal." Bred playfully waggled a finger as the mosquito swarm, under Mosquito Girl's control, actively darted between his fingers. "Besides, the disparity in our forces is far too great."

The chubby boy: "..."

"Boundless curiosity, patience, a calm disposition, composure in moments of danger, and the courage to risk your life in a desperate fight—you possess quite a few excellent traits that others cannot teach." Bred crossed one leg over the other and knowingly asked, "I admire you. State your name."

The short, chubby youth gritted his teeth. "Capone Bege."

"Since we're in a 'Mafia Empire,' we'll use mafia methods. You offended me, so I punish you. Reasonable! My punishment for you is blood and death." Bred held out his hand. "S~~~ If you don't want to die, what should you do? Hmm?"

Bege hesitated again and again, but the situation was against him. He dropped to one knee and symbolically kissed the back of Bred's hand. "Boss! I am willing to offer my loyalty and become your servant in exchange for my life."

"It's Godfather," Bred said.

In that short span of time, Bred had already grasped the true principle of survival in the Mafia Federation Kingdom—

Strength equaled rules. It equaled the right to make rules. It equaled being able to do whatever one pleased.

Nothing you did was a crime; only weakness was a crime.