I'm a Genius, What Are You?

Evening.

"It's all cleaned up, Godfather." Bege's slightly plump, ugly face wore a humble, ingratiating expression, making him look like a dog—a well-behaved bulldog wagging its tail at its master.

Without even looking up, Brad teased Altair. "Is it really all cleaned up? I'm not merely referring to this Fabricio Family—no, this Capone Family villa that now belongs to you! I also mean the wealth, businesses, territory... everything that once belonged to the Fabricio Family and now belongs to your Capone Family."

"I..." Bege was at a loss for words.

Brad glanced at Bege. "Sit."

Stiffly, Bege moved over a stool and sat across from Brad.

"In truth, you don't want to take over the Fabricio Family's inheritance, much less run it. You prefer cutting off some gang boss's head, taking his gold and jewels, then hiding off to the side and enjoying the chaos of the gang he once led, don't you?" Brad spoke unhurriedly. "Have you considered the consequences if you keep this up?"

Bege looked bewildered. Though his experiences had made the twelve-year-old mature beyond his years, his horizons and insight were still far too limited and narrow.

"I'll tell you! The mafia is an organization that places tremendous importance on order and authority. Your actions are disrupting order and challenging authority. Keep it up, and you'll inevitably cross their bottom line. They absolutely will not tolerate it. When that happens, they'll spare no expense to eliminate you, and you won't even have the right to struggle." Brad made a gesture as if crushing a bug. "I can't protect you around the clock, either. I'm your boss, not your bodyguard."

After a brief pause.

"Don't take this lightly. I'm not trying to scare you! The Ten Dons who rule the world's underworld forces have a special unit under their command called the 'Ten Shadow Beasts.' They're all superhumans proficient in Nen and Haki. If they make a move, what do you think the survival odds are for an ordinary boy like you? Zero point one percent? Zero point two percent? It should be infinitely close to zero." Brad added with a teasing smile.

Bege's eyes widened. "N-No way... Would people as important as the Ten Dons really, really, really notice me...?"

"What are you thinking? The Mafia Federation Kingdom is the capital of the world's underworld forces." Brad looked utterly defeated.

Bege panicked. "What should I do, Godfather?"

"Follow order and respect authority." Resting his cheek on one hand, Brad said, "Take over the Fabricio Family's inheritance and run it. Learn the proper way the mafia survives—that's following order! As for respecting authority... communicate with the Mafia Federation Kingdom's upper ranks and pretend to submit to them. Whatever benefits the Fabricio Family used to offer them, increase it by thirty percent. I'm sure they'll be willing to forgive your earlier foolishness."

"I'll remember that," Bege said solemnly.

"Your current mission is to join the upper ranks of the Mafia Federation Kingdom." After thinking for a moment, Brad added, "Take stock of the available funds. I'll take half."

"Yes, Godfather." Bege's lips trembled as he cautiously asked, "Godfather, could you teach me Nen?"

The corner of Brad's mouth lifted. "You crave strength? Hehe... there's no shame in that. But with your aptitude, you're far from qualified. Work on your physique first."

Bege fell silent.

"I'm not brushing you off. Really." Brad shifted his posture and said lazily, "Bege! You must be wondering to yourself why six-year-old me has mastered Nen while I'm rejecting you. The answer is simple... I'm a genius. What are you?"

Bege: "..."

"At the very least, lose that belly fat." Brad simply set a goal for Bege outright. "Once you lose that belly fat, I'll teach you Nen."

Bege bowed. "Thank you for your generosity, Godfather."

"Keep it up, Bege." Brad held the increasingly restless Altair securely. "The little one is hungry. Let's go, Joanna."

Leaving the villa.

"That short fat guy isn't loyal to Brad. Joanna hates him!" Mosquito Girl muttered.

"I know," Brad said. "It doesn't matter. As long as he has value, that's enough."

"Hey, Brad, are you serious about moving?" Mosquito Girl confirmed again.

"Mm," Brad replied.

Hunter Association, West Blue Branch.

"Are you joking, Brad?" Shack Yak took a deep drag from her cigarette. "Altair is still fragile. She can't withstand all that upheaval. You know that yourself."

"That's right," Brad said.

"Then you..." Shack Yak realized she had lost her composure and swiftly calmed herself. "What made you abandon your long-standing plan to live in the Mafia Federation Kingdom?"

Shack Yak knew Brad was a World Government agent, and she knew Brad knew that she knew he was a World Government agent. As the Hunter Association representative assigned to monitor Brad and prevent him from causing trouble within the Hunter Association, she very much did not want him leaving her sight.

"I don't want Altair growing up in an environment filled with gangsters, murderers, thugs, prostitutes, and scum everywhere," Brad lied with a perfectly serious expression.

Shack Yak stubbed out her cigarette. "Where do you think would be suitable for Altair to grow up?"

"An island with a spring-island climate, where it feels like spring all year round. It has a rich academic atmosphere. Altair will immerse herself in an ocean of knowledge and kindle the light of wisdom!" Brad seemed quite pleased as he put on a show of giving a formal bow. "Anyway, thank you for looking after us during this time, Aunt Shack."

With that said.

Brad turned and left.

Shack Yak stood there in a daze for a moment before cursing under her breath, "That fickle bastard!"

Among all islands worldwide with a rich academic atmosphere and a spring-like climate year-round, only one matched the criteria—Ohara Island.

"Click~"

A flame sprang from the lighter, igniting Shack Yak's cigarette.

After smoking three cigarettes in succession, Shack Yak made a phone call.

"This is Shack Yak. Listen! Swain, Brad Hyman is going to Ohara. I'm not sure whether he's coming for you or for that Poneglyph." Shack Yak's tone was exceptionally grave. "What I fear most is the latter. That would mean that among the historical hunters I contacted to transport that Poneglyph for you, there must be a traitor among the ancient relic hunters. He might even be a World Government agent himself—otherwise, the information could not have leaked! If Brad Hyman is after that Poneglyph, you must move it immediately before the World Government takes action. No matter who it is, someone has to bear the blame alone..."

"..." Swain said something on the other end of the line.

Shack Yak instantly flew into a rage. "Stop talking about your fucking dreams! I'm not discussing this with you, idiot! People will die! A lot of people will die!"

"..."

"If Brad Hyman is coming for you, you must be cautious as well. I suggest you leave Ohara for a while and lie low... I can't stall him, Swain! Don't you get it yet? He came to say goodbye and told me where he was going next. He was testing me!" Shack Yak's thoughts were in turmoil, and she was extremely agitated. "I'm being paranoid? Then how do you explain that the Poneglyph was just excavated and transported to Ohara, and then he immediately headed for Ohara? That's far too much of a coincidence!"

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