"Lord Bred, as instructed, I have notified everyone at the West Blue branch not to accept any commissions related to the 'Underworld Conference,' including hunters from other branches and headquarters." Coty Beaty worked with exceptional efficiency, reporting to Bred in less than half a day. "So far, everyone except one person has agreed."
The Underworld Conference was naturally being held in the Mafia Federation Kingdom, where the Hunter Association's West Blue branch was stationed. It was, after all, the capital of the world's gangs and criminal powers. Calling it the "Gangster Empire" was not entirely a joke. The Hunter Association's West Blue branch was also the stronghold of Bred's supporters. Considering that outside hunters would likely find it difficult to get anywhere without the friendly assistance of local hunters, the vast majority were willing to do Bred this favor.
"Oh? Which formidable outsider is it?" Bred asked with a smile.
Coty said, "One-star bounty hunter, Kakuzu."
"Hisss—" Bred drew in a breath. "A true senior among seniors."
Bred had long known that Kakuzu was part of the Hunter Association. He often browsed the Association's official website, especially the hunter profiles. How could he possibly have missed Kakuzu?
``` Name: Kakuzu.
Hometown: Wano Country, Takigakure.
Identity: Defected ninja of Wano Country and Takigakure; bounty hunter.
Age: Unknown (very old—possibly traceable to Wano Country's Warring States era, when records show him active as an elite of Takigakure).
Record: Once ordered by Takigakure's higher-ups to assassinate the founder of Hidden Leaf. He failed, barely escaped with his life, and returned home, only for Takigakure's higher-ups to attempt to execute him for mission failure. Enraged, he rebelled and ultimately fled Wano Country, wandering the Grand Line before joining the Association by chance.
Achievements: Has completed seventeen A-rank commissions alone. The number of B-rank, C-rank,