When the conference room door was pushed open, Kanzai was sitting at one end of the table with his legs crossed, his fingers tapping impatiently against the tabletop.
He had a mouthful of sharp teeth and wore striped clothing resembling a baseball uniform.
Most striking of all was his yellow, striped hair—like a fierce tiger perpetually poised to hunt.
The moment he saw Mizai Istom enter, he spoke up, his tone brimming with agitation.
"Weren't we supposed to discuss this? You took so long to show up!"
Before his words had even faded, his gaze passed over Mizai Istom and landed on Leo behind him.
Kanzai frowned and leaned forward slightly, as though he had spotted something that needed evaluating.
"Hm? What's he here for?"
Mizai Istom walked over to the conference table, pulled out a chair, and sat down, still as composed as ever.
"Sorry for the wait, Kanzai. This operation carries a certain degree of danger, so to be safe, I brought him in to assist."
He turned slightly and gestured toward Leo.
"Leo. A newly licensed Hunter from this year's Hunter Exam."
Leo walked up to the table and offered Kanzai a friendly smile.
"Hello, my name is Leo. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Kanzai."
Kanzai did not respond immediately.
He looked Leo up and down, his gaze as sharp as a scalpel.
Several seconds later, he finally spoke, his tone carrying his usual bluntness.
"Oh? A newly licensed Hunter?"
Kanzai tilted his head, the corner of his mouth pulling into something resembling a smile.
"This stinking cow invited you... so you must have some tiny skills!"
Leo nearly burst out laughing.
He had long known that Kanzai was not very good with words and often said things that did not come out right, but hearing such an awkward expression in person was still rather funny.
He kept his expression under control and replied sincerely.
"You flatter me. As one of the Hunter Association's Zodiacs, Mr. Kanzai must be incredibly strong. As a junior, I still have much to learn from all of you."
That was well said. Flattery could get through anything.
A suitable compliment could quickly improve Kanzai's impression of him—and that would be helpful for their upcoming team operation.
Sure enough, Kanzai's expression softened somewhat.
He waved a hand, a trace of embarrassment slipping into his tone.
"Not at all! My skills aren't worth mentioning... Please take more care of me in the future!"
Leo smiled and corrected him.
"It's 'please take care of me.'"
He extended his hand.
"I'm glad to be friends with you, Mr. Kanzai."
Kanzai stared at the outstretched hand for a second before extending his own.
Their hands clasped—Kanzai's palm was rough and covered in calluses.
They shook for two seconds before letting go.
"Alright."
Mizai Istom spoke at the right moment.
"Now that you two have met, take your seats."
He took folders from the briefcase he carried with him and handed one each to Kanzai and Leo.
"These contain detailed information on the Jackal Trio. Read through them first. Ask if you have any questions."
The conference room fell quiet, leaving only the soft rustle of turning pages.
Leo opened his folder.
The first page contained photographs of three men arranged side by side.
On the far left was a bald, muscular man. A vicious scar ran from his brow to his jaw, and his eyes were fierce.
Note: Codename "Jackal," leader of the trio. Suspected Enhancement Type. Violent fighting style. Habitually uses heavy blunt weapons.
In the middle was a tall, thin man with a gloomy complexion and long, slender fingers.
Note: Codename "Coyote." Suspected Enhancement Type or Transmutation Type. Skilled in ambushes and stealth. Weapon: poisoned dagger.
On the right was a red-haired man with an ordinary face, though an eerie smile lingered at the corners of his mouth.
Note: Codename "Fire Wolf." Confirmed Transmutation Type. Ability related to flames. Cruel personality. Enjoys torturing opponents.
The following pages contained detailed files: known criminal records, areas of operation, methods, victim information, records of clashes with Hunter Association Hunters, and more.
Leo read quickly, but carefully.
Around ten minutes later, he closed the folder and looked up.
Almost at the same time, Kanzai put down his documents, looking as relaxed as if he had just finished reading a magazine.
"Alright, I'm done."
Kanzai leaned against the back of his chair, both hands behind his head.
"I don't see any problem. We just charge in and wipe them out in one go."
Typical Enhancement Type thinking—straightforward and using force to overcome finesse.
Leo looked at Mizai Istom and gave his assessment.
"I don't have any issues either. The files show that the Jackal Trio once escaped from an encirclement by four Association Special Forces Hunters—but that does not fully reflect their strength. The Special Forces Hunters themselves varied greatly in ability, while these three excel at teamwork and escaping."
He paused before continuing.
"Of the three, leave the leader, Jackal, to me."
That statement made Kanzai raise an eyebrow.
He turned to Leo, his eyes gaining a little more scrutiny.
"Oh? You want to deal with Jackal?"
There was no disdain in Kanzai's tone. He was simply more surprised than anything else.
A newly licensed Hunter was voluntarily asking to face the strongest leader among the three. Either Leo was overconfident, or he truly had the strength to back it up.
Considering Mizai Istom had invited him into the operation, it was probably the latter.
"Fine."
Kanzai did not ask further and directly took the second target.
"Then Coyote is mine."
Mizai Istom nodded.
"I'll handle the remaining Fire Wolf. That is a reasonable allocation. Each of us will face the type we are best suited to deal with."
He opened the final page of the folder. It showed a map of Ibaraki City, with one area circled in red pen.
"Intelligence indicates that Ibaraki City's convention center will host a high-end jewelry exhibition in four days. Several treasures worth more than several billion Jenny will be displayed there."
"The Jackal Trio will likely appear there. For the past six months, they have focused on robbing high-end jewelry. Their methods are clean and efficient, and they quickly fence the goods after a successful job, making them difficult to track."
Mizai Istom tapped the convention center on the map.
"My recommendation is that we arrive in Ibaraki City in advance, familiarize ourselves with the surroundings, and formulate a detailed operation plan. On the day of the jewelry exhibition, we blend in with the visitors. Once they appear, we make the arrest immediately."
"What if our judgment is wrong and they don't show up?"
Leo asked.
"Then we switch to tracking mode."
Kanzai took over, his tone matter-of-fact.
"I've already memorized those three guys' scents. As long as they've appeared in Ibaraki City, I can find them."
His expression remained calm as he said it, as though he were describing something utterly ordinary.
The abilities of the Zodiac Tiger truly lived up to their reputation.
Mizai Istom looked at the two of them.
"Then the operation plan is settled. Any other questions?"
Leo and Kanzai shook their heads at the same time.
"Good."
Mizai Istom stood up.
"One hour from now, gather at Helipad Three at headquarters. We'll take the Hunter Association's private airship to Ibaraki City. Flight time will be approximately two days."
He looked at Leo.
"You can use that time to familiarize yourself with the information, or make other preparations."
"Kanzai, remain on standby here."
Kanzai snorted, which counted as agreement.
One hour later, at Helipad Three.
The Hunter Association's private airship was far larger than any Leo had ridden before. The Hunter Association emblem was printed beside the hatch. Inside, it was spacious, with private lounges, a conference room, and an equipment room.
Kanzai sat quietly in the lounge. When he saw Leo enter, he pointed at the dinner beside him.
"Yours. I happened to get an extra portion."
Leo walked over and thanked Kanzai.
"Thank you."
Kanzai waved a hand and lay back in his seat with his eyes closed.
Mizai Istom was the last to board.
He carried a computer displaying a real-time satellite map of Ibaraki City.
"Is everyone ready?"
He asked.
Kanzai and Leo nodded.
"Then let's go."
The airship's engines gave off a deep roar as it slowly lifted into the air.
Through the portholes, the Hunter headquarters complex gradually shrank, eventually disappearing beneath the clouds.
The flight was smooth and quiet. Leo practiced Nen in the lounge.
Kanzai spent most of the time sleeping, his snores thunderous.
Mizai Istom remained at his computer, occasionally recording something.
The two days passed quickly.
As the airship began its descent, Ibaraki City's outline was already visible through the portholes—a modern coastal city packed with high-rises, its coastline winding along a harbor filled with ships of all sizes.
The airship landed at an inconspicuous private airport on the outskirts of the city.
The hatch opened, and damp sea air rushed toward them.
They had arrived in Ibaraki City.
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