June 30, Kirok City, Guganyu Kingdom.
Late-June sunlight fell across a city famous for its antique trade. Most buildings along the streets retained their classical style: stone walls, arched doors and windows, and elaborately carved eaves.
The air carried a mingled scent of musty old paper, maintenance oil, and spices drifting from roadside food stalls.
At three in the afternoon, Leo and Sophia walked down the central avenue.
The street was packed. Many in the crowd were clearly visitors: well-dressed collectors, bespectacled scholars, and sharp-eyed merchants.
Kirok City would host its largest annual auction tomorrow, drawing attention from across the continent.
"The auction will be held at Xilirike Auction House tomorrow at eight in the evening."
Sophia scrolled through the information on her phone.
"The listed lots include three pieces of royal jewelry from the Guganyu Dynasty, five artifacts from a lost civilization, and more than a dozen paintings by top artists. Their estimated total value exceeds fifty billion Jenny."
She paused, then added,
"You need an invitation to get in. They cost two million Jenny each, and they've sold out. People are reselling them on the black market for five million."
Leo shook his head.
"No need to buy one. We'll watch from outside. The intelligence only says Mores might appear. There are too many unknowns, and the lives of those wealthy people and officials aren't worth protecting."
He looked toward the grand stone building at the end of the street: Xilirike Auction House.
It stood three stories tall, with two heavy doors at its main entrance and six security guards in formal uniforms posted outside.
A-rank wanted criminal: Mores.
He was the first A-rank target Leo had taken on.
The C- and B-rank fugitives before him had each been troublesome, but they were in a different league from an A-rank criminal, both in strength and in the danger they posed.
According to the records, Mores was an Enhancement Type user. His specific Nen Ability was unknown, but his fighting style was exceptionally brutal.
Over the past six years, he had been implicated in seventeen major robberies and confirmed to have killed 123 civilians.
His most recent crime had been five months ago. He had looted a bank vault on the Ulubian Continent, killing nine people in the process.
Danger rating: A. That meant "capture is only possible through the coordinated pursuit of multiple experienced Hunters."
Leo wanted to try.
He wanted to know how far a year or more of training and real combat had brought him toward this world's "high-danger" tier.
Mores made a good test: strong enough to challenge him, but not so strong that he was beyond handling.
"Master."
Sophia's voice pulled him back to the present.
"Since we still have time, I'd like to look around the market."
She pointed to an area on the tourist map.
"I found out the traditional market here has lots of local snacks and handicrafts... Could we go?"
Sophia gave him a pleading look, blinking up at him.
She had worked hard these past few months and had never asked for anything for herself.
Perhaps the city's atmosphere had brought out a rare urge to have fun.
Leo saw the hope on her face and couldn't help smiling.
"All right. You've worked hard lately."
"Get whatever you want to eat or buy. It's my treat today."
Sophia's eyes lit up, and a smile spread across her face.
"Great! Thank you, Master! Let's go!"
She turned toward the market with a spring in her step.
Leo followed two paces behind, his gaze still sweeping the area warily. It was habit.
At the same time, on the outskirts of Kirok City.
Three figures walked at an unhurried pace along a dusty country road.
On the left was an unusually burly man with several stitched scars on his face. He wore a plain white jacket and work pants: Franklin.
In the middle was a woman with reddish-purple hair, delicate features, and cold eyes. She wore a long white coat and black fingerless gloves: Machi.
On the right was a man with a ponytail and a sheathed long sword at his waist. He wore a loose, dark-blue kimono-style jacket, held a blade of grass between his teeth, and looked thoroughly unconcerned: Nobunaga.
The three kept a careful distance from one another: not close enough to seem intimate, but not so far apart that they couldn't back one another up. It was an understanding built through years of working together.
"The boss called whoever's free to meet in Kirok City."
Nobunaga spat out the blade of grass, his voice lazy.
"Is something big going down?"
Machi didn't even look at him. Her tone was flat.
"You don't know? Xilirike Auction House is holding a major auction tomorrow. There are plenty of valuable pieces, and the boss has his eye on a few."
"Oh?"
Franklin spoke, his voice deep and resonant.
"How many members are coming this time?"
"Everyone who's free except Feitan, Uvogin, Kortopi, and Shalnark."
Machi continued.
"Pakunoda, Bonolenov, Omokage... They should all be there."
Nobunaga rubbed his chin.
"Huh. Feitan and the others aren't coming? Without those battle maniacs, it won't be as lively."
"They're busy."
Machi kept it brief.
"And the boss only asked those who were free to come. It wasn't a mandatory summons. You know the Phantom Troupe's rules."
Franklin snorted and looked at Nobunaga.
"What, you think the rest of us aren't strong enough?"
Nobunaga shot him a sidelong glance.
"I never said that. Sounds like you're the one who thinks so."
The mood shifted in an instant.
Machi sighed, quickened her pace, and put some distance between herself and the two men.
She knew them too well. Nobunaga loved a fight, and Franklin had a temper of his own. Put them together, and they could barely exchange a few words before coming to blows.
She had no intention of getting caught up in it.
Sure enough, she had gone less than twenty meters when the dull thuds of fists striking a blade sounded behind her.
Machi kept walking without looking back. She was used to it.
Every member of the Phantom Troupe had a strong personality, and scuffles were part of how they got along. As long as nobody died, the boss generally left them to it.
Five minutes later, the sounds of fighting stopped.
Footsteps caught up from behind.
Nobunaga and Franklin fell into step on either side of Machi. Their clothes were a little disheveled, but both looked calm, as though they had merely exchanged greetings.
"Finished?"
Machi asked.
"Just loosening up."
Nobunaga shrugged.
"Next time, use Nen Abilities. Don't just talk."
Franklin's expression remained calm as he spoke.
"You wouldn't be able to take it."
Nobunaga shot back at once.
"Want to find out?"
Machi rolled her eyes and gave up trying to stop them.
She looked toward the city's outline, growing clearer in the distance.
Kirok City. The auction was tomorrow night.
"Let's go."
Machi cut them off.
"The boss said to meet at 'the usual place.' Don't be late."
The three picked up their pace.
The setting sun stretched their shadows long across the dusty road.
Kirok City's traditional market.
Sophia stood before a candy stall, her eyes shining as she studied the colorful handmade sweets.
The vendor, a smiling old woman, was describing the different flavors in the Guganyu language.
Leo stood three meters behind Sophia, leaning against a stone pillar. His gaze roamed the market with an air of casual interest.
It was bustling. Tourists, locals, vendors, street performers... Voices filled the air, and scents mingled all around.
Tomorrow night's auction looked set to be quite "lively."
The corner of Leo's mouth lifted slightly.
"Master! This is delicious! Try some!"
Sophia ran over holding a skewer of fruit coated in syrup, a satisfied smile on her face.
Leo took it and bit into it. It really was sweet.
He looked toward the western sky. The sun had begun to sink.
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