Outside the Red Dragon Hotel, Dio checked his handgun and all his bullets again.
These were custom-made bullets he had asked Cheadle to have someone produce-Light Steel Bullets. Seven magazines held forty-nine rounds in total.
What made Light Steel Bullets special was their ability to hold [Ripple] briefly!
"They should be enough for ordinary ability users... Most of the damage will still come from the Ripple and Nen on them..."
Dio silently secured the magazines at his waist. Whenever his fingertips touched one, tiny silver arcs of electricity flashed, almost too faint to see.
"Dio, are you ready? We're leaving."
A steady voice rang out. Dio turned to see Drobada emerging from the hotel entrance.
Behind him, the Twelfth Prince had changed into a fresh blue dress. The gold necklace around her neck had been replaced with a pearl one, giving her a more understated look.
Three Royal Guards, two men and one woman, accompanied them, spreading out around the group. Strangely, the maid who usually carried Mumuzawa's bags and held her parasol had not followed.
"Mr. Dio, sorry for the trouble."
Just as Dio was wondering about that, Mumuzawa handed him a parasol, looking at him with a hint of anticipation in her eyes.
"..."
No wonder she had left the maid behind. Dio took the parasol resignedly, then suddenly sensed something and glanced over his shoulder.
Drobada: expressionless.jpg → enjoying-your-misfortune.jpg
Not inclined to waste words on the smarmy middle-aged man, Dio held the parasol and stood just behind Mumuzawa to one side, then followed her into another custom-built armored car, taking the front passenger seat.
The stretch vehicle would have trouble reaching smaller places such as the little auction houses, so they had left it behind for now.
The others got into another car. The two vehicles drove in single file toward Yorknew City's central shopping district.
There was still an hour until lunchtime. The sun hung high overhead, its scorching light so dazzling that people could barely keep their eyes open.
The summer heat had not dampened anyone's enthusiasm for trading. Bustling crowds packed the various stalls, writing things down with pens.
Amid the crowd, Drobada cleared a path while scrutinizing the people approaching them. An owl-like bird stood silently on his shoulder.
Yet no one but him seemed able to see the bird, because it was his Nen Ability-[The One Being Watched]!
[The One Being Watched] could detect every gaze directed at its host, no matter how covert the observation. It also issued warnings for frequent, prolonged, or hostile scrutiny, making it a counter-surveillance Nen beast.
Behind him, Mumuzawa looked curiously at the surrounding stalls, while Dio held the parasol behind her and quietly surveyed their surroundings.
"Mr. Dio, why do all the goods at these stalls have strange tags?"
Mumuzawa had spotted a stall selling cute dolls. A large white tag hung beneath each one, with writing scrawled across it.
Dio glanced over and explained:
"It's a local style of auction. You write your bid on that tag, and if no one offers more before time runs out, you've won the item. But if someone's in a hurry and wants it right away, they can negotiate a price with the owner. If the offer's good enough, they can take it immediately."
As he spoke, Dio stepped forward for a look. The dolls were all well made, especially a happy-looking dog wearing square glasses with its tongue sticking out. He thought Cheadle would like it.
Mumuzawa scanned the stall, and her eyes suddenly lit up. She stepped forward and grabbed a doll. Several numbers had already been written on the tag beneath it, the last of which was-1,500 Jenny.
Prince Mumuzawa decisively addressed the owner:
"Can you sell this doll to me directly? I'll offer ten thousand Jenny."
The owner immediately straightened up, rubbing his hands eagerly as he said in excitement:
"Of course, honored young lady. It's yours."
Seeing this, Dio hurriedly reminded Mumuzawa in a low voice:
"Your Highness, bidding ends at twelve, only an hour from now. At this point, you can buy it outright for just two and a half times the highest bid."
Mumuzawa did not seem bothered. Instead, she handed the doll to Dio with a smile.
"Consider it a thank-you gift for last night, Mr. Dio. I don't mind paying a little extra."
Huh? It's for me?
Dio took it in surprise and looked closely-it was a blue dinosaur.
The dinosaur bared its teeth and claws, looking so ugly it was almost cute.
"I thought it suited you, Mr. Dio. I hope you like it."
With Mumuzawa putting it that way, Dio had no reason to refuse and could only accept the odd dinosaur doll.
To return the gesture, Dio picked out a blue mouse doll for Mumuzawa. It even had a recording function and would make a sound when squeezed.
Mumuzawa happily accepted the doll, then promptly handed it back to Dio for him to carry, leaving him feeling as though he had trapped himself.
"Exchanging gifts, mmph-!"
A strange cry seemed to come from behind them. Dio turned warily and saw three familiar figures seated at a distant dining table, trying to look casual. One burly man was desperately clamping a hand over another man's mouth.
It's those three Private Soldiers. The auction probably doesn't start for a while, so they had nothing to do and got dragged over here to babysit.
Dio narrowed his eyes at the thought.
He also spent 5,000 Jenny on the dog with its tongue sticking out.
The doll was not really worth that much, but the owner insisted that the dog and the rabbit beside it were sold as a set, or not at all.
With no other choice, Dio bought both, planning to keep the rabbit and give the dog to Cheadle.
They continued forward with the crowd, and Dio found himself carrying more and more bags.
Being loaded down like this was hardly ideal for guard duty, but Drobada kept his Nen beast active. With [The One Being Watched] present, there was little need to worry about a sudden attack.
Failing that, there was always Ripple sensing.
Before long, although Prince Mumuzawa was not tired, lunchtime had arrived.
The guards had already reserved a place for lunch not far from the market.
Following the map, the group walked a short distance and found their destination-a nicely decorated restaurant called [Cave Restaurant].
-Ding!
As Drobada opened the door, the wind chime above it rang crisply. The restaurant was air-conditioned but sparsely occupied, with only a few tables of diners and some drunken figures slumped over small tables
inside.
The restaurant's decor was elegant, and soothing music played.
Sparse ivy had been deliberately arranged around the exterior windows, giving the place a fresh, natural feel.
The restaurant was divided into left and right sections. The entrance opened into the right dining room, which was separated from the left by an enormous curtain.
Dio found their reserved table, a long one.
He pulled out the chair at the head of the table and gestured for Prince Mumuzawa to sit. Two of the guards stationed themselves outside to continue surveying the surroundings.
He also found a table where he could set down everything he was carrying for now.
Dio called over a server. Prince Mumuzawa looked through the menu and ordered some drinks, then had Dio and Drobada order some as well.
Since they had no food taster, the female guard stationed herself by the serving passage, ready to taste everything before it was brought to the prince.
And so Dio's group quietly drank their beverages in the restaurant, waiting until the prince had rested enough.
People came and went from time to time. Judging by clothing and behavior alone, it was hard to tell whether they were ordinary citizens or assassins.
Still, he had a vague sense that the number of people in the restaurant was gradually increasing.
Soon, only the soothing music drifted through the restaurant.
Suddenly, Dio sensed that something was wrong.
For a restaurant at this time of day, wasn't it a little-
Too quiet?
Before you continue