Ron entered the living room.
With Silva returning, Nina and Sally no longer needed to covertly protect Killua. They could now return to Sky Arena to focus on high-level Nen training.
Meanwhile, the old monk's body was sent to the Kakin Empire.
Specifically, it was delivered to the Fourth Prince, Tserriednich, via the Hei-Ly family.
Tserriednich, the Fourth Prince of Kakin, was a figure with a peculiar obsession with human organs.
For most people, such a fascination would earn them the label of a pervert. However, because of Tserriednich's royal status, people merely described his interests as "peculiar" and feared him greatly.
No one dared to call him a pervert outright, not even behind his back.
Inside a massive container lay a corpse—the body of the old monk.
It was stripped of clothing and submerged in a large quantity of formalin.
A strange aura emanated from the container.
Even though the old monk was clearly dead, the corpse gave off an unsettling impression, as if death hadn't fully claimed it.
Tserriednich approached the container.
"Exquisite," he remarked, his eyes filled with appreciation, as though the corpse before him were not that of an old man but a masterpiece crafted by a renowned artist.
Nearby, a maid held her breath, terrified of disturbing Tserriednich.
She had seen the fate of those who had interrupted him before.
Death?
That was the simplest and most merciful punishment.
---
The Underworld Mafia had taken control of the Kamuro Shrine.
A member of the Shadow Beast personally arrived and effortlessly established contact with the shrine's Nen spirit, forming a cooperative agreement.
The Nen spirit of Kamuro Shrine possessed limited intelligence, akin to a programmed sequence.
Standing at the shrine's center, the Shadow Beast member surveyed his surroundings, his excitement barely contained.
"This energy… it's extraordinary!"
"Here, even an A-rank Nen user wouldn't be a match for me. My abilities will be greatly amplified in this environment."
"Coming here first is the best decision I've ever made."
"If another person were to arrive now, it would be impossible to establish a connection with Kamuro Shrine."
"My strength will far surpass the other Shadow Beast members."
"Even if I can't leave Kamuro Shrine, it doesn't matter."
"However, this also means I can no longer serve as a Shadow Beast."
"But that's a small issue."
"The Shadow Beast is renowned not for its name but for the strength of its members. And now, my strength has surpassed that of the Shadow Beast."
"Here, I alone am equivalent to several Shadow Beast members."
"I will become a high-ranking figure in the Underworld Mafia, second only to the Ten Dons."
The Shadow Beast member's eyes glinted with ambition.
"Perhaps, one day, even the Ten Dons will seek my assistance."
Lost in his thoughts, his phone suddenly rang.
It was one of the Ten Dons.
Snapping out of his reverie, he answered the call and reported on Kamuro Shrine's situation.
"Boss, I've assessed Kamuro Shrine. To maintain and enhance its energy, it requires a constant supply of desires. I suggest transforming this place into a red-light district. Kamuro Shrine may even evolve further."
"I've established a contract with the shrine's Nen spirit, allowing me to draw upon its energy."
"Even an A-rank Nen user wouldn't be able to defeat me here."
"This place will be a safe haven."
The Shadow Beast member paused.
"Boss, I request to leave the Shadow Beast and transform Kamuro Shrine into the Underworld Mafia's fourth core city."
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Fine, Rox. I'll allocate resources to you, but if you fail, I won't hesitate to cut you off."
"Don't worry, Boss. I won't disappoint you."
After the call ended, Rox sneered.
"For now, you still speak to me this way. But in the future, who will dare?"
"I'll build Kamuro Shrine into something far greater than Aurean."
"I will become the strongest figure in the Underworld Mafia!"
Ambition burned in Rox's eyes.
Resources soon began flowing into the area.
People, materials…
Centered around Kamuro Shrine, a new city began to take shape. Nearby towns gradually merged into it, drawn in like moths to a flame.
Men and women with unique talents were brought in.
The air of decadence began to permeate the growing city.
Rox wasted no time naming it after himself.
"Still, for someone to eliminate Kamuro Shrine's previous contractor while remaining within its domain… How strong must that person be?"
"Silva Zoldyck."
"So that's the power of the world's number-one assassin family?"
The more Rox understood Kamuro Shrine's power, the more he feared Silva.
"It's a pity Kamuro Shrine is too simplistic to retain memories of past battles."
"If it could, I might have been able to use that knowledge to my advantage."
---
Ron's phone rang, displaying an unfamiliar number.
After a brief hesitation, he answered.
"Hello?"
"Is this Ron?"
"Yes."
"This is Dominika. Dominika Fiora."
Ron raised an eyebrow.
He hadn't expected the call so soon, assuming it would take longer. This only reinforced his belief that the Fiora Royal Family was taking Taris' Nen users more seriously than he had anticipated.
"Greatings, Sir Dominika. I am Ron Zoldyck, to be more precise" Ron replied, stating his full name.
The Fiora Royal Family, as one of the V5 rulers, held immense power and influence. They stood at the pinnacle of the world's hierarchy, far surpassing the Underworld Mafia.
If Ron were just an ordinary Nen user, even a prodigy, he wouldn't have the qualifications to negotiate with them.
But as a member of the Zoldyck family, it was a different story.
Ron noticed a subtle change in Dominika's breathing when he mentioned his full name.
"Ron, can you explain the situation you encountered in detail?" Dominika asked.
"Of course," Ron replied. "I was passing through a small town and happened upon a photograph. The person in the photo exuded a strong aura of death."
"When I visited their home, the aura of death grew even more intense, mixed with a heavy sense of malevolence."
"In the house, I encountered a creature."
"A middle-aged man with his head connected to a series of skulls—over a hundred of them."
"These skulls appeared to be alive and radiated intense hostility toward me."
Dominika was silent for a moment.
"And where is this creature now?"
"It's dead."
"Do you remember the location of the town?"
"Yes."
"I'll offer you one billion Jenny for that location."
One billion Jenny for just a location—a staggering price.
But for Dominika, money wasn't an issue. Moreover, this was also a gesture of respect toward the Zoldyck family.
"Senior Dominika, I don't need money."
"You don't? Then what do you want?"
"I want information about Taris."
Ron continued, "After hearing from Grandpa Zeno, I've become interested in the Nen users of this country. I want to know more about them."
"Additionally, it seems Taris' Nen users suffered a significant blow in the past and weren't expected to resurface. But now they've returned."
"I assume the Fiora Royal Family will send someone to investigate. I'd like to join that effort."
Dominika paused, clearly deep in thought.
--------------------------
T/n I will be using Taris, as in I will try and stick to only this name for that Kindom.