Throne of Shadows: The Conqueror (HxH)

After Killua forfeited the tournament.

This brought it to an end as the mood shifted, leaving behind a mix of relief and disappointment.

Gon wanted to comfort his friend.

He moved forward, trying to approach Killua but was stopped by Netero.

Before Gon was about to ask why, Illumi appeared beside Killua which made him to almost jump right at him.

Seeing Illumi just whisper something in Killua's ears, Gon calmed himself down.

However, whatever Illumi had said seemed to have visibly affected Killua before he disappeared from sight, leaving behind a sense of curiosity and concern in Gon.

Meanwhile, Raymond approached Netero as he slowly opened up his mouth.

"Chairman, could you please send my license to my office? I'll give you an address. I've been away for weeks, and I'm eager to check on my company," he asked politely.

"That wouldn't be possi--"

Beans hesitated to accept Raymond's excuse, but Netero intervened swiftly.

"Ohohoho, please, I wouldn't dare delay someone as esteemed as you," he interjected with his trademark joviality.

"Thank you for your understanding..."

Raymond expressed gratitude to the Chairman before bidding farewell to Gon and his companions.

Exiting the building, he found a car waiting for him outside.

"Looks like he's on his own," Raymond said with a chuckle.

Raymond knew that if there was only one car, it meant his trusted subordinate was coming to fetch him alone.

As expected, a middle-aged man with a stern expression approached Raymond and bowed respectfully.

"Welcome back, Master!"

"Good to see you again, Sakujiro," Raymond replied with a smile tugged on his lips.

Sakujiro remained silent as he opened the passenger door, allowing Raymond to step inside and take a comfortable seat.

"Hmm?"

As Sakujiro was about to return to the driver's seat, he noticed Satotz looking his way and nodded in acknowledgment.

Satotz returned the nod before resuming his duties, and the car slowly pulled away.

Observing the vehicle as it gradually disappeared from view, Satotz's expression turned serious.

"What's up, Satotz?"

Beans asked, noticing Satotz lost in thought.

"That guy who drives for Raymond Celestia... He's from Meteor City, the one who disappeared years ago," Satotz shook his head, looking serious as he revealed.

"Is he that guy behind that accident years ago?"

Beans exclaimed, his eyes widening.

Satotz nodded solemnly, "Yes, that's him."

"Hand me the report," Raymond spoke while gazing out the window as they drove into the city.

"Understood..."

Sakujiro complied, pressing a button next to his seat.

A drawer slid open on the passenger side, and Raymond casually retrieved the files, flipping through them as they continued their journey.

"Hmm? So we've found a replacement for Albert already. How capable is he?"

"Well, he might not match up to Albert in terms of being a decoy, but he's the best option we have for now," Sakujiro explained.

"I see," Raymond acknowledged with a nod.

"We may not have Albert anymore, but if this replacement is our best bet, then we'll make it work."

"..."

Sakujiro nodded in agreement. 

They had leaned heavily on Albert's authority to boost their influence in Yorknew City.

Losing him was quite a hassle, given how many of these Mafia members saw him as their primary leader, oblivious to the real power behind him.

From the outset, Albert had acted as a facade.

Raymond had no intention of aligning himself with criminals, particularly those who could damage his company's reputation if their collaborations were revealed.

Moreover, he harbored a personal disdain for these criminals.

If given the chance, he would have taken it upon himself to reform them from the ground up.

As for his pursuit of Albert's killer, it was merely his way of saying hello. That's why he never intended to kill Illumi in the first place.

Even though Illumi tried to take his life, Raymond just let it slide since he attacked first.

He knew better that it was not something that should be done casually to target a member of the Zoldyck family.

Raymond understood the consequences of such actions, as the Zoldycks wouldn't hesitate to seek vengeance.

As for Illumi's vengeful nature, Raymond just considered it to be adorable.

"Should I get the aircraft ready?"

Sakujiro inquired while observing Raymond's calm expression as he tapped his fingers on the armrest.

Observing Raymond's behavior over time, Sakujiro could tell that his master was contemplating something.

"No hurry. Let's visit them later. I think I'll head home first," Raymond replied, a slight smile forming on his face.

Sakujiro's smile mirrored Raymond's, reassured that all was going according to plan.

Meanwhile, Raymond watched the scenery pass by through the window, his crimson eyes gleaming with coldness, "Let's see if we talk the same language, Zoldyck..."

If not, then...

...He'd have to play his hand sooner than expected.

With such resolve revolving in his heart, the car navigated its way through the bustling city streets, gradually fading into the flow of busy traffic.

After the tournament reached its end, and the Hunter Exam officially concluded, all the successful participants gathered for a debriefing on the perks and responsibilities that came with being a Hunter.

Upon learning that Killua had returned home and might be facing consequences for his escape, Gon felt compelled to visit as he decided to go to Killua's house.

Kurapika and Leorio, worried about Gon, decided to join him on this unexpected trip.

Hisoka grew increasingly bored, his mind wandering back to Raymond's words about the price he had to pay for his life.

"A favor, huh? I'm looking forward to it..."

The prospect of the unknown stirred excitement within him, evident in the eager lick of his lips.

"Or? Should I go pay him a visit?"

Driven by curiosity, Hisoka attempted to scour the Hunter Association's database for details on Raymond.

[Restricted Access]

"..."

Hisoka's face betrayed no emotion as he faced the obstacle of the restricted section.

Despite his initial disappointment, his curiosity surged even more.

Raymond's details were locked away, accessible only to the elite members of the association.

This revelation piqued Hisoka's interest, suggesting that Raymond's identity was quite unique even within the Hunter Association.

"...Kekeke."

But Hisoka brushed off the restriction, his focus unwavering on the thrilling prospect of a life-or-death battle.

With no leads on Raymond, Hisoka knew tracking him down for another thrilling battle would be near impossible for him.

Yet, he couldn't let his craving for excitement go unquenched.

His eyes twinkled with mischief as a cunning plan formed in his mind. "...Kekeke, why not cultivate the seed to hasten its growth?"

With his strategy set, Hisoka eagerly anticipated his next move.

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