The Ten Elders were domineering, but so was Ethan.
It wasn't that Shiba was arrogant and ignored the Ten Elders, who were the emperors of the underworld, but Ethan had always acted this way—direct and confrontational by nature.
"Since someone wants to die, we might as well help them on their way!"
Ethan's expression remained indifferent. After the interrogation, he casually flicked his finger, sending out a sharp thread that sliced off the head of the Sick Dog standing before him.
To the average person, the Ten Elders were underworld overlords who held life and death in their hands. But in the eyes of truly powerful people, they were insignificant.
This was evident in the original storyline.
Just one group—the Phantom Troupe—was enough to annihilate the Ten Elders.
Though it was technically the Zoldyck family that executed the job, if the Ten Elders were truly formidable, the Zoldyck family wouldn't have taken the contract so lightly.
The same went for the Shadow Beasts, the so-called strongest force under the Ten Elders.
Perhaps it was because life under the Elders was too comfortable, or maybe they truly believed they were unbeatable.
Just like in the original plot—when they confronted the Phantom Troupe, they hadn't even done basic intel gathering, acting completely overconfident and arrogant.
It would be one thing if the Troupe were an unknown group, but that wasn't the case.
Every member was a Class A criminal. Their past crimes alone were enough to prove they weren't ordinary threats.
A little effort in research would have easily revealed just how dangerous the Troupe was.
Based on all this, the Ten Elders were nothing more than thugs at the bottom of society. So naturally, Ethan had no qualms about taking them out.
Ding dong~!
Branch Achievement Unlocked [The Sorrow of the Ten Elders]: No time limit. Kill all the Elders before you die!
His face remained calm, but a murderous intent boiled in his heart. As if responding to that killing intent, the system prompted the notification in Ethan's mind.
"A branch achievement?!"
Ethan paused, lowering his right hand slightly, a flash of surprise on his face.
It had been a while since the last branch achievement. But surprise quickly turned into delight.
He was happy because branch achievements always came with rewards.
Even though the rewards weren't as rich as those from main achievements, they were still worthwhile and sometimes even exceptional.
"The Ten Elders are usually scattered around the world with their own territories. Hunting them down one by one would be time-consuming. It's better to wait for the Youkexin City auction and take them all out at once!"
With this new motivation, Ethan quickly started formulating a plan.
The auction in Youkexin City was organized by the Ten Elders. Not only would it gather gangsters from all over the world, but the Ten Elders themselves would be present.
In the original plot, Chrollo used that opportunity to have the Zoldyck family eliminate them in one clean sweep.
Ethan was already planning to take on the Phantom Troupe during the Youkexin auction, so it was the perfect opportunity to deal with the Ten Elders as well.
The Shadow Beasts' earlier attack and its outcome had zero impact on Ethan.
Leaving the corpse on the road without a second glance, Ethan and his group continued on in their off-road vehicle.
Two Days Later, in the Republic of Bartokia.
An off-road vehicle sped through the Dentola area and finally stopped in front of a massive gate that enclosed the main mountain forest.
"We're here. So this is Kukulu Mountain—the rumored home of the Zoldyck family!"
The passenger door opened, and Shiba, dressed in a form-fitting black combat suit, stepped out. Her long legs hit the ground gracefully as she pushed up her sunglasses and looked up at the colossal stone gate ahead.
The structure was unique, with two dragon head carvings at the top on each side. The stone gate itself looked like a large door built within a smaller door, layered seven times.
Towering stone walls stretched out endlessly on both sides of the gate, enclosing the entire forested mountain range.
"Is this the Gate of Trial?"
The back door opened, and Mia stepped out with Dilumon cradled in her arms. She, too, wore a sleek black combat suit, clearly built for mobility in combat. Her gaze was filled with curiosity as she examined the massive gate.
Finally, the driver's seat door opened.
With coordinated movements, Ethan stepped out—tall, muscular, and clad in the same style of black combat gear. He radiated strength and confidence.
His stern, chiseled face only enhanced his commanding presence. He looked like a dream figure straight out of a romance story—admired by thousands of women.
He casually took off his sunglasses and hooked them onto the collar of his suit while eyeing the Gate of Trial.
"...Um, excuse me, folks. Are you here to visit?"
A voice called out, drawing the group's attention from the gate.
They turned to see a middle-aged man with a seemingly large belly walking toward them from the guardhouse beside the gate, greeting them with a friendly smile.
"Is that the guard? As expected of the Zoldyck family," Shiba thought, slightly impressed. "Even the guard has serious power."
Judging by appearances was for amateurs.
With her sharp eyes, Shiba easily saw through the man's outward appearance. Despite the belly, he was all muscle underneath.
Moreover, the aura of Nen surrounding him confirmed it—he was a skilled Nen user.
Hiring a Nen user just to guard the gate... The Zoldyck family's wealth and status were truly unparalleled, deserving of their reputation as the world's top assassins.
Naturally, Mia and Dilumon sensed it too.
Dilumon didn't react much, but Mia's eyes showed the same surprise as Shiba's.
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50 +Chapters
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