Light Nostra, the head of the Nostra family, fell into a deep sleep after taking his medication on time. After days of recuperation, his previously volatile symptoms of irritability and depression had finally improved, though it was uncertain when he would fully recover.
Rin Xian quietly closed the door after leaving Light's room.
He felt ashamed to admit it, but Rin Xian knew he was a person with very little presence.
When he first obtained his Hunter license, which only a few hundred people worldwide possessed, he had thought his life would change drastically. After all, over half of the world's top one hundred wealthiest individuals were professional Hunters.
Just as "not everyone who gets into a prestigious school becomes a dragon among men," he discovered that compared to other excellent professional Hunters, he was still just an "ordinary person."
The sharp edges of his youth had been gradually smoothed by reality and time. Rin Xian wasn't a particularly ambitious person to begin with. After coming to terms with the gaps between people, he thought it wouldn't be so bad to work as a bodyguard for a rich person, earn a decent salary, and live a stable life.
Unexpectedly, the Nostra family suffered a severe blow in Yorknew City. Not only did they lose "Neon Nostra," the pillar of the family, but the head of the family, Light Nostra, suffered a mental breakdown, the captain of the bodyguard team died, and the oldest remaining bodyguard resigned. The Nostra family was left like an empty shell. If it weren't for the proactive efforts of the newly joined bodyguard, Kurapika, a few months prior, the Nostra family would have likely collapsed completely.
Given Light's completely broken mental state, he was unable to handle any family affairs. Therefore, after taking over as the captain of the bodyguard team, Kurapika naturally became the second-in-command of the Nostra family. Of course, in reality, Kurapika was essentially the Boss of the Nostra family. No one raised any objections, as the Nostra family was currently a ship riddled with holes, on the verge of sinking, and everyone was preparing to disband and find their own way forward.
Speaking of Kurapika, Rin Xian was certain that Kurapika was destined for great things.
After witnessing the terrifying power of the A-class criminal group, the Phantom Troupe, Rin Xian began to look at Kurapika with newfound respect for his success in subduing their members. They were opponents that even the Ten Dons' strongest assassination unit, the Ten Beasts, couldn't handle. During the period of evading the Phantom Troupe's retaliation, it was thanks to Kurapika's calm command that more casualties were avoided.
With someone possessing both strength and leadership as the Boss, Rin Xian believed the Nostra family might have a fighting chance and that he could continue working for them.
"I'd like to ask you to be my deputy," was how Kurapika officially discussed work matters with Rin Xian after becoming the second-in-command. "My qualifications are still shallow, and I don't know much about many of the Nostra family's affairs..."
Indeed, Kurapika had joined the Nostra family less than two months ago. He hadn't expected the family's situation to change so drastically in such a short period.
In terms of seniority, among the remaining people who could assist in handling the Nostra family's affairs, Rin Xian was practically the top choice.
Although Rin Xian wasn't particularly ambitious, he wouldn't refuse an opportunity for advancement, so he didn't decline. As Kurapika's deputy, Rin Xian's main responsibilities were to remain in the family territory, handle family affairs, and monitor Light Nostra's condition.
As it turned out, Rin Xian's judgment was correct. Kurapika reorganized the Nostra family, shifted to other legitimate businesses, and the family, which was on the verge of dissolution, began to show signs of life.
If the woman named "Melody" hadn't appeared, the Boss (Kurapika)'s work would have likely proceeded more smoothly.
Things started to feel off from the beginning. As soon as that woman arrived, Melody left, and the Boss's attitude became ambiguously unclear in a negative way. Initially, Rin Xian thought the Boss was being blackmailed by the woman. To re-establish the Nostra family, Rin Xian understood that the Boss had made some compromises in his work.
One shouldn't judge a woman by her appearance, but Rin Xian intuitively felt that the woman was by no means simple. Feitan, a bodyguard who died in Yorknew City, was beautiful, and her Nen ability could drive people insane, turning them into her slaves. Her true nature was that of a sadist.
As the saying goes, "The more beautiful a woman, the more dangerous she is." The woman currently by the Boss's side was likely a deadly poison.
Rin Xian had found an opportunity to privately ask the Boss if he had any problems that needed resolving. The Boss replied, "No," and added, "I'll handle it myself." Fine, if it was a problem that even the Boss found tricky, it was indeed unlikely that he, an "ordinary person," could help. In fact, he might get himself into trouble.
However, Rin Xian didn't give up. He continued to discreetly observe the woman's movements within the Nostra family territory, hoping to be of assistance to the Boss one day.
"..."
The situation was deteriorating. The Boss was actually zoning out during a meeting. Feeling a sense of impending crisis, Rin Xian intensified his surveillance of the woman. From that day on, Rin Xian noticed that the Boss frequently visited the woman's room at night.
Rin Xian didn't know what they did in the room, only that the Boss wouldn't stay there all night, leaving no earlier than the late hours of the night.
Rin Xian believed the Boss was not a person who coveted superficial beauty; otherwise, he wouldn't possess the strength to subdue Phantom Troupe members at such a young age. The Boss's thought process was also meticulous. Apart from a temporary lack of experience, he was truly a rare elite individual.
What kind of person was that woman? When Rin Xian saw her, he was reminded of a horror movie he watched as a child: a possessed doll, a doll that appeared and disappeared everywhere, killing people. It was an unbeatable monster. The movie ended with people compromising, sacrificing the few to save the many, and the demon, satisfied with the offering it desired, finally departed.
Sacrifice, contract... a transaction. Rin Xian believed this was the relationship between that woman and the Boss.
If that woman could truly help the Boss achieve his goals, Rin Xian had no reason to question the Boss's decisions. However, he heard that the woman had gone on a rampage at a banquet, killing other gang members and putting the Nostra family in a dangerous situation, leaving the Boss in a terrible state, while the woman herself disappeared—this was clearly a breach of contract, wasn't it?
Rin Xian suggested to the Boss that they publicly place a bounty on the woman to distance themselves and declare their stance, thereby reducing the negative impact she had on the Nostra family. The Boss refused, warning Rin Xian not to provoke the woman lightly, stating that she was very dangerous. He instructed that if she reappeared, they must avoid conflict as much as possible and contact him immediately, adding that depending on the situation, it would be acceptable to prioritize escape.
Prioritize escape... huh?
The woman likely reached a new agreement with the Boss, no longer accompanying him on work trips but instead staying within the family territory for extended periods. The woman was very quiet, and Rin Xian intentionally or unintentionally avoided her, so there were no incidents.
One night, after finishing his work report, Rin Xian stood up to stretch his stiff neck. His attention began to wander, and he thought he heard a dripping sound. Following the sound, he walked towards the dining room.
"…!" Rin Xian's steps faltered.
The woman stood there silently, with something red stained on her lips, chewing on something. She had already noticed Rin Xian at the dining room entrance, her emotionless gaze fixed on his face.
In an instant, all his childhood horror experiences returned. He felt like he had transformed back into a helpless child, shivering from a horror movie on a hot summer night, and then fearfully going to the bathroom alone.
When the woman stared at you without blinking, like a doll.
A doll possessed by an evil spirit. Her exquisite appearance would reveal a terrifying true form at specific moments. Her face, as white as milk, would melt and peel like old plaster. Her shell-like flat teeth would turn into a dense set of fangs. Her lustrous, voluminous hair would fade and decay. Her ornate clothing would become dirty and tattered. One eyeball would roll out of its socket, while the other eye socket and the hollows on her face would stream with dark red blood.
Like a pedestrian in a horror movie with their feet caught by a doll, Rin Xian couldn't move his feet.
Although the woman's appearance didn't change as drastically as in the horror movie, it still exuded an extremely ominous aura. A chill crept up Rin Xian's instep, freezing his motor nerves. He could only remain still, continuing to meet her gaze.
Going on a rampage at a banquet was probably a commonplace occurrence for that woman. In a daze, Rin Xian could see the blood-stained woman, warm blood dripping down her hanging fingers, forming a pool of blood.
Drip.
Drip.
Drip.
The monotonous, rhythmic sound was like a lullaby. Only when the dripping stopped did Rin Xian suddenly snap back to reality—the woman had turned off the dripping faucet.
"Be careful to turn off the faucet properly," the woman said, licking her lips and taking another bite of the bread in her hand.
"..." So the red was jam.
Rin Xian knew the woman's words were pointed. After all, living under the same roof and with Rin Xian paying so much attention to her, it was impossible not to notice any clues. Yes, Rin Xian had long realized that the Boss had slept with the woman, and not just once. He had no intention of interfering with the Boss's personal life; he was merely worried that the Boss might be ruined by that dangerous woman.
Hadn't he done anything yet? Had the woman already come to issue a warning?
"...I understand." To be honest, the warning was quite effective. Rin Xian fully grasped how dangerous the woman was and decided to remain inactive, observing the situation.
"..."
Having intimidated the guy who liked to snoop with her killing intent, Melody returned to her room.
Honestly, she couldn't stand it anymore!
She had tolerated Kikyo's constant surveillance on Mount Kukuroo for over twenty years, and now there was another human monitor here. How annoying! If it weren't for Kurapika, she would have killed him long ago and scattered his ashes!
Hmph.
Speaking of Kurapika, although he had learned a lot of theoretical knowledge, both relevant and irrelevant, and wrote his notes in a terrifying manner, he was a person with relatively stable values and still leaned towards conservative views. Thus, his actions hadn't changed much.
Melody, wearing headphones and listening to music, played a game with an expressionless face.
"…!" Kurapika impatiently yanked off her headphones, and the cheerful melody leaked out.
you're insecure~
(you always lack confidence)
don't know what for~
(don't know why)
you're turning heads when you walk through the door~
(you even look around before walking through the door)
"Ah, this is something I've been really enjoying listening to lately," Melody complained, humming along with the melody. "Being the way that you are is enough~ everyone else in the room~
(you don't know how beautiful you are)
if only you saw what I can see~
(if only you could see what I see)
you'll understand why I want you desperately~
(you'll understand why I want you so desperately)
right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe~
(right now I'm looking at you and I can't believe)
you don't know oh oh~
(you don't know)
Much later, Kurapika would understand that the nausea and dizziness he felt were actually pleasure that exceeded his threshold at the time, making him lose control.
Melody's humming was finally shattered by Kurapika. Afterward, resentfully, she added the final lyrics of the song to his ear:
that's what makes you beautiful~
Kurapika's chest heaved violently. The teeth marks on his shoulder were tugged by her breath, causing new pain.
Here it comes again, the feeling he detested.
Melody looked down, smiled at him, and said, "Are you starting the next round immediately?"
"..."
"Hmm, as expected of a young person."