Outside the Greed Island, going back a little in time.
Point of View Switch: Nicholas
Looking at the screen as I pore over the data about the series of kidnappings and information about the next victim, Catherine Belster, I can't help but feel an intense mixture of anger and concern about the boss's decision of leaving me in charge.
This isn't just about surveillance and review work anymore; it's an on-the-ground operation where I'll be involved with a criminal operation involving at least one civilian life, with no prior knowledge of what we might encounter. This is a major turning point for the future of our agency in the Blacklist Hunter business, and I honestly don't feel emotionally prepared to handle it alone.
In these kinds of circumstances, any failure or delayed action could derail the entire operation and lead to its downfall. It requires someone prepared, with a strong mindset and the confidence to do what is necessary. It's a tought responsability boss Kai has entrusted to me, and honestly, I'd prefer to call him in to take charge.
He's stronger, has prior experience with this kind of work, and is already used to doing the dirty work. I haven't even killed anyone as a Hunter yet, so the operation would truly be much more successful with the boss here. That's what I believe with absolute certainty.
However, despite bearing the insecurity and pressure of possible defeat, and even thinking several times about contacting him to convince him to resume his role as leader of the group, I finally decided not to and fulfill what he assigned me.
Part of it was because, before returning to Greed Island and leaving me speechless, boss Kai told me that if I contacted him about anything other than a truly serious emergency, then we'd have a problem.
Even though we're close colleagues and the tone he used could make it be misinterpreted as a friendly joke by others, I know the boss well enough to know he meant it, and that he'd probably subject me to some horrible and creative punishment, just like he'd done in the past with Hanzo and the man involved in the kidnapping case.
But also because, as I replayed our conversation in my head, I realized he was right; I'm lacking field experience. Just as the boss had said, since we decided to work together as Hunters against crime and set up the Tsukimichi Organization, I'd been doing management and researching while he went out into the streets to fight criminals head-on.
While it's true that boss Kai had been training me in the arts of Nen and I had gained experience fighting him and in the battles of Heaven's Arena, I hadn't gone out on any missions where you put your safety and the safety of others at risk in unpredictable and uncontrolled situations. That's why I lack self-confidence and immediately think of asking the boss for help.
If I want to grow as a Blacklist Hunter and avoid becoming a burden or an obstacle to the boss's career, I have to step outside my comfort zone and venture into the shadows to learn how to face risks on my own.
Besides, even if things go for the worst outcome, I still have a backup plan, even if it's not yet confirmed it'll be successful. So, even if I feel like all of this exceeds my capabilities and not feel worthy of this role, for the sake of my future and Kai's, I solidify my resolve and start to map out for the next few days the strategy I'll use in this operation.
Using my Physical Construct ability, I create a duplicate of myself each day that helps me review and study the available data to take into account every possible step and variable in detail to devise the perfect strategy for a stealth mission on August 13th.
This includes the profile of the future victim, Catherine, the geography of the area where the kidnapping is supposedly going to take place, the background of previous disappearances, and even the information that Riven and Tetsu can get from the involved named John Sven.
As far as he knew, he was the second person having been tasked with procuring women for the mysterious group in this city, a job he'd been doing for about a month and a half.
According to him, it had initially come to him as a mail notification about a very promising business opportunity, and by the time he realized the true nature of this "corporation", he was already too deeply involved and intimidated to back out.
His task was to set a target among his company's clients and associates that met the organization's requirements at the time, analyze her routine through his access to her private information thanks to his position as an administrative assistant, and provide them with the date, time, and location where she would be most vulnerable.
The requirements could vary slightly, but they always included the same thing: a beautiful woman between 30 and 40 years old who had no children and was not in a relationship. As for the starting point of the operation, it had to be within the area of influence and have several buildings to take advantage of back alleys and blind spots—that is, no bridges, rivers, or open areas without places to hide.
"Good job getting information out of him. I think we'll be able to get a clearer criminal profile thanks to this." I tell Riven over the phone after he fills me in on everything.
Despite having accomplished their mission and provided me with useful information, I can see that performing such an unsettling action as torture takes a toll on their mental state, especially on Riven, who doesn't possess the same relentless character as Tetsu.
Seeing this, as the new head of the agency for the time being, I use my authority and abilities to assign them new responsibilities. I instruct Tetsu to change his approach to the prisoner from torture to surveillance, since we can't get any more of him, and I bring Riven to Kituso to help me train between analysis and prediction sessions.
'The boss is training even now that he has to gain accomplishments at Greed Island and with the agency's new responsibilities, so I can't fall behind either. Besides, it's a good way to clear my head.' I think flaring my aura to spar Riven while my double takes care of reviewing the data.
In addition to that, I also found a gap to get in contact with Natasha, who had already returned to Heavens Arena and had her match on the 218th floor. She won, although it was a close call since her rival was one of those who let their Nen ability fight for them, and she ended up with trauma to her left collarbone and the left side of her abdomen.
"Well, we've been very busy getting the agency's business up and running, and from what we heard from Riven, you were also busy with that conference and weren't available." I respond somewhat stunned by her exaggerated reaction.
She continues to rant irrationally for about 10 minutes about how important it is for her to become stronger and that we must take her interests into account instead of excluding her even if we think it is not appropriate at the moment, which I find baffling given that she was the most reluctant to join the organization.
In the end I managed to calm things down and brought Natasha to headquarters to train in advanced Nen principles alongside Tetsu and to take care of cleaning and polishing the place in her free time.
Taking all of this into account, it was a busy and demanding few days, having to juggle planning and training, but it was still very rewarding to be able to improve my abilities, and honestly, it felt good to feel the responsibility of having people to take charge of.
Being in charge of managing the agency as if I were the de facto boss made me feel more confident and empowered, as if I was fulfilling my purpose as a Blacklist Hunter, and that put me at ease as I continued to give my all at work as the planned date of the kidnapping approached.
Date: August 13th, 2011 00:00 AM
The day has finally arrived to carry out the operation, and unlike other days when I go to bed early to get up early, this time I'm staying up past midnight to make the final preparations. Preparations that can't be done at any other time.
The first thing I do is clean the room to make space, after which I draw a circle on the floor with charcoal and write the word "RETURN" in large letters.
After this, I set up an altar inside the circle using a box, on which I place my laptop and a photo I took a while ago with the boss, from the time when I was still chubby, and I also light some incense between the two of them.
I then flare my Ren, and as I begin to chant a prayer I take a sharp assassin's knife that the boss bought for work, make a cut in my fingertip, and let the blood fall into the circle as I finish praying, the circle and the word "RETURN" glowing with a strong aura for a few seconds until the light finally fades away.
'This should mean the ability is ready, although I'm not entirely confident it will work. Let's hope the plan goes perfectly and I don't have to test it.' I think to myself, tidying up and cleaning the whole thing before going to sleep.
3:00 PM
After all the preparations are in place, the only thing left to do is actually carry out the task. I have devised a perfect strategy for a stealth mission, and the time has come to put it into practice, so I leave Riven with everything prepared to provide me with support from the room via my earpiece and leave the hotel with the goal of completing the mission.
The first step is to check on Catherine Belster at her workplace, as well as the interior and surrounding area, to see if anything seems out of the ordinary. Catherine appears to be in good spirits, looking completely unaware that she is about to be kidnapped.
However, on a nearby building, there appears to be a suspicious individual also keeping watch over her workplace. He is likely a lookout in the shadows, keeping tabs on the target to alert his colleagues in the area when he is in position.
"Riven, there's a suspicious guy watching the target's workplace. I'm sending you a picture to document and then send to the police." I say sending him a picture from my Nen laptop.
I could arrest him and try to force him to confess, but he might not know enough, and even if he did, taking him in would alert the rest of the group involved. For now, I'll leave him and venture into Trenaku; the urban area where the crime will take place.
Arriving at the district themed around the country of Kakin, I start navigating its crowded streets and bustling markets in search of more potential suspects or leads, and realize the area is a labyrinth of several buildings and structures that make it difficult to see what's around you. A hot spot for petty criminals.
Despite this, I can't find anyone who seems particularly suspicious or any clues that might help the case, so when it's almost time for Catherine to leave work, I head to a cafe that has a good view of the area to wait for her to pass by and then follow her when she leaves through some alleyway, like the previous victims.
As I bring out a book to fit with my cover as an ordinary witness, a waitress approaches my table, setting a cup of coffee.
"Excuse me, but I haven't ordered anything yet." I say to the waitress.
"On the house. Welcome to our small café." She says with a playful wink.
Following the strategy I had planned beforehand, I keep my eyes peeled for any suspicious activity through the bustling streets of Trenaku. I can't help but feel a sense of unease as I wait: This place that seems so lively and full of promise in the exterior now feels dangerous and unpredictable for me.
'Is this how boss Kai feels when he's at work? It's incredible that he can handle this pressure so often and act like it's no big deal. I'm anxious.' I think, watching over the area while pretending to read my book.
"Monitor her movements through the hacked security cameras and keep me updated." I respond, taking a sip of coffee.
About 10 minutes later, with the time on my phone almost reaching 5:00 PM, Riven speaks to me again.
Upon hearing his warning, I use the Nen technique that the boss taught me to see Catherine at a great distance from my position through a circle made with my fingers, and upon seeing her suddenly change course to enter a narrow alleyway, I leave the cafe and rush to follow her, jumping over the buildings.
"I've noticed, Riven. Based on the descriptions and the pattern of the previous disappearances, there's a good chance that she is heading with those responsable of everything to a distant part of the city. I'm going to follow her, so try to track my route on the computer." I say, going from building to building while keeping my eyes on her.
The follow up lasts longer than anticipated, with the victim walking in a trance through crowded streets and residential areas for more than a hour until we reach the southern part of the city, near the slums area, a part of the city known for its underground dealings and shady characters.
The atmosphere here was different, darker, and more dangerous. Feeling scared and nervous about this place, I inform Riven about everything I can observe and keep my laptop ready, continuously scanning for any signs of danger.
As miss Catherine continues her way through the depressing slums full of dilapidated structures with boarded-up windows and graffiti-covered walls, she goes into an unassuming building, blending seamlessly with the surrounding rundown architecture. A perfect hiding place to carry out illegal activities.
"Catherine Belster has entered an abandoned building. We need to keep visual of her to know what happens before she disappears again like the rest of victims. I'm heading inside there." I reply, my determination growing with concern for the woman.
With a new sense of urgency I quickly and stealthily enter the rundown building, and inside, hidden among the stairs and columns I spot a group of armed men recepting Catherine Belster. One of them is out of place playing a pan flute, so I deduce that he must be a Conjurer-type Nen user, or less likely a Manipulator.
"It's her, right?" One asks.
"It matches the photograph we received, so yes." Another answers.
"Then get off your butts and load the bitch into the van. We have other things to do today and I don't want to keep the bosses waiting." The only one who sounds like the leader says, and the rest inject her with a shot that knocks her unconscious
As I watch them cover her head with a sack and tie her hands and feet before loading her unconscious body into a black van with a plumbing company logo, I can't help but leave my previous anxiety behind and feel a sudden mix of anger and determination.
'They prey on innocent and vulnerable women, drugs them in order to kidnap them, and the next thing they know is that they're waking up in a strange room, terrified by an uncertain future. They are trash! I can't let them get away with this!' I think looking at them, anger bubbling up inside me.
After loading Catherine and getting into their cars, the kidnappers set off towards their base of operations.
As they drive their way through the roads and highways to an unspecified location, I use my incredible speed and stamina honed through a demanding training to run right after them, determined to get her back to safety and make sure they can't do this to anyone else.
After about 2 hours of travel, I finally get a break as the black cars seem to approach their intended destination. Apparently, the ones in charge are operating all this out of some kind of abandoned industrial facility, like a big fabric or a warehouse complex.
Viewing the large complex from afar while panting slightly from exhaustion, I conjure my Nen ability and my fingers begin to fly over the keyboard to send the compiled data to Riven.
"I have arrived at the hidden operations center of the unidentified kidnapping group. Do you have my current coordinates there?" I ask Riven in the earpiece.
"Okay, I got them. I am about to enter to carry out the rescue of the victim and the arrest of the criminals involved." I say to Riven, feeling a surge of adrenaline coursing through my body.
I don't blame Riven for suggesting those ideas. He's not entirely wrong in what he says, either. He's just worried something might happen to me, and that's why he suggests playing it safe with those slow but low-risk plans.
I had these same doubts when boss Kai put me in charge of the mission. I also felt quite insecure and nervous while carrying it out in the Trenaku area, and I could very well have chosen to follow those two options instead of leading myself into danger. But that all ended the moment I saw the kidnappers drugging and tying up that woman to take her away.
"Negative. There is no turning back anymore." I begin to explain in a firm and resolute voice.
"This place is most likely the hub for a large human trafficking network, so it's safe to assume they have contacts and infiltrators in various places, just like in Kituso."
"If I bring the police here, they might be alerted and decide to leave, or worse, cause a large-scale scruffle that would endanger the hostages. And if I leave to develop a better strategy, Catherine Belster and other women who are probably also being held captive here risk disappearing forever."
As I start running towards the facility determined to get the girls back to safety, I input several commands into my Nen laptop to prepare my infiltration.
"To prevent that scenario from becoming a reality, I have to rescue her and the rest of people they may have locked up, and to make sure they don't do this to anyone else never again, we must face them now with everything we have and put a definitive end to their schemes!"
Upon hearing my words full of courage and conviction, which are uncharacteristic of the image other people have of me, Riven remains silent on the other end of the earpiece for a few seconds before responding me.