A couple of days later, Risotto arrived in the city of Yorkshin. He was surprised to say the least. He was used to living in cities with old architecture, beautiful views and unique atmosphere. In short, Risotto was more used to cities like Naples or Venice. When he arrived in Yorkshire, he saw a dilapidated, deserted slum on the outskirts of the city. While the centre was filled with fashionable hotels, luxurious restaurants and shops. The first thing that came to mind was American cities, like Chicago or Las Vegas. It was immediately clear that corruption was rampant here, and for various criminals it was probably a real paradise.
'What a city. I should find some kind of labour exchange for hunters or something. I've got my licence, I've got my abilities, so finding a job shouldn't be a problem.'
Risotto wandered leisurely through the city. Along the way he looked behind the shop windows and marvelled at the local, unusual assortment of goods. He was particularly attracted to the shop of cold weapons, which had a huge number of different knives for every taste and colour, tourist, hunting and combat knives. There were even a few cleavers and swords. But alas, Risotto could not afford any of them, and he needed a new knife, because the old one was already worn out. He could, of course, make his own knife out of iron, but knives made of pure iron are less durable and corrosion-resistant than knives made of an alloy of several metals or some famous steel. Risotto went further.
It wasn't long before he finally found the hunter labour exchange he was looking for, but he was turned down. It turned out that in order to get hunter jobs you had to have some sort of ability, without which Risotto couldn't see anything he was asked to see. He had to leave.
'Shit! What did they want? What couldn't I see? I think I've realised. Apparently, in order to take jobs for the Hunters, one must possess Nen. I have no other explanation. Which begs the question: where, how and from whom can I learn Nen? Okay, I'll think of something while I'm wandering around the city.'
Risotto wandered around the city. It was nearing evening, and he didn't have a penny in his pocket. He had to think of somewhere to sleep. He could climb onto the roof of some building, or find shelter in some alley. What appealed to him most, though, was the prospect of slipping someone's wallet and getting a room in some cheap hotel for one night.
It wasn't long before Risotto noticed he was being followed. Several suspicious individuals had been following and watching him for almost half an hour now. And with each passing minute it was beginning to look more and more like they were about to decide to spring into action.
'Three. Two walking together, one on the sidelines. One's big, the others are medium-sized. Nen users? Maybe. But what would they want with a newbie hunter?'
Just a few seconds later, they noticeably quickened their step soon switching to a sprint. There was no doubt: they realised that Risotto had spotted them, and decided to grab him. Risotto immediately jumped into the alley. He was about to use invisibility, but they proved to be quite fast and sprinted after him before he could do so.
'Shit! I'm not giving up that easy!'
He quickly scrambled to the ladder leading up to the roof and started climbing up. The pursuers immediately swarmed after him. Risotto climbed to the roof, but unfortunately there were no escape routes. Meanwhile, the pursuers had also climbed onto the roof and were standing right in front of Risotto. One big guy in a T-shirt, jeans and heavy boots, with long hair in the style of the eighties. The other two were of medium build, with Mohawks, wearing T-shirts, shorts and trainers, and with frantic looks.
- Who the hell are you, and what do you want? - Risotto asked them, but they just chuckled evilly.
- Is that really him? - The big guy asked the others.
- It's definitely him. We'll get paid well for him. Hey you! - One of the Mohawks turned to Risotto - All we want is your head. Don't resist and we promise not to torture you for long.
As expected these were Nen users, since Metallica didn't work for them.
- Who's going to torture who,' Risotto turned to the freaks, 'Get in line you morons, I'll deal with you all.
The Iroquois men jumped out of their seats and rushed at him, followed by the big guy, who was slower than them. At the same time Risotto began to form knives near him. The first volley of knives they deftly repelled, but one Iroquois man was hit in the shoulder. They came in close and began to deliver blow after blow, but Risotto dodged them. At the last moment he managed to dodge the big man, who ran at him like a tank without brakes. New knives were formed, which volleyed at the Mohawk who had been wounded earlier. The new volley wounded him in the leg, arm and side. Risotto quickly ducked behind the back of the first Mohawk and deftly cut the tendon in his arm. He then lunged at the second Iroquois, launching several more knives at him in parallel. One knife hit him in the leg again, while Risotto himself stabbed him in the chest. With a deft movement, he ducked behind his back, wrapped one arm around him, and slit his throat with the other.
For a moment he dropped his guard, which was his fatal mistake. He saw the big man coming at him, but he noticed it too late. The big guy slammed into him at full speed and knocked him off the roof. Risotto fell into the same alley he was climbing from. He was lucky he fell right on top of the rubbish bags, but it was still very painful and he could hardly move.
- Gah gah gah, oh shit. - With difficulty, he spoke out.
The remaining enemies quickly came down and surrounded him. They were a few metres away from the alleyway exit to the street. The big guy stood with his back to the street, the other respectively facing the big guy. Risotto tried to get up, but it hurt too much and he felt dizzy.
- 'Bastard,' said the remaining Mohawk, 'killed my brother! You'll be in pain for a long time!
The Mohawk had already taken out his knife and was about to start his work when suddenly a voice came from behind the big man.
- It's not good to beat a wounded man together.
- What... - Said the big man was about to turn round, but it was too late.
Suddenly his skin became dry, wrinkled and sagging, his hair turned grey, and then more than half of it fell out. As a result, in just a few seconds he looked like an old mummy and collapsed to the ground with a slight crunch of bones.
- What the hell is this?! Who are you?! Aah! - The remaining enemy ran away screaming.
In front of Risotto stood a man of slim build, with short blond hair braided into three pigtails at the back of his head. He was dressed in a dark suit with a spider web motif underneath which a brightly coloured shirt was visible. He held a smoking cigarette in one hand and a slight smile was visible on his face.
- It's been a long time. - He said.
- No... It can't be! What are you doing here, Prosciutto?
========== Together Again ==========
The man in the suit, whose name was Prosciutto, smiled lightly as he took a puff on a cigarette he had almost smoked. After taking another puff, Prosciutto finally spoke.
- It's good to see you too. It's been a long time. I must say you weren't easy to find in this bloody city.
Gradually Risotto calmed down, and the pain from the fall from the roof was beginning to recede as well. Eventually he was able to get to his feet.
- But how? How did you get here?
- Don't you think this filthy alley isn't the best place to have this conversation? Let's take a walk through the city.
- Wait a minute. An enemy has escaped. We can't let him go. We have to capture him and interrogate him.
- Don't worry about that. Illuso has already captured him and will bring him to headquarters shortly.
- What?! Illuso's here too?
Prosotto took one last puff, then threw the cigarette away.
- Everyone is here Risotto. Everyone has passed into this world. Let's go, we'll talk about it on the way.
They left the alley and walked leisurely towards the city centre.
- Is everyone really here? - Risotto asked, 'And where are we going, by the way?
- Yes, everyone is really here. Illuso, Formaggio, Pesci, Melone and Giaccio. And we're going to our headquarters. We bought a couple of flats in the city centre.
- I see. And Sorbet and Gelato? What about them?
Prosciutto gloomed slightly. After a few seconds' silence, he replied.
- They haven't turned up. No matter how many times we looked, we never found them in this world.
Risotto darkened slightly as well. He also remained silent for a few seconds, and then said.
- ''I see. Well, let's hope they've gone to a better world.
Prosciutto took out and lit the last cigarette he had.
- Shit, he was out of cigarettes.
He took out his phone and dialled a number.
- Alo, Pesci, buy me some cigarettes and you can have some for yourself. Just make sure you don't spend too much. You know where the money is. See you later.
- Since when does Pesci go out without you?
- He's changed since our defeat. You might not be able to tell right away, but he's become more independent, and if he gets serious during a fight, it's bad for the enemy. But mostly he still follows me around and acts like a child.
Risotto raised the left corner of his mouth, which was instead of a smile for him.
- By the way, where did you end up in this world? - Prosciutto asked.
- Hunter's Exam. I found myself in the first stage, and since I had nowhere else to go, I passed it.
- Wow! You're lucky to be a hunter all at once. So many doors open for you now.
- Well, that's great, but I need to learn Nen first. And you're gonna help me with that. You aged that big guy, so you know Nen too. Am I right?
- That's right. When we get home, I'll tell you all about Nen.
- Wait, how did you get the money, master Nen, and settle into this world in such a short time?
- It's not a short time. There's some kind of timing shit going on. For example, when Pesci and I arrived on this world, Formaggio had already been here for almost two months. And from the time Formaggio arrived until you arrived, it was almost four months. Gyaccio arrived almost three weeks ago. Melone a month ago. And Illuso three months ago.
- Time is fucked up again.
- What do you mean?
- I'll tell you later.
Soon they came to some high-rise building and went up to the first floor.
- Here we are. - Said Prosciutto, 'This is where we live.
They went into the first flat. It was quite spacious inside. There were about four rooms. There was a cat litter box in the corner and a cat sleeping on a cupboard. It was clear that Formaggio lived here.
Risotto smelled food. Going into the kitchen, he saw Formaggio cooking dinner. He finally spotted them.
- Unbelievable! - Formaggio exclaimed, 'It's so good to see you Risotto!
- Me too, - Risotto replied, - Where are the others? You live here with someone, don't you?
- Yes, you're right. I live with Illuso. He recently brought some freak and went straight to his mirror world with him.
- It's the enemy. He attacked me, and Illuso's got him, and now he's got to interrogate him.
- Hey, come on, I'll show you your flat. - Prosciutto turned to Risotto.
- You bought me a flat?
- Of course I did. You don't have any money, but you need a place to live.
They went into the flat across the street. It was very similar to the first one.
- You'll have to live alone. Everyone else lives in pairs. Formaggio with Illuso, I with Pesci, Melone with Giaccio. - Prosciutto Risotto explained.
- It's no big deal. I even like it that way.
They sat down at the table opposite each other.
- Well, - Prosciutto began, - I don't know where to start.
- First, tell me about Nen. I'm sick of running into freaks and not being able to do anything about it.
- I see. Nen is a fundamental force in this world. It's kind of like consciously controlling your aura. And as you've noticed, Nen can block the effects of the booths.
- So if I master Nen, I can counteract other users?
- Exactly.
- Good. Then teach me how to do it.
- There's something you need to know first. There are two ways to master Nen. The first is long and meditative training, which is long but safe. The second is to trigger the opening of the shoko by exposing another Nen-user's aura, which is quick but dangerous, and can even kill you.
- That's cool,' Risotto said, slightly disappointed.
- But for us stand users, it's not that important. Somehow we're much more comfortable with Nen's abrupt adoption.
- Good. Then we can get on with it today. But first I need Illuso to get as much information out of that bloke as possible.
- He's already on it.
Suddenly there was the sound of doors opening.
- Bro, you in here? I bought you cigarettes.
It was Pesci. He came into their kitchen.
- Boss Risotto, how nice to see you! - Pesci said, barely holding back tears of happiness.
- Give me your cigarettes and go outside, we're having an important conversation. - Said Prosciutto to Pesci.
Pesci left the flat with happiness in his eyes.
- And since when did I become the boss? - Surprised Risotto.
- And since we were all in this world. Passione is no more, so now you are our new boss.
Prosciutto took out a cigarette and got ready to smoke.
- Don't even think about it. Since this is my flat, don't you dare smoke in here.
- All right, all right. By the way, how did you die? Who did you fight?
- The boss. I almost managed to kill him, but Narancha attacked me, so I lost. I even managed to figure out the secret of his booth. He could foresee the future, and he could erase sections of time.
- That's the time stuff you were talking about. I see.
- By the way, how did you get enough money to buy me a flat?
- I won.
- You won?
- Haven't you heard of the Sky Arena yet? It's a huge skyscraper with over 200 floors. It's where the fights are held. You start on the ground floor and work your way up. With each floor, the opponents get stronger, but the rewards increase.
- And which of you have fought?
- Formaggio, Pesci and Gyaccio. Melone and Illuso you know why they can't fight, and if I release my stand, the whole floor will be destroyed.
They were silent for about ten seconds, after which Risotto said.
- In half an hour, call everyone together. There'll be a little meeting.
- Whatever you say. - Said Prosciutto and left the flat, taking out and lighting a cigarette.
Risotto stood looking out the window. On his face for the first time in a long time there was anything resembling a real smile.
***
The whole story is already available at:
patreon.com/posts/126338071