Chapitre 28: Chapter 28: A Time for Rebuilding
Reiji and Chuuya walked back toward the Vongola mansion after their frustrating conversation with Shizuo. The weight of their failure hung between them like a thick fog, but there was also a shared determination burning beneath the surface. Each step felt heavier than the last as they climbed the hill, the old mansion looming in the distance. Reiji's mind churned, trying to piece together the next step. Chuuya, on the other hand, rolled his shoulders, hands clenched into fists as he thought about Shizuo's raw power. If they could bring him into the fold, the famiglia would gain an undeniable force.
As they neared the mansion, both of them stopped abruptly, blinking in disbelief. The once dilapidated building, covered in dust and cobwebs, looked remarkably clean—well, at least the entrance did. The ancient wooden doors gleamed, and the cracked windows had been patched. The vines that once wrapped around the pillars were gone, revealing the stone beneath.
"What the hell?" Chuuya muttered, scratching his head as he eyed the cleaned stone steps.
Reiji, equally confused, stepped through the now cleared doorway. His hand brushed against the smooth wood of the door as if testing its reality. Inside, the transformation was even more noticeable. The room they had used for their initial meeting was spotless. The once broken windows had been replaced with makeshift patches of wood and glass, the furniture dusted and aligned, and even the old chandelier above them sparkled faintly, casting soft light around the room.
Sitting casually on one of the freshly cleaned chairs, legs crossed and a faint smirk on his face, was Shinya Kogami. He leaned back, his eyes flicking lazily over to them.
"When you guys think about starting something big, does it ever cross your mind to clean the place first?" Shinya remarked, his tone dry but laced with amusement. "What kind of meeting place is this—a mansion with overgrown plants, moss on the walls, spiderwebs everywhere? Lucky for you, this place has proper rooms that just needed some work. Took me time, but it's manageable."
Chuuya's jaw dropped. His eyes flicked around the room, disbelief clouding his expression. "You did this?"
Shinya shrugged as though it had been nothing. "Couldn't leave it looking like a ruin forever. I figured if you want people to take you seriously, at least make the place livable."
Reiji blinked, stunned by the transformation. A part of him hadn't even considered how the mansion's state might affect future recruits. But now, standing in the cleaner, brighter room, he realized how much atmosphere mattered. He managed a smile. "I… didn't expect that, but thanks. The place looks amazing."
"Don't thank me," Shinya said, waving a dismissive hand. "Just make sure you keep it this way. We can't run an operation out of a haunted house."
The three of them sat down, the brief moment of lightness disappearing as the gravity of the situation returned. Reiji rubbed his temples, the weight of Shizuo's rejection lingering in his thoughts. They needed him. Shizuo's strength wasn't just physical—it was symbolic of the brute force they were lacking.
Reiji recounted the entire meeting with Shizuo, explaining how the man had brushed off their offer, seemingly uninterested in anything beyond his own life. As he spoke, his fingers tapped anxiously on the table, reflecting his inner frustration.
Shinya listened, his expression unreadable. When Reiji finished, Shinya leaned forward, elbows on his knees. "His response is normal. In today's world, no one cares about old famiglia names like Vongola. People care about surviving—living without fear, hunger, or danger. You ask someone to join a forgotten mafia family? That's like asking them to join a cult. The idea of rebuilding something like this... it sounds crazy to most." Shinya paused, giving Reiji a sharp look. "You should be thankful he's even willing to think about it."
Reiji sighed deeply, his head sinking into his hands. "So, what do we do? Keep pushing?"
Shinya considered for a moment, his eyes narrowing. "Shizuo's not the type to jump into something without a reason. His loyalty is already tied to Tom and the people around him. The only way to bring him in is to show him how this benefits him—and those he protects."
Reiji glanced up, his mind racing. How could they convince someone like Shizuo that joining them was more than just about fighting? How could they show him that it was about protecting something greater? The silence stretched between them, thick with uncertainty.
"We don't have time to wait forever," Chuuya muttered, his foot tapping restlessly against the floor. "The longer we take to get our team together, the stronger Shogo gets."
Before Shinya could respond, Reiji spoke up, his voice tinged with urgency. "Chuuya's right. Shogo's been gaining more influence with each passing day. If we let him keep going unchecked—"
Shinya raised a hand, cutting Reiji off, his voice calm yet firm. "Actually, Shogo's going to be out of action in this town for a while."
Chuuya's eyebrows shot up. "What do you mean?"
Leaning back in his chair, Shinya's expression became contemplative. "That amp drug he was experimenting with—the one causing trouble across the city? It failed. I've been keeping an eye on his movements, and right now, his operation is in disarray. His supply lines are broken, his contacts are disappearing, and most importantly, the test subjects he's been using have either fled or turned on him. He's licking his wounds, which means we have a small window of time before he tries anything big again."
Reiji blinked in surprise. "So, he's not an immediate threat?"
"Not for now," Shinya confirmed. "He'll regroup eventually, but that gives us breathing room. We don't need to rush to deal with him. What we do need to focus on is making sure we're ready for when he gets back on his feet."
Chuuya let out a small sigh of relief but crossed his arms, the tension still palpable. "So, what now? We're stuck cleaning this place while Shogo's on break?"
Shinya smirked, his dry humor returning. "Pretty much. Look, as boring as it sounds, we need to make sure this mansion is in working order. Not just for us, but for anyone else who joins. And if you want to bring in someone like Shizuo—or anyone else, for that matter—you can't expect them to stay in a place that looks like it's falling apart."
Reiji nodded, a bit of weight lifted off his shoulders now that Shogo wasn't an immediate concern. "You're right. We'll take turns cleaning and restoring what we can. And maybe we can look into funding, too. We'll need resources if we're going to build something real."
Chuuya groaned, standing up, the restlessness clear in his posture. "Fine, you two can play housekeepers. I'm going out for a bit."
Shinya chuckled. "Always looking for a fight, huh?"
Chuuya shrugged, his fingers absentmindedly brushing over the Storm Ring. "I'd rather be doing something useful. Besides, I need to get a better handle on this Storm Ring."
Without waiting for a reply, Chuuya turned and walked out, his coat rustling as he disappeared through the door. Reiji watched him go, a slight sense of envy stirring within him. Chuuya had always been more action-oriented, always wanting to move forward. But Reiji knew the battle ahead wasn't just about fighting. It was about rebuilding something that had been lost for generations.
Meanwhile, at the Black Lotus HQ...
The Black Lotus headquarters wasn't hidden in the shadows of the city's slums or tucked away in an abandoned warehouse. Instead, it stood proudly in the heart of one of the wealthiest districts, an imposing glass tower amidst the city's bustling elite. At first glance, it appeared to be nothing more than a multinational corporation—a sleek, modern building with glass-walled meeting rooms, pristine marble floors, and employees dressed in tailored suits. The sign out front bore the name of a financial consulting firm, its gold letters gleaming in the midday sun.
But beneath the corporate facade, the Black Lotus thrived. Behind the walls of polished conference rooms and lavish lounges, dark deals were made, contracts were signed, and assassinations were plotted. It was the perfect cover. No one would suspect that one of the most notorious underground organizations could be hiding in plain sight among the city's elite.
Nobume Imai sat silently in her sleek office on one of the upper floors, her hands resting on the arms of her leather chair. The floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of the bustling city below, but Nobume paid it no mind. Her gaze was distant, her thoughts focused on the mission ahead.
The mission was everything. She had been trained to follow orders, to obey without question. From her childhood under the Karasu, she had learned that emotion had no place in her life. She was a tool, a weapon, honed for precision and efficiency. The world outside her missions didn't exist.
And yet, there was a part of her—deep, buried—that sometimes questioned. She remembered fragments of a time before the Karasu, before she had been turned into the cold assassin she was now. But those thoughts, those emotions, were buried too deep. They didn't belong in her world anymore.
The door to her office slid open, and the leader of the Black Lotus entered, his presence like a shadow cast across the room. He walked with the confidence of a high-ranking corporate executive, his tailored suit immaculate, his eyes cold and calculating.
Without a word, he placed a thin folder on her desk.
Nobume opened it, her eyes scanning the images inside. Reiji, Chuuya, and Shizuo stared back at her, their faces captured in grainy photos. She studied each one carefully, her mind already analyzing how best to eliminate them.
"You failed the first time," the leader said, his voice low and emotionless. "There won't be a second chance."
Nobume nodded. Failure wasn't an option this time. The mission was everything.
"Do you understand?" the leader asked, his voice sharp, cutting through the silence.
"Yes," Nobume replied, her tone flat.
Satisfied, the leader turned and left the room, leaving Nobume alone with the file.
As she studied the faces in front of her, something flickered in her chest. Shizuo Heiwajima. The man who had stood in her way before. His strength had been overwhelming, a force unlike anything she had encountered. But now, there were two others—Reiji and Chuuya. They were unknowns, but their presence with Shizuo suggested they weren't ordinary.
Nobume closed the file, tucking it into her coat. She stood up, her movements precise and measured. There was no doubt in her mind, no hesitation.
The mission was everything.
And this time, nothing would stand in her way.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone