บท 72: Weaponizing The Forest
Ziggy couldn't believe what his grandson was doing, "What do you mean he went outside! Shouldn't you have sent someone with him?" Ziggy screamed at Gotoh, and much to his surprise, the butler, didn't blink.
"He's not alone. Sir Leon has Ymir and Ms. Machi, and if you looked at this video, you would understand." Ziggy snarled, but he watched the video from the security camera. It was blurry, but Ziggy saw Ymir transform into a primal before roaring.
Shock replaced Ziggy's concern, "That little bastard did it. How come I never thought to do it. This changes everything."
-----
"You know, when you asked me on a date, this wasn't exactly what I had in mind," Machi said as she leaned back into Leon. Leon smiled, "Come on, don't tell me this isn't nice."
Machi and Leon were on Ymir's back as he walked around the forests behind Haven. When Ymir wanted to explore his new territory, Leon had asked Machi if she was ready to go on that date of theirs.
So far, they hadn't run into any animals. It seemed that Ymir was an active deterrent. Leon tightened his arms around Machi's waist, "I'm so happy you agreed to come with me."
"Well, I'm happy that you finally had the balls to ask me." Leon chuckled, "I thought if I asked you. You would cut them off. "
Machi looked up at Leon, "I always would have said yes, I liked you even from the beginning." Leon smiled, and he leaned to meet Machi, and she didn't move away. Leon and Machi sealed lips in a light kiss. After a second, Leon pulled away and smiled.
"I guess we should make up for lost time." Leon and Machi kissed one more time. When they finished, Machi was straddling Leon's waist with her head resting on his chest.
Laying down on Ymir's back, Leon took Machi with him, and they looked up into the forest canopy above them. "Do you regret it?" Leon looked over at Machi, "Regret what?"
Machi moved closer to Leon as if she was cold, "Meeting us. I don't know what your life would have been if you hadn't met us."
"I don't, I never had. My life before the Troupe was just training and killing nothing else. It wasn't bad, I was born to do it, but I think I would have slowly lost my sense of self. But finding you guys was the best thing that has ever happened to me." Leon responded, pulling Machi against him.
They both fell silent and enjoyed each other's company. When the sky started to darken, Leon had Ymir return to Haven as he had been absent all day.
"So, did you two do the deed?" Leon rolled his eyes at Uvogin, who stood behind the front gate. Machi frowned and bound Uvogin's mouth with string, but she was blushing slightly.
"No, I'm still pure as a nun, but thanks for asking." Uvogin still chuckled through the strings. After promising Machi another date, Leon organized another meeting with Ziggy, Gotoh, and Butch.
"I never have important news to tell you all." Leon said as he sat at the head of the table, "I have found a way to not only to ensure safe passage through the forest but to even weaponize the animals against our enemies."
Ziggy smiled, "It's that cat of yours, isn't it?" Leon smiled back, "As most of you know, we have successfully created a primal. Like humans, animals here can sense Nen and will instinctually avoid stronger creatures and their territory."
"So what do we do?" Butch asked as this wasn't his specialty, "I think it would do well to start trying to find animals to be domesticated, also increasing our production of Nitro Rice." Gotoh suggested.
"Wait, are we trying to create multiple primals or a powerful one?" Butch asked, "From what I've noticed, the stronger the primals get, the more they need to eat to grow stronger." Ziggy commented.
Leon nodded, "That's a good point, we should figure out how to classify primals, and I might try to hunt down other primals to feed ours."
In the end, they decided on trying a combination of both. Using the Hunters Association, they could hire growers and hunters to maximize production. Their goal was to have five primals by the time the Mafia attacked.
------
In a well-lit room, ten men sat around a table with Bean standing by the door, "Does everyone understand the plan."
"We're not idiots, and we all agree on something for once. The Zoldyck family is no longer needed. We can raise our own assassins if it is needed."
"But there is another thing to consider. We don't know where their actual base is."
"That doesn't matter. We know they're along the northeast shore, so it won't be hard to find from overhead."
"I still don't like it. We don't know what their numbers are, their potential allies, or anything else."
"Stop acting like they're a national power. By our estimates, they have no more than five hundred men. And it's unlikely that any of them have Nen, and if they do, the Shadowbeasts have ever failed us before, and they won't this time."
"Fine, I go along with the plan, but if this comes to bite us in the ass, I won't be sticking around much longer."
After the meeting was dismissed Bean called Gotoh and informed him that the Mafia was on the move.
สถานะพลังงานรายสัปดาห์
-- การจัดอันดับด้วยพลัง 
-- หินพลัง