Gokudera Hayato was still wondering how he and the Vongola Tenth Generation actually met, why their paths had crossed.
He thought of Sawada Tsunayoshi one moment and the Strange Space the next; he had not yet given up on the idea of breaking through the theories of spatial structure.
People in his world also had their own thoughts. Gojo Satoru was bored, incredibly bored; he had no interest in people from other worlds, no matter how much personal charisma the other party possessed, he had no desire to watch them. He was happily enjoying sweets over there. The world space was very friendly to the Six Eyes; here, there was no chaotic, complex information, he felt very comfortable.
Ieiri Shoko simply started taking a nap. Having been constantly oppressed outside, staying up all night to perform surgeries and work, she naturally had to make the most of this hard-won time to rest.
Geto Suguru watched the video with a hint of disdain and a touch of mockery; it was a tedious existence, neither discussing the future of their world nor showing anything of value, so he naturally found it boring.
Edogawa Conan, on the other hand, watched intently, analyzing everything carefully, but most of his attention remained on the members of the Black Organization, especially Gin; he wished he had a pair of eyes just to stare him down.
He also scanned all the Black Organization members near Gin, one by one; they were all members of the criminal organization, sooner or later, he would capture every single one of them.
As for Sawada Tsunayoshi, he held a mixed opinion of him, part praise and part criticism.
Sawada Tsunayoshi's prohibition of drugs, as well as his identity as an ordinary person, gave him a very good impression, but the attitude of Yamamoto Takeshi and the others, who treated human lives as if they were mere grass, made him feel uncomfortable.
Yes, he knew that was a common trait among people from the Hidden World, but feeling uncomfortable was still feeling uncomfortable.
Edogawa Ranpo took advantage of the lull in conversation between Fukuzawa Yukichi, Mori Ogai, Tanagayama to feast on sweets and gulp down drinks, all of which were normally restricted dangerous items.
The members of the Sheep were excitedly discussing Yamamoto's incredibly cool performance and Rokudo Mukuro's strength, while also wondering whether they should join another faction after the worlds merged.
“Chuuya, it's not that your strength isn't great, but we also need a safeguard. I think the number one power in the Hidden World is quite good. When the time comes, we could nominate you to become one of those Guardians. I believe with your strength, you could definitely do it.”
Shirase offered him hypocritical comfort.
Nakahara Chuuya remained silent. He wondered how Sawada Tsunayoshi had become friends with the Guardians, he wanted that kind of family bond as well.
Author's Note:
The next chapter will be about Gokudera Hayato.
Moreover, once the Guardians finish watching, it will be Sawada Tsunayoshi's plot, which will cover his experiences across the three worlds.
Chapter 15: Day 15 of the Live Broadcast
Soon, the World Consciousness arrived again: 【Let us begin the next video.】
"Next, we will introduce the Vongola Storm, Gokudera Hayato.
A European face appeared on the screen, a handsome man with deep-set features and a cold expression.
With silver hair and blue eyes, wearing a black suit and a red striped tie, he gazed forward with a cold expression, as if nothing could move him.
The scene shifts.
He stood before an ancient European-style castle, holding a bouquet of red roses, his eyes slightly closed, his expression devout.
A line of text was written beside it: "Blowing with a powerful storm, it always becomes the core of the attack, a tempestuous storm that rages eternally without rest."
Shamar let out an "Oho!" "This is truly incredible. So he really has become a Vongola Guardian. Belphegor, what do you think?"
The stunning woman with pink hair leaned against the wall with her arms crossed, gazing deeply at the adult man above, after taking another look at the child in the space, her lips curled into a slight smile.
Not bad.
Shamar slowly exhaled a ring of smoke. "Yeah, you've grown quite well."
The trace of self-destructive emotion buried deep within his heart had completely vanished, the gloom between his brows had disappeared as well; he had been completely reborn.
From Yamamoto's video, you could hear that Gokudera Hayato was very happy at Vongola; he truly considered himself a person of that place, he had found a place to belong.
Belphegor tilted her head slightly, hiding the complex emotions in her eyes: "Very good, I am very happy."
Gokudera Hayato anxiously bit his nails, staring at the stranger on the screen, his mind racing with a thousand different thoughts that were tied in a tangled knot.
He didn't want to think about anything else; he just waited for the video to play.
The seagull dipped toward the calm sea, when it rose again, a plump fish was hooked upon its talons. It spread its wings and soared high, disappearing into the boundless expanse of the ocean.
In the next second, a massive cruise ship appeared where the seagull had just been perched. Its distant horn blast drifted toward the shore. A flower-selling girl, her hair styled beautifully, offered a sweet smile as she handed a flower to the tourists opposite her.
The tourist's gaze was drawn to the giant ship, he asked curiously, "Miss, which company's cruise ship is that? It's so luxurious."
The flower girl looked back, her expression shifting slightly. "That is a cruise ship belonging to the Di Ne Family. If you see that clown's emblem outside the building, sir, whatever you do, do not go inside."
The tourist asked in confusion, "What's wrong? Do they not allow outsiders inside?"
The flower girl smiled kindly and asked, "Sir, why did you come to Sicily?"
Oh, I saw online that the scenery here is quite nice, so I came.
The young girl said demurely, "Then, do you know what the specialty of Sicily is?"
The tourist understood the implication and was shocked. "That profession actually exists? I thought it was just something they showed in movies."
Reality is even more exaggerated than the movies. Don't be fooled by how ordinary everyone looks here; out of every ten people, seven might belong to a Mafia family. In Sicily, you shouldn't underestimate anyone.
A look of fear appeared on the tourist's face, but it wasn't much; instead, there was more of an eager curiosity: "So, is everyone on the cruise ship part of it? What do they usually do? Will they suddenly pull out weapons and start a firefight?"
Wow, I met so many people on my way here, I wonder how many members of the Port Mafia I accidentally ran into." The tourist said excitedly, but then hesitated as he thought about what the young girl had just said. "Don't tell me you are one of them too..
He looked at the refreshingly dressed young woman.
The young girl smiled faintly, her expression mysterious. "Who knows? Perhaps I am, perhaps I am not."
The tourist took two steps back in fear, while the girl said in a sweet voice, "The Di Ne Family is famous for gambling. Once you enter their buildings, no one can leave without losing everything. Many people have lost their entire fortunes, their families, in the end, even themselves."
So, sir, are you sure you want to satisfy your curiosity about this?
“So, Mr. Gokudera, are you sure you want to participate? Once you decide, there is no room for regret; even as a Vongola Guardian, you must abide by the rules of the Di Ne Family.”
A man with a mustache sat atop a high stool, his expression arrogant and his tone teasing. Dozens of bodyguards in black suits stood around him, encircling a handsome silver-haired man dressed in a white suit and a red bowtie.
The silver-haired man possessed an incredibly exquisite face and eyes that shimmered like gemstones, a brilliant green. Judging solely by the aura surrounding him, he seemed like the type of musician who would perform piano in an elegant hall, rather than in a smoke-filled, gunpowder-scented Mafia base, about to participate in a gamble where everything was on the line.
Gokudera Hayato's eyes remained completely expressionless: "Of course, I come with sincerity."
I will absolutely abide by the family rules.
The man with the mustache laughed heartily and stood up to applaud. His applause lasted for a long time before he said excitedly, "Excellent! As expected of a Vongola Guardian, you truly have spirit. It seems you have indeed come with sincerity, so in response, I shall also show my utmost sincerity. In this gamble, I shall wager against you."
“The winner takes it all, the loser gets nothing.”
A sinister glint flashed in the man's eyes.
Reborn said indifferently, "It's Young Di Ne. It seems that after he inherited the family, he expanded the business."
Wind asked curiously, "Is the Di Ne Family very famous?" After all, a trash family wouldn't appear in Reborn's memory at all.
Colonello, who had been sent away by Lal for being too clingy, chimed in, "I know Old Di Ne. Didn't he say he wanted to transform the family business because gambling was too dangerous and he didn't want to do it anymore? How come the business just keeps getting bigger? They're even openly running cruise ship gambling now."
Colonello explained to him, "The Di Ne Family is also an old-school power. The First Generation Di Ne was just the owner of a small casino, but people with the Di Ne surname have a special ability, which is that they are exceptionally lucky at gambling. The family doesn't participate in violent conflicts, instead they run casinos generation after generation, they hold a certain amount of influence."
“Old Di Ne felt that gambling could not bring peace, so he wanted to go legitimate and reorganize the family. It seems he was not successful; I don't know if he died or simply changed his mind, but after Young Di Ne took over the family, he actually continued to promote gambling instead.”
Reborn added, "The Di Ne Family has almost never lost at a gambling table. If Gokudera Hayato wants to gamble with him, he needs the courage to bet everything and the resolve to lose everything."
Underestimating the Di Ne Family will come at a price.
Wind listened, looking thoughtful, asked Reborn, "If you say you've almost never lost, then that means he has had times when he lost too, right?"
Reborn, do you know who he lost to?
Colonello chuckled secretly, while a mysterious smile played on Reborn's face as he gave a soft hum.
Wind satisfied his curiosity and turned his head back with satisfaction.
The ship looked incredibly luxurious from the outside, but the interior was an even more extraordinary world, with pearls visible everywhere, enormous gemstones, stacks upon stacks of cash.
Walking from the bow to the stern of the ship, Gokudera Hayato saw that every room was filled with people, all of them excited and eager. Shouts and screams drifted from within, every face was filled with the lust for sudden wealth.
He hadn't even taken two steps before a man was thrown out. He had been stripped naked, left with nothing but his underwear for support, yet a look of fanaticism surfaced on his face. "I beg you, let me have one more round! Just one more round and I can win back everything I lost before! Just let me play one more, just one more round!"
Young Di Ne stopped in his tracks and asked the waiter what was going on.
The waiter replied that this gentleman had already gambled away everything he could, had just wagered his luxury clothes and pants, losing them all; he no longer had anything left to put on the gambling table.
Young Di Ne said with a helpless tone, "Sir, the casino's rules are clear; you have no chips left, there is nothing we can do."
The man's eyes were bloodshot. "No, no, I still have.."
I'm going to wager my wife and my two children.
Gokudera Hayato's gaze instantly turned cold, looking at him as if he were looking at a dead man.
The man, however, acted as if he had grasped a life-saving straw, his eyes gleaming with an unnatural, greedy distortion. "Yes, my wife is very beautiful, her hair is especially lovely. My children are also very cute, a boy and a girl, twins, you can do whatever you want with them, just let me join the table quickly."
Young Di Ne's tone became gentle: "In that case, this gentleman is already qualified to take a seat. Take him away to sign the contract."
The waiter respectfully agreed and led the man back through the door. Gokudera Hayato heard a massive cheer erupting from inside.
Young Di Ne looked back: "I hope the commotion just now didn't dampen your interest in having fun. After all, this is a casino, such things are quite common."
At a gambling table, anything can be used as a stake; anything can be lost, anything can be won. May I ask, Mr. Vongola Arash Gokudera Hayato, what is it that you desire?
Young Di Ne asked with profound meaning.
A trace of mockery flashed across Gokudera Hayato's cold face. "I think you've already looked into it, Mr. Di Ne."
Young Di Ne stroked his beard from top to bottom. "Oh no, no, you overestimate me. I am just a small businessman, one that can be found anywhere in the vast Sicily. How could I possibly know the Vongola's plans in advance? Please, stop speaking in riddles."
Gokudera Hayato curled his lips impatiently. "Ha! If a Di Ne who holds fifty percent control over the docks is also just a small businessman, then whose business would be considered large? Mr. Di Ne, excessive modesty is equivalent to arrogance."
I won't waste any more words with you. This time, I want your authority over the harbor, as well as everything belonging to the Di Ne Family.
Young Di Ne accidentally pulled on a beard; he ignored the slight pain, his gaze instantly turned dark, as the atmosphere grew thick with the scent of gunpowder.
Mr. Gokudera, can I consider this a formal challenge to the Di Ne Family?
Whatever you say.
Young Di Ne laughed out of sheer anger, clapping his hands: "Fine, fine, fine. Everything I said is up for bet. Since you want everything of mine, then what kind of stakes can you put forward?"
Gokudera Hayato's expression was indistinct under the lights, with only those wolf-like emerald eyes shimmering with a flowing light.
Of course, my everything.
Chapter 16: Day 16 of the Live Stream