Gourmet Hunter - Chapter 59 (Patreon)

Chapter 59: The Car Arrives

Perhaps because it was just past dawn, the entrance to the east street was rarely trodden.

At a glance, Luo saw only four people. Among them, two were strangers, and the other two were familiar faces: Kuli and the unnamed Wogret.

Seeing Kuli, Luo felt a slight sink in his heart. The elder hadn't mentioned the identities of other members the day before yesterday. Now, seeing Kuli present in a rush, and with exactly four people in total, it was enough to confirm that Kuli was also one of them.

So, did the elder not mention it because he didn't consider the grudge between him and Kuli significant? Or even feared it would affect the mission?

Grudges and such, Luo wasn't particularly concerned about them. He was more worried about the lack of information.

The elder had said that when the employer sent someone to pick him up, someone would explain the details, and that person had better not be Kuli.

Upon Luo's arrival, the four at the exit noticed him, reacting differently. The two strangers did not hide their disdain.

Judging capability by age might not apply in Meteor Street, but a significant age difference often led to disrespect.

Kuli and Wogret had a basic understanding of Luo, so disdain and contempt were not attitudes they held. However, the lack of basic knowledge from the other two made their reaction quite normal.

After all, Luo was the only one in his early teens, while the others were adults in their twenties, approaching thirty.

"Why would the elder send a kid like this on a mission?"

As Luo approached, one of the unfamiliar men, with a chestnut haircut, voiced his objection without concern for Luo's feelings.

The other man, with a horse-face and pointed mouth, agreed, "Bodyguard missions aren't child's play. It's fine if he loses his life, but what if he drags us down?"

Seeing the two companions so inhospitable, Kuli remained expressionless, neither fanning the flames nor dissociating himself. In fact, he was already scheming how to ensure Luo's death during the mission.

Stealing all of Mafia boss Barney's collections, plus getting Luo killed, the key to executing this plan depended on the enemy's strength.

If the enemies targeting Barney were too weak, it would be problematic.

Hearing what the two misfits said, Luo maintained a neutral face, as if he hadn't heard a thing.

Noticing Luo's indifferent reaction, the chestnut-haired man immediately showed displeasure.

Some people just like to pick on others, but when their target treats them like a pile of dog shit and ignores them, they find enough reason to be angry.

"Hey, I'm talking to you. This isn't child's play. Better just roll back home now, save us the trouble later," said the chestnut-haired man, stepping forward to close the distance with Luo, as if wanting to make sure Luo heard him clearly.

The relationship between the horse-face man and the chestnut-haired man seemed pretty good. Standing by his side, he didn't continue to belittle Luo but kept watching him with a look of disdain.

Luo simply ignored them, crossing his arms and gazing at the horizon, where a small black dot was approaching—likely the car coming to pick them up.

Seeing Luo continue to ignore him, the chestnut-haired man's face suddenly changed, and veins popped out on his forehead as if he was about to make a move.

The intent to attack, like a barely audible scent, quietly spread around.

Luo sensed it, an attack intent filled with hostility, still in its infancy, perhaps about to sprout leaves in the next minute.

Due to the chestnut-haired man's actions, the atmosphere changed slightly.

Kuli remained indifferent, and Wogret maintained a light smile, as if he hadn't noticed.

Finally, Luo deemed it worth his while to look at the four people present.

The chestnut-haired man's mood was like a volcano about to erupt, his aura showing signs of instability and readiness to act.

The horse-face man was relatively calm, standing close to the chestnut-haired man, ready to back him up if necessary.

Kuli, with whom Luo had a grudge, appeared indifferent, his gaze not even on the scene but rather on the distant horizon, showing a detached attitude.

Wogret, whom Luo had seen but not named, wore a light smile, likely observing.

From the chestnut-haired man's comments, it was easy to deduce the cause of the provocation.

However, on the surface, it seemed due to Luo's young age. In reality, it was probably because Kuli and Wogret hadn't shared Luo's information with the chestnut-haired man and the horse-face man.

Had they known, they wouldn't have picked a fight so readily.

Realizing this, Luo shifted his gaze back to the approaching small black dot.

The four on-site hardly constituted a team, so Luo had little interest in even learning their names. He planned to act alone, but much depended on the employer's arrangements.

Seeing Luo glance over lightly, then turn his head away, ignoring them, the chestnut-haired man's aura, previously fluctuating with his emotions, calmed down. He had deployed his aura.

The chestnut-haired man had used his aura, and seeing this, the horse-faced man did the same.

They figured even if Luo didn't participate in the mission, it was fine. With fewer people, there would be more opportunities to stand out.

The annual bodyguard mission wasn't just a chance for residents of Meteor Street to earn a substantial income; it was also an opportunity to be noticed by Mafia bosses.

If they performed well in the bodyguard task, a Mafia boss might decide to take them under their wing. The boss would then "buy" them out, allowing them to leave Meteor Street to live a life of luxury.

The killed Cook, in last year's mission, had caught the eye of a particularly ruthless Mafia boss and was about to leave Meteor Street for the boss's gang a few months ago, only to be killed by Luo.

"Did the elder choose these two? Not very impressive."

Luo found the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man quite absurd. He wasn't aware that Wogret was responsible for selecting personnel and simply spoke his mind.

Wogret's smile stiffened slightly, as if he were enjoying the show only to be unexpectedly hit by an arrow.

Hearing Luo's words, how could the chestnut-haired man bear it? Releasing his aura, he was ready to make a move.

At that moment, Luo's aura also erupted, and as he lifted his gaze, a dominant presence emerged as if he had the lives of others in the palm of his hand.

This presence, enhanced by Nen, created an aura field around him, resembling the figures of dragons and tigers, roaring as they charged towards the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man.

"If you know what's good for you, stay in line."

As the aura surged, Luo's gaze fixed on the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man, unblinking, as if they were meat on a chopping board.

The two men were visibly shaken, their complexions slowly changing, rendered speechless, and sweat began to form on their foreheads.

They felt an oppressive force, as if whispers in their ears were advising them to behave, or else face consequences.

Luo's aura wasn't just directed at the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man; even Kuli and Wogret felt its impact, their expressions subtly changing.

While they weren't as embarrassed as the other two, Luo's demonstration seemed to be a show of force against them.

The atmosphere grew tense, and the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man found themselves in an awkward position, unsure whether to back down or face potential humiliation.

"Have you two forgotten about Chrollo? Being young here doesn't equate to a lack of ability. Besides, Luo is someone personally selected by the elder," Wogret intervened, attempting to smooth things over.

Hearing Wogret's words, the corners of the mouths of the chestnut-haired man and horse-faced man twitched.

Personally selected by the elder, why didn't you say so earlier!

A hint of a cold smile flashed in Luo's eyes as he withdrew his aura, looking ahead.

The car arrived, a luxurious black stretch Lincoln.

The car slowly stopped, and the door opened, revealing a middle-aged man dressed in a black butler's uniform, his hair neatly combed and shining.

"Get in," said the butler with an arrogant tone.

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