"Sir, we've arrived at your destination."
Cade glanced out the taxi window, his gaze lingering on the towering structure before him. The Oakwood Hotel loomed majestically, a ten-story colossus with its bold logo glowing faintly against the evening sky. For a moment, he allowed himself to marvel at it—its sleek design and inviting aura radiating a quiet sophistication.
“Sometimes, I wonder if I’m still on Earth,” Cade murmured under his breath, a faint smile on his lips. “But then again, Earth wouldn’t let me do this.”
He opened his hand, and there it was—a one-inch miniature snake, composed entirely of shimmering aura, writhing playfully in the air in his palm. Its translucent body swam gracefully as if defying the laws of nature. Cade’s eyes lingered on it for a second longer before he closed his hand, extinguishing the glowing serpent.
After paying the taxi driver, Cade stepped out onto the pavement. The cool evening air carried a faint whisper of the city, but the grand entrance of the Oakwood Hotel drowned out everything else. He pushed through the heavy wooden doors and found himself inside a world carved from timber and artistry.
The name Oakwood suddenly made perfect sense. Nearly everything in sight—furniture, walls, even the chandelier that hung from the ceiling—seemed crafted from rich, polished wood. The texture of the grain seemed to hum with life, its warmth and elegance lending the place an inviting yet regal atmosphere. Cade took it in as he strode forward, his boots clicking softly against the marble floor.
The receptionist at the desk caught his eye. She was young, with sharp features softened by a polite smile. Her tailored uniform was immaculate, her poise professional yet approachable. As Cade approached, she greeted him with a voice as smooth as the hotel’s aesthetic.
“Welcome to the Oakwood Hotel, sir. How may I assist you today?”
Cade paused, his mind working behind a mask of calm. What he wanted to show me last week’s CCTV footage was reckless. A demand like that would get him thrown out before he even got a chance to dig deeper. Instead, he slipped off his glasses with practiced ease, leaning just slightly toward the desk.
“I’d like a tour of the hotel,” he said coolly, his voice measured and confident, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.
.
The receptionist’s brows arched slightly as Cade stepped forward. He was younger than most visitors, his sharp features framed by an air of quiet confidence that seemed to disarm her for a moment.
“Of course, sir,” she said smoothly, masking her surprise with professionalism. “If you provide me with your information, I’ll create a visitor’s pass for you. It will grant you unrestricted access, but do note that it expires at midnight.”
Cade nodded, already confident he wouldn’t need that long. “I’ll be done before midnight, I’m sure,” he thought, offering her a polite smile.
“Much appreciated,” he said aloud, providing the requested details.
The receptionist typed swiftly, scanned a plain white card, and handed it over. “With this, you’ll have visiting access to most facilities—though only for today.”
“Understood.” Cade accepted the card and headed toward the elevators.
---
Twenty minutes later, Cade found himself standing in front of a door labeled STAFF ONLY. He had already explored two similar doors—one led to a storage room, the other to the staff laundry—but he wasn’t discouraged.
“This one has to be it,” he murmured under his breath.
The dimly lit room inside was silent save for the hum of electronics. A middle-aged man sat at a desk, his eyes fixed on a dozen flickering screens displaying security footage. At Cade’s intrusion, the man stood abruptly, his hand darting to the taser strapped to his chest.
“Sir, outside personnel aren’t allowed in here,” the guard said sternly, his tone brooking no argument.
Feigning desperation, Cade raised his hands in mock apology. “I’m so sorry to barge in like this. Someone stole my suitcase just outside the hotel, and I was hoping to check the CCTV footage to find the culprit.”
He stepped closer, holding up his visitor’s card as if it were a badge of legitimacy. “Please, you have to help me find the bastard who took it!”
The guard’s eyes flickered to the card, and in that moment of distraction, Cade struck. Aura surged into his hand, and with a precise chop to the neck—enhanced by Gyo—the guard crumpled like a marionette with its strings cut.
Cade immediately checked the man’s pulse, sighing in relief at the steady, shallow rhythm. “Still alive,” he muttered. Grabbing a nearby rope, he secured the guard’s hands behind his back, disarmed him of the taser, and carefully propped him up in the corner.
“That was messy,” Cade said, running a hand through his hair. He turned his attention to the screens, his eyes narrowing. “Let’s see who you really are, Rin Kazeki.”
---
Cade worked methodically, rewinding the footage to review a full week’s worth of activity at the hotel entrance. Dozens of faces flashed across the screens, most of them unremarkable. Ordinary guests. Staff. No sign of a controlled aura. No one matched the profile of his target—a man in his forties, likely a Nen user.
After nearly an hour, hunger gnawed at him. Cade glanced around the room and spotted a small fridge. Smirking, he helped himself to a couple of soda cans and some cold pizza before resuming his search.
Finally, he froze. There, on the screen, was a man in a black hoodie. His posture was deliberately casual, but Cade noticed the subtle stiffness of someone aware of being watched. The man’s hood obscured most of his face, but a quick zoom revealed messy, almond-colored hair and a faint scar slicing through his left eyebrow.
“Gotcha,” Cade murmured, his eyes gleaming with triumph. He followed the man’s movements across multiple camera angles, noting little else of value except his approximate height—close to six feet.
“This will do for now,” Cade muttered. He snapped several photos of the footage using his phone, then dialed a familiar number.
---
The line clicked, and a gruff, familiar voice greeted him. “Cade, my boy. What’s the word?”
“I’m at the Oakwood Hotel,” Cade said briskly. “Found the target on CCTV. I’ve got his appearance locked down.”
“That fast? I expected this to take you days,” Cormac replied, his tone tinged with approval. “Impressive.”
Cade didn’t waste time basking in the praise. “I need to know if you have a way to contact the Zoldycks for a contract.”
The line went silent for a beat before Cormac spoke again, his tone sharper now. “Son, if you’re thinking of hiring the Zoldycks, understand this—they’re killers, not errand boys. They won’t retrieve documents for you.”
“I know,” Cade said firmly. “I don’t need them to. I want to contact Milluki Zoldyck specifically. Can you make that happen?”
Cormac exhaled heavily. “You don’t ask for small favors, do you? Fine. I know people who can reach out to him. I’ll owe them one, but if this blows up in your face, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”
“Thanks, Mr. Cormac. I owe you one.”
Cormac chuckled darkly. “You owe me plenty already. I’ll be in touch.”
---
Cade untied the guard and placed him back in his seat, making sure he looked merely asleep before slipping out of the room. He returned the visitor’s card to the receptionist with a polite nod and then left the hotel.
For the next three days, Cade stayed at a small inn near the Oakwood Hotel, waiting for updates. When the infamous Zoldyck family agreed to the contact—surprisingly willing when the job involved Milluki—Cade knew the real game was about to begin.
Cade sat cross-legged in the dim light of his room, the air heavy with the scent of incense. In his hand, the Rubik's Cube spun with mechanical precision, its colors shifting as he worked it absentmindedly, deep in meditation. The hum of his phone shattered the tranquil silence, vibrating against the wooden desk. He opened his eyes, the faint glow of the screen reflected in them. Without a second thought, he reached for the phone.
“Yes?” Cade’s voice was calm, detached.
A gruff voice crackled on the other end, unmistakably Cormac’s. “Cade, my boy, I’ve got Milluki Zoldyck’s contact for you. Took me a hell of a headache and fifty million jennies to grease the right palms, but I got it. Now, listen. Once I send you his number, you owe me half of what you make from this job. Understood?”
Cade leaned back, the corners of his mouth twitching into a faint smile. “Don’t worry, Mr. Cormac. You can have a hundred million Jenny if it comes to that. But understand this—afterward, there’ll be no favors between us. Are you satisfied with that arrangement?”
Cormac snorted, the sound of a lighter flicking audible in the background. “Eh, keep your favors, kid. Just send me the money when you get it, alright?”
“No problem,” Cade replied smoothly, his voice steady.
“Good. I’ll forward you his number now. And, Cade, be direct with this one. Milluki’s got a nasty temper.”
Cade chuckled softly, the sound almost mocking. “That’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Cormac muttered something unintelligible and hung up. Cade placed the phone back on the desk, his fingers resuming their dance across the Rubik’s Cube.