Sliva took him aside, to a spot at some distance from Leo and Zeno.
The father and son stood face to face. Sliva was a full two heads taller than him, and Kalluto had to crane his neck to see his face.
Sliva looked down at his youngest son.
He rarely looked at Kalluto this way.
Between father and son in the Zoldyck Family, there was no need for warmth or encouragement—only orders and obedience.
But today, he suddenly felt like saying a few more words.
"Follow Leo, and don't cause him any trouble."
Kalluto opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but Sliva raised a hand to stop him.
"Decide your own affairs. Father will not interfere."
He reached out and lightly patted Kalluto on the shoulder.
"And absolutely never betray your friends!"
Kalluto nodded solemnly and agreed.
"I will, I promise you!"
Sliva nodded.
"Take care."
Then he turned and walked toward Zeno.
The two walked to the side of the Dragon and leaped onto it.
The Dragon let out a low cry, spread its wings, and slowly ascended.
Kalluto stood in place, watching the figure that was getting smaller and smaller, his eyes turning slightly red.
He did not chase after them, nor did he shout; he just watched quietly.
The Dragon flew higher and farther, eventually turning into a black dot and disappearing into the clouds.
Leo walked to Kalluto's side and also looked up in that direction.
"What did your father say to you?"
Kalluto turned his head to look at Leo.
His eyes were still red, but the corners of his mouth were already curled up.
He tilted his head up and said in a slightly proud tone.
"I can't tell you. Since when did you become so nosy about other people's family business!"
Leo was stunned for a moment, then laughed.
He shrugged.
"Alright. My apologies for being nosy."
He turned and walked toward the light door on the ground in the distance.
Ashir had already opened the portal, and the pale blue light door floated silently amidst the ruins.
"Then let's go back."
Kalluto followed behind him, his footsteps much lighter than when they had arrived.
He looked back at the sky one last time—the clouds had already closed, and the black dot was long gone.
He withdrew his gaze and stepped through the light door.
The light door slowly shrank, finally turning into a speck of light and disappearing into the air.
After returning to Colton Manor.
Leo let Kalluto go down to rest first.
Preparing to head to Heavens Arena tomorrow to watch Kastro's match.
At night, Colton Manor.
In the lounge, Leo sat cross-legged on the floor in the center of the room, his eyes slightly closed, his breathing long and steady.
Nen flowed slowly through his body, his consciousness sinking deep within as he meditated.
"Bang, bang, bang."
A knock on the door sounded, urgent yet restrained.
"Mr. Leo."
Dean's voice came from outside the door, carrying a hint of nervousness.
"Leader Vivian says she has an urgent matter to discuss with you. She is waiting for you in the second-floor conference room. It is a very important, urgent matter."
Leo opened his eyes, stood up, and walked out of the lounge.
In the second-floor conference room, all the lights were on, shining blindingly bright.
Vivian stood beside the long table, her expression extremely tense.
She paced back and forth in the room, her high heels clicking against the floor.
Hearing the door open, she immediately turned and walked up to him quickly.
"Boss, I am very sorry to disturb you so late."
Her voice was kept very low, but she spoke quickly.
"There really is a very urgent matter."
Leo walked to the head of the table and sat down, looking at her.
"Go ahead."
Vivian took a deep breath.
"The V5 official who supported me in taking the position of one of the Ten Dons—Delilah, she wants to see you. Not the leader of the Colton Family, but the boss behind the scenes, which is you."
Leo frowned.
That Delilah, he had heard Vivian mention her.
A woman who did things once paid, suddenly wanting to see some boss behind the scenes.
Unless someone had told her to ask.
"Did she say what it was about?"
Vivian shook her head.
"She didn't say. She only said she would call back in five minutes. If you didn't appear, the Colton Family would be removed from the Ten Dons."
Leo leaned back in his chair, tapping his fingers lightly on the armrest.
Removed?
What a bold claim.
"Understood."
Less than ten seconds after he finished speaking, the phone on the table rang.
Vivian looked at Leo, and Leo nodded.
She promptly exited the room.
Leo answered the phone.
A man's voice came from the other end of the line, deep, steady, and carrying an uncomfortable sense of composure.
It wasn't Delilah; it was a man.
"You must be Leo. It's a pleasure to meet you."
Leo raised an eyebrow slightly.
"You are not the V5 official who supports Vivian."
"You are very smart."
The man on the other end of the line chuckled.
"I am indeed not Delilah. But the Colton Family being able to sit in that position was because I instructed Delilah to support it. Without my nod, the Colton Gang would never have been able to sit in that position. Do you understand?"
Leo did not speak.
The man continued.
"However, I admire you. So—"
"I don't think I can get along with you high-ranking officials and politicians."
Leo interrupted him.
"Get to the point."
The other end was silent for a second, then laughter followed.
The laughter was not loud, as if he were amused.
"My name is Liam. I guess you must really want to find me."
Leo's pupils constricted slightly.
Liam!
The man who made the Ten Dons bow and obey; he hadn't gone to find him yet, but this person had delivered himself to his doorstep.
Liam did not wait for Leo to respond and continued on his own.
"I have studied all your files and combat records, Leo."
"You appeared suddenly three years ago, with no records before that. But that doesn't matter; this world has too many unknowns. A Disciple of Biscuit, a Disciple of Shingen-ryu. Your strength is very formidable, and you are very young. Your future will be stronger than that old man Netero."
He paused, as if flipping through some documents.
"Your Disciples Sophia, Kastro, and everyone in your team—I have investigated them all. You also control the Colton Gang."
"Therefore, I have reached a conclusion—you intend to explore the Dark Continent."
Leo's fingers paused on the armrest.
He guessed it.
This person is not just some small-time political thug; his mind works very fast.
To be able to deduce his goal based solely on this information—he is not simple.
"So what?"
Liam was not affected by his coldness.
"I think you really want to know who is behind the Doctor. It wouldn't hurt to tell you—I am one of them."
A trace of killing intent flashed in Leo's eyes.
Liam seemed to sense something and laughed.
"I think you must really want to kill me right now. However, it's useless to kill me; I am only responsible for personnel coordination. There are people above me; I am just the one responsible for execution."
"Telling me so generously, it seems you are very confident."
Leo's killing intent receded.
"It doesn't matter. There is no conflict between you and me; the Doctor's project is not led by me."
Liam chuckled and said.
A runner, a messenger.
A pawn responsible for jumping around on stage, taking the heat for the true mastermind behind the scenes.
"It seems you are just a small fry after all."
Leo did not like people like Liam; too insidious, willing to sell anything for profit.