Hayate Shiranui remained unmoved by Madam Gao's realization. He leaned forward slightly, his eyes cold. "I have told you what you wanted to know. Now, it is your turn. Tell me, have you found the trace of the Dragon Bone?"
Madam Gao stared at him, her mind racing through various survival scenarios. After a moment, she spoke with a measured tone. "I can give you the information you seek, but I ask for one condition in return."
"I will not beg for my life—I know the nature of this world. However, in my homeland, we believe that 'fallen leaves must return to their roots.' I wish for my body to be returned to the Hand so they may bury me in peace."
"Such a request should be simple enough for a man of your stature, shouldn't it?"
Hearing her request, a mysterious, knowing smile touched Hayate's lips. "Returning to your roots... I suppose I can grant that. But only if the information you provide is accurate."
In his mind, however, Hayate was scoffing. Returning as ashes is still returning to your roots, Gao. You want your physical body sent back so the Hand can use the Essence to resurrect you? Keep dreaming.
Believing she had secured a path back to life, Gao felt a surge of secret relief. She knew she couldn't bypass Hayate's mental defenses due to his Sharingan, so she had settled for this seemingly humble request.
High Table, Hayate, the Continental... enjoy your victory for now, she thought bitterly. Once I am reborn, you will face the full, unbridled wrath of the Hand.
She organized her thoughts and began to speak. "I do not know how you learned of the Dragon Bone, nor what you intend to do with it, but I can tell you this: It is beneath Hell's Kitchen."
"As for the exact coordinates, I have not yet pinpointed the site. I only arrived in New York recently. But I am certain it lies within the boundaries of this district."
Hayate wasn't surprised that she hadn't found the exact spot yet; based on the timeline, the Hand's excavation project was still a ways off. He pressed further. "Tell me which areas you have already ruled out."
Gao didn't hesitate. "Very well. I will give you the list of the sites we have explored that yielded nothing. Your people should record this."
Hayate looked at Hotaru, who was already poised at the terminal. "Hotaru, record everything she says."
Madam Gao began listing the excluded locations in detail. She even went so far as to offer her own theories on where the "Heart" of the bone might be located, hoping to appear as cooperative as possible.
Once she finished, she recited a phone number. "Call this number. They will come for my remains." She then closed her eyes, silently awaiting her sentence.
Hayate glanced at Iruka and gave a sharp, subtle nod. End her.
Iruka stepped behind the old woman. With a swift, silent thrust, his kunai pierced through her back, driving straight into her heart. He held the blade until her life force faded, then checked her pulse one final time before nodding to Hayate.
Hayate picked up his phone, but he didn't dial the number Gao had provided. Instead, he called Charlie, the "cleaner" from the Continental. "Charlie. Shiranui Agency. One 'dinner reservation' to pick up."
After hanging up, he turned to Iruka. "Iruka, when Charlie arrives, go with him to the Continental. I want you to watch her body being cremated with your own eyes."
"Once she is reduced to ash, seal them in a container. Only then do you call the number she gave us and tell them to collect her 'remains' for burial."
Hayate knew exactly what Gao was planning. To anyone else, her request sounded like a sentimental old woman's final wish. But he wasn't about to let a threat like her crawl back out of a grave. Resurrection? I'm doing you a favor by making sure you stay dead.
"Understood, Lord Hayate," Iruka replied respectfully.
Meanwhile, Hotaru finished cross-referencing the data. She stood up and approached Hayate. "Boss, the analysis is complete."
"Excluding the areas Gao's teams searched, there are three primary suspects. Interestingly, all three buildings were constructed by the Rand Corporation."
"The first is an abandoned construction site that's been stagnant for over a decade. The second is the Hell's Kitchen Police Precinct. The third is a luxury apartment complex also built by Rand."
"Crucially, all three were built before the Rand family's plane crash."
Hayate nodded, a plan forming. "Hotaru, your mission is to purchase the abandoned site and the apartment building. Our current assets should be enough to cover it."
"We start digging there first. If the bone isn't there... well, we'll just have to find the Hell's Kitchen PD a new home."
Hotaru thought for a moment. "It's doable, Boss. If we use the stocks you just acquired as collateral for a loan, we can secure the liquid capital for the acquisitions easily."
Hayate shook his head. "No need for a loan. Wait for my signal."
He pulled out his phone and initiated a video call to Wilson Fisk.
"Fisk. Your commission is essentially complete." Hayate turned the camera toward the lifeless body of Madam Gao.
On the other end of the line, Fisk stared at the screen. Seeing the kunai buried in Gao's chest, he let out a visible sigh of relief. "Hayate, your efficiency is truly remarkable."
"The remaining ten billion of the final payment will be delivered to you tomorrow."
Hayate smiled. "Good. We have a deal."
He ended the call and looked back at Hotaru. "The money will be here tomorrow."
"Understood, Boss. As soon as the funds clear, I'll finalize the purchases."
Hayate turned to the four ninjas in the room. "The bounty hunt is nearly finished. The hitmen in the city will clean up the remaining stragglers for the prize money. Now, let's talk about your rewards."
"Iruka, report every Hand member you three neutralized to the Continental. I've already set up the bounty pool there; you and the boys collect your share from the High Table."
He paused, looking at each of them. "In addition, I am personally awarding each of you $10,000,000 as a bonus for this mission."
With the massive windfalls from Fisk and the High Table, Hayate was more than happy to distribute a generous share to his loyal subordinates.