HxH: Apex Predator

"Father, you truly are a prophet. Everything is unfolding exactly as you predicted."

"By tomorrow, the Solomon family will likely send those two bounty hunters. They may even add some of their own top fighters into the mix.

When that happens, the remnants of the Hall family won't be able to withstand the assault. As long as Bat and the others hold off their forces, this matter will be settled."

"But what about the aftermath? From beginning to end, only the Genovese family took a loss. Tony might not be able to swallow this. I'm afraid he might take desperate action."

"He won't. Tony is a smart man—he's not one to lose his cool so easily. Besides, his losses this time are just money and an already defunct Hall family.

If anyone questions his ability to protect his vassals, the fate of the Seven Gangs should be enough of a warning to shut them up."

"At worst, he's simply frustrated that he couldn't personally take revenge on Sosa.

As for the bounty money, it was essentially spent on wiping out the Seven Gangs. Once this conflict ends, we'll give him some money to save face, and this whole matter will be put to rest."

"Negotiation is about compromise. As long as the price is right, even Tony will yield.

The underworld isn't just about bloodshed—it's about relationships."

Hearing his father's analysis, Gordon felt a weight lift from his chest. He quickly asked, "Then how much should we give the Genovese family?"

John cast a glance at his son, his expression filled with mild disappointment. "Give them money?

This time, we did all the running around—delivering messages, sending people to provide backup. If anything, the Kolobo family should be paying us."

"Once the conflict is over, we go straight to Sosa and demand ten billion Jenny.

We backed him up, provided intelligence, sent reinforcements, and bought him time by eliminating the Hall family. Ten billion is already a friendly price."

"From that, we'll take five billion and give it to Tony as our 'compensation' to him.

Out of the remaining five billion, we'll set aside two billion for operational expenses. One billion goes to Bat. The other two bounty hunters will each get five hundred million as payment for their work."

"Then, we'll take another billion and distribute it among the family's intelligence network and the informants who worked on this job."

"Finally, once Bat and the others report back, if it turns out one person was responsible for wiping out the Seven Gangs, we'll have them deliver a message from me.

Tell them that I, John Gambino, deeply admire men of courage and strength. That despite being on opposing sides, I see this as a meeting of equals."

"As a gesture of goodwill, I'll offer two billion Jenny as a gift and invite him to visit the Gambino family. I want to make his acquaintance."

"If he refuses, tell him the money will serve as his payment for a 'failed mission.' The world is small—we may cross paths again. The Gambino family doors will always be open to him."

Upon hearing his father's words, Gordon looked at John with deep admiration. Just as he was about to speak, he saw his father's expression tighten, as if he had suddenly thought of something.

After a brief silence, Gordon hesitantly asked, "Father, according to your plan, if it turns out to be one person, you intend to give the full two billion to him, right?

That means, in this entire conflict, we won't make a single cent. More importantly, you mentioned giving Bat one billion—he's been loyal to our family for years."

"But now, you're offering two billion to someone we've never even met, someone we haven't even confirmed will join us. Isn't that...?"

John's gaze softened into one of approval. He nodded slightly and said, "Good. The fact that you immediately thought of this issue pleases me. So today, I'll teach you two more lessons.

The art of leadership is about rewards and punishments. If you only reward someone, they'll become complacent."

"You must strike a balance—just like driving a horse. You don't just feed it well; you crack the whip when necessary.

This two billion isn't just about recruiting a new ally—it's a message to Bat."

"Among the Nen users in our ranks, Bat has always stood at the top. No one else comes close. Within the Shadow Beasts, his strength is also among the best.

Because of that, he's grown arrogant and stagnant."

"I want to remind him that the world is full of strong fighters. I can recruit someone just as powerful at any time.

This will give him a sense of urgency. If he wants to maintain his status, he'll have to push himself further."

"And if he improves, I'll have the leverage to push him into the next Shadow Beasts leadership election. If I can maneuver him into becoming the leader, then the entire Shadow Beasts division will be under my control."

"With just two billion Jenny, I could gain a top-tier fighter and seize control of the Shadow Beasts' command structure.

That is a rare and valuable trade.

Remember, money is only useful in the right circumstances."

"At times, money is omnipotent—it can turn even monsters into allies. But in other situations, it's worthless.

The key is knowing when to spend and when to hold back."

"If you want mercenaries and killers to risk their lives for you, you must feed them well in peacetime. Only then will they fight to the death when it truly matters."

Hearing his father's words, Gordon let out a bitter chuckle and raised his thumb in admiration.

"Father, I am in complete awe of you. With this one conflict, you've managed to:

One, weaken the Genovese family.

Two, gain favors from the Philip or Medici families.

Three, squeeze money out of the Kolobo family while strengthening our own influence.

Four, put Bat in his place and create an opportunity to take control of the Shadow Beasts.

Five, possibly recruit another fighter on Bat's level—or at the very least, establish a positive connection with him."

John chuckled. "And do you see a sixth benefit?"

Gordon smirked. "Six—I've received another valuable lesson from you."

"Hahaha! Good. I'm pleased with your progress today.

Remember, leading a family to prosperity isn't just about being bold and reckless. Wisdom is what truly matters."

"You must learn balance and compromise. Charging ahead without strategy will only end in disaster."

"When I took over the family from your grandfather, my sole focus was maintaining stability, ensuring the family didn't decline under my leadership.

I never considered how to push us forward."

"Looking back, that mindset locked me into being a mere caretaker—a man who preserves rather than builds."

"But you are different. In you, I see a drive and ambition I never had. That fills me with pride, but also concern.

I trained you in patience and composure from a young age because I don't want the family to fall into chaos due to recklessness."

Hearing his father's heartfelt words, Gordon nodded.

"I understand. When I figured out why you've always maintained the balance between the Four Families, I finally understood.

We need the Four Families to counterbalance each other—none can be allowed to dominate."

"But if we treat them as pieces on a chessboard, then aren't we also someone else's pawns?

Because in the grand scheme of things, there will always be those who will never allow one voice to rule over the underworld of Yorbian—or the entire Saherta."

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