"Doesn't that make much of a difference?" Irie asked with a dry smile, his voice cracking with obvious terror at the sight of the weapon. Not surprising, Shamal supposed, since they were the type of people to work in front of monitors and screens. "You'll probably kill us in the end anyway."
The smile Shamal gave them looked more like a grimace as he tightened his grip on the gun. The information was classified but he had felt as if they deserved to know first, or maybe that was just him sugar coating his intentions of taking advantage of their confusion. Of course, telling them doesn't change the fact that only a number of people were supposed to know of it.
"I thought so," Irie softly said with a bitter smile.
"Then, who exactly are you? What do you want with him?" Spanner's expression was tightly drawn as he spoke. If he was willing to disclose such information, then he might as well tell them everything.
"I was hired by a man who has taken an interest in his… abilities. I'm pretty sure you've come across his name once or twice during the times when you breached the security of - supposedly - inaccessible sites."
Irie's eyebrows furrowed.
Shamal leaned back slightly, his other arm supporting his weight behind his back, his palm pressed flat against the bed. The gun remained pointed at them. "Byakuran of Gesso Famiglia."
They both knew that name very well; as curious and daring as they were in terms of information gathering through the web, they have learned to determine which people not to cross through observation and more information that they've gathered from anonymous sources. Gesso, Giglio Nero, the Arcobaleno, and the Vongola were some of the untouchable territories. Irie and Spanner were admittedly skilled but they weren't the best.
However, what set Gesso apart from the rest was the fact that this Famiglia has foreseen their approach and has proceeded to discreetly warn them of not bothering to involve themselves with their business.
"So he plans to exploit him?" Spanner asked bluntly with a hint of what could have been disapproval in his tone and expression. He couldn't be bothered to point out how surprisingly predictable it was but this was the Gesso Famiglia- they were clearly of a different league. Who knew what they had up their sleeves for them to do something so reckless. "Does he plan to get on the wrong side of the most influential Famiglia by technically kidnapping their heir?"
"I believe the question here is if the Vongola still plans to keep him as their heir. Given his history, it's not likely, is it?" Shamal returned nonchalantly.
"But who else is there but Xanxus for the position?" Irie questioned incredulously, eyes wide.
Shamal snorted. "Vongola's future is bleak. It's either a criminal who has once been imprisoned in Vendicare for killing his own men or the Ninth's son who staged a coup d'etat to overthrow him. Ironic, don't you think?"
"So the weakness of the strongest is itself. That's one way to go after centuries of domination."
"Self-destruction." Irie grimaced.
"Well, enough with the small talk. Have you made your decision?" Shamal asked, eyes narrowing into a glare as he readjusted his grip on his weapon. "Or would you prefer it if I make the decision myself?"
To his surprise, Spanner smirked faintly.
"There is no need for that, Shamal-sensei."
Irie mirrored his look and Shamal finally came to realize that something was very, very wrong. He glanced at their hands, just in time to see something drop on the floor with a loud crack.
"You've bought us enough time to let us make our own decision."
Shamal was forced to raise his arms to protect his face at the sudden emergence of pink smoke that rapidly filled the room and clouded his senses as not even the shift of wind could help him determine their location. He coughed and his eyes watered; with this thing, even his mosquitos aren't of any use.
"Those damned kids…"
He stumbled as he felt dizziness creep into his head. A poisoned gas? He frantically asked himself with wide eyes as he held his head, waving at the smoke blindly for a moment before the damned thing finally subsided.
Unfortunately, so much time has passed while he waited, standing in the middle of unfamiliar territory.
It wasn't just Irie and Spanner; even Sawada Tsunayoshi's body was gone.