Inside of a large room sat two people.

They made an odd pair, mismatched as they were. On one side of a large table sat a large adult man clad in a dark suit of obvious quality. Despite it's tailoring and exceptional make, it ill-suited him. He was a man clearly accustomed to hard labor, not desk work.

He had strong, almost rugged features. Even though he remained seated, his aura seemed to take up the room. There was a sharpness to his eyes that suggested that even though he was currently smiling, he would be a dangerous man to cross.

The other person in the room was much younger, at most in her late teens. She dressed elegantly for her age, a black turtleneck and skirt. And despite being the intense gaze of the man in front of her, sipped her coffee calmly.

"I'm honored to meet with a man as illustrious as the Young Lion of the Vongola." Her words were said with a slight smile, and it was difficult to determine if she was mocking or sincere.

The man didn't seem upset. Instead he laughed. "Haha, it's not everyday I get to meet with someone so promising either." With his rough features, he seemed more a street thug in a suit than a man of any status.

"I'm flattered you think so highly of me. It's not everyday one gets to be praised by such a dangerous man." She met his gaze head on. "Still, for the external advisor of the Vongola and the head of CEDEF to meet with me is beyond my expectations. I know I haven't made such waves."

"My, you're quite sharp on the uptake, aren't you?" He laughed again.

"One doesn't live long as an information broker if they're not."

"True, very true." He leaned forward slightly. "You've made quite a name for yourself in four years. I'm rather impressed. Not just anyone can manage rising to such a level, and at such a young age either."

She sipped her tea leisurely, neither disagreeing nor agreeing with his words.

"Which is why I've come with a proposal. A recruitment pitch, if you will."

"A proposal from the Outside Advisor himself?" One eyebrow quirked.

"Yes, it's a rather nice offer, but a sensitive one, you see." He gestured with his arms around the room. One saturated with Mist flames and covered in transmission blockers. She knew there was likely more layers she was unaware of, for it was unlikely they would allow the head of the CEDEF himself, one of the most powerful figures in the mafia, to meet with her if there weren't.

"I refuse."

He blinked, then he grinned. "You're just going to turn it down? Without even hearing the offer?"

"I have no desire to join the CEDEF. Or any other organization." Viper had made it as an independent contractor. She would as well.

Lesser men would have been angered at such a blatant rejection. His smile hadn't so much as wavered. "Ah, but I'm not asking you to join CEDEF."

Surprise flickered through her eyes. "Then what?"

He grinned again, looking for all the world like a beaming middle aged man. "I'm offering you the position of Vongola Lightning Guardian."

Her jaw dropped. To have the Young Lion himself approach her had been nothing short of a miracle. For him to personally offer a chance to join CEDEF was a rare and valued opportunity that any mafiosco would gladly give a limb for.

This was an even more outrageous suggestion. In the entire Underworld, there was no one who did not know the hierarchy within it. It was a hierarchy of strength, of influence, of connections. And Vongola stood at the pinnacle. There was no family who had ever rivaled it, and none that had ever toppled its black throne.

It was a position that promised power. Her name had some influence now, known among several of the mid-range famiglias, but to be Vongola was another level altogether. No, not another level, another world. The difference between heaven and earth itself.

But there was more to this. The information broker in her picked at all the words he hadn't said. It was well known that Nono's three sons had died, and the fourth had been removed from the line of succession. For the external advisor to offer this position meant a new heir had been chosen. Vongola tradition demanded six guardians, the closest subordinates of the boss.

A new heir without guardians. An heir that needed CEDEF to help him find them. Was he merely young, or incompetent? Did he even have other guardians?

Regardless, this was Vongola making it's move. It would make waves around the entire world. It was ridiculous that such a position would be offered to someone from such a small famiglia as her.

There was the other side as well. They'd revealed their hand by offering her the role of Lightning Guardian. She had thought herself careful, but it was another demonstration of Vongola's impressive intelligence gathering that they had even known she was flame active, let alone a lightning attribute. It made her wonder what else they knew about her.

"So what do you say?"

"I refuse."

"Eh? Not even a hint of interest?" He pouted. It was a disturbing sight on such a man.

"I have no intention of being tied to anyone."

"Well, that's unfortunate." He sighed, leaning his head back against his chair.

"But I would like to know why you asked me. Surely there would have been more qualified people among the higher echelons."

He gave her a mysterious smile. "Don't underestimate yourself, kid. You'd make a valuable asset in any Family." He steepled his hands across the table. "As for the reason why I chose you, I suppose you could say, I think you'd be a good fit for the Decimo."

She raised an eyebrow, but chose to keep quiet. It was above her pay grade and likely above her skill level to inquire deep into whatever they were scheming, even if it was about her.

"But I have to say, it would have been a great opportunity. Being trained by Reborn of all people." He mused to himself.

Her eyes widened. "Reborn? The Arcobaleno Reborn?" The hitman most trusted by the ninth. The greatest hitman in the world.

He grinned back at her, his grin suddenly far more sharp. "Didn't I mention that? The Decimo is getting trained by Reborn. Figures you would be trained by him, too."

Iemitsu knew he had her when she paused, clearly torn between keeping her independence and the tutelage of one of the greatest of their time. If not all time.

"On one condition." She stated. "I agree to be interim guardian. When Decimo has found a better candidate, I will leave."

"Agreed," He said instantly.

After she had left, Iemitsu turned to the other door. "You can come out now, Basil."

A young man emerged from behind the door. He had kind eyes and a lean figure. He approached him without caution, obviously familiar with a man the majority of the underworld feared.

"Master."

"Ask your questions, I knowing you're curious." Iemitsu rested his head on his fist, eyes on his young protege.

"Why her?" There was no malice in his words, only curiosity. If they'd desired a powerful lightning, they could have asked an allied family, or someone higher up in their own famiglia. Why an information broker from a no name Family? Even with her background, she was hardly the best candidate for such a position.

"Let's just say I had a feeling she would be a good fit." He gazed off into space, staring at something only he could see. Now that the girl was gone, so was the idiot persona he'd adopted to put her at ease.

"But is it alright for her to leave?"

"It'll be up to Tsuna to convince her to stay."