Chapter 185 — Unnamed Four

Damian stood up slowly as Yara’s healing energy finished its work, the glow fading from her hands.

Her healing was remarkably strong and fast – injuries that should have taken days to recover from were gone in minutes, bones properly set, tissue regenerated without scarring.

He stood there trembling slightly, the aftermath of the sudden life and death situation still affecting his body despite the repairs.

Vash stepped forward and handed him a cigar without a word, the gesture carrying understanding that no verbal comfort could provide.

Damian took it without hesitation, his hands still shaking slightly as he brought it to his lips and lit it.

Puff

The familiar ritual helped ground him, pulling him back from the edge of complete collapse.

He took several long drags, the smoke burning his lungs, before exhaling slowly.

"...Thank you."

His voice was quiet but sincere, directed at all four of them.

"For the healing and the intervention. And for... Saving my life."

Then he looked at each person carefully, taking note of their features now that immediate danger had passed.

Gregor – the middle-aged man with greying hair and an almost professorial bearing despite the violence he’d just witnessed.

Vash – bulky and bald, his expression showing nothing but calm despite having just executed four A rank awakeners in under a second.

Yara – young, maybe mid-twenties with black hair and eyes, her healing abilities suggesting medical specialization but her presence here indicating combat capability as well.

Castor – thin with calculating eyes with black hair and eyes, standing slightly apart like someone used to observing rather than directly engaging.

The four of them were also studying him with equal curiosity, their expressions mixing interest with something approaching respect.

Damian broke the silence first.

"...Who are you? Really? The ’Unnamed Four’ tells me what others call you, but not who you actually are."

They began walking through the streets as a group, leaving the area where the fight happened, the night wind ruffling their hair and carrying away the smell of blood.

Gregor was the one who opened his mouth to explain, his voice measured and thoughtful.

"’Unnamed Four’ is what we became known as in the Federation’s underworld. A reputation built over years of operations that left no traces and no names attached to our actions."

Yara interrupted with a slight smile.

"I hate that name, personally. It makes us sound like we’re trying too hard to be mysterious. We only got it because we killed many people without leaving identification behind."

Castor continued the explanation, his analytical voice providing context.

"We were normal people previously with careers, families and lives. But circumstances – let’s say we lost everything through various Noble family actions.

We met each other in the aftermath and relied on each other to survive. Eventually, survival evolved into something more active."

Damian kept listening, his mind cataloging information despite the emotional exhaustion.

"Why were you looking for me specifically?"

Castor’s calculating eyes met his.

"We were looking for the one who created this structured organization called Mafia. I have to say, it’s refreshing to see an organization that operates on principles rather than pure profit and protects people instead of exploiting them. That’s... unusual and interesting."

He paused, studying Damian’s reaction.

"But who would have thought that the famous kid who fought Demons and slaughtered Giants in the portal would be the one behind it?

We assumed it was probably a disgusting Noble running some political scheme. Using organized crime as a tool for family advancement."

The others looked at Damian with complex expressions – surprise, respect, and something approaching pity for someone so young carrying such weight.

Damian just shrugged, the gesture tired.

"You all seem to hate Nobles quite intensely. Personal experience?"

Vash’s calm voice carried an edge for the first time.

"Wouldn’t we hate the people directly responsible for making our lives worse?"

Damian wanted to know more, wanted to understand what had driven these clearly powerful individuals to become fugitives.

But he recognized they were strangers who’d just saved his life. Pressing for details would be rude and potentially dangerous.

Instead, he redirected.

"You said you were looking for the Mafia’s leader. Why? What did you need?"

Gregor’s expression became more serious.

"We’re always on the run from the SFD and various Noble families. They manage to track us down every single time despite our best efforts to hide. We needed to find either a place secure enough to hide long-term, or a person powerful enough to help us avoid pursuit."

He looked at Damian with something approaching sympathy.

"But looking at you now, seeing what you’re dealing with... you’re having trouble just surviving the Nobles’ retaliation yourself. So we might have to keep running soon anyway."

"..."

Damian said nothing for several long moments, his mind working through possibilities despite the exhaustion.

Then he spoke directly to the air.

"Gia. Are you there?"

"!!!"

The Unnamed Four went completely still with shock, their expressions showing genuine surprise for the first time.

’How does this sixteen-year-old kid have contact with the neutral entity that controls the Federation’s entire information infrastructure?’

Gia’s mature voice emerged from Damian’s communication device.

"What is it?"

Her tone carried mild curiosity rather than annoyance.

"I need to make another deal with you. I’ll send the payment later when I’m free. You know what I’ll provide."

A pause as Gia processed the request.

"What do you want now?"

Damian was silent for some time as he looked towards the shining moon, before speaking in a calm voice.

"From now on, all information related to the Mafia and every single member – including their families – will be hidden by you. No one should be able to access their identities, locations, or connections to the organization."

"That’s impossible. You’re asking for too much. The scope would require–"

"I know it’s asking a lot."

Damian interrupted calmly.

Then he turned to look at Gregor.

"What’s the highest rank among your enemies? The ones hunting you?"

Gregor, still looking shocked by the Gia conversation, answered automatically.

"S rank. Multiple families have S rank awakeners pursuing us."

Damian sighed with something approaching relief, then continued addressing Gia.

"So I’ll include limiting clauses to make this feasible. First: you can classify the information at SS rank security level rather than completely erasing it. That keeps it accessible to the absolute highest authorities if necessary."

"Continue."

"Second: if any Mafia member or their family breaks Federation laws or does something that genuinely threatens human society, you can inform me directly.

And if I don’t handle the situation appropriately within a reasonable timeframe, you can handle it through your own methods."

"And third?"

"Third: I know you’re supposed to remain neutral. So you don’t have to tell us who’s trying to access our information or who’s hunting us. That would compromise your position. Just... keep the information hidden. That’s all I’m asking."

Silence on the other end as Gia processed the proposal.

"You’re already having trouble surviving one Noble family’s retaliation. Becoming more involved, hiding more people, will only escalate the conflict.

Trust me – I’ve seen what happened to everyone who opposed the established power structure over the last two centuries. None of them survived."

Gregor and the others wore complicated smiles, their expressions mixing gratitude with concern.

"Kid, I know what you’re thinking, but there’s no need for this. We can survive on our own. We’ve managed this long."