Kaizen and Zeno stepped out of the car as their driver parked and lingered a short distance behind them.
Kaizen glanced around. After entering Elder City, the progress of his crystal ball had nudged forward slightly.
anwhile, Zeno was lost in thought.
Back when he was young, Zeno occasionally wondered what life would be like as a regular person, living without the Zoldyck legacy of killers and silent power. But from the start, his path had never offered that choice. When Silva was born, Zeno had likewise denied him the option of a simpler life.
That is, until now.
Observing the ordinary people bustling around, Zeno felt as if he was catching a rare glimpse of a different world—one he’d always kept at arm’s length.
"Life for regular people doesn’t seem so bad," he mused aloud, his gaze shifting to Kaizen.
In that mont, they might as well have been any grandfather and grandson, wandering through the mundane streets of Elder district. The thought made Zeno pause.
The crowd on the street was thickening, and their driver closed the distance. Zeno snapped back to the present.
"But I’m a Zoldyck," he reminded himself softly. "Killing is my destiny. This... this is only a glimpse."
His aura sharpened, returning to its usual focused state. Yet there was sothing else, sothing Zeno hadn’t expected—a faint sense of clarity that felt like a new threshold of his power.
This discovery surprised him.
Only a small percentage of people could wield aura, known as Nen. Publicly, most were associated with the Hunter Association. But, in truth, the number of Nen users went far beyond just Hunters. Warriors on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena were all skilled in Nen, as were many gangs and underground forces worldwide.
In teor City alone, there were nurous Nen practitioners. And that’s without counting organizations like the Kakin Empire or V5. In reality, Nen users were far more widespread than most believed.
The Hunter Association, after all, was rely a body ford by Netero, with so ties to V5 but not under their direct control. So, V5’s trust in the Association had its limits.
Most of the Hunter Association’s upper ranks were mbers drawn by Netero’s charisma and even adjusted their appearance to match his eccentric tastes. Kaizen, however, questioned this narrative. He felt the Association’s image had deeper roots than just one man’s preference.
The variety of Nen abilities created a broad range, categorized from E-grade to S-grade. Most Nen users remained around F or D level. Only a select few with exceptional talent achieved C level, while reaching A level marked the elite.
Zeno and Silva were both Zoldycks—renowned for their talents. Zeno had reached A-grade long ago, though his physical strength waned with age while his spiritual power only grew stronger. Now, in his pri, he was among the most formidable.
Few could rival him at his level. Yet, he was not without a goal he had never reached: the level of his grandfather, Maha Zoldyck. It was a peak Zeno still aspired to.
Suddenly, a young man jogged over, bowing respectfully.
"Gentlen," he announced. "I serve the Ninth Elder. Upon hearing of your arrival, the Elders have prepared a banquet. I’ve co to escort you both."
Zeno looked to Kaizen, who gave a nod.
"Lead the way," Zeno replied.
Three black cars pulled up nearby. One took the lead, Zeno and Kaizen rode in the middle car, while the third followed behind. Their original driver, unsure of his instructions, watched the procession leave before he returned to his car, bemused.
Soon, a grand manor lood before them. The disparity between the inside and outside of Elder district was striking. And within the manor walls, the contrast grew even sharper.
As their car pulled through the gates, a servant opened the door for Zeno and Kaizen with ticulous care, as if greeting nobility.
Zeno remained indifferent, accustod to grandeur but never swayed by it. Zoldyck Manor was leagues above this estate in strength, wealth, and reputation—and notably without the fanfare of these aristocratic displays.
An elderly figure approached, wearing a warm smile.
"Your Excellency, Zeno. And this must be young Kaizen?"
The elder had t Zeno before, but Kaizen was new to him.
"Hello, Elder. I’m Kaizen," he greeted with a polite nod.
"Welco. Please, co inside."
The elder led them personally into the banquet hall. Only three seats were set: for the elder, Zeno, and Kaizen. Nearby, attendants stood with perfectly practiced smiles, waiting for orders.
With a gesture, the elder struck a small bell, summoning staff to begin serving the food.
"We owe you much regarding the Kute Gang of Thieves," the elder began once they were seated.
"If not for your intervention, teor City might’ve been ravaged by their chaos."
"The devastation they caused..." He trailed off, shaking his head. "By our estimates, millions have perished due to their acts. The losses among us elders were severe, as were those among our Nen practitioners."
"The beasts especially," he added bitterly. "Only one remains now. teor City has suffered terribly. Recovery may take decades."
He sighed, then continued, choosing his words carefully.
"Your Excellency Zeno, I have a request... though I hesitate to impose."
Zeno’s expression remained unchanged.
"If you have sothing to say, Elder, speak plainly."
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