"Kaizen?"
Gon’s eyes widened a little.
Killua’s expression grew more complicated.
Before learning about his relationship with Kaizen, Killua had always seen him as just another contender.
But after finding out they were related, sothing inside him shifted. For so reason, he didn’t want to compare himself to Kaizen anymore.
"Killua, how long are you planning to stay in Heavens Arena this ti?" Gon asked. "Do you have any plans?"
"We’re going to fight our way up."
Killua replied, "Last ti, I got a pass to the 200th floor but didn’t go. This ti, I want to see it for myself."
" too," Gon added.
Sadaso’s expression turned serious.
"Above the 200th floor, huh? If you’re really planning to fight up there, there’s sothing important I need to tell you first."
He paused, his tone heavier.
"Everything below the 200th floor and everything above it... they’re two completely different worlds."
Sadaso continued, "I rember when I first made it to the 200th floor—I trained for months just to prepare for my debut match."
"But I still got wrecked."
"A total defeat."
"I was badly injured."
"It was then that I realized... there’s another world out there."
"One is the world of ordinary people."
"The other is the world of Nen users."
"In that fight, I was almost destroyed—but my Aura Nodes opened, and I awakened my cold-based ability."
"That’s the only reason I’ve been able to hang around on the 200th floor."
"If you don’t know Nen, there’s no chance you can stand against anyone who does."
He looked between the two boys.
"Neither of you has learned Nen yet, right?"
Killua nodded. "Yeah. Neither of us has awakened Nen."
"Not yet? So you do know about it?"
"Yeah, we do," Killua said after a pause. Then he added quietly, "Actually... Kaizen is my cousin."
Sadaso’s pupils contracted sharply.
"Kaizen... is your cousin?"
"Yeah. I just found out recently myself. Until now, I didn’t even know we were related. But this ti, we ca to Heavens Arena together."
Sadaso took a mont to process that.
So that’s how it was...
He figured they must be distant relatives—maybe they’d t at a family gathering or sothing. That kind of thing wasn’t too unusual for large families.
Sadaso let out a long breath.
—No wonder Killua’s potential is so insane. Turns out he’s Kaizen’s cousin.
—Must be the bloodline. So people are just born different.
"I was just about to say—if you wanted, I could help open your Aura Nodes and teach you the basics of Nen before you step into battle on the 200th floor."
"But now, I guess that’s not necessary."
"Kaizen’s strength far surpasses mine. If he’s the one teaching you, you’ll learn way more from him than you would from ."
But Kaizen wasn’t the one teaching them.
Gon and Killua were still waiting for the Nen instructor personally assigned by the Hunter Association.
Killua didn’t feel the need to bring that up, though.
"Thanks, Sadaso."
"Don’t ntion it."
Sadaso waved it off.
"I’m not much help anyway. Since Kaizen’s with you, he probably knows more about what’s going on above the 200th floor than I ever will."
He hesitated, then smiled.
"It’s not every day an old acquaintance cos back to Heavens Arena. Got ti tonight? I’ll treat you to dinner. Call it a host’s duty."
Sadaso had been living in Heavens Arena for nearly eight years now.
Eight long years.
In that ti, he’d seen countless faces co and go.
But even so, he couldn’t think of a single person he’d call a real friend.
So when Killua returned, it made Sadaso unexpectedly happy.
Humans are nostalgic creatures.
Back then, watching Killua rise had inspired Sadaso to keep going. It had been a formative experience for him. And now, seeing Killua again... it stirred sothing inside.
On top of that, after learning Killua was related to Kaizen, Sadaso couldn’t help thinking—
—not in a scheming way, but maybe staying close to Killua could open new doors.
A connection to Kaizen could only be a good thing.
"Don’t be so formal, Sadaso."
"No, no, don’t say that."
Sadaso grinned. "I’ve been here long enough to treat myself now and then. A al’s nothing. Once you win a few matches, you’ll get a nice bonus anyway."
"...Just buy dinner then, how’s that?"
Killua couldn’t refuse anymore. "Alright, thanks."
...
Elsewhere—
A young boy in monk-like robes frantically pulled out his phone.
"Wing-sensei! Wing-sensei!"
"What is it?"
"I saw the two people in the photo you showed !"
"Really? Where?"
"They went into a coffee shop on the 50th floor. A 200th-floor competitor brought them there," Zushi said quickly.
Wing’s eyes narrowed.
"A competitor from the 200th floor?"
Worry surged through him.
Netero had personally entrusted him with the task of guiding Killua and Gon on the path of Nen.
If soone else triggered their Aura Nodes before he did—no matter how skilled he was—it would throw off their developnt. They might take unnecessary detours... or worse, end up with serious problems in their foundation.
That would be unacceptable.
He’d never be able to explain that to Chairman Netero.
Wing imdiately pulled out his phone.
Ring ring!
Gon’s phone rang.
"Hello?"
"Is this Gon?"
"Yeah, who’s this?"
"I’m Wing—the Nen instructor assigned to you and Killua by the Hunter Association. I’m already here in Heavens Arena. Where are you right now?"
"We’re at a coffee shop on the 50th floor."
"What’s the na?"
Gon gave the na.
Wing nodded.
"Alright, I’ll be there right away."
He ended the call and rushed toward Heavens Arena.
...
At the entrance of the coffee shop, Zushi stood watch.
"Who was that, Gon?"
"So teacher arranged by the Hunter Association. He said he’s coming to et us."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon/FanficsHub (1047 Chapters in total)
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