After completing the registration, Conrad deliberately chose to delay his first match by one full week.
He knew himself well enough to understand that rushing into Floor 200 battles without preparation would be foolish.
He was not so protagonist in a series where everything would go right because of Deus Ex Machina.
At least he did not think he was.
The fighters here were no longer amateurs.
Every opponent would be a Nen user with at least one refined ability, most likely not the best ability, and could not compare to experienced Nen users and known nas, but still, many would be veterans who had experienced Nen battles.
With that settled, Conrad returned to his assigned room on Floor 200.
The difference from the lower floors was imdiately apparent.
The room was spacious, clean, and soundproofed.
On a glass table rested neatly arranged sweets, chocolates, and preserved fruits and luxuries ant to remind fighters that they had "arrived."
Conrad closed the door behind him and let out a slow breath.
"…Not bad."
He placed his bag down, removed his coat, sat in the chair by the desk, and opened his laptop.
The screen lit up, and Conrad navigated to one of the largest and most trusted real estate platforms in the world, an international marketplace dealing in comrcial properties, apartnt blocks, shops, warehouses, and hotels.
He leaned back slightly as listings began to populate the screen.
"Let's see…"
Small hotels in secondary cities.
Comrcial buildings near transit hubs.
Rows of rentable shops in developing districts.
Apartnt complexes designed for long-term leasing.
Prices varied wildly, but Conrad's eyes narrowed when he filtered the listings.
Budget cap: 100,000,000, Jenny.
Roughly equivalent to one million dollars.
As he scrolled, Conrad's thoughts drifted.
"At this point, money won't be a problem," he acknowledged.
"But relying on active inco alone is stupid."
He had already seen how unpredictable the world could be.
He did not want to go and actively hunt every ti he needed pocket change.
Small or big, he wanted so passive inco so that he could move freely.
"I don't want to live chained to money," Conrad muttered.
"I want money to work while I live."
He bookmarked several properties.
A small three-story hotel near a coastal city with a steady tourist flow, low maintenance, and modest but reliable returns.
A row of shops in a developing trade district currently cheap but projected to increase in value within five years.
A mid-sized apartnt building near a university ant consistent occupancy, predictable rent, and minimal volatility.
He ran calculations in his head.
Even conservatively, the numbers were appealing.
"If I invest one hundred million now," he thought, "I could easily generate five to eight million annually without lifting a finger."
That alone would cover living expenses, training, equipnt, and travel indefinitely.
And he still had nearly four hundred million jenny untouched.
Conrad closed his eyes briefly and leaned back in the chair.
In the Hunter world, people chased strength to survive.
He reopened his eyes and continued browsing.
"I don't need an empire," he decided. "Just enough roots to anchor myself."
He marked properties in different regions, not clustered, not obvious.
If sothing went wrong in one city, the others would remain untouched.
After nearly two hours of quiet analysis, Conrad finalized a shortlist.
He hasn't purchased anything yet.
"Tomorrow," he said softly. "I'll consult a broker."
He closed the laptop and stood up, stretching slightly.
The room felt different now, not just a temporary resting place, but a command center. A base.
He poured himself a small glass of liquor, sniffed it, and set it aside untouched.
Walking to the window, Conrad looked out at the vast cityscape below.
And soon
Soone would stand across from him in the arena.
"This week," Conrad thought calmly, "I prepare my mind, my finances, and my strategy."
The week passed faster than Conrad expected.
Routine had a way of compressing ti.
Wake up, light physical training, Nen control, ntal drills, review notes, rest.
Repeat.
That morning, Conrad took a long shower.
Hot water ran over his shoulders as he stood still, eyes closed, breathing slowly and evenly.
He let his mind empty, not forcing thoughts away, simply letting them pass.
When he stepped out, he dried himself calmly, dressed in simple clothes suited for combat, and slipped the black ring onto his pinky finger.
He sat on the edge of the bed and turned on the screen mounted on the wall.
Opponent Information Displayed
Na: Adarte Nexi
Age: 26
Record: 4 wins – 2 losses
Weapon: tal Bat, Black Leather Clothes
Conrad stared at the screen for a few seconds, then nodded.
"Adarte Nexi…"
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