Chapter 101: Chapter 101: The Resentful Gaze from the Shadows!
"Then I'll just be direct—don't hold it against me."
The elder paused, then continued,
"I know the Zoldyck family is known for their skill in assassination, taking contracts from the outside world. But they're not just killers—they're also masters at nurturing talent."
"The Zoldyck family's servants is quite impressive."
"Therefore, Zeno, I'd like to request the Zoldyck family's assistance in training my subordinates."
"As for compensation, I assure you, I'm sincere."
The elder's gaze burned as he looked at Zeno.
Meteor City had suffered massive losses recently, a disruption that had forced a reshuffling among its twelve elders. Some had been hit harder than others, but at the Nen level, the entire city felt the blow. Of the once-numerous Wild Beast, only two remained—and even they seemed disillusioned, vanishing from the city without speaking to the elders after the Kute Gang of Thieves incident.
With its defenses weakened, Meteor City was vulnerable. External threats, like the world's criminal organizations, had always eyed Meteor City hungrily, but the city's formidable reputation had kept them at bay. Now, after the Kute Gang's attack, that strength had waned. Would the criminal underworld finally reach out toward Meteor City?
And it wasn't just criminals, other powers could pose a threat too. So the elders had resolved to merge the Elder district, consolidating power to avoid further fragmentation. Meteor City would now search for and develop new talent, replenishing lost strength to withstand external pressures.
Regular enforcers could be trained easily enough, Meteor City had plenty of promising candidates. But skilled Nen users were in short supply. That was why the elders had turned their eyes to Zeno.
"This type of commission isn't within our business interests, Zoldyck."
Zeno declined without hesitation. It simply didn't align with the Zoldyck family's goals. Training personnel for Meteor City, no matter the pay, couldn't rival the rewards of assassination contracts. And besides, forming attachments to these trainees would go against the family's values.
"Forgive my boldness," the elder said, disappointment flashing across his face. He knew full well that, given Meteor City's current state, they couldn't pressure the Zoldycks into anything.
"In the near future, we'll be holding a recruitment drive across Meteor City. Would you be interested in observing, Lord Zeno? There may be some exceptional talent."
"Meteor City has a wealth of gifted individuals, there may be Nen users who haven't yet aligned with the Elder Cities."
Zeno hesitated, then nodded. "Very well."
After dinner, they walked to Kaizen's quarters on the second floor. Each had a separate room, side by side.
Kaizen, too, was intrigued by the elder's idea of a recruitment drive. It reminded him of something from another world—like the conscription drive the Navy held in One Piece, rallying forces to counter the pirates. That effort didn't just recruit soldiersб it attracted two formidable admirals.
Kaizen's time at Heavens Arena had taught him that witnessing such events could also accelerate his own mastery of Nen, bringing him closer to summoning his third Nen Beast.
Upon entering his room, Kaizen quickly scanned it with heightened focus, ensuring there were no threats. Once he was satisfied, he pondered his next steps.
"Killer Queen!"
The Killer Queen materialized before him. Kaizen retrieved the giant cockroach bone from the Killer Queen's inner storage, cleansing it with his aura. He noticed that repeated aura cleansing had begun to transform the bone, smoothing its texture and embedding the eggs deeper within it. A faint, luminous sheen now covered it, emitting a soft glow.
"I wonder how long it'll take to complete this Nen tool."
In the original story, Nen tools weren't often mentioned, so Kaizen hadn't thought much of them. Most Nen users he knew of relied solely on their innate abilities. Hisoka, for instance, used his Bungee Gum without any external tool. Zeno and Silva were also unarmed. Gon's fishing rod and Killua's yo-yos were simple items, not actual Nen tools, and by the time they became proficient fighters, they barely needed them.
But Zeno had stressed the importance of Nen tools to Kaizen. Otherwise, why would the Kute Gang of Thieves have invested so much to obtain them? Why would Zeno regard them so highly?
Kaizen looked down at the bone in his hands.
"This bone... it has a powerful aura," he thought. "If completed, this Nen tool could be a potent weapon. It'd be like having an additional ability."
For a Nen user, two things mattered most: a solid foundation and a unique ability. While foundational skills required talent and rigorous training, abilities allowed room for creativity. Nen tools were one such shortcut.
Suddenly, Kaizen sensed a peculiar gaze fixed on him. The look was initially curious but quickly turned to resentment—strong resentment.
He looked over to see a small figure lurking in the manor's corner. When Kaizen's eyes met his, the figure darted away, but not before Kaizen recognized him—a young boy.
"Peter?"
"Why is he looking at me with such resentment?"
"Is it because of Parker?"
"Does he blame me and Grandpa Zeno for not protecting Parker?"
Kaizen frowned.
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