Kaizen returned to his hotel room, slipping through the city unnoticed thanks to Altan's ability.
The blonde girl was still unconscious, lying quietly on the carpet, her breathing steady. Despite the force of the earlier attack, Kaizen confirmed there were no other injuries.
Meanwhile, chaos had spread across Yorknew City.
A bounty poster circulated widely:
"Reward for members of the Guogang Bandit Group."
"Three billion Jenny per member."
Kaizen sat at the desk, scanning the list on his laptop.
The names stood out: Brad, Hughes, Sally.
He glanced back at the blonde girl on the carpet.
"If I'm right, she's Sally. Probably a long-range sniper."
Kaizen hadn't planned to get involved. But when the lizard intercepted him, forcing his hand, he'd acted instinctively. Taking the girl with him afterward wasn't part of the plan—at least, not entirely.
For one, she had seen his ability. But beyond that, he sensed her long-range attack skills could prove useful.
As Kaizen pondered, there was a soft rustling.
The girl stirred, blinking awake. Her gaze darted around the room, confused and unfocused.
"You're awake?" Kaizen asked.
The girl turned toward him. Her eyes widened, and she spoke haltingly:
"Father?"
Kaizen froze, stunned.
"Father?!"
That was the last thing he'd expected to hear. He was only ten years old! And this girl was clearly older, probably around Shizuku's age.
Her confusion seemed genuine—this wasn't some kind of ploy. Her injuries had likely caused memory loss and perhaps other mental issues.
Kaizen sighed. "I'm not your father. My name is Kaizen. I'm your... friend. How much do you remember?"
Sally frowned, her brow furrowing as she struggled to recall. But after a moment, she shook her head weakly.
"I don't remember anything," she said softly. "Can you tell me… who I am?"
Kaizen hesitated before answering.
"You're Lisa," he lied. "An orphan. I don't know much about your past. We met near Heavens Arena when you were scavenging through trash. I shared some fried chicken with you."
"We became friends after that. With my help, your life got a bit better. You came with me to Yorknew City for the auction."
The girl's mouth fell open slightly.
"I… I'm so pitiful?"
Kaizen's fabricated story seemed to hit her hard. She stared at him, her eyes welling up with emotion.
"I lost my parents… was all alone… living off garbage?" she murmured, as if imagining the life he'd described.
Kaizen kept his expression neutral, though he felt a pang of guilt for lying.
"It's okay," he said, brushing off her concern. "We're friends, and that's what matters."
"Friends…" Sally repeated softly. Then, with more conviction, "Yeah, we're friends!"
After a pause, she asked, "So, what's our next plan?"
"You're staying here to rest," Kaizen replied firmly. "The auction got chaotic today. Someone attacked, and you were hit in the head by falling debris—that's why you lost your memory. It's not your fault."
"But what about you?" she asked hesitantly.
"I'll handle the auction," Kaizen said with a small smile. "Don't worry about me. I'm strong enough to take care of myself. Once it's over, we'll head back to where we came from."
Sally looked unsure but nodded. "Okay… I'll stay."
The following day, the auction resumed despite the chaos. The Mafia Community continued searching the city for members of the Guogang Bandit Group.
Of the four intruders from the bandits, only Sally had survived. The rest were killed by the Mafia' retaliation.
Fortunately, even Sally's own group didn't know where she was. Kaizen had hidden her well. With Altan's surveillance capabilities, he ensured her safety while keeping her presence a secret.
After a few days, Sally's condition stabilized, but her memory showed no signs of returning. Her behavior convinced Kaizen that her amnesia was genuine—there was no way she could keep up such a charade, especially not under the watchful eye of Altan.
As the auction concluded, Morena, a member of the Heil-Ly Family from the Kakin Empire, prepared to leave.
"Goodbye, Kaizen," she said, waving from a distance. Her reluctance to leave was evident.
"Let's stay in touch," Kaizen called back, waving as she disappeared from view.
Once alone, Kaizen turned his attention to the crystal ball before him. Its surface glimmered faintly, showing his progress.
"Five percent now… just a little more," he muttered.
He smiled faintly. "One more stop in this city, and the Observer's Will will reach one hundred percent. Then, I can create my fourth Nen Beast."
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