Aboard the airship, Kaizen reflected on the spoils of his latest adventure.
"First, I managed to acquire one of the Seven Treasures of the World: a Crystal Feather Bone."
He turned the shimmering relic over in his hands. For now, it sat idle.
"I still haven't decided what weapon I should craft with it," he mused aloud.
"Second, through meeting Melina, I've established a connection with the Kakin Empire. Having ties to the Empire will make it much easier to navigate situations involving them in the future."
Kaizen glanced sideways at Sally, seated nearby.
She had fully embraced the narrative he had crafted for her—viewing Kaizen not only as a friend but also as her savior. Of course, Kaizen had taken measures to ensure her anonymity in case her appearance drew the attention of the underworld.
He started with the basics: altering her wardrobe, equipping her with special contact lenses, and cutting her hair short. But the most effective disguise came from the face-changing technique he had picked up at the Zoldyck estate.
Now, even those closest to Sally in the past wouldn't recognize her. Strangers stood no chance. With her memory wiped clean, there was little risk of her accidentally revealing anything.
Two days later, the airship touched down. Kaizen had arrived at his next destination.
With his Nen beast's progress at 90%, there was little left for him to do but wait.
...
Heavens Arena
Life in the Heavens Arena had settled into a rhythm for Nina. Her days were now split between competition and training.
Although she refrained from using Nen in her matches, Nina's skill still impressed many, and her steady climb through the floors earned her a reputation as one of the arena's most promising young talents.
Dojo owners often approached her, eager to have her join their schools or even become a disciple. But Nina dismissed them all. The only person she trusted was Kaizen.
In contrast, Shizuku's days were far less structured. Without clear goals, she drifted between eating, resting, and idling. Thanks to her upbringing in Meteor City, Shizuku found satisfaction in the simple pleasures of life.
...
Zoldyck Estate
In the depths of the Zoldyck estate, the hum of computer fans filled the air as Milluki furiously scratched his head.
The Zoldyck family prided themselves on their high mission success rate, but this particular assignment had been unusually troublesome.
The Mafia Community had commissioned the assassination of Dandins, a mid-tier operative within their ranks. By all accounts, he should've been an easy target. Yet despite his relative lack of status, tracking him down had proven impossible.
Milluki had exhausted every resource, even spending a small fortune, but Dandins seemed to have vanished into thin air.
"If Kaizen shows up to demand results, I'll look like an idiot," Milluki muttered, slamming a handful of potato chips into his mouth.
Kaizen strolled through the bustling streets like a casual tourist, pausing now and then to browse shops. He bought only what caught his interest, mostly sampling local delicacies.
While he had no intention of becoming a Gourmet Hunter, Kaizen appreciated the opportunity to explore regional cuisines.
Trailing behind, Sally clung tightly to Kaizen's side, unwilling to lose sight of him.
"Kaizen, when are we going home?" she asked, her voice tinged with impatience.
"In a few days," Kaizen replied, glancing at the crystal orb in his hand. The progress indicator had climbed to 95%. Just a little longer.
Mafia Community' Meeting
In a darkened conference room, a middle-aged man stood before ten screens, each displaying the face of a high-ranking member of the Mafia Community.
"The attack in Yorknew City has been thoroughly investigated," the man reported. "The assailants were operatives from the Kokang Republic. Of the four attackers, three have been captured, while the last remains at large. No further details are available at this time.
"Retaliation against the Kokang Republic has begun. So far, 2,120 experimental subjects have been neutralized. Two hundred thirty-three are in custody, and just over a hundred remain unaccounted for."
The ten voices on the screens erupted in unison.
"Useless!"
The man clenched his fists, biting back a retort. He knew the losses caused by the Kokang Republic's actions had been severe, but no one could have entirely prevented such chaos.
Six days later, as Kaizen wandered the streets once more, he came to an abrupt halt. Sally stopped in her tracks, puzzled.
"Kaizen? Is something wrong?"
He shook his head with a smile.
"Nothing," he replied, though inwardly, he exhaled a deep sigh of relief.
"Finally, it's done."
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