"Kaizen brought back a new team member named Sally..."
Nina explained the situation to Shizuku, who pulled out her notebook and scribbled it down.
For Shizuku, the notebook was everything—her memory. However, she couldn't differentiate between reality and what Kaizen occasionally fabricated. A few days later, she might mistake his inventions for actual events, trusting the notebook as if it were gospel truth.
"Shall we go down to meet the Captain and the others?" Shizuku asked.
"Yes, let's go."
Nina, remembering her last reluctance to leave the Heavens Arena, nodded decisively this time. Carlisle's actions had kept her upstairs before, but Carlisle was no longer an issue.
Initially, Nina thought she'd have to defeat Carlisle herself once she was strong enough. She had vowed to sever all ties with him after that confrontation. Yet, his death came unexpectedly fast.
Although she had disowned him, a small, buried part of her didn't wish for Carlisle to die. However, she knew Kaizen wasn't at fault. Carlisle had brought trouble on himself, and Kaizen's strength had prevented worse outcomes. If Kaizen hadn't been as capable as he was, who knew what Carlisle might have done?
Still, it pained her.
"Why do I have such a terrible father?" she muttered bitterly.
"Thankfully, I'm not like him, or my life would've been monstrous."
Memories of her time as a synthetic beast flashed through Nina's mind—a painful, unshakable torment.
The two stepped into the elevator and descended to the lobby of the Heavens Arena.
Not long after, a car pulled up to the entrance. Kaizen and Sally exited, and Nina waved enthusiastically. Shizuku mirrored her gesture, waving with an awkwardly wide smile.
"Captain! Sally!"
Kaizen saw them and nodded in acknowledgment. Sally, feeling the warmth of their welcome, grew more convinced that Nina and Shizuku were indeed her friends and that she could trust Kaizen even more.
"Let's head upstairs," Kaizen said. "I brought you all a little something from Yorknew City."
The city surrounding the Heavens Arena was modern and bustling, but Yorknew had its own charm, being a hub for both legitimate commerce and underground dealings. Controlled by powerful gangs, it offered goods of all kinds—legal and otherwise—far beyond what most cities could.
Kaizen had purchased more than just items for the auction. He'd explored Yorknew's flea markets and brought back several curiosities.
As they rode the elevator, a familiar figure entered—Sadaso, accompanied by another man.
The newcomer was a young man in a bright red suit, smiling confidently. Kaizen's eyes narrowed.
"Could this guy be Gido?" Kaizen wondered.
Gido, like Sadaso, was a rookie killer in the Heavens Arena. In the original events of the Arena, Gido had underestimated Gon, believing his own abilities made him untouchable. However, Gon's raw talent had shattered Gido's arrogance. During that fateful battle, Gon had even grasped Ten.
In contrast to the sinister aura Gido had in those days, this version seemed cheerful and sunny. Perhaps the initiation trials in the Arena had profoundly altered his personality.
"Or maybe it's just someone who likes red," Kaizen mused, looking away.
By the time the elevator reached the 100th floor, Sadaso and the man in red had exited. Kaizen's group continued upward to the 200th floor.
When the doors opened, a white bear greeted them enthusiastically, wagging its tail and circling Kaizen.
The Polar Bear, a guardian of sorts, had missed Kaizen, who hadn't been back for a while. It showed far less interest in Sally, even appearing wary of her.
Nina gestured to the bear, silently giving it a command. At once, the bear approached Sally. Though initially stiff, Sally soon relaxed, reaching out to pet the bear's head.
Inside their luxury suite, Kaizen pointed to Nina and Shizuku.
"This is Nina, and this is Shizuku," he said, introducing them to Sally. "This suite is ours. You'll be staying here. Does anything seem familiar to you?"
Sally scanned the room, trying hard to recall something, anything, from her past. But her mind remained blank.
"Sorry," she said, shaking her head.
"It's fine," Kaizen assured her. "Even if you don't remember, you have us now. We'll start fresh."
Kaizen opened his suitcase. "Nina, Shizuku, I brought these for you."
He handed them handcrafted trinkets and snacks from Yorknew City.
"Thank you, Captain!"
"Thank you!"
Kaizen smiled and then turned to Sally. "Here's something for you too, Sally. Let's figure things out together."
"Thank you," Sally replied with a faint smile.
Afterward, Kaizen pulled Nina aside. Together, they began preparing the room for Sally.
"If Sally's supposed to have lived here before, we'll need to make it convincing," Kaizen explained. "She'll need clothes, toiletries—anything that makes it seem like she's always been here."
Nina nodded. "Understood."
The room already had new items, but it also needed second-hand ones for authenticity. Everything had to seem natural.
As they worked, Kaizen's phone rang.
He answered, recognizing the familiar voice on the other end.
"Grandpa Zeno," Kaizen greeted.
"Kaizen, your great-grandfather has finished his retreat. Return to the Zoldyck Manor as soon as possible," Zeno instructed.
"Understood. I'll leave tomorrow," Kaizen replied.
Hanging up, he glanced at Nina and Shizuku. "I'll finish my matches tomorrow and then head back home. Take care of things here while I'm gone."
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