Shalnark's sharp eyes were drawn to Kaizen.
It wasn't Kaizen's glance that caught Shalnark's attention—it was the unmistakable presence of aura radiating from him.
"Aura?"
Shalnark studied Kaizen carefully, his expression a mixture of curiosity and intrigue.
"At his age, he already wields such control over Nen? Just like the boss—another genius," Shalnark thought, memories of his own past flooding back.
He recalled the turbulent days of his youth after Sarasa's tragic death. That event had marked a turning point for the group, leading to their fateful encounter with the examiner who would guide them. A few years later, Chrollo made the decision to establish the Phantom Troupe—a decision unanimously embraced.
It was under the examiner's guidance that they began learning Nen. But not everyone progressed at the same pace.
Some grasped the fundamentals quickly, while others struggled.
Chrollo had been the most talented, followed closely by Feitan and Machi.
Then came Uvogin, Phinks, Franklin, and Nobunaga. Shalnark himself, along with Pakunoda, lagged behind in comparison.
Over time, their Nen abilities aligned with these early disparities in talent.
Chrollo and Feitan eventually surpassed Uvogin, who had initially been the strongest among them before learning Nen. Phinks, too, outstripped Nobunaga.
Machi's situation, however, was unique.
Shalnark had originally believed her to be the most gifted. She was the only one who could see the examiner's aura without prior training.
And yet, Machi didn't become the strongest among them. Her abilities placed her somewhere in the middle of the Troupe.
"It might be that Machi's potential hasn't been fully realized," Shalnark mused.
Then there was Sarasa.
"If Sarasa had survived and joined us in learning Nen, her potential would've been incredible—stronger than mine, at least."
Shalnark's thoughts turned to the patterns he'd observed over the years. Those with pronounced personal characteristics before learning Nen often had exceptional talent. Sarasa and Chrollo were prime examples, albeit in different ways.
He also remembered Sheila—Sarasa's closest friend. Unlike the others, Sheila chose not to join the Troupe. Instead, she set out to find justice for Sarasa in her own way, following a path that diverged from theirs.
Shalnark's attention returned to Kaizen, his mind swirling with possibilities.
"Should we invite him to join the Troupe?"
Given the Troupe's future, he knew their numbers would inevitably dwindle over time.
"If we want to keep the Troupe strong, we'll need to bring in new members. And someone like him—his talent is comparable to the boss's. If he joins, our overall strength would soar."
Shalnark's analytical mind weighed the pros and cons.
Greed, who had encountered Kaizen before, had dismissed him as merely an E-rank Nen user, unlikely to reach D-rank. For Greed, Kaizen's value lay in his greed, not his strength—just enough to serve as experimental material.
But Shalnark's assessment differed sharply.
When Greed evaluated him, Kaizen had been spreading his aura thinly, investing most of it into his Nen Beast. Now, Kaizen's aura, even when suppressed, far surpassed what it had been then.
Moreover, Shalnark's sensitivity to aura was far superior to Greed's.
He pulled out his phone and quickly accessed Kaizen's records.
"A competitor on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena?" Shalnark raised an eyebrow. "And he's already secured three consecutive victories?"
After a moment of thought, Shalnark decided, "No need to approach him now. The timing isn't right. We'll wait until the opportunity presents itself."
As the airship landed, Kaizen disembarked and headed east toward a small town.
This journey to the Zoldyck Estate wasn't straightforward. There was no direct airship route, he had to switch to a different mode of transport midway. The town he was headed to served as a layover point.
Kaizen planned to spend the night there before continuing his journey.
The small town was quiet, with only a handful of lodgings. Kaizen opted for a modest homestay.
He arrived at a plain courtyard, confirmed the address, and knocked on the door.
A middle-aged woman opened it.
"Hello, I booked a room for tonight," Kaizen said.
The woman's eyes widened slightly. "Oh, you're Mr. Kaizen? My, you're so young! Please, come in. I've prepared everything—the room is ready, and I've changed the bedding."
"Thank you," Kaizen replied politely, stepping inside.
The yard was simple but welcoming. The woman explained that the nearby mountains often attracted visitors, though not in great numbers—hence the need for only one homestay.
She led him to his room.
"This is your room, Mr. Kaizen. If you need anything, don't hesitate to ask."
Kaizen nodded, placing his backpack down.
A few minutes later, the woman returned with a tray.
"This is hot water, and there's tea on the table. Have you had dinner? If not, I've prepared some home-cooked food in the dining area."
Kaizen had intended to make do with bread, but her offer was tempting.
"That sounds good. Thank you."
The woman led him to the dining area, where they passed a teenage girl hurrying out the door.
"I'll be out late, Mom! Don't wait up!"
The woman gave a helpless smile. "Teenagers, what can you do? Still, she's responsible enough."
Kaizen smiled faintly and took a seat.
"It's all homemade," the woman said, placing dishes on the table. "I hope it's to your liking."
Kaizen nodded in thanks and began his meal, appreciating the warmth and simplicity of the place.
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