However, the middle-aged man misunderstood what Kaizen meant.
He thought Kaizen was implying that the Floor Master's strength was far superior to his own. A shadow passed over the man's face as he contemplated his situation.
"With my abilities, there's no hope of ever becoming the Floor Master. If that's the case, there's no point in staying at Heavens Arena," he muttered. "It's time to leave. I'll find another place to pursue my goals."
With that, the middle-aged man left the ring, returned to his room, packed his belongings, and disappeared from the arena before nightfall.
Meanwhile, Kaizen had competed in seven matches, securing six victories and one by default. He now needed only four more wins to qualify for a challenge against a Floor Master.
Many competitors on the higher floors were already keeping an eye on Kaizen, investigating his background and analyzing his abilities. The weaker Floor Masters, in particular, were sharing information, aware that Kaizen would likely challenge one of them if he qualified. After all, that was how they had risen to their current positions.
"Kaizen Zoldyck, male, age 10+, Nen type: Specialist," one Floor Master summarized while reviewing Kaizen's profile.
"His aura is impressive," another remarked. "He has a pink Nen Beast that's strong in close combat, but its speed is slightly lacking. His hand-to-hand combat abilities are exceptional—definitely advanced for someone his age."
"And he's mastered high-level Nen techniques, systematically trained. That kind of foundation is rare," another added. "But as a Specialist, it seems his development leans heavily towards Enhancer-like abilities. Could that be his weak point?"
"Maybe," someone replied. "It's likely a compensatory move to strengthen his physical resilience and avoid obvious flaws. But by doing so, he's neglected his Nen Beast's development, which is a waste of potential."
Even as they speculated, Kaizen was still making waves. His performance had already overshadowed Juliana, another contender, who abruptly left Heavens Arena.
As Kaizen headed downstairs to meet Dominica, he turned to Nina.
"I'll be gone for a while. If you need anything, just email me—I'll reply as soon as I can."
"Understood. Good luck," Nina replied with a smile.
Kaizen stepped out of the building into the cool evening air. A gust of wind swept past, making him pull his jacket tighter. As he walked, his gaze fell on a familiar figure: Killua Zoldyck.
Killua, unaware of Kaizen's existence or his connection to the Zoldyck family, brushed past without a second glance. Still, Kaizen couldn't help but watch him for a moment longer. He knew this wasn't the right time to reveal himself.
Killua, however, seemed to sense something. He glanced back at Kaizen, frowning slightly. There was something about Kaizen's aura that struck him as odd, though he couldn't quite place it.
"That's Kaizen, a player on the 200th floor," a voice interrupted Killua's thoughts. It was Sadaso, another competitor.
Sadaso watched Kaizen's retreating figure with a mixture of envy and admiration. "His talent is incredible," Sadaso murmured. "And so young..."
Turning to Killua, he added, "I've seen your matches too. You're strong."
"Thanks," Killua replied curtly, brushing him off.
But his thoughts lingered on Kaizen. At his age, my brother Illumi already had immense strength. Could Kaizen rival that? Killua clenched his fists. When will I reach the 200th floor?
Kaizen arrived at the coffee shop where Dominica was waiting. Spotting him, the older man waved, and Kaizen approached.
"Kaizen Zoldyck?" Dominica asked, confirming his identity.
"That's me," Kaizen replied, sizing up Dominica. The man's aura was strong—probably stronger than the members of the Kute Gang of Thieves, all of whom were A-level Nen users.
Next to Dominica stood a young girl with long blue hair styled into twin ponytails. She wore a delicate court dress, exuding an air of elegance that marked her as someone of wealth. Despite her refined appearance, there was a determined glint in her eyes.
As Kaizen looked her over, she introduced herself. "I'm Wendy Fiora," she said, extending a hand.
"Kaizen Zoldyck," he replied, shaking her hand briefly.
Dominica gestured for Kaizen to sit. "Let's get down to business. Do you have the photo?"
Kaizen nodded, handing it over. The moment Dominica saw the image, her expression darkened.
"It's them," he growled. "Those pests... like cockroaches, they always come back. Disgusting."
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