Chapter 13: Have Fun!
Inside the airship, Hazetossed aside his torn new clothes, slipped into an old T-shirt and shorts, and sat in the economy-class lounge.
He covered the wound on his forehead left by Illumi's Nen needle with a bandage and treated it simply.
"Combat experience… I need a lot more fights to sharpen my skills."
He walked toward the cabin window, gazing at the vast landscape below. Thinking back to his battle with Illumi, his resolve to go to Heaven's Arena grew even stronger.
First of all, the users of Nen in the Arena were incredibly diverse most of them weak, sure, but there were also some real masters.
From what he remembered of Hunter x Hunter, even the "top fighters" that appeared in the movie version weren't all that powerful they were just big fish in a small pond.
Still, the Arena guaranteed endless battles.
And more importantly, it would give him plenty of test subjects fighters to experiment with new Nen applications, combining techniques to develop more advanced abilities.
By fighting intensely, he could observe how different Nen interactions worked in various scenarios.
Of all the anime worlds he knew, Hunter had perhaps the most complete and logical power system.
Nen abilities were endlessly varied Enhancement, Emission, Specialization, and more.
The diversity of his opponents' Nen would allow Hazeto refine his control and master different approaches through experience.
Knowledge was one thing memory was another.
But the ability to apply it in reality and develop his own fighting style?
That was what mattered.
And besides, going to Heaven's Arena was also the best way to make money right now.
He clearly remembered how Killua once made hundreds of millions in the Arena only to blow it all on chocolate.
Meanwhile… Hazewas flat broke.
"Ah… there you are."
A familiar voice came from the side.
It was Illumi.
He'd been looking for Haze.
"What do you want?" Hazeasked coldly.
The economy class of the airship was packed a single shared space for hundreds of passengers, many lying across seats to sleep.
Naturally, a luxurious airship like this had private suites for the rich and powerful.
Illumi, of course, was staying in one of them.
He was never short on money.
Someone like Illumi would never travel under his real name his identity as a Zoldyck was far too sensitive. It was easy enough for him to conceal his origins.
"Did you come to economy class just to get away from me?" Illumi asked, standing stiffly beside him.
With his Nen mastery, regardless of occupation, his financial situation was leagues above ordinary people.
He wasn't outrageously wealthy, but money was never a concern.
And a strong Nen user like Haze…
That kind of talent was exactly the type the Zoldycks would want to recruit.
"Yeah," Hazereplied flatly, not bothering to explain.
Money problems weren't something he liked discussing.
Illumi studied him silently for a few seconds before saying,
"You're broke, aren't you?"
"…"
"I thought so."
Illumi clasped his hands together. His tone was calm, but there was a subtle trace of smugness beneath it.
Annoying.
Completely irritating though not in the same way as Hisoka.
Both had sharp minds and vision.
But while Hisoka at least acted human (albeit twisted), Illumi… was something else entirely.
He was emotionless like a doll or a machine. His words stabbed straight through the spine, cold and direct.
"Want me to lend you some money?" Illumi lifted a finger.
"No, thanks."
Hazeslapped the back of his own neck lightly and went back to his seat.
He didn't even have to think about it if Illumi was offering money, there had to be a catch.
Illumi turned away, mildly displeased.
A few minutes later, while Hazewas resting, a beautiful attendant in a red uniform approached with a polite smile.
"Excuse me, sir," she said sweetly, "your ticket has been upgraded to a private suite. Please, follow me."
"I don't have money," Hazereplied bluntly.
"A guest has already paid for you," the woman said cheerfully.
What the hell…
Obviously, that "guest" was Illumi.
Hazesighed, thought for a moment, then stood up and followed her.
The second floor of the airship offered free drinks and meals, and the amenities were far superior.
Since someone else had paid, Hazedidn't see the need to refuse.
A while later, he arrived at his private room.
Inside was a king-sized bed, a bathroom, a TV everything luxurious.
It was quiet too, much calmer than downstairs.
After taking a Haze shower, Hazefelt refreshed and ready to stretch his legs.
The rich really did live well… and that thought only deepened his hunger for money.
But as soon as he opened the door to go out, someone stepped out of the neighboring room
and their eyes met.
Haze's expression darkened.
It was Illumi.
Their rooms were right next to each other.
"See you around, Haze," Illumi said flatly, raising a hand in greeting.
"…"
Hazewasn't surprised. Clearly, Illumi had arranged this intentionally.
Getting his full name from the passenger registry would've been trivial for someone like him.
After all, the Zoldyck family had an expert hacker Milluki Zoldyck, Killua's older brother.
To a Zoldyck, not only was public information accessible, but even many government secrets were practically open books.
That chubby otaku…
"You don't have to be so guarded," Illumi said casually.
"I did plan to kill you before. You know, the fewer people who learn my identity, the better. My professional information has to stay protected to avoid unnecessary complications."
He paused, eyes narrowing slightly.
"But I've changed my mind. I think you have potential. Maybe one day, you'll even become my client."
"Are all Zoldycks this arrogant? Kill me then… haha…"
Hazebrushed past him, hands in his pockets.
Illumi followed.
The airship's interior wasn't large, so no matter how Hazetried to lose him, the emotionless figure always reappeared nearby.
"You're really strong," Illumi continued evenly. "One of the best Nen users I've encountered in years. I believe I could kill you… but the cost would be high. I'd probably be seriously injured, and it would take too much time. A mission like that too much risk, no profit wouldn't be worth it."
"Tsk." Haze's face twisted with visible disgust.
"By the way, I looked into your past," Illumi went on. "You worked in a fairly well-known circus, right? Then vanished. I heard you started Nen training with someone else."
He spoke as if personal boundaries didn't exist.
Even when Haze's irritation was obvious, he kept going.
"But I only found records from your circus days. Nothing before that."
"You're shameless," Hazescoffed. "Digging through other people's lives like that… Don't you have any manners?"
Of course, even Milluki couldn't have found more.
Before being taken in by Moritonio, Hazehad been a homeless outcast without any traceable past.
"How did you even find me?" Hazemuttered.
Illumi stuck to him like glue.
"Were you always this annoying?" Hazeshot back irritably.
At this point, Illumi wasn't yet the cold, mature assassin seen in the original story he was still a young man.
Hazehadn't expected him to be this persistent, though.
As expected, nature doesn't change easily neither for Hisoka nor for Illumi.
"My family values me highly," Illumi said seriously.
"Heh…" Hazesneered.
"You seem to know about my family. Do you know my father? Or my grandfather?" Illumi continued.
"It must've been your Nen teacher who told you about us, right? So he's probably one of our clients. My father and grandfather usually take high-level contracts. Compared to them, I need to expand my clientele base."
It was clear Illumi was still trying hard to build his own professional reputation.
Hazespent that first day enduring his endless questions, observations, and chatter.
Naturally, he ignored them all.
Over the following days, Illumi became quieter but still appeared now and then, shadowing him wherever he went.
Hazeeventually got used to it.
He even admired the guy's persistence a little.
Maybe it was the kind of endurance Hisoka's training had given him.
Two weeks later, the airship finally landed in a city within the Dendora region, Republic of Bartokia.
Hazesighed in relief at last, he was free from that expressionless shadow.
But as he descended the stairs, an idea struck him.
"Here," he said, handing Illumi a slip of paper.
"This is the contact number of someone who'll probably become a much better client for you than me."
Illumi nodded calmly.
"Is he stronger than you?"
"Haven't seen him in a while," Hazesaid, smirking.
"But he should fit your target profile perfectly. Loves killing, always stirring up trouble… You two are a perfect match problem maker meets problem solver."
Without another word, Hazeturned and slipped away.
Let Illumi and Hisoka find each other.
They shared similar interests they'd get aHaze just fine.
And it would keep Illumi too busy to bother him again.
Illumi watched Haze's figure fade into the crowd, lowered his head, took out his phone, and dialed the number on the note.
After a few rings, the line connected.
"Haze?" came a lazy, expectant voice.
It was Hisoka.
He had set up that number just for Hazeand no one else knew it.
After nearly two years without contact, Hisoka had been wondering when Hazewould finally reach out.
"Sorry," Illumi said calmly, reading almost like a script. "Hazegave me this number. He said you might have some problems that need solving and that I can help. Since it's your first request, I'll even give you a discount."
There was a brief silence.
Then
"...Who are you?"
Hisoka's tone had turned cold.
(End of Chapter)