Chapter 168: Return to Familiar Ground
Most V5 personnel are selected and promoted from official institutions of superpower nations.
The Field family's ability to manipulate politicians across various countries also stemmed from V5's limited capacity to intervene.
However, infiltrating V5 was no simple task.
They had extremely strict standards, background checks, and skill assessments to ensure that every key department was filled with trusted individuals.
Therefore, over the years, the Field family had operated their spies and informants within V5 with utmost caution ... careful never to be exposed.
Their numbers were few.
They couldn't move as freely as they did among the newly rising political elites.
In general, the stronger the nation, the harder it was to execute their plans.
The Kakin Empire was no exception.
In recent years, members of the Field family had already embedded themselves inside V5.
While none had reached high-ranking positions yet, at least they hadn't drawn suspicion.
All they needed now ... was an opportunity.
Later, through their influence in various countries, the Field family could provide these individuals with promising projects and jobs, even generating controversy to make their social ascent smoother.
As long as they avoided drawing attention, everything would progress as planned.
The operational details were left to David and Field Lily.
Haze didn't need to involve himself.
The underworld had become a kingless kingdom.
And now… there was only one thing left to do:
The Kakin Empire!
After some time, the global gang wars had finally begun to stabilize ... though they weren't completely over.
Armed forces led by the Shadow Beast controlled underground affairs across several continents, yet a few families still refused to submit and sought to build independent factions.
Moreover, as with the Kakin Empire, the Field family's ability to interfere was relatively limited.
Local gangs maintained their independence, apart from the chaos of the Black Tide Incident.
Most of the countries infiltrated by Field influence were only partially compromised ... some royal or noble families still needed to be approached.
That too was part of the plan.
Meanwhile, Kurapika had already left the Field family, and his whereabouts were unknown.
But Haze suspected that the best way to retrieve the Scarlet Eyes of Kurapika's clan from the Kakin Prince was to re-enter the criminal world ...
to join a gang within the Kakin Empire.
Only then would he have a chance to contact the royal family.
At the same time, Gon and Leorio had gone to the Zoldyck estate to find Killua.
The three had gone their separate ways afterward ... Leorio began his medical training alone, while Gon and Killua, as expected, headed to the Heaven's Arena.
Haze had learned all this from Illumi and Wing.
As for Hisoka, he had vanished without a trace.
Uvogin and Nobunaga had escaped the waters of Hero Island unharmed, causing minimal losses to the Field family.
Their mission that night had merely been to divert attention during the Black Tide Incident, not to fight to the death.
Had Hisoka not harmed Machi, they would likely have reunited by now.
After giving David several final instructions, Haze left the family estate.
He returned to the place where his destiny had first begun ...
the Heaven's Arena!
Before heading for the Kakin Empire, he intended to visit Gon and Killua.
Moreover, Wing had called him several times, praising the two boys' talent, claiming their potential even surpassed his own.
"Nothing's changed… still crowded as ever."
The next day, Haze stood in the plaza of the Heaven's Arena, gazing up at the massive tower.
He couldn't help but sigh.
Crowds of tourists and fighters filled the square.
Haze lines wound around the entrance ... the business was thriving.
"That guy, Hisoka… he's not here either, huh?"
It was already June.
Wing had mentioned before that Gon and Killua had learned Nen and were currently training on the 200th floor.
If Haze remembered correctly, they would soon be facing Hisoka in battle ... and Gon's first match against him would take place in early July.
He walked toward the entrance of the Heaven's Arena.
"Master Wing, that's amazing!"
Inside a training room of the Heaven's Arena, Wing was instructing Gon and Killua in Nen practice alongside Zushi.
After a while, drenched in sweat, Gon flopped onto the ground and exclaimed, "Wow, that's incredible!"
He and Killua had already mastered the fundamentals of Nen.
Now came the crucial step ... emission.
Gon's admiration came from the stories Wing had told them about Haze's legendary feats in the Heaven's Arena years ago.
"You two… were able to reach the 200th floor so quickly thanks to him," Wing said with a gentle smile, sitting nearby as the boys caught their breath.
"In those days, Haze advanced through the floors at such an incredible speed that the Arena's management was forced to change the rules.
After clearing the lower floors, a contestant could now be promoted directly to the 50th floor or higher before progressing gradually upward."
"Since Killua mentioned he came here when he was younger, judging by the timeline, Haze must have left not long before that.
So, Killua ... you should've at least heard about him."
"I don't doubt his strength," Killua muttered, wiping his forehead.
"My father and grandfather said that if Haze ever became a target for assassination, he'd be… troublesome."
Then, glancing at Gon, he added coldly,
"But his personality… it's twisted. He's cunning."
"Even though he looks kind on the surface, deep down, he's a ruthless killer.
If you're not careful, he'll betray you before you even notice."
"Killua's always been hostile toward Haze-san…" Gon said awkwardly, scratching his head and smiling at Wing.
Both of them knew Wing and Haze seemed to be friends.
"Hmph. I'm just being honest," Killua said, crossing his arms and rolling his eyes.
"If you don't believe me ... ask him."
He pointed at Wing again, confident that their teacher knew the truth.
Gon looked to Wing expectantly.
Wing thought for a moment, choosing his words carefully, and raised a finger.
"Let me put it this way… If Hisoka ... the man you've seen before ... is here in strength…"
Wing raised one hand half a meter above the ground.
"…Then Haze is here."
He lifted his hand a full meter higher.
"At first glance, it seems Haze is twice as strong as Hisoka ... but that's not accurate.
Once a Nen user reaches a certain level, further improvement becomes exponentially harder.
From that half meter, even a few extra centimeters can represent a qualitative leap."
"You two haven't even passed the Hunter Exam yet, nor graduated, nor participated in Association affairs.
You can't yet comprehend the level Haze has reached."
"Nen is deeply tied to one's spirit and will ... it's a manifestation of personal resolve.
To become a truly powerful Nen user, one's character must be extraordinary in some way.
The more extreme and pure that trait is, the greater the unimaginable heights that person can reach."
"Powerful Nen users are never fools.
Even without Nen, they're already far beyond ordinary people."
"The Hunter world is complex ... never simple.
Haze must have endured countless hardships to stand where he is now.
Only through such trials can one truly grow.
Someone like him ... every action, every thought ... is shaped by a powerful will and purpose.
That's why he never gives up easily.
He'll do whatever it takes to achieve his goals."
"I suppose that's why Killua thinks Haze is a bad person," Wing said with a faint smile.
(End of Chapter)