Silva seemed to see right through Illumi's thoughts, causing a flicker of surprise to cross his normally impassive face.
How did Father know I wanted to leave home?
Since becoming a member of the Zoldyck Family, Illumi had never once set foot off Kukuroo Mountain, where the family lived.
The thought of leaving home had always been buried deep in his heart, never spoken to anyone or revealed in any way.
"I'm your father, so of course I know what's on your mind," Silva said to Illumi in a paternal tone. "Zebro told me you finished all your training six months ago."
"Why didn't you come to me then?"
At that, Illumi rested his left elbow on the table, propped up his chin, and a faint smile played on his lips.
Back then, I did not feel strong enough to stand on my own.
Zebro wanted me to stay and sharpen my combat skills, which was exactly what I needed.
I figured when Zebro finally acknowledged that I was ready to stand alone...
Illumi glanced at Zebro, who stood beside him, and his smile widened.
...that's when I will truly be able to stand on my own.
"Ho ho ho, Young Master Illumi, you are too kind," Zebro replied with a modest smile.
I see. Then let me witness the strength Zebro has acknowledged.
Silva nodded thoughtfully.
Zebro was the strongest of all the Zoldyck Family's butlers. If he had recognized Illumi's strength, then Illumi had reached a certain level of power.
The airship had taken six hours to travel from the mountainous city in the Republic of Baltochia to the city that houses Heaven's Arena.
Is that the famous Heaven's Arena?
Illumi stood by the window, gazing at the skyscraper towering over the city center. Outside, the sky was clear and cloudless.
It has 251 floors and is 991 meters tall, making it the fourth-tallest building in the world.
Zebro and Gotoh stood behind Illumi, smiling as they asked, "Has Master Illumi been following Heaven's Arena?"
"I keep up with some outside information," Illumi replied flatly, his back still turned to them.
15:55
The airship landed at the airport in the city where Heaven's Arena was located.
Amid the bustling crowd, four figures of varying heights got off the airship and entered the airport waiting hall.
"Master, Master Illumi," the two butlers who had been waiting at the airport for some time greeted them with respectful bows.
"Let's go," Silva instructed.
The butlers bowed again, then turned and headed for the parking lot outside the airport.
The group of four had now grown to six, and their rare butler attire drew the attention of many ordinary people.
After all, it was rare to see so many butlers serving a single group.
They might not be from a noble family, but they were certainly from a wealthy one.
The four of them boarded the waiting limousine and drove straight to Heaven's Arena.
Wow! Amazing! Foxy has defeated Liman and secured his third consecutive victory!
As Illumi and the others stepped
As they stepped out of the car, a passionate female voice boomed from a massive screen on the curtain wall of Heaven's Arena, broadcasting a live match that had just concluded.
"This is Heaven's Arena," Silva explained. "You have to fight your way up to the 200th floor. There is no time limit."
Silva turned to Illumi and glanced at the grand entrance of Heaven's Arena, where a massive crowd surged in and out.
From here on, you're on your own.
Illumi nodded slightly and slung the gray backpack Gotoh had prepared for him over his shoulder. It contained a few changes of clothes.
"Illumi, there's something I need to tell you," Silva called out as Illumi prepared to enter the arena lobby alone. "You are only allowed to fight up to the 200th floor. Once you reach it, do not register for any further matches. Just come back."
Illumi glanced back at Silva, a faint smile on his lips.
Understood.
He knew what the floors above 200 represented. Since Silva had no intention of explaining it, he did not ask.
Once someone grasps the concept of Nen, the urge to cultivate it becomes irresistible. Illumi was no exception.
Though his abilities had grown over time, they were ultimately tied to his mental strength, the result of his daily meditation.
His mental strength was closely tied to Nen. He often felt the urge to awaken his Nen abilities, but he always restrained himself at critical moments.
At the very least, he could not practice Nen while he was with the Zoldyck Family. Otherwise, with his rudimentary Nen, which did not even include the Zetsu technique, Silva and Zeno would easily see through him.
He couldn't explain how he had learned about Nen or how he had been training it. His time at Heaven's Arena would be perfect for practicing Nen.
"Zebro, Gotoh," Silva instructed as Illumi entered the Heaven's Arena lobby. "You two stay here and protect Illumi."
"Yes, Master Silva," Zebro and Gotoh replied, nodding respectfully.
Silva glanced once more at the grand entrance of Heaven's Arena, then turned and got into the car. Zebro and Gotoh bowed deeply to bid him farewell.
As expected, they've left someone to watch over and protect me.
He leaned against the glass curtain wall to the left of the entrance and watched Zebro and Gotoh.
I thought they would only leave Gotoh behind.
I didn't expect Zebro to stay either. It seems I still hold some weight in my father's heart.
In truth, Illumi's perspective was skewed. He was viewing the Zoldyck Family through the lens of twenty years in the future, rather than the family as it had been two decades earlier.
At present, the Zoldyck Family's next generation consisted of only two children. Of those two, Illumi, because of his prodigious talent, was naturally the family's top priority for cultivation.
"That's a long line," Illumi muttered, gazing at the fifty-meter queue snaking through the main hall.
A look of exasperation crossed his face. He hated waiting in lines. The anticipation made time drag on endlessly.
"Welcome to Heaven's Arena," the registration clerk said with a smile, though she could not hide her surprise at Illumi's young age. "Please fill out this form with your personal information."
A registration form slid out from the window. Illumi picked up the pen from the counter, filled out the form, and then handed it back to the clerk.
"Mr. Illumi Zoldyck, you are Contestant No. 1068," the staff member said to Illumi with a warm smile. "All matches on the first floor of the Battle Arena are called by this number. Please pay close attention."
Now, please come inside.
With that, she gestured for Illumi to walk down the right-hand corridor to the entrance of the first-floor arena.
As Illumi walked down the corridor, he could hear the crowd's roar before he reached the exit.
"It's quite large."
Before him lay a vast, brightly lit space, the first-floor arena of Heaven's Arena.
The arena resembled a gladiatorial coliseum, with sixteen arenas arranged in a grid labeled A through P. The audience in the stands shouted and cheered for the fighters.
Illumi, his gray backpack slung over his shoulder, sat in the stands and began watching the ongoing matches.
They're just a bunch of ordinary people fighting. No real talent here.
He scanned the fighters in the sixteen arenas. They were ordinary people, at best trained in boxing or modern martial arts.
I have to clear fifty floors in one go, or I'll go hungry.
Illumi was penniless; Silva had not given him a single coin. If he wanted to eat, he would have to earn his own money.
Contestants No. 1068, 1125, and 1138, please proceed to Arenas A, D, and E, respectively.
Soon, the results of three arenas were decided. When the announcement called Illumi's contestant number, he rose from his seat, walked to the edge of the spectator stands, put his hand on an advertising board, and effortlessly leaped into the arena.
Illumi arrived at Arena A and set his backpack down. The referee saw him and paused in surprise.
Excuse me, are you a contestant?
Ignoring the referee's uncertain tone, Illumi vaulted onto the arena platform and faced a muscular thirty-year-old man in Taekwondo attire who was already waiting.
"Hey, look at that kid!"
The nearby spectators immediately noticed the unusual situation in the arena. The referee stepped between the two fighters and glanced at Illumi with a slight frown. He then raised a finger to explain the rules of Heaven's Arena.
In the matches on the first floor, contestants' strength will be assessed based on how they perform during the match.
Please show your full strength and end the match within the three-minute time limit.
Now then...
The referee read both contestants' expressions and stances, raised his arm high, and then brought it down sharply.
Begin!