It did not take long for Conrad to realize that there was generally very little of interest in the town.
To be honest, it was less of a town and more of a gathering place for people with nowhere else to go. A place where the abandoned tried not to be alone, begged when they could, and took whatever work was available, whether small or large.
"It's almost like a demonstration version of Meteor City," he thought.
Conrad considered the matter for a moment and began looking around.
He wanted somewhere to sit and pass the time.
After a while, he came across a stone building that stood apart from the others.
It operated as a hotel.
The place had considerable security and guards wearing jackets, and compared to the rest of the town, it looked almost luxurious.
Conrad walked toward it and stopped in front of the entrance.
One of the guards, a middle-aged man with a mustache and black sunglasses, raised a hand.
"Good afternoon, sir."
"Because of the dangers around here, we need to collect a small payment before allowing entry."
"Otherwise, too many homeless people and individuals with questionable intentions try to enter the Star Hotel."
Conrad nodded.
Although he did not particularly enjoy dealing with these kinds of social situations, he could understand the reasoning.
If a relatively luxurious hotel existed in a place like this and allowed everyone inside freely, problems would be inevitable.
"How much?" he asked.
"Only fifty thousand, Jenny."
"All services inside are covered by that initial payment. When you leave, all expenses except room fees will be deducted from it, and the remaining amount will be returned to you."
Conrad nodded and handed the guard a fifty-thousand-Jenny note.
The middle-aged guard smiled.
"Your name?"
Conrad thought briefly.
"Conrad."
"Go right in."
The guard stepped aside and signaled the others to allow him through.
After entering the hotel, Conrad headed directly to the lobby.
There, he spoke with an attractive female employee and asked where the bar was located.
Once he learned the location, he entered the bar and nodded to himself.
"For a place like this, it's surprisingly high quality."
"Even if the area itself is poor, this place was probably designed for visitors with money who still want to see it."
"Many people have enemies. Many people have wealth. Just because the place they visit is poor doesn't mean they want to stay somewhere they consider unsuitable."
Instead of his usual choice, he ordered a gin and tonic.
After preparing the drink, the bartender spoke.
"Most cocktails are only ten thousand, Jenny."
"After the initial fifty thousand Jenny payment, any additional spending must be paid with cash or card."
Conrad nodded, opened his phone, and took a sip of his drink.
He looked at the thirty billion Jenny currently sitting in his account.
Twenty-five billion of it had come from the mission advance.
That money had already helped shape his next objective.
"I've gathered all the companies under the name Stronghold C."
"Now all I need to do is call the manager and transfer the funds."
After several phone calls, he instructed them to place the new capital into the investment operations as well.
He transferred the twenty-five billion Jenny to Stronghold C.
Once the transfer was completed, the company handling his investments informed him that his net monthly profit had increased to three and a half billion yen.
"Good."
"When the monthly profit reaches ten or fifteen billion Jenny, then it can truly be called a significant income," he thought.
After spending several hours at the bar, Conrad noticed the time.
The pickup was approaching.
He left the hotel and waited.
A while later, the vehicle arrived.
A man wearing a hat stepped out.
"You?"
Conrad nodded.
"Yes."
He immediately handed over the paper.
The man glanced at it and smiled.
"Come aboard."
"We're leaving immediately."
Conrad climbed into the truck beside the man.
The vehicle pulled away without wasting any time.
After exactly four hours of driving, it finally stopped.
"This is as far as I can take you."
"I assume you already know the general information."
"Walk east for about an hour."
"After that, someone will meet you and ask why you've come to Meteor City."
"Answer honestly."
"If they accept your answer, you'll be allowed in."
"If they don't, come back here."
"I make this trip almost every day."
"You'll only need to wait a night or walk back."
The driver paused before continuing.
"Just remember one thing."
"If they reject you and you try to enter anyway, the best outcome is that they'll kill you."
"Or throw you in prison, take everything they can from you, and kill you afterward."
Conrad nodded and stepped out.
The moment he left the truck, it made a U-turn and drove away.
It was around three in the morning.
If Conrad had not been a NEN user, seeing anything without a flashlight at that hour would have been impossible.
"Let's see."
"Entering through the front door and acting openly is safer."
"If I sneak in through the back, it'll be considered an invasion."
"They'll start hunting me immediately."
"Not that I'm afraid of it, but I don't feel like dealing with that."
With those thoughts, he started walking.
A short time later, as dawn slowly approached, he spotted lights in the distance.
On both sides of a massive stone wall stood large electrical towers.
Nearby was a small group of around ten people.
They wore masks and hazmat suits and carried machine guns across their backs.
Conrad approached calmly.
As the lights illuminated him, two of the hazmat-clad soldiers stepped forward.
"Stop!"
"State your identity and your purpose, outsider."
The voice sounded mechanical through the gas mask.
"I'm Conrad."
"I came to research Meteor City and, if possible, provide assistance and investment."
Conrad genuinely meant those words.
Perhaps not immediately, but in the future, if he acquired enough resources and the opportunity presented itself, he saw no reason why the people of Meteor City should continue suffering indefinitely.
He might even create a Nen ability specifically for Meteor City someday.
The soldiers exchanged glances and nodded.
"You may enter."
They opened the gate.
Conrad walked calmly between them and smiled.
"That was easier than I expected."
"They really do follow their motto."
"We accept anything, but do not take anything from us."
With that thought, Conrad continued forward into Meteor City.