"Come on."
Kaizen smirked.
Yet, he could tell things weren't going smoothly.
It wouldn't be quick for Nina to grow stronger.
And the fact that Carlisle dared to show up, especially after spotting Kaizen near Heavens Arena, meant he must have something up his sleeve.
Back in his room, Kaizen closed his eyes in thought, summoning Altan's presence.
"Try to keep tabs on Carlisle's movements."
With a mobile phone now, Altan no longer needed to rely on network cables, she could access the internet anywhere. Tracking Carlisle's movements wouldn't be too challenging.
Staying near Heavens Arena, Carlisle would inevitably use electronic devices like a phone. And the moment he did, Altan could monitor him.
Outside, Nina was practicing Nen. Shizuku and Polar Bear were seated by the window, gazing out through the large glass panes.
Shizuku reached her hand out as if trying to grab a cloud drifting by.
"It's nice outside."
A figure lurked in the shadows, his gaze fixed on Heavens Arena, his eyes seething with hatred.
"Kaizen..."
Carlisle glared at the arena.
"Because of you, Nina left me. If it weren't for you, she never would've walked away, and I wouldn't have lost my abilities."
"I wouldn't be... worthless."
"I must kill you."
"Once I do, Nina will return to me."
Carlisle's eyes narrowed as he melted back into the shadows.
"He's just a brat. Sure, he can use Nen, and he's talented, but as long as I prepare well enough, killing him shouldn't be that hard."
"Though... making a move inside Heavens Arena could get complicated."
"Think, Carlisle. How can I draw him out?"
"We'll have to start with Nina."
As Nina trained, her phone buzzed with an incoming call from an unknown number. She answered.
"Lina."
Carlisle's voice echoed through the phone.
Nina's expression chilled, and she immediately ended the call.
Hearing the line go dead, Carlisle's face twisted with frustration.
"So, Lina won't even answer her own father's calls now?"
Undeterred, Carlisle tried again, but Nina didn't even pick up this time, she just rejected the call.
By the third attempt, she blocked his number.
Carlisle paused, then switched to a different phone and dialed Nina's number again. This time, he spoke quickly, with words he knew would get her attention.
"I'm calling about your mother."
Nina's finger, ready to end the call, hovered over the screen.
"What do you want?"
"Lina, what I did before was wrong. I did it all for power, and that made me less than human. You should hate me as a father."
Carlisle's voice softened. "I won't bother you too much, but I need to tell you something about your mother."
"I also have a few of her things to give you. They're yours."
Carlisle knew Nina's attachment to family ran deep. Even after everything, she didn't initially despise him. He figured her feelings for her mother would be just as strong.
A long silence followed.
Carlisle pressed further.
"If it's about my mother, you can tell me now, and mail her things to me."
"No." Carlisle shook his head.
"These things are too important; we need to meet in person, and they can't be mailed."
"If you're worried, how about meeting me near Heavens Arena? You'll be able to leave and return as you please."
Nina refused.
"I'm not meeting you."
"Then do you not want to hear your mother's last words or receive her belongings?"
Carlisle taunted.
"If you're still cautious, you don't have to come alone. Let Kaizen come with you. His strength surpasses mine now, and I've already lost my abilities. I'm no threat."
Carlisle knew Nina's curiosity about her mother would be hard to resist. Inviting her to meet was just his opening tactic. But his true aim was to lure Kaizen out. This was his fallback plan, his real objective. If Nina refused, Kaizen might still come on her behalf.
"A kid like Kaizen, so strong, so gifted... he's bound to be proud," Carlisle mused.
"I've lost my abilities, and he won't see me as a real threat."
"He'll most likely show up."
Carlisle grinned to himself.
"If only I'd caught him before he reached Heavens Arena's entrance that day. Things wouldn't have come to this."
Nina thought it over, then hung up. But this time, Carlisle didn't feel the urgency. In fact, he smiled.
Kaizen heard the phone buzz and stepped out of his room.
"Nina, what's up?"
Nina hesitated.
"Just tell me. We're a team."
Kaizen had a good guess—only Carlisle could make Nina this tense.
"It's Carlisle," she finally said. "He claims to have my mother's last words and some of her belongings, and he wants to give them to me. He asked to meet nearby."
"Your mother's last words and belongings? Do you believe him?"
"I'm not sure. But I don't plan to go."
Nina had considered Carlisle's request. Though he wasn't as strong as Kaizen, something felt wrong. As much as she wanted to see her mother's things, she wasn't willing to put Kaizen at risk.
The phone buzzed again with Carlisle's number flashing on the screen, but this time, Nina ignored it.
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