"Nina, why aren't you answering?" Kaizen asked, his brow creased.
Nina shook her head. "There's no need."
"Come on, just tell me what's going on."
At that moment, a thought crossed Kaizen's mind, and Altan's figure came to mind.
Nina answered the phone. When the call connected, Altan could track the phone's signal, using it to inject a custom program—one far beyond anything the world's programmers could produce.
"Nina, have you thought it over? Just let Kaizen take the call, what are you afraid of?" came a voice on the other end. Carlisle's tone was smooth but insistent.
"Do you have no feelings left for your mother?"
Kaizen frowned slightly. Now he understood why Nina had hesitated to answer. She didn't want to retrieve her mother's last words or belongings, as it meant seeing Carlisle—something she deemed dangerous.
Nina didn't want Kaizen to know about Carlisle's request, afraid he might insist on going if he heard about it.
"Nina, ask him for the address and time."
She hesitated, but Kaizen reassured her. "I won't necessarily go."
Finally, Nina nodded. "Where and when?"
Carlisle's tone brightened on the other end. "Tomorrow evening, Alley 12, West Road."
"Got it." Nina ended the call.
"Brother, we shouldn't go. It's likely a trap, just bait to get us there," she warned, worry plain in her voice.
Kaizen nodded. "I know it's a trap. Carlisle knows we know too. But he's betting that I'll underestimate him and show up anyway."
"But he's wrong. I don't underestimate anyone." Kaizen's gaze hardened.
As a Zoldyck family member, and after so many teachings from Zeno and Silva, he knew better than to let his guard down. He only acted when he was absolutely certain of the situation.
Previously, he'd been at a disadvantage without a reliable source of information. But now, he had Altan.
As soon as Nina answered, Altan intercepted Carlisle's phone signal, traced his location, and injected his program into Carlisle's phone. This allowed him to monitor Carlisle's calls, messages, and even access his camera and microphone, though he held off on activating those functions for now to avoid suspicion. After all, Carlisle was a Nen user and could notice something off.
Shortly after, Kaizen's phone pinged with Carlisle's exact location.
Kaizen pulled out his laptop and loaded a map.
"Here?" he muttered, surprised. The location Carlisle gave was remote but surprisingly close to Heavens Arena, like a forgotten corner within the city—a small, almost hidden.
"This place…" Kaizen mused, "in such a bustling city, yet these buildings are rundown, and the streets narrow, crowded with people. It doesn't feel like part of the city at all. More like a slum." It reminded him of Meteor City—a place abandoned by the entire world. This spot was abandoned by the city itself.
"Brother, you're not actually going, right?" Nina's voice broke his thoughts.
"Not yet," he said. The current information wasn't enough. Carlisle, even after losing his abilities, was bold enough to issue an invitation. That meant he had an ally or some hidden advantage, and it was unlikely to be something as simple as a gun or poison. Likely, Carlisle had brought reinforcements.
Kaizen's strategy was to use Altan's ability to gather intel on Carlisle. Only if he gathered sufficient details would he consider facing Carlisle directly.
Kaizen remembered his experience with the Kute Gang back in Meteor City. As a Specialist, he could maintain control over his Nen beast from a distance. He could even send Raiken, infused with Killer Queen's ability, to act in his stead. The Kute Gang hadn't managed to counter him, so he doubted Carlisle could find an ally strong enough to pose a real threat.
Soon, Kaizen's computer lit up with new information. Altan had pulled data from Carlisle's phone—recent contacts and even a few intriguing names.
One contact, marked "Gluttony," caught Kaizen's attention.
"Gluttony?" he murmured. The Seven Deadly Sins—a peculiar code name for someone tied to Carlisle. Ordinary people wouldn't earn such a label, but Carlisle was no ordinary man. He was a Nen user on the 200th floor of Heavens Arena, his abilities more nauseating than most killers.
Just then, Carlisle's phone rang.
"Master Gluttony," Carlisle greeted, respectful.
"Carlisle, why did you call?" came the answer, calm and curt.
"I need your help, Master Gluttony. I have a target," Carlisle replied, his voice eager. "I know you're busy, but I'll speak to my mentor to ensure you're compensated."
A pause, then Gluttony spoke. "Very well. After my current task."
The call ended, and Carlisle turned toward Heavens Arena with a smile.
"Will you come, Kaizen?" he whispered, voice low and dangerous. "I may be weakened, but you must think I'm no threat. Or maybe you're curious. Either way, you'll regret underestimating me."
What Carlisle didn't realize was that his phone's microphone remained active, quietly sending the entire conversation to Kaizen's device.
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