Even on the 200th floor of Heaven's Arena, most Nen users are known as "Newbie Killers."
They don't even know basic techniques like Ren.
So, Nina wouldn't necessarily be at a disadvantage against them.
Just then, a loud engine hum filled the air.
But it wasn't from a car—it was from an airship.
Ron and Zeno were seated by the window. The airship wasn't crowded, with plenty of empty seats, and it seemed a bit old and noisy.
Zeno broke the silence.
"Ron, how many assassination missions have you completed so far?"
"Two."
"And how did they go?"
"I can't tell you much yet," Ron replied, shaking his head. "The targets I've been assigned haven't been particularly strong."
"That Jesaron guy caused a bit of trouble, but nothing significant." (T/n we never saw that fight)
Zeno nodded.
"That's how it should be."
"If an assassin finds themselves struggling excessively on a mission, or paying a high price just to eliminate their target, it means the mission plan itself is a failure."
"We're heading to a place called Meteor City this time."
"Meteor City?"
"Shinji is from Meteor City," Zeno explained. "It's a unique area in the human world—a place piled high with garbage from all over the world. Over time, though, it's evolved into a place where some people have managed to carve out lives."
"The harsher the environment, the more potential it can draw out of people."
"In fact, quite a few individuals with remarkable abilities come from that place."
"We have a certain level of cooperation with Meteor City."
"Most of the butlers at the Zoldyck Estate come from there."
"I personally brought back Shinji from Meteor City."
"This time, I'm heading there to find a butler for Milluki."
Ron hesitated.
"But Cousin Milluki is older than me, isn't he?"
Zeno glanced at him.
"Milluki hadn't started learning Nen before. It was only after working with you that he began to practice it."
"The Zoldyck family tradition states that only once a family member begins learning Nen do they require a personal butler."
Ron didn't know this detail.
Since Zeno said so, it was likely true.
Still, Killua's situation seemed different.
Ron couldn't remember Killua having any personal butler, though Canary did follow him from a young age.
But at that time, Killua hadn't yet learned Nen.
This didn't entirely match what Zeno was saying.
Maybe Killua's special status meant they prepared in advance, Ron thought. Or it could be that after Killua left the family, he trained under Netero's teachings, rather than the Zoldyck family's Nen techniques.
Two theories crossed his mind.
Ron didn't mind going to Meteor City, as it was already on his list of destinations.
His goal was to master the "Essence of Observation."
Through observation, he could absorb the unique traits of his surroundings.
He could then incorporate these traits into his Nen beasts.
The Zoldyck Estate, Heaven's Arena (Sky Arena), Meteor City, the Hunter Association, and the V5…
These were all on his agenda.
Originally, Ron had planned to take the Hunter Exam first, absorbing its unique qualities to create a new Nen beast. Obtaining a Hunter's License would also be useful for him in the future.
Hunters have their own exclusive circles.
A wealth of information is shared in those circles, information that's hard to access anywhere else.
Additionally, it's a secure way to hire other Hunters, who are usually reliable.
"Grandpa Zeno, what's the plan once we reach Meteor City?"
"Meteor City is governed by a group of elders. We'll go directly to them, and they'll provide a selection of candidates. From there, we'll make our choice, take them back to the estate, and perform additional screening."
"Grandpa Zeno, is finding a butler for Cousin Milluki urgent?"
"No, why do you ask?"
"Do you have any other tasks planned in the near future?"
"No."
Indeed, Zeno had no other pressing tasks.
Since leaving the Zoldyck Estate, he had spent most of his time in the shadows, watching over Ron.
Practically in semi-retirement, Zeno rarely accepted assignments.
Silva's abilities were sufficient to manage the Zoldyck Estate.
As for missions that went beyond Silva's skill level, they were rare.
None had come up during Zeno's time away from the estate.
Since Silva was occupied with other matters, Zeno had taken on the task of finding a butler for Milluki.
With the Fighting Tournament wrapped up and no reason for Ron to stay at Heaven's Arena, Zeno decided to take Ron along on this trip to Meteor City.
While searching for a butler for Milluki, it would also give Ron a chance to witness the darker side of the world.
In every world, there exists both light and darkness.
In this world, organizations like the mafia and Meteor City represent its darker side.
"If possible," Ron said, "Grandpa Zeno, I'd like to spend some time exploring Meteor City. Shinji told me a bit about it, and I find the place really intriguing."
"Explore more?"
Ron nodded. "Yes. You already know about my abilities, Grandpa Zeno. I'm a Nen user of the Emission category, and my primary skill involves creating Nen beasts. So, I need inspiration in that area."
Zeno's brow twitched slightly. "Is that why you went to Heaven's Arena to watch the Fighting Tournament?"
"Exactly," Ron responded.
At that moment, Ron summoned Baki Hanma, his current Nen beast. He didn't hide it because he had no reason to. For one, Zeno was close to him; both were part of the Zoldyck family.
In the Zoldyck family, members didn't harm each other—especially with Maha Zoldyck still alive. Additionally, as a Nen beast, Baki was something Ron would reveal in any battle situation; it wasn't a secret he felt the need to keep. The specifics of his Nen beast's abilities, however, were confidential, much like the bomb abilities of Killer Queen.
Ron had never shared the exact nature of his Nen beasts' skills with anyone, and Zeno wouldn't ask; it was understood that Nen abilities were a private matter. Zeno observed the sudden appearance of Baki Hanma.
"Gyo!" Zeno focusing intently on the beast.
Zeno carefully examined Baki Hanma. "An impressive Nen beast. Its style is quite different from the one you created before."
"This one's a pure hand-to-hand combat type, correct?"
Ron nodded in confirmation. "Yes, it is."
"It seems that your time at Heaven's Arena has really helped you grow."
Zeno agreed to Ron's request. "Alright, you can explore."
"However, keep in mind that Meteor City is not a stable place, especially for outsiders like us. They're highly xenophobic. Once we enter, you'll need to stay alert."
Three days later, the airship descended, landing in a large plaza.
The passengers disembarked one by one.
After getting off, Ron and Zeno grabbed something to eat and then spent the night at a nearby hotel.
The next morning, they officially began their journey to Meteor City.
There were only a few routes directly into Meteor City.
The entire place was essentially a city wrapped in garbage.
No—technically, it was more like a nation.
Meteor City was larger than many small countries, surrounded by towering walls.