Returning to his room after his latest victory, Rocky had officially reached the 160th floor of the Heavens Arena. Yet, despite his advancement, he decided that his time in the arena was over, at least for now. Piro's condition was far more urgent. If Piro didn't wake up soon, Rocky knew he would need to find a Nen expert to uncover the truth and help his friend.
In the days that followed, Piro remained comatose—unmoving and unresponsive, like a lifeless shell. Rocky grew restless, the sight of Piro in such a state gnawing at him. Determined to find answers, he spent 100 million Jenny to acquire a critical lead: an address to a secret Nen organization. This group operated outside of the Hunter Association, offering intelligence, services, and tasks through the underground web.
After completing his formalities with the Heavens Arena—knowing full well he'd have to start from the first floor if he ever returned—Rocky left for his next destination: the Republic of Meiyajiada. [ I don't know if it's a place ths author came up with or an actual place in HXH, so I'm gonna leave it as is. Let me know what you guys think. ]
This was the location tied to the Nen organization he had paid dearly to access.
Carrying Piro in a large black bag to ensure his safety, Rocky boarded a special airship to the new country. Unwilling to take risks, he made additional preparations. He purchased a mask to obscure his identity and wore contact lenses to avoid suspicion. Though such measures wouldn't fool a skilled Nen user, Rocky believed it was better to be cautious. He also materialized the Sword of the Wise King and slung it across his back—a deliberate move to make others assume he was a Manipulator or Enhancer. Visible weapons, he reasoned, were less threatening than invisible ones.
Arriving at a luxurious villa, Rocky was immediately skeptical. The location was far from the rundown, secretive hideout he'd imagined. Instead, it stood out with its grand, high-end design—so much so that Rocky wondered if he'd been swindled. He felt a pang of regret for spending 100 million Jenny.
Guided inside by a security guard, Rocky was greeted by two Nen users lounging on an opulent sofa. They didn't even glance in his direction, merely pointing upstairs when he entered. Their indifference grated on him, but he followed their direction, climbing the staircase to an unassuming room.
The room was stark: four white walls, a simple table, and two chairs. A middle-aged man sat at the table, his expression calm and unreadable. Rocky placed Piro's bag on the floor and took a seat.
"What kind of assistance do you need?" the man asked, his tone professional but detached.
"Information," Rocky replied firmly.
"What information are you looking for? Our prices depend on the nature of your query," the man said, leaning forward slightly.
Rocky met his gaze. "I want to know about individuals who were forcefully awakened their Nen and ended up in a vegetative state."
The man's eyes flicked to the black bag Rocky carried. A faint smile crept across his face. "Ah, I see. That's a basic question—30 million Jenny."
"Fine," Rocky said without hesitation.
The man smirked. "People who forcefully awakened Nen but ended up in a vegetative state are effectively dead. They lack the innate talent required to wield Nen properly. Their bodies reject it."
The answer was brief but heavy with implication. Rocky's grip on the armrest tightened.
"Is there any way to wake them up?" he pressed.
"That'll cost you 70 million," the man replied smoothly.
Rocky nodded. "I'll pay."
The man leaned back. "It's rare, but not impossible. Some individuals in this state can recover if their aura grows to a critical threshold. But that takes years—sometimes decades—and there's no guarantee it will ever happen. Everyone's threshold is different."
Rocky frowned. If Piro's recovery depended on his aura naturally growing, there was no telling how long he would remain comatose.
"What if someone else transferred their aura to the person? Could that work?"
The man chuckled, shaking his head. "In theory, yes. But in practice, it's nearly impossible. Aura from two different people doesn't merge easily. In a vegetative state, the unconscious body instinctively repels external aura. Even two conscious Nen users developing an ability together find it difficult to harmonize their aura. For someone in a coma, the resistance is overwhelming."
Rocky fell silent, his mind racing. Despite the man's grim explanation, he couldn't shake the possibility of finding a workaround.
"The information I just gave is a freebie," the man said with a smirk. "If you're done, head downstairs to settle your payment."
"I need one more thing," Rocky said abruptly.
The man raised an eyebrow. "What?"
"I want information on how to acquire a *Greed Island.* console"
The man's expression flickered with surprise before he composed himself. "That'll cost 500 million Jenny."
"Done," Rocky said without hesitation.
"There's a wealthy individual in this country who owns two consoles of *Greed Island.* But they're not for sale. As for the others, I can provide you with a list of ten known owners, but none of them are looking to sell. The only way to get your hands on a copy is to steal or rob one from these people. The game hasn't been on the market for years."
Rocky stood, his mind made up. "Thank you."
"600 million total," the man said with a smug grin. "Thank you for your patronage."
Rocky left the villa with Piro on his back, the weight of his decisions pressing heavily on him. Money meant nothing compared to what he had learned.
Now, two priorities dominated his thoughts. First, he needed to acquire a *Greed Island* console. Second, he had to find a way to wake Piro. The latter weighed on him more. He couldn't leave Piro in his current state, vulnerable and helpless.
But Rocky had an idea—one born from desperation and hope. The man's explanation about aura incompatibility wasn't wrong, but Rocky and Piro shared a unique bond: their bloodline. If there was any way to bypass the natural repulsion of aura, it might lie in that shared connection.
Clenching his fists, Rocky resolved to act. He didn't know if his plan would succeed, but if there was even the smallest chance to save Piro, he was willing to take it.