Chapter 64: A Suspicious Challenge—Smelling a Trap!

A few hours after Rakshala’s speech, Auren stands in her room, arms crossed in displeasure.“What exactly was that…?” he demands to know.

“You won’t regret it, Auren,” Rakshala replies reassuringly. “I don’t want to lose you. This is the position you deserve!”

“I’ll reluctantly accept… for now. I still won’t waste my time on politics and organising. I might occasionally attend a meeting, but I have my own things to do! Don’t expect me to actually fulfill a leadership role,” Auren clarifies firmly.

“That’s all I’m asking,” Rakshala says with a satisfied grin before her expression turns serious.

“Auren, there’s something important you should know. The Elders in Meteor City have been asking questions about you. Apparently, they’ve been keeping tabs on your activities—your Hunter Exam, your fights in Heaven’s Arena, and even your mission involving the Zoldycks. Recently, your name also appeared linked to a certain company that sold for 10 billion Jenny.”

“It’s not like they can contact me directly. Bunu, Buno, and I cut them off completely. I did send them a few million Jenny once, but I used a broker to avoid any personal contact,” Auren shrugs indifferently, clearly disinterested in Meteor City.

“I have worse news,” Rakshala continues cautiously. “Our involvement with the Mafia, specifically curing Battera’s lover, may have been exposed. Meteor City, similar to us, has quite a few spies placed everywhere.”

She pauses briefly, then continues, “Hollow Blade received a message dropped onto the street—apparently delivered by a bird. It read: ‘We reject no one. So take nothing from us,’ accompanied by a photo of you taken from one of your fights in Heaven’s Arena.”

“Motherfuckers…” Auren mutters angrily. “Maybe I need to pay them a visit after all. Do they still want Eternity…? Should I personally show it to them?” he mumbles, then asks Rakshala, “Has our location been exposed?”

“Yes, but that’s nothing new,” she assures calmly. “Several people discovered us before. This isn’t directly related to you. However, I’d advise against any open confrontation. It’s most likely just a warning to remind you of your past affiliation. They probably just want money or information. I’m just informing you for your own safety. They won’t attack directly, but they definitely have an interest in you. Please, be careful.”

Auren nods appreciatively. “Thanks for the warning.”

Over the next few days, Rakshala and Grunah thoroughly explain Hollow Blade’s general leadership structure to Auren. He now has unrestricted access to personal files, including extensive data on their external contacts.

To his astonishment, Hollow Blade has effectively infiltrated most major governments, influential corporations, and even significant media organizations.

Even more shocking, Hollow Blade’s accumulated resources amount to trillions of Jenny. They control assets totaling approximately 13 trillion Jenny, including over a trillion available in liquid cash.

With my current status… I could withdraw everything.

Several days later, after finishing his introductory sessions on leadership, Auren returns to his gym. As he completes his workout, his phone suddenly vibrates.

What now?

Minutes later, he finally checks the message—it’s from Heaven’s Arena.

A challenge? Someone actually challenged me? Looks like I went too easy last time. Guess I’ll have to make an example out of someone.

Auren enters his office—a place he’s hardly ever used beyond occasional research or buying additional knives. Now, it’s cluttered with paperwork from recent calls and introductions.

Settling in, he begins some preliminary research on his opponent, a bulky man in his fifties named Nolf.

Examining Nolf’s record, Auren’s irritation quickly turns into anger. His opponent’s pathetic record stands at 10 wins and 3 losses, barely qualifying him to even challenge Auren. Worse, every one of his victories came against uninitiated fighters or rookie hunters, clearly exposing Nolf as weak. There’s not a single impressive fight on record.

Nolf’s hatsu combines Enhancement and Transmutation, enlarging his hands with Aura. He calls it ‘Giant Fist.’

Seriously? That’s just basic Nen manipulation! ‘Giant Fist’ … is he serious?

Annoyed, Auren rises and gathers Aura into his fist, enlarging it exactly as Nolf had done, carefully synchronizing Aura with his hand. His hand visibly expands. Then he enhances it further, strengthening it.

Briefly, he punches the air, observing how this technique affects the user during a battle.

Slow… sloppy… but exactly the same as his! This technique is pathetic. Calling it a ‘technique’ is already an exaggeration. How dare someone this weak even think he can beat me?!

Auren reshapes his Aura slightly, transforming his hand into a claw-like form, reducing the overall size for better control.

Now that’s more practical. Still, this is just playing around. Extending reach sacrifices power. Condensing Aura further is the only way to increase its power effectively. This ‘technique’ is shallow and pitiful—the person who developed it clearly has no deep understanding of Nen. He settled for something flashy but practically useless—a downgrade from a simple Aura-enhanced punch.

Auren shuts off his computer, unwilling to dig any deeper into an enemy of this caliber.

Two weeks, huh? I need to leave relatively soon if I want to make it in time. Still… call me scared or insecure, but I just can’t figure out this challenge.

Add to that what Rakshala told me about the message from Meteor City…

Thirty minutes later, Auren is sitting on Buno’s and Bunu’s couch, sipping tea while the two former instructors enjoy a shoulder massage from their maids.

“Unusual to call us for a meeting, oh mighty Vice-leader,” Buno says, struggling to keep a straight face.

“Brother, don’t be rude. We teased our boy for being too serious and refusing to get spoiled by the maids… turns out he had bigger plans. He went straight for the top and seduced our leader. That’s worthy of our respect,” Bunu adds, attempting to sound serious but clearly enjoying himself.

“Fuck off, or I’ll fine you a billion Jenny for disrespecting me. I can seize your money directly now!” Auren warns.

“No, you won’t. You’re way too smart and dependable to pull something like that,” Bunu replies casually.

True…

“In any case! I need help. I’ve got a fight at Heaven’s Arena in two weeks. I’ll need protection…” Auren says, doing his best not to show how worried he really is.

“Your opponent?” Bunu asks, his interest piqued.

“Just some no-name rookie hunter with a 10-3 record. It took me thirty seconds to copy his so-called ‘hatsu’—which is just a lazy combo of two basic Nen applications—and another thirty to improve it and make it my own,” Auren explains, casually demonstrating by forming an aura fist over his real one, raising his arm, and shouting half-heartedly, “Giant Fist!”

“So, you don’t think this is a serious challenge? Why do you need our ‘protection’ then?” Buno asks flatly.

I should probably tell them.

“Apparently, Meteor City has taken an interest in me. They’ve been digging into my past actions… even sent a card to Hollow Blade with that trash motto of theirs—you know the one,” Auren says grimly.

“You think you’re being baited, huh?” Bunu says with a knowing grin.

“Yeah… I do. Worst of all, I don’t want to lose my Floor Master title,” Auren says, his voice firm. “I also refuse to be intimidated.”

“You were smart to come to us,” Buno says smugly.

“We’ll help. You get to decide things now, right? Take one of our medium-sized airships. That way, we can bring enough maids to travel in comfort,” Bunu offers.

“Don’t tell Neffi,” Auren says firmly. “I don’t want her involved.”

“She’s busy with her company, isn’t she? Let’s call it an emergency and head out secretly, then,” Buno suggests.

“I agree… but change of plans. We’re taking two airships,” Auren declares.

Buno looks confused. Bunu just smiles in approval.

“Master Auren! Master Auren!” Catherine shouts. “What do you want to eat today? Steak or curry?”

Auren, doing a full-body workout on the deck of his small airship—now filled with heavy training equipment—pauses mid-set.

“Why do I only get two options?”

“I want to eat steak or curry today, but I couldn’t decide, so I figured I’d ask you and surprise myself!” Catherine beams.

“...You don’t even see the problem, do you? Silly woman. You know what, just make both!” Auren says, shaking his head.

At the helm, Natsuko steers the airship, smiling quietly as she watches the exchange.

Finally, on the same day as Auren’s fight, they arrive at Heaven’s Arena.

“Master Auren, why can’t we stay?” Catherine asks, visibly disappointed.

“It could be dangerous. I’ll come back with the others once it’s over. I’ll see you two soon,” Auren replies.

“Good luck, Master Auren!” Natsuko says, bowing before turning and walking straight to the cabin, dragging Catherine with her.

Good… she gets it.

Alone now, Auren walks through the city with Heaven’s Arena looming in the distance.

He chooses a poor neighborhood to pass through—mostly empty in the afternoon, as the residents are out working hard just to afford these run-down homes.

No one’s following me… no… someone is. But not the one I was hoping to attract.

Sensing a clumsy man tailing him, Auren speeds up and loses the pursuer with ease.

With no other clues to go on, he heads directly to the Arena.

Inside, he walks straight to his own personal floor. As promised, the entire level has been reserved for him before the fight.

He steps into the luxury suite and lets himself relax, extending his En—reaching up to 55 meters, occasionally brushing 60—like a drifting cloud of fog.

Nothing out of the ordinary… maybe I was just a little too worried.

A few hours later, with Eternity conjured, Auren makes his way to the Arena, heading straight for the ring, avoiding anything unnecessary.

As he steps into the ring, he sees his opponent, staring at him in shock, not expecting him to show up at all.

He didn’t expect me? This means… no. First, I have to win this fight!