"I need a guarantee for my safety."
"If you complete the mission, I'll have someone meet you at a discreet point along the Rokario Republic border, far from the checkpoint. I'll also arrange a new identity for you in Yorknew City."
"And during the mission, I'll help you open your aura nodes and teach you the basics of Nen."
Kite laid out his offer and terms.
"The NGL Autonomous State borders the Republic of Rokario. But to prevent illegal escapes, the border is crawling with secret posts. If someone tries to flee and ignores warnings, they're executed on sight."
"And there are Hunters stationed in NGL year-round—ostensibly to study the forests and mountains, but they also handle problematic border infiltrators."
As for that new identity in Yorknew, Kite didn't need to explain—Joey already understood. That was Mafia territory. Getting fake credentials there was child's play.
And to be honest, neither Joey nor Kite considered the new identity a real bargaining chip. Kite had only mentioned it to send a message: "I'll get you out safely, and maybe throw in a meaningless favor. But that's the most I'll offer."
"So, after the mission, I'll be making the trip to the border alone, is that right?"
Joey caught the real condition hidden in Kite's words.
What a damn fine start this is.
"Of course," Kite said without hesitation.
Joey's trademark eight-shaped brows furrowed with visible distress, but after a moment of gritted teeth, he nodded and gave Kite the answer he wanted.
"Deal. But instead of a new identity, give me 10 million Jenny."
"Accepted," Kite answered immediately.
The moment the deal was struck, Gon and Killua also chimed in.
"We're coming too!"
Pokkle hesitated, but ultimately stayed silent.
As for Ponzu, she didn't need persuading—after facing the Chimera Ants, she wanted out of NGL almost as badly as Joey. And even if she did want to stay, Kite wouldn't have allowed it.
Her attitude toward Joey had softened slightly, thanks to fighting side-by-side the previous night—and his final warning shout during their escape.
But she still didn't understand why Pokkle had immediately outed Joey as a cartel member. There hadn't been any need. And Joey's own account from before didn't match what Pokkle had revealed.
While she mulled it over, Pokkle met her gaze, and Ponzu gave him a barely perceptible nod. A small bee fluttered over and silently landed on the bundle Joey carried on his back.
The group didn't linger in the macabre scene. They headed back to the village.
Unlike the anime, Ponzu's bees had relayed an urgent distress message to Kite—but didn't fully explain the scale of the threat or the true situation in NGL.
That was because the events here had deviated significantly from the original story.
Even though they'd encountered a Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ant, the creature had been heavily injured before it could showcase its full power—thanks to Joey's Killer Queen.
And while the gator revived with some freakish ability, that was a highly specific, unrepeatable anomaly.
More importantly, neither Basho nor Ponzu had seen the massive swarms of Ants or truly grasped their intelligence and organization.
As a result, Kite had arrived with Gon and Killua—but hadn't ordered the rest of the support team, including translators and amateur Hunters, to return to the border.
Judging by the timeline, they were probably getting close.
Though with Ponzu's message, Kite might have called for reinforcements. It remained to be seen who else would show up.
After giving Gon and Killua a subtle signal—and watching them depart swiftly—Kite turned back to Joey and began a succinct explanation of Nen.
The most mysterious power in this world.
"The ability you're going to learn is called Nen. But at its core, it's just the manipulation of life energy."
"You've already had your tenketsu (aura nodes) opened once, so reopening them should be easier. Once I force them open again, all you need to do is focus and start sensing your aura—then try to control it."
He spoke directly and without fluff. Before Joey could even ask any questions, Kite's hand pressed against his back—and a surge of aura blasted into him.
Joey's body suddenly flushed with heat, swelling with a strange sense of expansion.
Then came the release.
Something intangible burst out from inside him.
His vision was clouded with a gentle steam-like aura, warm and vibrant, enveloping him from all sides.
"That's your life energy. Aura."
"Now listen carefully—stand in a position that helps you relax and focus, then start visualizing. Imagine your aura like blood, flowing through your entire body."
"Picture it moving from your head down your right shoulder, then your hand, your legs, across to your left side. Finally, imagine it slowing... until it stills."
"You'll start to see the aura floating around you. When that happens, it means you've gained control."
Kite watched Joey flail and fumble for a moment, then slowly grow calmer. He nodded as Joey tried entering the meditative state and began manipulating the aura around his body.
Ponzu, watching from the side, felt a twinge of jealousy. She hadn't learned Nen yet.
But she wasn't in a rush. If she'd wanted, Basho could've opened her aura nodes long ago. She just preferred a gradual, natural progression—just like with emotions. She always believed the best relationships came from letting things flow.
Wrapped in aura, Joey settled into deep focus. He tried to let go of tension.
At the same time, his thoughts returned to how Nen was explained in the manga.
But it had been too long. He barely remembered the details of aura types or training methods. The only images that came to mind were a few iconic training montages.
Eventually, he gave up trying to recall the manga and simply followed Kite's instructions, adding his own interpretation.
A few minutes in, as fatigue began creeping in, a sudden inspiration hit him—he remembered the sensation of aura being fed into him from Kira's wallet.
He mimicked that feeling, and slowly, it worked. The aura began to flow smoothly, wrapping around his body.
The warmth was soothing—like curling up inside a soft blanket. A rare sense of peace settled over him, like the calm life he used to dream of.
Kite gave a small nod.
"Open your eyes. How does it feel?"
"It's like I'm being wrapped up in something... like a thick layer of shrink-wrap," Joey said, flexing his hands.
"Huh. That's... a new one," Killua remarked dryly, having just returned with several support members.
He found the older teen interesting, especially after Joey had blown up Bugs Bunny. He didn't feel any hostility toward him—just curiosity.
"This is the most basic form of Nen use—Ten," Kite explained. "Keeping Ten active strengthens your body, slows aging, and comes with all kinds of benefits."
"But that all takes time and training. What you need now is to use Nen to run faster, farther, and longer."
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