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104 HxH: The Strongest Assassin
🕑 Added 2024-11-06 07:01:29 +0000 UTCThe crowd below stirred, buzzing with murmurs.
Before this, everyone had assumed the assessment would happen near Elder district. That was the reason they'd all gathered here.
Some people had come in such a rush that they hadn't even paused to eat. Friends eyed each other as rivals, some even stooping to slip each other "medicine" to cause delays. Others warmed up with eager looks, ready to take on any challenges thrown their way.
However, no one had expected the recruitment process to play out like this.
Instead of a simple battle, tens of thousands of tokens were scattered in advance, and people were sent out to find them.
The tokens weren't near Elder district at all.
A ripple of frustration spread through the crowd. But no one dared voice their complaints aloud.
Once the news sank in, everyone sprang into action.
"Move!"
People who had scrambled to get close to Elder district were now retreating just as quickly.
Kaizen, observing the scene, was suddenly reminded of a story—One Piece. Just before being executed, the legendary pirate, Gol D. Roger, had addressed a crowd:
"Want my treasure? Go find it! I've left everything there!"
And with that, he'd launched an era of adventure, inspiring countless pirates to chase after dreams of glory.
Today, Meteor City had its own kind of frenzy.
"Pretty bloodthirsty," Kaizen thought. "But I don't need it."
"I'm already above all of them."
A young attendant approached Kaizen and offered a small cube.
"Master Kaizen," he said, "this is from the Elder."
Kaizen took the cube, inspecting it.
"What is this?" he asked.
"One of the mother tokens," the attendant explained. "Each mother token corresponds to a hundred other tokens, all created using Nen."
"Is the Elder expecting me to choose a candidate for a servant here in Meteor City?" Kaizen asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Yes, Master Kaizen. The Elder suggested you select from among those who have obtained the corresponding child tokens. Only the strongest or cleverest will manage to secure one."
Kaizen nodded in agreement. "Understood."
After confirming the cube was safe, he took it. The attendant continued his explanation.
"Those who secure a child token will be drawn toward the mother token by its guidance."
Kaizen's gaze shifted to Zeno's direction.
"Master Zeno has a token as well."
To everyone in Meteor City, this was an opportunity—a chance to alter their fates. But for Kaizen, Zeno, and the Elders, it was more like a game.
They watched from above as people scrambled, fought, and even killed each other for the tokens.
Though this kind of recruitment would cause more casualties than a controlled arena fight, it was efficient. It wouldn't take long to gather enough people to reinforce Elder district's defenses against external threats.
"Given the state of Meteor City, it's understandable why the Elder chose this method," Kaizen mused.
"The Kute Gang of Thieves caused countless deaths, and the Elders see the lives here as their own private property. The bandits took something valuable from them—not the lives, but the wealth they consider theirs."
To the Elders, life held little meaning beyond its usefulness.
Kaizen channeled his aura into the cube, activating it.
One by one, images began appearing in his mind—each corresponding to a token scattered across Meteor City.
No one had claimed a token yet, and most weren't hidden. Some tokens dangled from roadside branches, others sat on tall rocks, drifted along rivers, or lay on rooftops.
Suddenly, a hand reached out and picked up a token.
It was a young boy. For a moment, he seemed bewildered, as though he didn't understand what he was holding. But as the token's Nen-enhanced message reached him, his eyes lit up with excitement.
"A chance to join Elder district?!" he murmured, unable to contain his joy.
This boy lived in the "New Garbage Area"—a tough place, slightly better than the older, more decrepit waste zone. New trash was added regularly here, though not nearly enough for its population, and competition for resources was intense.
In the Old Garbage Area, people were more like machines, taking only what they needed. But here, people were people, and people were greedy. The strong took more, while the weak struggled to survive.
The boy was weak. Life was harsh.
So, clutching the token felt like a miracle—a ticket to a better life.
But he made a fatal mistake: he didn't hide the token. Another man saw it.
"Thud!"
Before he could react, the boy was struck to the ground, clutching the token tightly. The man pried it from his hand, a greedy gleam in his eye.
"Thanks for the good luck, kid."
Blood trickled from the boy's mouth as he glared up defiantly.
"You still dare to look at me like that?"
The man raised his fist again, but other people had noticed the commotion. They saw the token and charged in, eager to claim it.
A fierce scramble erupted, bodies piling up as the token's ownership changed hands repeatedly. The stench of blood filled the air.
This was just one small corner of Meteor City's chaotic recruitment.
Elsewhere, even grimmer scenes unfolded.
Kaizen glanced over at the Elders, who, along with their attendants and guards, watched the violence unfold with faint smiles, as though enjoying a grand performance.
