Chapter 68: Flashback and Nen Category

Five years ago...

Raymond stood in the spacious space of his office.

Behind his desk, a large window offered a view of the bustling cityscape below, but his attention was fixed on the setup before him.

In front of him lay a sturdy wooden table, its surface pristine save for a single leaf placed delicately atop a cup of water with a container filled with water rested nearby.

With a steadying breath, Raymond gripped the cup in his hand, the cool touch of ceramic grounding him in the present.

"...Let's see if something changed this time," He muttered.

Raymond had been mulling over his own specialized Nen technique, known as Hatsu, for quite some time now.

It had been a while since he last attempted the water divination technique to gauge his Nen compatibility.

So, why did he need to do it again?

Well, he had discovered that he could channel his Nen into his eyes, enhancing his perception and speeding up his thoughts. 

And upon usage, his eyes would glow with a darker shade of red.

Raymond was certain that his eyes was a Hatsu that set him apart from others.

But this newfound ability came at a cost—a heavy toll on both his body and mind.

That's why he constantly pushed his physical limits and practiced mental discipline.

He needed to ensure that he could comfortably utilize his eyes in prolonged battles, should such a situation arise.

Raymond took a deep breath as he focused his thoughts, channeling the essence of his being into the cup.

The energy of his Nen, that elusive force that defined his existence, flowed through him and into the water below.

According to the known principles, different alterations in the water indicated distinct Nen categories.

If the volume of the water shifted, it meant he was likely an Enhancer.

If the taste changed, that hinted at being a Transmuter.

A alteration in the water's color suggested an Emitter.

The appearance of impurities signaled a Conjurer.

And if the leaf on the water's surface moved, he would be classified as a Manipulator.

Yet, as Raymond focused, the color of the water shifted, darkening into a deeper shade of red, matching the glow in his eyes.

"...It's still the same, huh?"

Confusion creased his brow.

The result of the water divination remained unchanged, mirroring the outcome of his previous attempts.

Was he a Conjurer or an Emitter in this case?

Raymond channeled his Nen into his eyes, intensifying the crimson hue until it matched the color of the water in the cup.

As he scrutinized his reflection, he murmured, "This is definitely not an ability of a conjurer and emitter..."

This only deepened his confusion over his Nen compatibility, especially since he knew instinctively that his ability wasn't complete yet.

These eyes, which he called the Gaze of the Sovereign, was definitely just a part of his specialized Nen technique.

Raymond furrowed his brow as he tried the Water Divination Technique once more, this time with a new cup.

Reflecting on his limited knowledge of this familiar world, Raymond knew he needed to bridge the gap between what he knew and what he needed to learn.

Since he only had the rough sketch about how the plot goes in the original canon.

Raymond had set up an extensive information network across the country, and possibly beyond to fill in the blanks.

This network helped him gather intelligence, and possibly use it to combine it with his limited knowledge.

Raymond felt a sense of inadequacy as he grappled with the complexities of advanced Nen techniques.

He couldn't help but recall the awe-inspiring abilities of renowned Nen users like Chrollo Lucifer, whose Hatsu could steal another's powers—a formidable skill with strict rules but still overwhelmingly powerful.

Then there was Isaac Netero's 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva, a mighty force unleashed in the battle against the Ant King, Meruem.

Although unable to best Meruem, Netero was able to make it by deploying a weapon of mass destruction, sacrificing himself to vanquish the Ant King.

And the enigmatic Alluka's Wish Granting ability?

A power both terrifying and incomprehensible, seeming to defy the laws of reality.

While these abilities left a strong impression on him, Raymond lacked the in-depth understanding of their complexities. 

Making him unable to understand how to create his own Hatsu since he himself was still unsure of his Nen compatibility.

In contrast, the straightforward abilities of Gon and Killua seemed worlds apart from his own situation.

Kurapika's situation might gave him an insight since his Nen techniques were known for their complexity and meticulous design, governed by rules of his own making.

"..."

But the problem was, Raymond couldn't decide the rule of his ability without even knowing his ability yet.

And Kurapika was probably far younger than he was.

Raymond had already on his 4th cups of water without realizing it, and he let out a sigh of weariness.

He stopped using his Nen to focus on the cup as he felt his vision blurring, a sign that he had been too absorbed in his task and was on the verge of passing out.

Shaking his head, he muttered, "Seems like I got carried away..."

His hand shook as he moved to place the cup on the table with the others.

BAM!

However, the door suddenly burst open as Luke barged in, yelling, "Raymond, we need to have a meeting ASAP!"

The force of the slam almost caused Raymond to lose his grip on the cup, making the water inside tremble.

With a quick recovery, he managed to steady the cup and set it down on the table.

"...Is it about the Sam---"

Raymond began, but his words were cut short as he saw something incredible.

His eyes widened in shock as he watched a droplet of water fall into the container of pure water.

Yet, instead of mixing harmlessly, the droplet seemed to be devouring the rest of the clean water, its color spreading like ink in water.

No, it wasn't devouring. It was conquering the rest of the water!

Raymond's thoughts raced as he processed the water's unexpected reaction.

The unprecedented response from the water baffled him, especially considering he hadn't actively channeled his Nen into it.

It dawned on him that his ability didn't fit neatly into the categories of "emitter" or "conjurer."

He couldn't help but smirk as he murmured, "...So, I'm a specialist, huh?"

Meanwhile, Luke, initially confused by Raymond's sudden silence, sighed and sank into the sofa.

"Yeah, it's about Sam Song. We need to figure out where to build our factory soon..."

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