Chapter 38: AuctionxArena

Three days later, on February 3rd, the air is thick with anticipation as we approach Heaven's Arena, the immense structure towering before us like a dark, imposing sentinel. My Shadow Saucer glides silently through the sky, its sleek form cutting through the clouds as we descend near the city's outskirts.

Ponzu and Hanzo stand beside me on the ship, their faces unreadable but their eyes sharp with focus. Nicholas is not here. He's been left behind to manage things back in Meteor City, ensuring the family's stability and survival while we go off to fight and prove ourselves. It's strange, not having him by our side, but I trust him to handle things. Right now, our sole focus is on the future and what happens inside this arena.

I glance at Ponzu, who's checking the data on her tablet. She looks up, her usual calm demeanor in place, but there's a subtle tension in the way she holds herself. Hanzo, standing next to her, shifts his weight, his gaze locked on the arena ahead. Both of them are ready.

As we descend toward the ground, the sheer scale of Heaven's Arena surprises Ponzu. The arena itself is colossal a towering skyscraper that reaches far into the sky, its structure imposing and cold. It rises like a dark, monolithic sentinel in the middle of a regular city.

I guide the Shadow Saucer toward the flattest land I can see, and I feel the weight of the place press down on me. As the ship touches down with a soft thud, I take a deep breath. The air here tastes different. It tastes almost metallic but I guess when you've been above the clouds for 3 days things taste different. Ponzu steps out first, her eyes scanning the surroundings with practiced precision. Hanzo follows closely behind, his face betraying no emotion, but his body tense and ready for action. I'm last to step out, but I take dominance walking in front.

While we walk we talk a little about what we are going to be doing here other than training and fighting. As we talk I turn a corner and enter a very fancy shop, Hanzo and Ponzu reluctantly follow but still ask "Boss why are we in here?" in a confused tone.

Without responding I walk up to the man behind the counter and whisper in his ear, "Has it come out yet?" He responds with a nod of his head and I ask "How much is it?" while he pulls out a thick, dark-colored book with light-colored trimming and large text on the front.

"That will be 12 million Jenny Sir," I pull out a wad of cash with a rubber band around it and hand it to him while he hands me the book. The cover of the book reads Southernpiece Auction Catalog.

In the street, after walking out of the store quietly Ponzu asks, "What's the Southernpiece Auction?" In a questioning tone.

Because she asked I start explaining, "The Southernpiece Auction is an auction held every year in Yorknew City. It has an item I want a few copies of and buying their catalog is the only way to get in." After saying this I pull a card out of the book and slide it in my pocket.

Because of my flying saucer, we got here about 4 weeks before Gon and Killua should be here. in that time I think I will get Hanzo stronger and get Ponzu up to the 200th floor so I can earn some money betting on her. "Every year the auction is held for about 5 days in the Southernpiece Auction house. Some of the most sought-after items in the world have been put on sale at the auction. This year it includes multiple copies of the game 'Greed Island'."

"So you want a video game? What's so special about it?" They both ask at the same time. I open the catalog look for the page and let them read it over my shoulder 'Greed Island is the most dangerous video game in the world, meant only for Hunters. It is played on a JoyStation Console. The game sucks its player's bodies into the console, only releasing them when they die, win, or leave the game. If somebody dies in the game they die in real life as well.'

"Okay, it's a special game where if you die you die in real life what about it?" Ponzu asks probably still confused as to why anyone would want a game that could kill them.

"Well Ponzu, It's not that simple. First of all, it doesn't suck players in it teleports them. Greed Island is a real place and to enter you must be a Nen user. In addition to that it is most likely the best training area for any Hunter in the world. Anyways, we are almost to the Arena so there's something I need to tell you"

They look at me with confused expression until I finally decide to drop the bomb neither of them will be expecting. "Hanzo you are not participating, Ponzu is the only one of us who will sign up to the roster and participate in Heaven's Arena."

To this statement, Hanzo jumps back his face a mix of sadness and surprise asking "What Why boss? Why can't I participate?"

With a serious expression and tone, I answer "Hanzo as a future member and even leader of the 'Shadow Syndicate' the fame of being a fighter in Heavens Arena is not good. Above the 200th floor, everybody knows Nen, and if you develop a special ability the whole world will know. Heaven's Arena is the biggest fighting Arena in the world and most people who make it past the 200th floor end up being household names in the martial arts world. You can't risk having your Nen abilities known if you come into combat with a skilled Nen user."

In a dejected tone, Hanzo responds "I understand but if I'm not participating what will I do while Ponzu is fighting?"

"You will be training with me on my personal floor while Ponzu fights but don't worry because Ponzu won't start fighting for a while anyway considering she needs training as every floor under the 200th floor doesn't allow weapons and your neurotoxin bees are technically considered weapons. I have developed a training method to get you both in perfect shape to beat anyone here in 2 weeks."

Getting to Heaven Arena is easy its kind of hard to miss as it is the fourth largest building in the world in the middle of a regular-sized city. We enter through the main entrance and go to the elevator. As we enter the elevator the operator says "Good day Mr. Lucas what floor would you like to go to today?"

"231st floor, please. Oh and, no matter what and who calls don't come back to the 231st floor for 2 weeks, please." I ask politely to not make her feel shunned and unwanted.

"What is the new training method boss?" Hanzo asks.

"You'll see and feel when we get there," I say with a maniac smile spreading across my face. Both of them look unnerved by my smile and the elevator operator has her usual emotionless smile that can creep out someone as deranged as Hisoka. Honestly, at least I'm showing some emotion even if it's a deranged smile.

When we get up to the 231st floor the elevator heats up to an unbearable degree for normal humans, "Right now this whole floor is at 150 degrees. I have a bunch of heaters set up all over the place and I changed all the LED light bulbs to incandescent light bulbs making it far darker and even hotter. The rest of the tricks and secrets you will find out quickly." If possible my smile gets even bigger and more menacing.

We step out and the elevator leaves stranding Hanzo and Ponzu on this floor for the next 2 weeks.