"What's your question?" Ron asked.
"That woman," Killua began. "What exactly changed in her? Cousin Ron, do you know?"
Killua had been thinking about this the entire trip, but he couldn't figure it out on his own. He suspected there was so key piece of information he was missing, and he believed Ron might have the answer.
Gon noticed Killua's serious expression and shifted his attention over, listening as well.
"That thing is called 'Nen,'" Ron said.
"'Nen?'" Killua and Gon both repeated, having never heard the term before.
Ron saw no reason to hide it. He understood the plans in place for Gon and Killua: Ging Freecss or soone affiliated with him intended for Gon to learn via a particular style, and the Zoldyck Family wanted Killua to do the sa. Ron wouldn't be the one directly teaching them—just like Zeno and Silva hadn't taught Ron themselves but only gave him guidance. Still, now that Killua had asked, Ron felt it was too restrictive not to at least ntion the concept.
"You can think of it as a special kind of power," he said. "Have you ever read fantasy comics or played gas? Nen is like the ability so characters have, sothing that sets them apart from ordinary people."
He continued, "Whether you have Nen or don't, it's a completely different world. During the Hunter Exam, Hisoka, Cousin Illumi, and I were all Nen users. That's why we were on another level compared to everyone else."
Killua frowned. "So that woman suddenly gained Nen?"
"You could say that," Ron replied.
"How do you beco a Nen user?" Killua asked.
"In general, once you open your aura nodes, you can start using Nen. There are two ways to open them: proactively, on your own, or passively, with soone else's help."
Killua pressed on. "Is there much of a difference between the two?"
"There is so difference, but it's not huge," Ron said.
Killua's next words ca quickly. "Then, Cousin Ron, can you open my aura nodes so I can beco a Nen user? Will you teach ?"
His interest in this new power had skyrocketed, especially after witnessing the woman's transformation. Gon seed just as eager, gazing at Ron hopefully.
But Ron shook his head. "I can't."
"Why not?" Killua and Gon asked, both puzzled. Ponzu, too, looked confused. After all, Ron had taught Nen to her as well as to Hanzo, who had passed the Hunter Exam along with Killua and Gon—and Hanzo was even stronger than them at the ti. It wasn't that Ron lacked the ability to teach.
"Because the Hunter Association has already arranged for soone else to teach you," Ron explained. "There's no need to rush. I know a new power can be fascinating, Killua, and you're impatient to master it, but a few day's difference in learning won't matter. Wait until the teacher appointed by the Hunter Association arrives. They'll train you."
Ron glanced at the ti. "All right, that's enough for now. It's ti for us to head back to the airship station."
With that, he stood up. Before long, the four of them boarded another airship.
Along the way, Nen remained on Killua and Gon's minds. They wanted to learn as soon as possible, but since Ron refused, they didn't push. Instead, they sat together, speaking in hushed voices.
"I wonder when the teacher the Hunter Association arranged for us will show up," Gon said.
"Hope they're strong. More importantly, hope they're good at teaching," Killua replied. "Cousin Ron must think they'll do a better job than he could; otherwise, he'd have no reason to refuse."
Gon glanced at Ponzu. "By the way, when we t Ponzu again, I sensed she'd changed a lot. Maybe she's already learned Nen, and that's why?"
Killua nodded. "That's definitely possible. I really hope our teacher gets here soon."
After about a day, their airship landed in the city where Heaven's Arena stood. From the mont they stepped off at the station, they could see the looming tower reaching into the clouds.
"Killua, that must be Heaven's Arena, right?" Gon asked, looking at the towering structure in the distance.
"Yeah, that's it," Killua confird.
Ron beckoned, and two cars pulled up. He and Ponzu took one, Gon and Killua the other. In no ti, they were dropped off at the entrance to Heaven's Arena. All four got out.
Turning to Gon and Killua, Ron asked, "So, what's your plan?"
Killua and Gon shared a glance. Killua answered, "Cousin Ron, we're going straight up. We want to climb Heaven's Arena until we reach the 200th floor, then stay in the hotel there. You go handle your own business. If we need any help, I'll give you a call."
Ron nodded. "All right. Be careful. This might look like a peaceful city, but it's not as safe as it seems."
"We understand," Killua said. "See you around. Have fun."
With that, Ron and Ponzu walked off toward the elevator. Killua led Gon to the first-floor registration area, where a long line snaked across the hall.
Since Killua wasn't new—he'd spent two years here—he navigated smoothly through the process. They lined up and moved forward step by step.
"You know," Killua said, "I used to know sobody here. I wonder how he's doing now."
Gon smiled. "A friend of yours?"
"No." Killua shook his head. "You're actually my first friend. Kurapika and Leorio are the second and third."
Ron, of course, didn't count as a friend—once Killua discovered Ron was actually his cousin, everything changed. He'd spent so long admiring and trying to match soone he didn't realize was family.
Killua and Gon's arrival attracted little attention. Thanks to Ron's influence, the concept of 'youth geniuses' was already well known around Heaven's Arena, so plenty of other fighters their age ca here these days.
Ding!
An elevator arrived, and Ron and Ponzu stepped out…
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