Good Job and Points Increasing - Chapter 16

Nakis and Vagu sat side by side, their postures relaxed but eyes sharp.

Standing across from them were two figures Alia and Maver.

Nakis looked up at them and spoke.

"Two days is a long time."

Alia and Maver didn't flinch.

Instead, they exchanged a glance.

Maver, tall and broad-shouldered, gave a small nod to Alia before speaking first.

"I was working on my training. Kept things low and quiet."

Alia, arms crossed, followed.

"Same. I didn't leave the city."

Vagu leaned back in his chair, resting one ankle over his knee.

A grin played at the corners of his lips as he listened to their answers, but he said nothing just watched.

Nakis nodded slowly.

"Good," he said.

"Because we're moving forward. The first phase of the plan is in motion, and it's time we talked details."

Maver raised an eyebrow.

"You have information on him?"

"We do," Nakis said.

"We've collected what little is out there. Most of it comes from secondhand sources disappearing groups."

He reached down to the case by his feet and retrieved a folder.

With a light flick, he slid several sheets across the table. Alia stepped forward and picked one up, narrowing her eyes.

On it, a name: Arkanis.

Beneath, a blurry photograph of a man seen only from the back massive, cloaked.

"Arkanis is a close-combat specialist," Nakis began.

"But not like your average brawler. He's a highly refined, highly experienced Nen user. We believe he was a Hunter once. Possibly a Blacklist Hunter.

Alia's eyes remained on the image.

Maver, meanwhile, set the folder back down and shrugged lightly.

"I'm not a good fighter," he said. "I can't help much with him directly. I'm just transport and utility."

Vagu gave a short laugh, shaking his head.

"We know, Maver. You're not the one we're sending in first."

Maver offered a lopsided grin in return.

Nakis continued.

"But even utility has to be efficient. If things go wrong and they probably will we'll need all of it handled seamlessly."

"Understood," Maver said, more serious now.

Vagu finally leaned forward, voice lower.

"The prize is ten billion Jenny. But Nakis and I are claiming the first half five billion, since we've been planning this for months. The other five will be split between the rest of you."

He glanced between them.

"No arguments?"

Alia nodded almost immediately.

"That's fine with me."

Maver nodded in agreement.

"The risk is what makes it real."

Vagu's grin grew for a second.

"Glad we're all reasonable."

Then, Alia looked around and asked,

"What about the final member? If we're going after Arkanis, four's better than three, sure. But who's the last one?"

Nakis stood and walked toward the window, hands behind his back. His voice was thoughtful but careful.

"I'll inform you in three days," he said.

"I've been observing someone. A wildcard. Might be exactly what we need or completely unfit. But if he passes my next test, he'll be joining us."

"You haven't told him yet?" Maver asked.

"No. I want to be sure first."

"What's his skillset?"

Nakis paused.

"A killer of some sort, a independent individual, I would say."

Alia raised an eyebrow.

"You trust a killer like that?"

Vagu answered for him.

"That's exactly the type we need. It is clear that we are ourselves not angels."

Nakis turned, eyes sharp now.

"If he joins, our chances go up."

"The fact that we dont know what kind of ability Arkanis has and what is the type of his nen category is still there."

No one doubted Nakis' judgment.

He was a samart man but they all knew that even the best strategist couldn't promise victory against someone like Arkanis.

Still, the room was committed.

Four people. One impossible target.

And ten billion reasons to try.

"Three days," Nakis repeated. "Rest. Train. The real game begins soon."

And with that, the meeting ended.

Arin's laughter echoed faintly through the walls of his small hotel room.

He wiped a bit of sweat from his brow and grinned.

"Eight point zero," he said aloud, eyes gleaming. "It's working."

Two days of relentless training Ten, Zetsu, Ren pushing his aura to the limits

He stretched, changed clothes, and decided to treat himself.

"Time for beer," he said simply.

The bar he had in mind was quiet, cheap, and well-hidden between two worn-out appliance shops. But as he crossed a quiet intersection, something tugged at his senses.

He froze.

Then turned.

A man stood about thirty meters behind him, leaning casually against a lamp post.

Middle height. Sharp features. Clean-shaven

He had a smile not friendly, not mocking, but cold.

The man didn't move.

He just raised a hand slowly and pointed.

To a nearby bench.

In a small park.

Children were playing in the background. Parents watched.

Arin's jaw tightened slightly.

He turned and walked.

Sat on the bench.

Took a long, measured breath.

A moment later, the man appeared beside him, sitting with quiet ease, legs crossed. He kept his gaze straight ahead.

"You did good," the man said. "Killing those two low-life thugs."