"Good."
Nessley gave a sharp nod.
"I'll pass the information to you later, Kaizen."
She hung up the phone.
The airship descended.
Kaizen could immediately sense something off around the station—there were several unfamiliar presences.
They all had aura.
Not particularly strong, but their presence made it clear: Kaizen couldn't leave the city by airship again.
Worse, he had a vague sense that these people had a way to track him. It wasn't immediate, but their pacing showed they could keep up.
Ponzu had released dozens of bees to monitor the surroundings.
Given Kaizen's current strength, he could maintain a circle with a diameter of around 100 meters, which was already taxing considering the beast's energy output. Ponzu' bees, though less precise, had a detection range spanning several kilometers.
But they couldn't match the sharpness or clarity of Kaizen's circle.
His aura control was both refined and wide-reaching.
"Captain, I'm sorry..."
Ponzu still looked remorseful.
"Don't be. I chose you as a teammate. That means the consequences are mine to bear."
Kaizen's voice was calm, firm.
"Instead of beating yourself up, just focus on what I asked you to do."
Ponzu gave a hard nod.
"Got it, Captain. I won't let you down."
Not long after, intel on the Four Beasts arrived.
Kaizen reviewed the files.
Four members. All A-rank Nen users.
The first: an Enhancer, skilled in close combat.
The second: specialized in manipulating objects—possibly corpses.
The third: another Enhancer, but more explosive in power than the first, who was balanced across the board.
The fourth: details were scarce.
"Nothing too special in terms of Nen types," Kaizen murmured. "But if they're ranked higher than the Three Dogs, they've got something dangerous up their sleeves."
He took out his phone and made a call.
"Grandpa Zeno."
"Kaizen. Where are you?"
Kaizen gave the name of the city.
Zeno looked over at Silva.
"At least three hours," Silva said.
Zeno relayed the message. "Can you hold out?"
Kaizen didn't hesitate.
"Then wait. We're coming."
"Okay."
He ended the call and melted into the shadows, disappearing into a corner.
...
After passing the information to Kaizen, Nessley quickly reached out to the higher-ups in the Revolutionary Army.
She was in a video call with a young man.
"Zotan-sama."
Tucker's pupils contracted the moment he saw the man on screen.
"Zotan...? But—you're supposed to be dead!"
Zotan gave him a calm smile.
"That was just a public announcement made by Oster."
Zotan's reputation in the United States of Saherta was far beyond Tucker's. A true genius. Rapidly promoted, yet universally respected.
Because his strength—and his results—were undeniable.
He had quickly become one of Oster's closest lieutenants.
Tucker once idolized him. Publicly praised him.
Then, suddenly, Zotan had "died."
Tucker had grieved. He'd believed that if Zotan had lived, he could've changed the entire country. Done what Tucker himself had only dreamed of doing.
But now—Zotan was alive. And a member of the Revolutionary Army.
"I began to question Oster after I uncovered some of his actions," Zotan said. "That's when he tried to kill me. I nearly died."
"But the Revolutionary Army saved me. And since then, I've been one of them."
He looked at Tucker.
"You're on the right path. This country—its ministers, its nobles—it's all rotten. The Revolutionary Army is the only real hope. I want us to fight together to change this land."
Tucker's eyes burned with conviction.
"Zotan-sama. I'll give it everything I've got."
Nessley cut in.
"Zotan-sama, Oster has been tracking a man named Kaizen. The Three Dogs are dead, and now he's sent out the Four Beasts."
"..."
"I think this could be an opportunity. Should we act?"
Zotan furrowed his brow.
"Who is this Kaizen?"
Nessley looked to Tucker.
"He's with the Hunter Association. Former Floor Master at Heavens Arena. Exceptionally strong. We worked together during the Red Trang operation."
"I originally asked him to slow down the Dark Night agents."
Zotan nodded slowly, deep in thought.
"It really is an opportunity."
"Oster's direct forces are divided into three core combat units: the Three Dogs, the Four Beasts, and the Six Fiends."
"With the Dogs gone and the Beasts tied up, only the Fiends are left."
"This is the perfect time."
"If we can eliminate Oster now, it'll be a major victory for the Revolutionary Army—and a huge step toward reshaping this country."
Zotan's gaze sharpened.
"The rot of the United States of Saherta comes from three roots: the nobles, the ministers, and the merchant guilds."
"If we can eliminate Oster, it won't just strike fear into the others. It'll create space for worthy candidates to rise."
He made his decision.
"I'm ordering full deployment. Dark Night, move out."
"Head to the Imperial Capital."
"Our mission: assassinate Minister Oster."
"This time, we finish it."
Nessley and Tucker exchanged a glance, fire in their eyes.
"Yes, Zotan-sama!"
...
All members of Dark Night began to gather.
There were eight in total.
Tucker had taken Leonard's place.
Nessley, Tucker, and Nancy were all B-rank Nen users.
The remaining five were A-rank Nen users.
This was the strongest combat unit the Revolutionary Army could mobilize—outside of its top leadership.
Even so, their total strength didn't compare to Oster's forces.
Let alone the might of the United States of Saherta, or the power held by Duke Gruner or the royal family.
Which is why the Revolutionary Army had no choice.
They had to seize every opportunity...
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