Conrad counted the money once he was far from the alley.
He didn't rush.
He walked calmly through a quieter street, then stopped near a closed storefront and checked the pouches again to be sure.
Around three hundred thousand Jenny.
It was more than he expected from two low-level gang members.
Not enough to feel rich, but enough to breathe easily.
A basic room in Zaban City cost around ten thousand Jenny per night.
Food was cheap if he avoided restaurants.
Even with conservative spending, this amount could keep him going for about a week.
That would normally be fine.
But Conrad had no intention of staying in Zaban City that long.
Two or three days at most, he thought.
Zaban City was small.
If he wanted information, contacts, and real opportunities, there was only one direction to go.
Yorknew City.
Zaban was a place to pass through.
He didn't waste time lingering on the thought.
Standing still for too long made people noticeable.
The building stood out even through the falling snow.
Tall. Wide. Blue-tinted glass panels covering most of the exterior, reflecting the grey sky and city lights.
It looked cleaner and more modern than most buildings in Zaban City.
A sign above the entrance read:
Blue Glass Hotel
Conrad stopped across the street and looked at it for a moment.
Then he smiled.
"So it's here," he whispered.
He nodded once to himself.
This place wasn't just any hotel.
It was the first location where Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio believed the Hunter Exam would take place.
Conrad remembered it clearly.
He shifted his gaze slightly to the right.
Across the street was a familiar sight a modest restaurant.
Nothing special at first glance.
Meat dishes advertised on the window.
Warm light inside.
That's the place, he thought.
The geography matched.
He crossed the street and stood in front of the hotel entrance.
People came and went travelers, merchants, locals with money to spend.
No one paid him special attention.
Good.
He entered.
The inside was warm and bright. Polished floors. A wide lobby.
The receptionist looked up.
Conrad approached the counter.
"One room," he said. "Two nights."
The receptionist glanced at him briefly, then named the price.
Thirty thousand jenny.
Conrad paid without hesitation.
Upstairs, his room was clean and quiet.
Not luxurious, but comfortable.
A bed, desk, bathroom. Thick curtains blocking out the snow-lit city.
He locked the door and placed the remaining Jenny carefully inside his bag.
Then he sat down on the bed.
"Alright," he said quietly. "Let's think."
First priority: dates.
This was important.
He needed to know whether the Hunter Exam had already started, was about to start, or was still far off.
Acting too early or too late could change everything.
He closed his eyes and focused.
He began recalling the timeline.
Gon leaves Whale Island at age twelve.
The Hunter Exam happens shortly after.
Yorknew Arc comes later after Zoldyck Family Arc and Heavens Arena Arc.
The Phantom Troupe appears publicly around that time.
That meant he had a narrow window.
If he stayed too long in Zaban, he risked missing early developments. If he rushed blindly, he risked walking into things he wasn't ready for.
Two or three days, he reaffirmed.
Yorknew City was his next target.
He stood up and opened the curtain slightly.
Snow continued to fall, softer now. The city lights reflected off the glass buildings, turning the streets pale blue.
"This world is really like the series," he murmured.
Not just similar.
Identical in structure.
That made things easier and more dangerous.
Because knowing the plot didn't mean controlling it.
Conrad lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling.
He didn't feel anxious.
He felt focused.
That was more than most people ever got.
Tomorrow, he would gather information quietly.
Ask the right questions.
Listen more than he spoke.
He would confirm dates. Transportation routes. Any rumors about Hunters or the Exam.
After that, he would leave Zaban City behind.
After settling on his plan, Conrad removed his coat and placed his belongings neatly beside the bed.
He sat down on the floor, crossed his legs, and closed his eyes.
He began with Ten.
His aura spread naturally across his body, forming a stable and even layer.
He paid close attention to consistency, correcting small fluctuations before they could grow.
Ten was about patience more than force.
He maintained it calmly, letting it become part of his breathing.
Next came Ren.
Conrad increased his aura output slowly. He did not push for strength.
Instead, he focused on control raising the flow, stabilizing it, then lowering it again.
Each cycle became smoother than the last.
After that, he shifted into Zetsu.
His aura withdrew completely. The familiar sense of vulnerability returned, but he held it without panic.
Finally, he practiced Gyo.
He concentrated aura into his eyes in small amounts, testing precision rather than intensity.
The strain was noticeable, but manageable.
Two to three hours passed without him noticing.
When he finally opened his eyes, his body felt light, but stable.
He reviewed the results honestly.
His progress was fast, aided by his deep theoretical understanding and the support of his system.
Still, it was only the beginning.