Not much longer after, the bus finally reached Yorknew City.
Conrad stepped out and paused, letting his eyes wander.
Tall buildings stretched upward in every direction, layered with lights, signs, and glass.
"A real metropolis," Conrad thought.
It was easily the biggest city he had seen since arriving in this world.
Everything looked great.
Yorknew felt like a place where opportunities and dangers existed side by side, and Conrad already knew he wouldn't be leaving anytime soon.
"First priority: a place to stay." he said to himself.
He didn't rush.
He avoided places that looked too luxurious those attracted attention.
At the same time, he didn't want anything too cheap either.
Comfort and privacy mattered.
Eventually, he settled on a mid-sized building tucked between larger hotels.
Hotel Lenotri.
It wasn't famous.
It didn't stand out.
Compared to places like Hotel Beitacle the kind of hotel where mafia bodyguards like Squala stayed Lenotri was clearly a lower-tier option.
But that suited Conrad just fine.
He entered the lobby.
The interior was clean but simple.
Polite staff, quiet atmosphere, no unnecessary questions.
Exactly what he wanted.
Conrad rented a room for two weeks, paying 1,000,000 Jenny upfront.
For him, it barely registered as an expense.
For ordinary people, it would have been a small fortune of ten thousand usd.
The receptionist handed him the keycard, and Conrad headed upstairs.
His room was modest but comfortable: a bed, a desk, a bathroom, and a window overlooking the street below.
He placed his bag down and sat on the edge of the bed for a moment.
"This will do," he said quietly.
Yorknew City would be his base for now.
From here, he could observe, plan, and train.
Auctions, underground dealings, Hunters, and Nen users all passed through this city.
If he wanted real experience, this was the place to get it.
Conrad stood and looked out the window.
People moved endlessly below, each with their own goals and secrets.
After settling everything in his room, Conrad sat on the bed for a short moment, letting his thoughts organize themselves.
Then he nodded once, as if confirming a decision, and stood up again.
There was no reason to waste time resting.
Yorknew City was full of resources, and he intended to use them.
He left the hotel and walked a few streets until he found a nearby internet café.
The place was crowded but quiet enough, filled with people typing, gaming, or browsing.
Conrad paid for a terminal, sat down, and cracked his knuckles lightly before turning on the computer.
His goal was clear.
He began searching for martial artists and combat schools in Yorknew City people who accepted students, preferably adults, and who focused on real combat rather than show or sport.
He wasn't looking for fame or tournaments.
"No amount of Nen training will save me if my basics are bad," Conrad thought.
Even with Ten reinforcing his body, he understood one simple truth: technique mattered. Experience mattered.
Raw power without control only led to mistakes.
What happened on the airship and with the Black Merchant had already proven that he lacked real-world combat experience as well as how Nen Users moved and acted.
As he scrolled through results, he noticed many options boxing gyms, mixed martial arts dojos, traditional martial arts schools, and even weapon-focused instructors.
Each choice led his thoughts in a different direction.
That was when a deeper question surfaced in his mind.
"What kind of fighter do I want to be?"
He leaned back slightly in his chair.
Bare-handed combat had clear advantages.
It was always available, hard to disarm, and synergized well with Nen reinforcement.
Many powerful Nen users relied on their bodies alone.
Speed, precision, and aura control could turn fists into lethal weapons.
But weapons had their appeal too.
A sword offered reach, precision, and killing power, like Nobunaga and Feitan from Phantom Troupe.
Other weapons spears, chains, even unconventional tools could be enhanced and specialized through Nen.
Certain Nen categories favored weapon use heavily, and some abilities were clearly designed around them.
"There's also the option of flexibility,"
Conrad thought.
This wasn't just about fighting style.
It would influence his future Nen abilities, his tactics, and even the conditions he might set later.
A sword user thought differently from a brawler.
A weapon specialist planned differently than a close-range fighter.
He saved several potential instructors to a list, marking both bare-handed and weapon-focused options.
There was no rush to decide tonight.
After a while, Conrad shut down the computer and stood up, leaving the café. As he walked back toward his hotel, another important thought crossed his mind.
"Tomorrow morning," he murmured, "I'll do it."
Water Divination.
Learning his Nen category would answer many questions.
It would narrow his choices, show him his natural strengths, and help him avoid inefficient paths.
He had delayed it long enough.
Now that he had a stable place to stay, the timing felt right.
Back in his room, Conrad sat down again and activated Ten, letting his aura flow smoothly.
He didn't train hard this time. He simply maintained control, calming his mind.
"One step at a time," he thought.