After killing both men, Conrad did not linger.
He moved immediately, blending back into the flow of the city.
Only when he was certain no one was following did he push open the door of a small, cheap diner glowing under yellow lights.
Conrad walked straight to the bathroom without ordering.
He locked the door, turned on the tap, and stared at his reflection in the cracked mirror.
He washed them carefully.
Then he splashed water on his face and leaned forward.
A deep breath left his chest.
"Kakin is already aware of me," he thought.
"They have counter nen users active against people like me."
This was not the kind of response a minor artifact would provoke.
From every kind of point of view, Conrad was able to see that whoever wanted to protect the Staff of Germanis had high resources, and people who wanted to have it had enough resources and will to get it.
"All this shows one thing,"
"The Staff of Germanis is a much bigger hunt than I expected."
He closed his eyes for a moment.
"A simple post-mortem object of an ancient Nen user…"
"That's what I told myself, which I have learned."
At this point, he had already confirmed at least eight separate points of interference.
"Two from Kakin's side,"
"Lionel and Etila."
He remembered the mercenaries' fear when those names were spoken.
Those mercenaries clearly added that these two were not ordinary people but Nen users.
In their eyes they have supernatural powers, but as always, supernatural power in this world means "Nen" in most cases.
"Two from the Blood Fang group."
"Four hunters that I have encountered in the Broken Man Inn."
Eight Nen users, minimum.
Conrad straightened.
This was no longer a matter of ambition.
"The mission is too hard,"
"And too risky for me right now."
"I trust myself and my mental control as well as mastery."
"But the staff itself is not worth it."
"Especially for an individual like me with the ability to keep creating more Nen abilities."
"If I want a real chance to take the Staff from this kind of opposition,"
"I need either a backup of a military-level group or Nen users that I can rely on…"
"…or I need more abilities."
At least one or two more that directly improved his combat power and utility.
He glanced at his reflection again.
"Right now, with only Black Ring—State of Calm,"
"I don't have the tools to clear this mission."
Conrad knew that this mission he wanted to complete was not a duel.
It was more of a chain of missions and things that he had to complete.
Fighting against the military, the Nen users, keeping the item even if he can get hold of it, and the unknown Nen users with their abilities.
All of these things, frankly, even if he did not want to admit it, made him scared.
"When I watched the series or read about it, the people seemed courageous and disregarded their own lives for the purpose of getting what they wanted."
"It seems like for an individual like from Earth, disregarding life in return for the goal is not realistic."
"At least not warranted right now."
Conrad exhaled slowly.
He unlocked the bathroom door and returned to the diner floor.
He sat at a booth near the wall and ordered a full meal.
While waiting, he opened his bag and pulled out his laptop.
His fingers moved quickly.
He did not hesitate.
He booked a ticket to Heaven's Arena.
The confirmation blinked on the screen.
After that, he closed the laptop and focused on eating.
Only after finishing did the doubt creep in.
"Did I decide too quickly?" he wondered.
"Am I being too cautious?"
He took a sip of water and shook his head slightly.
"No," he decided.
He paid, stood, and left the diner without looking back.
Within hours, he was aboard an airship.
Conrad rested his head back.
"Given enough time,"
"There's no Nen user I can't handle."
His system allowed him something most Nen users never had.
"I thought it would be easier," he admitted.
He closed his eyes.
"I'm not going to risk my life for the staff right now."
There was no bitterness in the thought.
"I have time," he reminded himself.
"All the time I need."