Chapter 38: Plan X in Motion
"Father, do you still remember the conversation we had on the airship when I was escorting Ryker to the Heaven's Arena?
Back then, I mentioned how Ryker already had enough confidence or leverage to defy my questions with silence."
"At the time, I assumed his confidence came from the ability to quickly enhance or awaken his eye's powers by killing. But I never expected that the first ability he would awaken would be this troublesome."
"Now, we can almost confirm that Ryker can grow stronger by killing opponents—or at the very least, accelerate the awakening or evolution of his eyes.
If that's the case, shouldn't we consider the possibility that Ryker knew in advance what ability he would awaken? Perhaps he even had the ability to choose it himself."
"If so, he might also be aware of what his eyes can ultimately awaken or develop.
That would explain why his first awakened ability is a spatial nen power, specifically tailored to counter stealth and escape."
"Assuming this hypothesis is correct, he must have planned this for a long time. A seven-year-old child, already devising a way to break free from the family's grasp.
The real issue is this: if his strength continues to grow without a visible limit and he refuses to be bound by any restrictions, it could result in catastrophic consequences—even disaster. "
"I regret my previous decisions now. But who could have predicted that the power hidden in those eyes would be this formidable once awakened?
The key problem now is that I don't know Ryker's true intentions. What does he really want? What is his ultimate goal? And, most importantly, what is his true attitude toward the family?"
"One thing is certain, though—he will definitely try to kill more nen users to further develop his eyes.
I also want to know what other abilities lie within those eyes. When he underwent the Water Divination Test, six different reactions were recorded."
"If the other abilities are as powerful as this spatial one, the Zoldyck family may be raising a monster even more dangerous than our ancestor."
Zeno listened calmly as Silva laid out his concerns.
Then, after a moment of thought, he responded, "Well, fortune and misfortune are two sides of the same coin. Every situation has its duality.
Besides, it hasn't come to that point yet. The children will follow their own paths. But I admit, I'm curious to see how far Ryker can go."
"What happens in the future is your responsibility. However, you should pay close attention to his final words. That might hold the key."
.......
While Silva and Zeno discussed privately, Ryker had already returned to his room, deep in thought about his next move.
Should he head to Meteor City to kill some unfortunate targets and rack up his "exorcism points"? Or should he take on a family-sanctioned assassination mission instead?
As he mulled over his options, he had his butler arrange for a meal. He planned to leave right after eating, so he had to decide quickly.
"Each option has its pros and cons," Ryker thought. "Meteor City is essentially the lawless zone of this world, a place where people disappear every day.
Using Twin Hands to alter my appearance and build, I could target some unlucky souls without drawing too much attention. The problem is the unpredictability of it all."
"What if I run into someone powerful while taking action? Sure, I can escape, but my abilities are too recognizable. I don't want to risk exposing any of my powers during this trip."
"On the other hand, a family-sanctioned mission offers much less uncertainty. It's a targeted operation with fewer variables.
Plus, individual targets likely provide more points than random nobodies in Meteor City."
"But the family will almost certainly monitor me during those missions, which would make it difficult to act freely.
Fine. Meteor City it is. I'll scout the area first, then strike when I find someone isolated."
"Meteor City's current state is even more chaotic than in the canon timeline since its order hasn't yet been restructured.
I heard people speculate in my previous life that Yorknew City was inspired by New York and Meteor City by Chernobyl. Who knows if that's true?"
"System," Ryker called out in his mind. "If I kill members of the Phantom Troupe now, would the points I earn be less than during the canon timeline?"
[Of course] The system replied.
[The exorcism points depend directly on the target's strength. At this stage, they're just ordinary people. The points you'd earn would barely be higher than killing random nobodies.]
"Thought so. I'll leave them for now and deal with them during Yorknew City's arc," Ryker concluded.
"Maybe I can even use the Troupe to facilitate a grand reshuffle in the underworld."
..........
With his plan finalized, Ryker prepared to leave right after his meal. But just as he was about to eat alone, Silva and Kikyo arrived at his room, suggesting they dine together.
The meal passed in near silence, save for one reminder from Silva: Ryker was expected to return home when Kikyo was close to giving birth.
After finishing his meal, Ryker entered the 'Kamui' dimension. From there, he transported himself to the Heaven's Arena instead of going directly to Meteor City.
[AN: The mechanics of Kamui were never fully explained by Kishimoto, so I'm adding my own interpretation here.
Let's assume the destination can be marked using spatial imprints, chakra signatures, or observations made from within the 'Kamui' dimension]
Once at Heaven's Arena, Ryker took a public airship to Yorknew City, stopping there to gather information and familiarize himself with the area before heading to Meteor City.
During the journey, Ryker used Twin Hands to alter his appearance and body shape.
He disguised himself as one of the experimental subjects he had dealt with earlier, using their ID to travel. When he arrived in Yorknew City, he found a socially isolated individual to replace.
His chosen target was Aldrich Shelby, a reclusive web novelist living alone in a rundown apartment. Aldrich had no close ties or significant social interactions, making him the perfect cover.
After scanning Aldrich's memories using Twin Hands, Ryker assumed his identity, completely destroying the original body to erase any evidence.
From now on, the world would know him as Aldrich Shelby—a nondescript figure in a chaotic world, blending seamlessly into the shadows as he prepared to unleash his plans.
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