The Bet

"What did this guy... do?!"

The moment Ian slowly raised his hand, Feitan's pupils contracted slightly.

Perhaps it was a warning from his sixth sense.

He quickly leaped back several steps, instantly putting distance between himself and Ian.

But even after retreating to a safe enough distance, Feitan's sense of panic did not lessen in the slightest.

Like a cat with its fur standing on end, he stared fixedly at Ian, ready for anything.

At that moment.

He was filled with intense wariness toward Ian, who stood smiling in the distance!

In battles between Nen users, besides all manner of bizarre Nen Abilities, the intense malice between opponents, magnified many times over by Nen, was also part of the fight.

In other words, in a battle between Nen users, an intangible aura could actually kill an enemy!

Killing intent and malice took tangible form in battles between Nen users.

And at this very moment, it was not just Feitan.

Even the people watching the two fight nervously from the sidelines felt an eerie aura of Nen spreading outward with Ian at its center.

"A battle... between Nen users?"

Chrollo watched the two men's movements in the arena, his expression calm, but a glint flashed in his eyes.

The doll in his hand is strange. It appeared out of thin air. Is that a Nen Ability at work...? What makes him so certain he can defeat Feitan...?

Chrollo, who could also sense the Malice Ian was giving off, could not help pondering these questions as he watched the fight.

"So... this is a Nen user?!"

A bead of cold sweat slid down Pakunoda's forehead as she stared blankly at the two men in the arena, her eyes wide.

"What a terrifying aura..."

"He doesn't even look that old, yet he can give off an aura like that..."

Even Franklin, who was usually silent, could not help wiping the sweat from his forehead as he spoke stiffly to Pakunoda.

"Perhaps Feitan shouldn't have opposed him."

Pakunoda simply remained silent.

Not far away, when Machi saw Ian's movement, she breathed a small sigh of relief. Her eyes lit up, and she murmured with a hint of excitement.

"It's Ian's combat tool!"

Hearing her, Nobunaga widened his eyes and asked curiously.

"Is it another one of Ian's new tools?"

"When did he get a combat tool? What does it do?"

Machi shook her head slightly.

"I forgot, but it should be able to deal with Feitan. Ian attaches quite a bit of importance to these combat tools..."

Hearing this, Uvogin grinned and said loudly from beside her.

"Hmph, I believe in Ian."

"This time, let him teach that brat Feitan a good, hard lesson."

"But... if this combat tool works well, once Ian's done fighting, I'd like to borrow it to improve my strength through actual combat. Machi, you'll have to put in a good word for me then."

At Uvogin's words, Machi's pretty face reddened, while Nobunaga's eyes widened as he spoke in disbelief.

"You idiot, Uvogin! I can't believe you thought of that!"

"Machi, make sure you tell Ian to lend it to me first. That idiot can have it when I'm done!"

"Damn it, Nobunaga, are you looking for a fight?!"

"Bring it on! You think I'm scared of you?!"

"You two idiots, shut up and watch Ian fight!"

In the end, it was Machi who coldly put an end to their quarrel.

And at that moment.

Feitan was the one having the hardest time in the arena.

Feitan did not know how the others felt, but as the target, he felt it most keenly and could not voice his suffering.

Enveloped in Malice, he felt as though a grotesque, sinister grin hung high in the air, looking down at him mockingly.

Is this bastard trying to make a fool of me?!

He gritted his teeth, forcibly suppressing the panic caused by the Malice, and stared at Ian with an icy gaze.

Whatever this guy's up to, as long as I land another hard hit on him like before, I can finish him off!

Meanwhile, in the arena.

Ian looked completely relaxed. After summoning the Trip Expert, he smiled at Feitan as though somewhat relieved.

He flicked the 100 Jenny coin gently into the air with his right thumb and smiled.

"Don't be nervous, Feitan. We're only opponents, sparring with each other this time, not enemies fighting to the death..."

"Of course, I'm going to pay you back double for provoking me again and again..."

As he spoke, he caught the coin after it fell from the air, glanced at it, and smiled.

"Finding a coin like this here in Meteor City really wasn't easy..."

"But it really is the key item that will decide the winner between us. After all, I have almost no experience in combat at the moment, while you, Feitan, know nothing about Nen Abilities."

"So, our fight is fairly even, wouldn't you say...?"

Hearing Ian's words, Feitan gave him an icy look and said coldly.

"You talk too much..."

"If you want to beat me, your mouth alone won't do it. Try your best to hurt me first..."

In the fight just now, Feitan had confirmed one thing.

Ian really was a complete novice when it came to actual combat, just as he had said!

Feitan was confident that, given the slightest opening, he could beat Ian to his knees and make him beg for mercy without taking a scratch himself!

What Feitan did not realize, however, was that.

The gap between the information the two sides possessed was far too great...

"Since you're so confident, Feitan, how about a bet?"

Ian did not get angry at Feitan's words. He simply kept smiling as he asked.

"What bet?"

Feitan asked coldly.

"A fight without a bet is too boring. If you lose this match, find me 1,000 coins in the future, the same kind I'm using today. How about it? That's not too much to ask, is it?"

After listening, Feitan glanced at the coin and sneered, then said coldly.

"What if I win?"

Hearing this, Ian grinned and smiled faintly, his smile looking rather innocent. He rubbed his chin and said casually.

"Although that's almost impossible, if you can win, I can grant you one wish..."

At those words, Feitan's gaze grew even colder.

He felt the other man was taking him for a fool.

But just as he was about to mock him.

Ian, standing in the distance, was already staring at him, his gaze turning slightly serious as he spoke first.

"Don't dismiss what I'm saying, Feitan. This might be your only chance in your entire life to get this close to making a wish!"

For some reason.

Hearing this, Feitan actually froze for a moment, and a thought did flash through his mind.

Just as he was about to say something.

"Clink!"

A coin dropped into the machine with a crisp sound.

Ian had already taken a step back with a smile. He gently set the mechanical doll in its green suit on the ground, then looked up at Feitan and chuckled.

"Well then, Feitan, the conversation's over. Next, please give it everything you've got..."

"Trip Expert, go beat him!"

As Ian's words fell.

The next moment, the eyes behind the sunglasses of the mechanical doll in the green suit suddenly flashed. Its cold-faced head jerked up, and it fixed its gaze on Feitan in the distance.

Feitan felt the hairs on his body stand on end under its gaze, as though he were being stared down by some savage beast.