Transaction X Flower Fragments

A barbecue joint not far from Sky Arena.

On the table were mountains of skewers and several bottles of beer.

Mito had been wondering what Kevin wanted with him the whole way there, but when he saw this scene, he could barely hold it together.

Kevin walked over, sat down on a stool beside the table, and gestured for him to join.

"Sit. Don't be polite."

"That's not the issue here, is it?"

Mito came over, sat down, and complained.

The skewers here were piled into a literal Meat Mountain.

He had never thought he could eat that much. If it was not for him, then all those skewers would surely end up in Kevin's stomach.

Could he really eat that much?

Following the logic of eat more, train more, grow more—

Mito finally felt he had discovered why Kevin's physique was so powerful.

That was, if Kevin could truly finish and digest it all.

"Before we eat, tell me why you asked me here. Before our match, I don't recall ever meeting you."

How could he have any appetite before discussing the matter?

Kevin tore into a skewer and swallowed the meat.

"Don't worry. It's just something ordinary."

As he spoke, Kevin did not bother to hide anything. "During our fight, I noticed that you had something on you... some kind of medicinal ingredient?"

"Medicinal ingredient? On me?"

Mito had considered all sorts of possibilities for why Kevin had sought him out, but this was not one of them.

Mito pointed at himself, then shook his head. "I wasn't injured when I fought you, so naturally I wouldn't have needed any medicinal ingredients. Aside from this staff and the clothes I'm wearing, I don't have anything else on me."

That was precisely why Kevin had called him over.

There was a basic body search before each match to prevent either side from concealing weapons prohibited by the rules.

In matches without Nen abilities, firearms were extremely dangerous.

"That's what I thought too, so I guessed that the medicinal ingredient I need might be on your clothes?"

Kevin could not be sure either.

Mito was somewhat confused by that, but he did not fuss over it. He immediately took off the garment draped over him.

The outer garment with its strong ethnic style was clearly not a robe, but more like a cloak-like piece of attire.

"It's just ordinary clothing. If it can help you, then go ahead."

Kevin accepted it. "Thank you."

He placed a hand over the fabric and slowly examined it.

When his hand brushed the position over the chest, that faint sensation came again. It was extremely subtle; if Kevin had not been so focused during their fight, he would never have noticed it.

"It's here."

Hearing that, Mito curiously looked at his own clothes. Even he had never noticed any so-called "medicinal ingredient" on them.

The garment was predominantly blue, while the patterns along its edges and center were orange-yellow.

The entire outfit had a strong ethnic flair, though it was impossible to tell from which culture.

"This button... it's only this button."

Kevin held up the button and turned to Mito.

Mito nodded. "No problem. Just take it off. It's nothing valuable."

Though it was handmade, it was not worth much.

"Thank you." Kevin thanked him again and removed the button.

Upon closer inspection, he found that the button had a special layered structure in its center, making it look more balanced and giving it an added touch of elegance.

If Kevin had not sensed the material he wanted inside it, it would have been nothing more than a finely crafted button.

When he pried the button open, he found something resembling dried, crushed flower petals sandwiched inside.

"So there's material like that inside the button." Even Mito had not expected it, and he looked rather surprised.

Kevin looked at the button and suddenly asked, "Do you know where else I could find these petals? Or do you still have any left?"

Every material that stirred a sense of longing within Kevin was exceedingly precious.

Mito shook his head. "I don't know about that. This garment was made by the Granny in my tribe, though the buttons might have been made by someone else. I'm not sure. I'll have to go back and ask before I can give you an answer."

Then he added, "But you shouldn't get your hopes up too much. By the time this garment was made, the region where we were staying was already no longer on this continent."

"Hm?" Kevin was puzzled.

Mito explained, "I come from a nomadic people. That might not be quite accurate, but we do migrate every so often."

I understand migration, but migrating to another continent? Is that normal?

"Besides, I came out to travel. It took a lot to get out, so I don't really want to go back so soon."

"Is that so? That's a shame." Kevin was somewhat disappointed, but he was not the type to force others.

After thinking for a moment, he wrote down his phone number.

"This is my number. If you find out anything, please let me know. It's very important to me. I'll give you appropriate compensation, or if there's anything you need, I'll do it if I can."

Mito took the slip of paper and looked at the number on it, appearing somewhat conflicted.

"Would it be too troublesome? If it really is, then forget it."

Mito looked at Kevin. To be honest, Kevin seemed very sincere.

He gritted his teeth, came up with a plan, and said, "How about this? When the time comes, I'll tell you to go to a certain town or region. Wait at the place I specify, and after some time, I'll tell you what I know. If there's any stock left, I'll personally bring it to you."

Though Kevin did not understand why, he nodded without hesitation.

"Sorry to trouble you. Thank you for your help."

He was already thinking about what reward to give Mito later.

"Now that we're done talking, let's eat. I ordered such a big spread, after all. Barbecue isn't much fun alone."

As Kevin spoke, he handed Mito a bottle of beer.

Mito accepted it. After a moment's thought, he smiled as well, and the two clinked bottles.

The meal lasted until late into the night. With enough money on the table, the owner decided to stay open all night.

"You're incredible. You actually finished all that. Is your stomach some kind of huge sack?"

A slightly flushed Mito patted Kevin on the shoulder and asked with a laugh.

"Haha, this is nothing."

"Speaking of which, with your strength, why did it take you several months to reach the 160th Floor?"

Mito himself had reached this point in only half a month. His goal was to make it all the way to the 200th Floor.

"This is also a form of training. Cheers!"

"Alright, cheers!"

The two chatted, ate, and drank.

Only when the moon hung directly overhead did they finally part ways.

Though he had drunk a lot, Kevin was not drunk. Looking at the tiny bit of dried flower-petal fragments inside the button, he murmured, "I wonder if this little amount is enough."