The competitors' lounge on the fiftieth floor of Heavens Arena was nothing like the noisy chaos of the ground-floor lobby.
It felt more like an upscale fitness club.
Soft carpet lined the corridors, portraits of past fighting champions hung on the walls, and a faint blend of disinfectant and muscle ointment lingered in the air.
Competitors sat in small groups on the lounge sofas.
Some rested with their eyes closed, while others quietly discussed tactics with their companions. The atmosphere was tense, but it held a sense of order that belonged to the strong.
The arrival of Lin Yan and the two boys drew little attention.
After all, newcomers who jumped straight to the fiftieth floor were uncommon, but a handful appeared every year.
Here, only true strength could earn respect.
The three found a sofa in a corner and sat down.
Gon was still riding the excitement of his earlier match. He perched on the edge of the sofa, swinging his dangling legs as his eyes roamed the room.
"Wow, this place feels so professional! It's completely different from downstairs!"
Killua looked as though he had seen it all before. He pulled a chocolate bar from his pocket, broke off half, and tossed it to Gon. Then he sank lazily into the sofa and spoke around a mouthful.
"Of course. The real matches only start on the fiftieth floor.
"Those ones downstairs are just warm-up games at best."
Lin Yan did not join their chatter.
He filled a cup at the nearby water dispenser and drank slowly, silently reviewing the earlier test.
A moment later, he set down his cup, looked at the two boys still fooling around, and spoke calmly.
"Gon."
"Hm? What is it, Lin Yan?" Gon turned, his mouth still stuffed with chocolate.
"How much strength