After Conrad's thoughts reached that point, the matter had begun to evolve into something entirely different.
What mattered now was no longer merely the fact that his identity had been discovered.
More importantly, perhaps without even realizing it, he might have already fallen within the scope of a Nen ability.
That possibility did not feel pleasant at all.
"If I think about this in the simplest and most standard way…"
"The Hunter Exam, the Hunter License, everything that doesn't exist in the original series… it could all be part of some kind of Specialist Nen ability. The benefits granted by the Hunter License could simply be rewards for being included within the ability itself…"
"The things required to obtain a Hunter License, the people who die during the exam… they could all be used to strengthen the resulting Nen ability. Those who only learn Nen after the Hunter Exam may become even more deeply integrated into the system."
"There's no point saying more without proper investigation and focus."
Conrad first sent a message to every member of his group, informing them that his previous order about becoming Hunters was now revoked. Afterward, he placed his Hunter license onto the table.
"Hmmm…"
"A person can only take the Hunter Exam once. Even if they lose their license, they are still considered a Hunter, yet they are never allowed to retake the exam."
"That rule itself could be a kind of limiter."
"The Hunter Rules may function in the same way—simple restrictive rules integrated into the Nen system as amplifiers."
"If my discovery is also connected to this… then assuming this is a specialist ability…"
"I may unknowingly be under the influence of Manipulator-type Nen abilities as well."
Conrad placed a hand over his head and began thinking deeply.
"Gyo."
He focused slightly and examined the card carefully. It seemed impossible to detect any Nen aura from it.
"Wait a second…"
He picked up the Hunter License and inspected it more closely.
A few seconds later, he noticed a tiny metallic fragment embedded in the bottom-left corner of the license.
He carefully removed the metal piece.
"A strange object," he thought, lightly infusing Nen into it.
The moment his aura entered the fragment, the tiny three-centimeter piece suddenly unfolded into a thin metallic sheet nearly fifteen centimeters long. Though it was as thin as paper, its texture still felt metallic.
"This…"
When Conrad looked closely, he could see a long text written in Ancient Script. The writing had been concealed within symbols and geometric patterns. Someone unfamiliar with Ancient Script would likely never notice it.
Conrad took a deep breath and began translating.
"Conrad Everest – Hunter License, by completion of the rules of the 'Hunter Exam' and given the right to be a 'Hunter' & Conjuration (Hunter License) Conditions (Hunter Exam, Hunter Rules)."
"In return for easy life via Hunter License and agreement between countries that used 'Nen' and have the knowledge of Nen (the result and ability)."
There were more symbols beyond that, but deciphering them would take more time.
"Bastards…" Conrad muttered to himself.
The Hunter License was essentially a trap-based Nen ability that pulled in people who either knew nothing about Nen or, even if they did, had no understanding of Ancient Script.
The only problem was that although Conrad was currently receiving the rewards of being a Hunter, he had no idea what kind of power or control the creator—or creators—of this ability possessed over those who fulfilled its conditions one by one by becoming Hunters.
"This is bad."
"Some of the actions I've taken until now may have been influenced by this Nen ability without me realizing it simply because I became a Hunter. If they can track my location through the Hunter License because of this ability, then the situation becomes far more disturbing…"
"Everything I've done so far, especially actions related to 'hunting'… the deeds that earned me stars… they might also have strengthened the ability itself."
"I don't like this."
"I hate being controlled… being made a fool of like this."
Conrad took a deep breath and began thinking about why Mizaistom had revealed something like this to him.
"Three possibilities come to mind…"
"Either he likes my potential and is trying to recruit and raise me within the Hunter Association."
"Second, perhaps he's trying to demonstrate the power of the Hunter Association."
"Or…"
"Or perhaps there's a situation I simply can't comprehend yet due to my lack of information."
Conrad exhaled slowly.
"But if I can notice this, why haven't Ging and the other powerful Nen users noticed it? What exactly is this connected to?"
Conrad began pacing around the room.
"Maybe they have noticed it. Maybe by the time someone realizes the truth, it's already too late. After all, for someone to be a Nen user before obtaining a Hunter License and then also discover the existence of Ancient Script and understand what it means… that's an incredibly rare combination."
Conrad sat down in his chair and poured himself a glass of whiskey from the bottle on his desk.
"None of that matters right now."
"The most important thing is discovering whatever kind of Nen dominion this Hunter License has established over me… and erasing it."
"If the results aren't what I want… if I discover that the Hunter Association truly carries malicious intent and a desire for control…"
At that moment, Conrad's eyes seemed to sink into a deep void.
The darkness within that void was so black, so dangerous, that even the creatures of Deep Point—beings accustomed to darkness itself—would feel as if they had met true darkness for the first time.
"If I'm not satisfied with the answer…"
"I swear upon my own name and everything I possess…"
"I will hunt every last one of them until the organization known as the Hunter Association ceases to exist!"
The moment Conrad whispered those words aloud, filled with overwhelming negative emotion, his previously calm Ten transformed within seconds into something dark and deadly.
Two seconds later, nearly all of his Nen erupted outward in a black, suffocating wave more than thirty meters long and fifteen meters wide.
Several people within a hundred meters fainted instantly, while everyone within a one-kilometer radius suddenly felt an overwhelming sense of dread and instinctively turned toward the place where Conrad lived.
Turning an ordinary person into a devil and driving them into fury was easy.
But who could endure his cruelty?