"It would be much easier if you weren't so clueless."
The girl placed the items in her hands onto the table and began tidying up.
"My name is Machi. I don't know what you went through before arriving here, but I've got some bad news for you: this is Meteor Street."
"Judging by the clothes you were wearing, you must have come from a pretty decent background. But here, no one cares about your past. If you want to survive, you'll have to work for it."
It really is her.
Just hearing her name was enough for Kai Vexley to confirm her identity.
As Machi spoke, fragments of deeply buried memories began to resurface in Kai's mind.
Meteor Street—a place unlike any other in the world of Hunter x Hunter.
It covered an area roughly the size of a small country—almost 6,000 square kilometers—with a population of around ten million. Yet, officially, it was considered nothing more than a massive wasteland. No people, no laws, no records.
Trash, toxins, broken weapons, abandoned infants, fugitives—everything that the world discarded was dumped here.
And yet, the people of Meteor Street accepted it all without question. They lived off the world's waste and built a society in the shadows.
There were no laws, no government.
But that didn't mean there was no order.
Meteor Street was managed by four councils of elders. They maintained contact with the outside world, preserved internal stability, and ensured survival for the residents.
"By the way, I took your clothes and traded them for supplies. Consider it our fee for saving you."
Machi paused for a moment and rummaged through her pocket.
"You can wear this from now on."
She tossed him a set of gray clothes.
Judging from the faded color and countless stitch marks, the outfit had clearly been through a lot.
Kai caught it instinctively and, upon inspecting it, was surprised to see that the tears had been carefully mended by hand.
It was clear that no ordinary merchant had done this.
"So, the rumors were true," he thought. "Machi really does have a sensitive and meticulous side."
She remained expressionless, cold as ever, as she continued tidying the room.
When she was done, Kai asked, "You mentioned 'we' earlier—who else helped save me?"
"Uvogin and Nobunaga. They found you unconscious in the street and brought you here."
There was no trace of pride in her voice—just plain facts.
As soon as Kai heard those names, images of two distinct figures formed in his mind: one, a bearded giant; the other, a rugged swordsman.
They were among his favorite characters in the Troupe. In his opinion, apart from Machi, they were the most grounded members—men who didn't seem to be ruled by twisted personalities like the others.
"Eat something. You're still weak and need to rest."
Just as Kai began to feel touched, Machi added coldly:
"Once you're better, you'll be working with me. And don't forget—you owe us.
Lodging, food, medical treatment—based on your age, your labor is worth one credit."
Kai's forehead creased in irritation, but he knew she was right.
That was the harsh reality of Meteor Street.
No one gave without expecting something in return. Even children had to earn their keep.
In short—it was survival of the fittest.
"I understand."
---
Lunch was a simple bowl of watery porridge.
No sides, no extras.
Yet despite its plainness, Kai devoured it with delight—perhaps it was the hunger.
"One of the few benefits of being young," he thought. "If I were an adult, this would barely touch my stomach."
He could feel the warmth of the porridge spreading from his stomach to the rest of his body, and even his aura nodes seemed to be flowing more smoothly.
After only ten minutes of rest, Machi was already dressed in protective gear, preparing to head out again.
She didn't need to say anything—Kai understood.
This place was already difficult to survive in. Now, with an extra mouth to feed, the burden had only increased.
---
Three days passed.
By then, Kai's wounds had begun to heal. The scars were forming, and the internal damage had been soothed by his aura.
Sitting cross-legged on the bed, he quietly practiced the Four Major Principles of Nen.
They were:
Ten (Wrap): Maintaining aura around the body to form a protective barrier.
Zetsu (Suppress): Closing the aura nodes to erase one's presence and focus on healing.
Ren (Refine): Intensifying aura output for bursts of power, though it consumes energy quickly.
Hatsu (Manifest): The individual expression of Nen, tailored to a person's unique nature.
Through meditation, theory, and practice—especially with the aid of his Nen ability, [Virtual Reality]—Kai had made rapid progress.
At this point, his strength far exceeded what Gon and Killua had when they first entered the Heavens Arena.
His potential was staggering.
"It's time to show that girl what I'm really capable of," he muttered to himself.
He had endured enough.
Kai Vexley wasn't the type to sit around and be a helpless child.