Hearing this, Kastro did not immediately agree but looked at Vega with cautious eyes.
The sudden appearance of this sixteen or seventeen-year-old boy, who then offered to teach Nen to him—it all made Kastro suspicious. He couldn't believe someone would willingly help him and teach such a powerful skill without reason.
He had been practicing for so long, even during his penance in other countries, but he had never heard anyone mention Nen. It must be very rare or precious, not something easily taught.
"I want to know why," Kastro asked directly after thinking it over for a long time.
"Because of your qualifications!" Vega replied casually. "You don't think it's easy to learn, do you? Do you think everyone has the same qualifications?"
"In my opinion, you have the potential to become a first-class Nen user, and I fancy your qualifications. I want you to become my subordinate."
"And," Vega chuckled, "even if I didn't tell you about Nen now, when you climb the 200th floor, you would have to learn it anyway. So why not tell you in advance?"
Kastro's face soured at Vega's last words. Before knowing about Nen, he had thought the 200th floor just meant stronger martial artists, but now he realized without Nen, going up there would be a death sentence.
Since Vega revealed Nen was that powerful, the martial artists on those floors must be even stronger.
Once in a fight, Kastro feared he'd be slaughtered.
Seeing Kastro's hesitation, Vega shook his head and said casually, "Don't worry. If you agree to be my subordinate, I will help you open your Nen, teach you cultivation methods, how to use it, and precautions."
"You're free to act as you please. Only when I assign a task will you need to move. It won't affect your life."
"Don't worry, this will only happen once or twice a year at most."
Kastro's heart shook at this. If he hadn't known about Nen before, he might not have cared, but now knowing this power, he couldn't help but want it.
Vega didn't push further but told Kastro to think carefully.
Taking Kastro as a subordinate was just a whim after meeting him.
Even if Kastro refused, Vega wouldn't mind.
"I… I'm willing to be your subordinate," Kastro finally said after struggling for a moment, bowing his head.
Such an opportunity was rare. He couldn't afford to give it up and travel the world hoping to find a way to master Nen.
As for fighting on the 200th floor and surviving by luck to obtain Nen, Kastro didn't think about that anymore.
He had seen many martial artists on the 200th floor missing limbs or crippled—not just from fierce fighting but likely from the process of obtaining Nen.
So, for Nen, he was willing to temporarily become someone's subordinate, but not to become a cripple.
Hearing Kastro's agreement, a meaningful smile appeared on Vega's face.
Since arriving at the Sky Arena, he had unexpectedly gained a subordinate like Kastro. It seemed to be a lucky day.
"Since you're willing, do you want to open Nen in the orthodox way or master it faster?" Vega asked with satisfaction.
"Orthodox, fast," Kastro answered, confused, "Is there a difference?"
Vega shrugged and replied indifferently, "No difference in mastery, but the orthodox method takes years of cultivation and is safer."
"The other is more radical: I inject Nen directly into your body, open your orifice, and if you control the emitted energy quickly, you succeed."
"Though the second method is riskier, it's faster, requires less strength, and anyone with passable qualifications can do it."
"I choose the second," Kastro said without hesitation.
"Alright, since you've chosen, I'll start your Nen awakening immediately!" Vega said happily and led Kastro to his private room.
He then explained the precautions.
Nen is formed by the fusion of life energy and willpower.
The first condition to learn Nen is controlling your life energy.
"Wait a moment, I will inject Nen into your body. The moment your orifice opens, you'll lose life energy. You must control it quickly."
He explained the four major nen techniques again.
When Kastro was ready, he punched his nen into his body.
In an instant, a breath of nen burst forth from him.