After testing his strength against the Testing Gates,
Conrad did not linger.
The moment the bus that brought them to the gates was ready to take the tourists back down the mountain, he boarded and took a seat near the window.
He did not look back.
There was no reason to.
"If I keep spending my time here, one way or another I will get their attention, and I do not want to get any kind of attention from the Zoldyck Family."
"If they suspect that I work for somebody that may be their enemy, they would kill first and ask questions later."
"I should not be thinking from the perspective of the protagonist of the series and/or other people."
"Their actions and thoughts against strangers may be much more strict and direct."
"No need to take risks on those matters."
He had not come seeking recognition.
The Zoldyck estate was not a place where one casually introduced themselves, and Conrad had no business with the family.
Testing the gates had been enough.
As the bus pulled away, Conrad rested his head lightly against the glass, eyes half-closed.
"They probably noticed, but noticing isn't the same as caring."
If the Zoldycks knew of him, they would file the information away and move on unless he gave them a reason not to.
Conrad had made sure he hadn't.
Just strength.
That was all.
Ten minutes after the bus vanished from sight, the area around the testing gate returned to its usual stillness.
Zebro stood near his post, arms folded loosely, gaze resting on the massive stone doors as he had done countless times before.
"What a great young man he was, at most, in his early twenties."
"He is most likely capable of using nen in some way but never used it when he tested the gates..." he thought as he remembered Conrad.
Footsteps approached from behind.
Zebro did not turn immediately.
He already knew who it was.
A young woman with dark skin and black hair stopped beside him.
"Oh," Zebro said with a small smile as he turned. "Miss Canary."
Canary gave a polite nod in return.
"Zebro," she greeted.
For a brief moment, neither spoke.
Canary's gaze rested on the Testing Gate, then shifted to the spot where Conrad had stood earlier.
"That man," she said at last. "The one who pushed the gate."
Zebro followed her eyes, then looked back at her.
"What do you think about him?"
Zebro did not answer immediately.
He scratched his cheek once, then clasped his hands behind his back.
"I didn't feel any hostility," he said finally.
Canary listened carefully.
"He didn't look nervous," Zebro continued. "Didn't look like he was trying to prove anything either. Just… testing himself."
Canary narrowed her eyes slightly, considering that.
"He opened the first gate," she said.
Zebro nodded.
"And stopped at the second. Didn't force it."
"So, he just tested himself and stopped when he wanted..." Canary murmured.
"I also think he knew the family and did not want to get most of our attention."
Zebro smiled faintly.
"That's what I thought too."
She remained silent for a few seconds.
To most people, Canary appeared calm, but Zebro had worked long enough at the estate to recognize when someone was thinking deeply.
Zebro also knew that compared to other butlers, Canary was more of a warm individual.
Due to the professionalism that was expected from butlers, she put on a cold air around strangers, most of the time due to her training also, but Zebro was an old man compared to her and knew that she was a kind soul.
But of course, this did not mean anything.
As long as the order is given by the Zoldyck Family or head butler, she will do any kind of vile act to complete her mission.
"He wasn't here for us," Zebro added.
"Or for the family. If he was, he would've stayed longer. Asked questions. Tried to get closer."
Canary exhaled softly.
"So he was just passing through," she said.
"That's how it felt," Zebro replied. "Like a traveler checking the weather."
Canary nodded once, as if confirming something internally.
"I see."
She turned away from the gate and took a step back, already preparing to leave.
Zebro hesitated, then spoke.
"Miss Canary?"
She paused and looked back at him.
"You don't usually ask about tourists," he said gently. "Was this… a request?"
Canary held his gaze for a moment.
Then, slowly, she shook her head.
"No," she said. "Just personal curiosity."
Zebro chuckled softly.
"Is that so?"
"Yes."
She gave a short bow and began walking away.
Zebro watched her go, a question lingering on his tongue.
He wondered if her curiosity came from experience or something else entirely.
But the thought passed just as quickly as it came.
Some questions were better left unasked.
Especially in this place.
Zebro turned back to the Testing Gate, resuming his post as if nothing had happened. The stone doors stood silent and unmoving, as they always did.
Somewhere far from Kukuroo Mountain, Conrad was already moving on.
After Conrad left the bus, he directly ordered a ticket and went back to the Heavens Arena.
He wanted to keep on training to get ready for the next battle.
He believed the more he trains now in terms of nen and physical capability, the more he will reap what he sows.
If the timeline is right, the events of Chimera Ant and everything should be around two and a half years; he may be wrong, but if he wanted to take part and have fun at those events, he needed more power.