Ronin pulled out a card. "So you really don't want me to do anything about it?"
"Bro, I was wrong!" Neon caved instantly. "When Kurapika was talking with Milia, I secretly added her."
"Why'd you add her?" Ronin looked at her suspiciously.
"Everyone knows her. I wanted to know her too." Neon spread her hands—simple, straightforward.
"Fine." Ronin casually tossed the card to her. "There's one hundred million jenny in it. That should be enough for you."
"Thanks, bro! You're the best!" Neon switched to shameless flattery in a second—nothing like the spoiled rich girl in the manga.
"Stop. I prefer you normal." Ronin got goosebumps.
After spending so much time together, Neon had lost that gloomy vibe. She'd become livelier and livelier.
And she was completely different from the girl Ronin remembered from the manga.
Brighter. More confident. The arrogant, bratty streak had already been ground down by months of training.
Now she really felt like his little sister.
Laughing and bickering, the two soon arrived at the bidding market.
Numpis' auction had more high-end items, but the Troupe would most likely be active there today.
Ronin didn't feel like stirring that hornet's nest yet, so he chose the bidding market instead—just to experience Yorknew's auction fever.
They parked outside the district. The market area was cordoned off, with tourists wandering between stalls. Each stall displayed auction items openly.
If you liked something, you wrote your price on the bid sheet beside it. If no one offered higher within the time limit, you bought it.
"Finding bargains at markets" was one of the Hunter world's signature pastimes.
Ronin didn't care much about most of it, but he still focused Nen into his eyes and looked around.
If he could stumble onto a real treasure, the mood would be nice.
Neon was excited at first, but it didn't last long—this kind of auction rarely had things that interested her.
Ronin placed a few bids too, but quickly lost interest. He'd rather go to a convention or play a few rounds of tabletop games than waste time here.
"Let's go."
So after only a short walk, the two agreed and went to eat.
While waiting for food, Neon studied Ronin curiously. "So… after the Phantom Troupe thing is over, what will you do?"
"Become a professional Hunter, then become a Floor Master at Heavens Arena, wait for the martial arts tournament, and win it," Ronin said, laying out his plan. "In my free time I'll read manga, play games, hit fan events, and travel around."
"That's… pretty relaxed, besides the fighting," Neon said, surprised.
"Fighting's kind of my new hobby," Ronin said, lifting his coffee. "It's like… having something worth showing off and not showing it off would feel like a waste."
"What?" Neon didn't get it.
"It means if you've got something to brag about and you don't brag a little, what's the point?" Ronin laughed.
In short: if you're strong, you've gotta flex sometimes.
Ronin admitted he was that shallow.
"What about you?" Ronin asked back.
Neon followed his gaze out the window. "Me? I haven't decided. But maybe I'll become a Hunter too—and look for things that interest me… things I want to collect."
"That's good," Ronin leaned back in his chair. "If you become a Hunter, at least you'll have targets to hunt. As for me… what would I hunt?"
Images flashed through Ronin's mind—Kite, Netero, the Ant King…
Strong people.
It felt like he had a warlike gene in his bones. Being hunted by the Troupe hadn't scared him much; it had left excitement hiding in the pit of his stomach.
His solo fight with Uvogin had released that buried violence, and when he stomped Uvogin's head, he'd felt nothing but satisfaction.
When he met Hisoka at Semetari, he hadn't used ninjutsu—not because he feared being recognized, but because he enjoyed the raw close-quarters brawl.
Even when the Troupe appeared in the basement, his main body up on the roof had felt an urge to jump in.
And Ronin knew it: when he first saw Silva and Zeno in that room, he'd felt a hunter's thrill.
If he could fight either of them with everything on the line… how intoxicating would that be?
But with the Troupe still a threat—and without total confidence he could win—he chose restraint.
As for the Dark Continent and the Five Great Calamities, Ronin wasn't interested.
Compared to leaving Lake Mobius for the Dark Continent, he preferred the neon lights here… and the spotlight of an arena.
The food arrived.
Ronin ate distractedly. Neon also stopped talking.
But as the meal neared its end, Ronin noticed more and more police cars appearing in the streets.
He frowned. The police cars were heading in the direction of the Adan Hotel.
A bad feeling rose in his chest.
Ronin pulled out his phone and called Kurapika.
Seeing Ronin's reaction, Neon put down her utensils too, worry showing in her eyes.
No answer.
Ronin stood up. In a blur, he was already outside the restaurant—still dialing as he sprinted toward the hotel.
Midway, electricity burst over his body—
Lightning Release Chakra Mode.
In that instant, Ronin became a streak of lightning. Only a faint arc remained behind on the street. Ordinary people didn't even register someone passing—only a sudden gust of wind.
Before he even got close to Adan Hotel, black smoke entered his view.
His calls still didn't connect.
The smoke was rising from the upper floors of Adan.
Ronin's mind raced. He cast Shadow Clone immediately.
The clone sped toward the hotel even faster, while Ronin himself canceled Lightning Chakra Mode, slowed down, and re-applied disguise before approaching.
Police cars crowded the area below. People gathered to watch. In the noisy chaos, Ronin heard talk of someone falling from the building.
He shoved through the crowd and stopped at the police tape. Looking past the busy officers, he saw a body covered in a white sheet.
His heart began pounding uncontrollably.
Ronin raised a hand, Nen gathering, then flicked upward.
A sudden wind burst through the still air. The sheet was lifted—
and the body beneath was exposed.
All illusions shattered in that moment.
Because the corpse on the ground was someone Ronin knew.
The one who always called him "nii-san Ronin."
Kurapika.
But… how could that be?
~~~
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