Ronin's preparations went quickly. In just a few days, everything was more or less ready.
They would set sail in February.
Using Owl's ability, Ronin stored away a large number of ships. There might be some trouble when it came time to use them, though. After all, Owl's ability could not retrieve only one specific item.
In addition, Shizuku's Blinky was packed with a huge amount of daily necessities, from various compressed foods and canned goods to clothing, tents, binoculars, and more.
In short, Kurapika handed over everything he could think of that might prove useful to Shizuku.
That meant the most important person in this operation was Shizuku.
On February 1st, Neon performed a fortune-telling for everyone.
There were no warning lines about death or accidents, but everyone knew the first month was not the critical point.
According to the nautical chart Chairman Netero had provided, they would spend the first month or so sailing through known waters.
That area could not be called completely calm and peaceful, but it was still relatively safe.
Only after they crossed that region and entered unexplored waters would the real danger arrive.
Once they reached that point, Neon would perform another fortune-telling.
However, even if a prophecy of death appeared then, Ronin and the others would not stop. They would only make different choices to avoid the risk of death.
No matter how one looked at it, Neon's ability would be enormously useful.
After all, the prophecy would clearly provide hints about the circumstances of death.
Compared to Hisoka, the person Ronin contacted in the end was Saiyu.
Although Hisoka would be coming to find him within the next two days, in Ronin's eyes, Saiyu was the safest choice when it came to retrieving the Scarlet Eyes.
Hisoka arrived on February 4th.
Ronin had not rushed to leave precisely because he was waiting for him.
After all, Hisoka could still be considered one of Abaki's lingering attachments. Unfortunately, after arriving, Hisoka only chatted with Abaki for a few sentences before focusing all his attention on Ronin.
Even without actually fighting, just the pull of their auras against each other made Hisoka feel his cells trembling.
Because Ronin was simply wonderful.
Hisoka could clearly sense that Ronin had grown stronger than the last time they met.
In fact, at this moment, Hisoka deeply realized that if Ronin fought him without holding back, the one who lost would definitely be him.
Hisoka even wondered whether his current self could really force Ronin to use his full strength.
"Chrollo didn't die unjustly at your hands. It's just a little regrettable," Hisoka said from the heart.
He was not feeling sorry for Chrollo.
He was feeling sorry for himself.
Because by comparison, Chrollo was the one truly suited to fighting him. Ronin's growth speed was too fast. He had already completely surpassed the level Hisoka could deal with at this stage.
"So? Want to have a match?" Ronin took the initiative to invite him.
This time, he had no intention of using ninjutsu. He planned to fight Hisoka with taijutsu alone, specifically with the Eight Gates.
To Ronin's surprise, however, Hisoka shook his head.
"Forget it," Hisoka said. "If we fought now, I'd only be fighting a version of you who couldn't cut loose at all. That would be far too boring."
"Weren't you the one who asked for this?" Ronin asked in confusion.
"Mm. I changed my mind," Hisoka replied without the slightest burden.
"Fine." Ronin nodded indifferently. Hisoka was a Transmuter, after all, so Ronin really could not say much about it. "Then what are you planning to do next?"
Ronin did not mind adding another layer of insurance for Saiyu, as long as money would solve the issue.
"What are you people planning to do?" Hisoka asked in return, looking at the ships on the pier.
"Go outside." Ronin pointed into the distance. "To a place that doesn't really match what you're pursuing. Interested?"
In Ronin's view, Hisoka and Chairman Netero were more or less the same type of person. Both were beings pursuing the limits of martial strength. It was just that Hisoka was far more twisted than Chairman Netero.
While Hisoka pursued the thrill of battle, he also satisfied his own interest in nurturing prey.
"Not at all." Hisoka immediately lost interest. "It's the Dark Continent, right? I know."
"Then do you want to take on a job?" Ronin continued asking.
"What kind?" This time, Hisoka showed a little interest.
"The job is still a long way off. If you can go to Yorknew three years from now, help someone at the appropriate time," Ronin said.
Hisoka thought for a moment.
"Sure. But if we have a chance to meet again three years from now, I'll challenge you again."
"Forget it. Pick another condition," Ronin said. He did not want to hurt Hisoka's pride, but he still answered honestly. "You already aren't my match now. In three years, the gap between us will only be bigger. By then, even ten of you might not be enough to beat me."
"You really say things that make people want to punch you," Hisoka said, narrowing his eyes.
If someone else had said that, he would have thought they were far too arrogant. Even if the person saying it was stronger than him, Hisoka would still have had the confidence to argue back.
But the person saying it was Ronin.
The same guy who had used only about two years to raise his strength to a level Hisoka could no longer defeat.
So Hisoka truly could not find a rebuttal.
"You can't beat me," Ronin said, spreading his hands.
"Then when the time comes, you'll do one thing for me too," Hisoka said, giving a new condition.
"What thing?" Ronin had no intention of falling into some kind of trap.
"It won't be something that makes things difficult for you. If you really think you can't do it, you'll have the right to refuse. How's that?" Hisoka currently had nothing he needed Ronin's help with.
Ronin thought it over, then nodded.
"Fine."
"By the way, have you ever thought about going to the Zoldyck family and trying your luck?" Hisoka suddenly said.
Those words made Ronin's gaze shift slightly as he looked at him.
In Ronin's eyes, the only existence in the Zoldyck family truly worth contacting was Nanika, who was still locked underground.
But no matter how good the relationship between Illumi and Hisoka was, Ronin did not believe Illumi would tell Hisoka information like that.
Which made Hisoka's meaning rather intriguing.
"Supposedly, Zigg Zoldyck once went to the Dark Continent together with Chairman Netero. If you have enough money, maybe you can get some information from him," Hisoka said, not giving Ronin much time to speculate before revealing his thoughts.
"You're that kind-hearted?" Ronin looked at him in surprise.
"Illumi went home."
Leaving those words behind, Hisoka turned and walked away.
"Whether you go or not is up to you. I'm leaving."
Only then did Ronin understand Hisoka's real intention.
This guy knew about the relationship between Ronin and Illumi. Since Hisoka had not managed to find an opening against Ronin himself, he apparently wanted to drag Illumi, who had also offended him, into the water.
But should Ronin make a trip to the Zoldyck family?
Ronin hesitated.
It would delay him quite a bit. More importantly, the Zoldyck family was filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. The person he truly wanted to contact, Nanika, would never appear.
If he wanted to make contact with Nanika, he would have to wait until Killua awakened and remembered Alluka.