And so, Ging used his ridiculously extravagant methods to squeeze into this small team—though not exactly as the team's official second-in-command.
Once inside, he began sharing his extensive understanding of the Dark Continent with everyone present.
He spoke of calamities and hope, of the terrifying natural environment, and broke down past failure cases from the 149 recorded expeditions to the Dark Continent across the six continents.
He was essentially giving the group a crash course in common sense about the Dark Continent—making sure they were at least mentally prepared.
As for how Ging knew so much...
Well, his ancestor, Don Freecss, had written a travel diary detailing the eastern part of the Dark Continent over 300 years ago. The book had circulated throughout the six continents but was dismissed as mere fantasy by most.
Only the upper brass of the V5—and visionaries like Ging—truly understood the importance of that book.
And as for the western part of the Dark Continent... Ging was still compiling that travelogue.
Ronnel, seeing everyone listening intently to Ging's presentation, couldn't help but smile.
Just tagging along on this trip was enough to witness Ging's mesmerizing brilliance up close.
While Ging spoke, Ronnel quietly activated Emotional Poaching to read the emotional fluctuations of everyone present—especially Pariston.
What he picked up from Pariston's aura was...
A storm of conflicting emotions: furious excitement.
He had never hated someone this intensely. That visceral dislike came from encountering someone just like himself. In many ways, Ging and Pariston were two sides of the same coin.
But that very similarity thrilled him. Finally—someone who could match him. Someone worth challenging.
"I really want to know what I'd do to someone I hate..."
That, right there, was the most accurate reflection of Pariston's current mindset.
Ging and Pariston… their clash was bound to spark something wild. Ronnel didn't know what, but he was eager to see it unfold.
With those thoughts, and a trace of excitement, Ronnel quietly stood and left.
Ging's presence in the group was enough. If anything major happened, he'd hear about it anyway.
Which meant he now had time to focus on something much more entertaining before Beyond was rescued.
He already had a plan in mind for what to do next.
But first—another matter required his attention.
He glanced at his phone.A message from Machi had arrived.
The long-awaited duel between Chrollo and Hisoka was finally happening.
...
Heavens Arena.
Ronnel stepped off the airship and stared up at the towering structure in front of him, emotions stirring.
Back again...
He hadn't returned here since leaving the streets of Meteor City. This was the first place where he truly began to grow stronger.
Here, he'd met Wing and Bisky. They became his masters and laid the foundation for everything that followed.
He had fought in the Battle Olympia here—earning his first major achievement.
He had also faced and defeated the formidable Jed.
And it was here he first retrieved the Nen ability Change Face and the weapon Subai Sword from their previous owners.
The Heavens Arena was etched into his memory—this place had shaped him. And he'd left plenty of marks here, too.
Now, as he stood at its gates once more, the thought crossed his mind:
This might be the last time I set foot here.
With that in mind, he moved toward the competition tower.
The streets were still bustling. The tassel crab roe buns Zushi used to love were still selling like crazy.
In an electronics shop window nearby, a huge flatscreen was looping an announcement:
"Tomorrow, Chrollo and Hisoka will face off in a life-or-death battle! Don't miss it!!~"
Posters of the two opponents flanked the display, and the hype was everywhere.
Even as news of the Dark Continent stirred the world, this showdown had seized the public's attention.
The Heavens Arena had been suffering from plummeting viewership lately, with all eyes turned to the Dark Continent.
But now—Chrollo and Hisoka had shown up and handed them a golden opportunity.
One was a rising star, recently ascended in the Heavens Arena ranks, with unstoppable momentum reminiscent of Ronnel's glory days.
The other was a seasoned veteran. Though he'd never joined the Battle Olympia, his strength was considered top-tier. Had he entered, he would've been a favorite to win.
And on top of that—they were both ridiculously handsome. So striking, in fact, that fans often described them as beautiful.
Naturally, this brought in waves of female fans—many of whom didn't even care for martial arts but wouldn't miss a single one of their matches.
Heavens Arena was thrilled by the turnout.
If only Chrollo and Hisoka hadn't insisted on a true life-and-death battle, management might've tried to mediate.
Because no matter who died, they'd be losing a fanbase willing to pay to keep the ratings high.
Still, Chrollo and Hisoka's unwavering intent left the Arena with no choice but to play along.
And once word got out that this was to be a no-holds-barred, fight-to-the-death match…
Pandemonium erupted among the fanbases.
Both sides were ready to go to war.
Each group blamed the other for forcing their idol into such a brutal clash.
"My idol's risking his life because of your guy—so your guy deserves to die!"
Before fists were even thrown in the Arena, verbal battles had already exploded across forums and on the streets. Fights broke out. People were hospitalized. Some even died.
Yes—there were actual fatalities in fan brawls.
And for the diehards—the most devoted ones—the idea of losing their idol forever was too much.
Some broke down sobbing.Some fell into deep depression.One or two… even jumped from buildings.
The madness of fandom was on full display.
------------
Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)