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Chapter 23: Purchasing the Scarlet Eyes
Milia was efficient. Three days after the match, she brought good news.
Walking into her office, Ronin saw a middle-aged man he hadn't met before.
Vanson. He was the liaison for the Scarlet Eyes seller and the lead negotiator. Ronin, the actual buyer, would act as his assistant in disguise.
Vanson was smart; he showed zero curiosity about things he shouldn't know.
"The seller is Wesley, a politician from the Ochima Federation. The asking price is 1.8 billion Jenny—double the market rate. If not for this price, he wouldn't be selling. The 'Limited Edition' status of the eyes has driven collector prices up," Vanson explained on the way to the airship.
They were heading to the Ochima Federation, one of the V5 nations.
The V5 was essentially this world's UN, composed of the five most powerful nations. They controlled agencies like the Hunter Association, the Permit Agency, the Dangerous Species Quarantine Bureau, and the World Environmental Health Organization.
Stepping off the airship, Ronin didn't find Ochima particularly special, aside from being cleaner than other places.
The meeting took place in a private club.
For safety, Ronin wore a hat and glasses. Unless someone knew him very well, he was unrecognizable.
The transaction went smoothly. When the Scarlet Eyes were brought out, Ronin felt a burning resonance in his own eyes.
Real!
Suppressing his excitement, he nodded slightly to Vanson.
The 1.8 billion was transferred, and the case containing the eyes was handed to Ronin.
After the deal, Wesley offered a piece of intel.
"Back when the massacre happened, a large batch of eyes—about twenty pairs—entered the market. But nearly half of them were bought by a mysterious figure.
"Among them was a supreme pair—a set of Crimson Eyes still preserved in the head. That single item sold for over ten billion! I heard that all other Scarlet Eyes looked dull next to it. It was hailed as a beauty transcending the Seven Great Colors!"
Wesley lit a cigarette, his fat face full of regret. "I suspect the buyer was the one who ordered the massacre. Honestly, what a waste. Why kill the goose that lays the golden eggs? They should have just farmed the villagers. Those bandits have no brains, just looting and burning."
Wesley's tone was dismissive, treating the Kurta like livestock. To Ronin, Wesley was no different from an animal himself.
Ronin knew the "Crimson Eyes" belonged to Pairo.
He had inherited memories of Pairo—a smart, gentle, sunny boy who was sickly and had poor eyesight, remnants of an injury sustained saving Kurapika.
Ronin also knew the buyer of the Crimson Eyes: Tserriednich, the 4th Prince of Kakin.
Currently, Tserriednich didn't even know Nen.
If I sneak into Kakin now, can I steal his collection?
That was over a dozen pairs of eyes.
With that many, Ronin felt he could push his Sharingan straight to the Rinnegan.
With the Rinnegan and S-Rank Ninjutsu, Ronin could walk sideways through the Hunter world. At least within the Mobius Lake, very few could threaten him.
But he couldn't rush. Tserriednich was a high-ranking prince.
Even if he didn't know Nen, he had Nen-user bodyguards (Guardian Beasts wouldn't appear until the Succession War). Kakin was also shrouded in mystery. Acting rashly could lead to unforeseen disasters.
"If Mr. Wesley gets more info or acquires more eyes, please contact me," Vanson said, standing up to leave.
Ronin had no intention of killing Wesley. The man had connections that might be useful for recovering more eyes later.
Also, there was a terrifying Nen user in the room.
A man with an inverted-V hairstyle and no chin, revealing only one eye.
From the moment Ronin entered, that single eye had been locked onto him.
Ronin recognized him immediately. He didn't know the name, but he knew the man was a pro Hunter and a member of Beyond Netero's expedition team!
To be chosen by Isaac Netero's son, Beyond, proved his strength.
The man felt dangerous—just like Nobunaga did at the airport.
Wesley was certainly cautious.
"Will do." Wesley smiled sincerely. He had bought the eyes for 1.2 billion and flipped them for a 600 million profit. Vanson was a VIP client now.
He was already plotting how to pry more eyes from his "friends."
Leaving the club, Ronin checked into a five-star hotel instead of returning immediately.
He needed to absorb the eyes ASAP to avoid complications and boost his strength.
He had a premonition that Uvogin would find him.
Especially with Milia's massive publicity campaign. And besides Uvogin, there was someone else who would definitely come looking once they saw the news.
Kurapika.
Sitting on the hotel bed, Ronin took the eyes out of the case. He coated his hands in Nen and wrapped the jar.
Just like the first time, a warm sensation flowed from the melting eyes into his own sockets.
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