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Chapter 78: Trust Kurapika!
When Ronin's Shadow Clone spotted the Troupe members on the first floor, all clones immediately converged on that location.
By the time Jupiter smashed through the floor, one clone had already reached the stairs leading to the basement.
Ronin saw it as an opportunity.
Unfortunately, the last clone arrived just as the battle ended. Otherwise, Ronin would have loved to unleash a Water Style jutsu to flood the entire basement.
After the three clones dispelled and their experience returned to the main body, the fourth clone remained hidden in the shadows, choosing not to appear.
The battle on the first floor didn't last long.
While Ronin stalled the five members in the basement, the reinforcements outside breached the building.
The Zoldyck duo, realizing they couldn't kill Isrli while facing five opponents, chose to retreat.
Watching coldly from the sidelines, Ronin saw it clearly. The Zoldycks didn't care about the Troupe members other than #8. Their mission was strictly to assassinate him.
Ronin had a theory.
Did the Zoldycks join this chaotic operation primarily to use the confusion to kill #8 more easily?
They probably didn't expect the situation to change so drastically. Ronin's interference forced the remaining eleven members of the Phantom Troupe into a tight defensive cluster.
In that formation, assassination became infinitely harder.
But given their professionalism, failing this attempt meant they would try again later. Unless someone found and killed the person who hired them, the contract would remain active.
Of course, the Zoldycks wouldn't refund the deposit.
But who wanted to kill #8?
Ronin had no clue. He only remembered Silva mentioning in the manga that he told Killua not to touch the Troupe. Killua interpreted this as praise for the target's strength, coming from a father who rarely complained about work.
Silva's warning likely came after he completed the contract on #8 and decided the Troupe wasn't worth the trouble. The timing matched.
If Ronin didn't want to fight the Troupe himself, he could hire the Zoldycks. But after today, the price for a Troupe head would definitely skyrocket.
Collaborating with the Zoldycks might make killing the spiders easier...
Forget it.
Thinking about it gave Ronin a headache. He'd leave the complex plotting to Kurapika.
Attacking the Troupe in the basement today was part of Kurapika's plan.
According to Kurapika, they needed to make the Troupe realize that Ronin's strength had improved again in just a few days.
Ronin felt the assault by the three Shadow Clones was sufficient to demonstrate his power boost.
As for why Kurapika arranged this... he said it was to accelerate the Troupe's realization that his strength was linked to the Scarlet Eyes.
Kurapika analyzed that the Troupe would figure it out sooner or later.
After all, every time Ronin met the Troupe, he was stronger. He hadn't hidden it—in fact, he hadn't tried to hide it at all. As long as the Troupe wasn't stupid, connecting the dots would lead them to the eyes.
Ronin felt helpless. He wasn't the type of mastermind who could see N steps ahead.
However, Kurapika had already prepared countermeasures. In Kurapika's view, forcing the Phantom Troupe into a position where they had to retrieve the Scarlet Eyes from Kakin was the best-case scenario.
Compared to the mysterious Kakin Empire, Kurapika felt the Troupe was easier to deal with.
But how to force them?
Weren't they worried the Troupe might destroy the eyes to cut off his power source?
Kurapika didn't explain, only telling him not to worry.
Ronin sighed. People in this world had too many schemes. Damn Hisoka—his evaluation of Enhancers seemed to be rising, but when would Enhancers truly stand up and be respected?
Whatever. Trust Kurapika.
Ronin abandoned thinking. Forming hand seals, he activated Earth Style: Super Light-Weight Rock Technique, ascending rapidly and vanishing into the night sky.
Gunshots still echoed from the building below.
By midnight, the Mafia released a statement accompanied by photos of dead Troupe members. They claimed to have cornered the Phantom Troupe in the suburbs, turning them into swiss cheese with RPGs and machine guns.
Lying on the sofa reading a comic book, Ronin glanced at the photos Kurapika had pulled up on his computer.
"Kortopi's masterpieces. All fakes," Ronin stated the truth. "What's your move?"
"Smart people who bought intel on the Troupe will know it's fake. We don't need to do anything. If the Troupe wants to hide, let them. The key now is collecting the scattered Scarlet Eyes. Once they realize the secret behind your strength, they will act in the shadows.
"I don't believe they'll stick together as eleven. To beat us to the eyes, they have to split up. And once they split up, that's our chance!
"They're the ones in a dilemma. Allow us to collect eyes and get stronger? or risk splitting up to grab the eyes first? It's a tough choice for them." Kurapika typed on his computer, screens flashing with chats between him and Milia.
Words like 'fake death,' 'hiring,' and 'ASAP' flashed by. Kurapika switched tabs seamlessly.
"I can guarantee their speed won't match ours. In the end, they'll have only one choice left: go to Kakin and find Tserriednich!"
"You aren't worried they'll destroy the eyes?" Ronin asked again.
He was still concerned. Fusing the eyes was critical for his evolution.
"I won't gamble with my clan's eyes," Kurapika said with deadly seriousness. "I've already woven the perfect narrative for those thieves. Even if they get their hands on the eyes, they won't destroy them until they are absolutely certain they can't use them!
"Besides, even if we did nothing, the Troupe would eventually think of collecting the eyes to threaten us. So, setting a trap and steering them is safer. It gives us a better chance to preserve every pair!
"The real danger is when we back them into a corner and the rats get desperate."
Ronin nodded. "What do I need to do?"
"Wait," Kurapika sipped his coffee. "Wait for the Phantom Troupe to expose a flaw, then go kill them."
"I like that plan." Ronin returned to his comic. "Can we get the eyes from the auction the day after tomorrow?"
"Already secured," Kurapika said, lifting a briefcase. "It's not hard to get them early if you offer a price Southern Piece can't refuse. Especially using Raymond's identity as a Ten Don to find the seller makes it even simpler."
Kurapika suddenly shifted the topic.
"Ronin-aniki, if you recall that day, do you think you can break through the bottleneck you mentioned?"
"Hmm?" Ronin paused, then understood. "I don't know. Maybe. But even if the eyes don't undergo a qualitative change, it's fine. My abilities combined with my current eyes are strong enough."
Kurapika nodded and dropped the subject.
Ronin didn't elaborate. The transition from Sharingan to Mangekyou was just a guess on his part.
He told Kurapika because, over these months, he had come to see Kurapika as family in this world. Also, giving Kurapika a clear understanding of his strength allowed for better planning.
It wasn't a secret worth dying for. He only mentioned a bottleneck and the general direction for a breakthrough, not everything.
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