Chapter 23: Purchasing the Scarlet Eyes
Miria's efficiency was truly elite. Just three days after Ronin won his match, she brought him good news.
When Ronin walked into her office, he saw a middle-aged man he hadn't met before.
His name was Vansen, the specialist responsible for contacting the seller and handling the negotiations. In this operation, Ronin, the actual buyer, would be disguised as Vansen's assistant.
Vansen was smart. He showed absolutely zero curiosity about anything he shouldn't know.
"The seller is Weasley, a politician from the Ochima Federation. The asking price is 1.8 Billion Jenny. It's nearly double the market rate, but he won't sell for less. With the Scarlet Eyes now officially 'Limited Edition,' collectors are driving the price up," Vansen explained as he accompanied Ronin to the airship terminal.
Their destination was the Ochima Federation, one of the V5 nations.
The V5 (United Nations of Five) ruled the known world. Under their jurisdiction were organizations Ronin knew well: The Hunter Association, the Bureau of International Travel, the Permitted Species Isolation Agency, and the World Health Organization.
When they landed, Ronin didn't find Ochima particularly special, aside from it being noticeably cleaner than other places he'd visited.
The meeting took place in a private club.
For safety, Ronin wore a hat and glasses. Unless someone knew him intimately, he would be hard to recognize at a glance.
The transaction went smoothly.
When the seller produced the item, Ronin immediately felt a burning resonance in his own eyes.
It's real!
Suppressing his excitement, Ronin gave a subtle nod to Vansen.
Once the transfer of 1.8 Billion Jenny was confirmed, the metal briefcase containing the Scarlet Eyes was handed over to Ronin.
The deal was done.
But before they left, Weasley, seemingly satisfied with the smooth transaction, offered a free piece of intel.
"Back when the massacre happened, a large batch of eyes hit the market—about twenty pairs. Nearly half of them were bought by a single mysterious buyer," Weasley said, lighting a cigar.
"Among that batch was the crown jewel—a pair of Scarlet Eyes preserved inside the entire severed head. That single item sold for tens of billions. I heard that next to those eyes, all other Scarlet Eyes looked dull. It was described as a beauty surpassing the Seven Most Beautiful Colors."
Weasley's chubby face twisted with a mix of awe and disdain. "I suspect the sellers were the ones who butchered the clan. Honestly, what a waste. It was just a small village of a hundred people. Why not capture them and breed them like livestock? Those bandits have no brains. Killing the goose that lays the golden eggs... shortsighted idiots."
Weasley spoke with contempt for the "bandits," but to Ronin, Weasley's suggestion was no different from the actions of a monster.
Ronin knew whose eyes were in that severed head.
Pairo.
Kurapika's best friend.
Ronin had inherited memories of Pairo from his predecessor. Pairo was a clever, gentle, and sunny boy, though frail and partially blind—a condition caused by saving Kurapika in their youth. Kurapika had left the village precisely to find a doctor for him.
Ronin also knew the identity of the mysterious buyer who took half the stock.
Tserriednich Hui Guo Rou. The Fourth Prince of the Kakin Empire.
Technically, at this point in the timeline, Tserriednich shouldn't know Nen yet.
Ronin considered infiltrating Kakin to rob the Prince.
If he could get his hands on that collection—over a dozen pairs of Scarlet Eyes—he felt confident he could push his Sharingan all the way to the Rinnegan.
With the Rinnegan and unlocked S-Rank Jutsu, he could walk sideways through the Hunter world. At least within the known world of Lake Mobius, very few people would be a threat.
But he couldn't rush it.
Tserriednich was a high-ranking prince of a powerful empire. Even if he wasn't a Nen user yet, his security detail definitely included Nen masters. Plus, the Kakin royal family was steeped in mystic rituals (the Jar Ceremony). Charging in blindly could lead to unforeseen disasters.
"Mr. Weasley, if you hear news of more eyes, or acquire another pair yourself, please contact me," Vansen said as he stood up to leave.
Ronin didn't like Weasley, but he had no intention of killing him. The fat politician had connections that would be useful for future acquisitions.
More importantly, there was another presence in the room that put immense pressure on Ronin.
Standing in the corner was a man with a distinct V-shaped hairstyle and no chin.
Only one of his eyes was visible, and from the moment Ronin entered the room, that eye had been locked onto him. It was a clear warning: Make one wrong move, and you die.
Ronin recognized him immediately. He didn't know the name, but he knew the face.
This man was a member of Beyond Netero's Expedition Team for the Dark Continent.
To be chosen by Isaac Netero's son meant this bodyguard was elite.
His aura felt dangerous—similar to the pressure Ronin felt when Nobunaga blocked the airport door.
Weasley is certainly cautious.
"Of course," Weasley smiled sincerely. He had bought these eyes for 1.2 Billion and flipped them for 1.8 Billion. A 600 Million profit was easy money. Vansen was now his favorite client.
He was already plotting how to pry another pair from one of his "friends" to sell to Vansen.
Leaving the club, Ronin didn't head straight back to the airport. Instead, he checked into a five-star hotel.
He needed to absorb the eyes immediately. Carrying them around was a risk, and he needed the power boost now.
He had a nagging sense of crisis. Uvogin would find him eventually, especially with Miria's aggressive marketing campaign.
And aside from Uvogin, there was someone else who would definitely come looking once the news spread.
Kurapika.
Sitting on the hotel bed, Ronin took the jar out of the briefcase.
He extended his Nen onto the glass, wrapping the eyes in his aura.
Just like the first time, the eyes inside began to dissolve, and a warm, crimson energy flowed through his aura, surging directly into his own eye sockets.