Chapter 33: Date Confirmed
The video footage played on the TV in Ronin's hidden room. The audio from the listening device crackled, but after some adjustments, the voices of Shalnark and Nobunaga came through clearly.
Ronin tapped his fingers rhythmically on the desk.
His Ninjutsu had performed exceptionally well. Even a C-Rank Jutsu, when used correctly, could rival or surpass the damage output of Uvogin's Big Bang Impact.
The key difference was energy output limitation.
A Nen user's punch damage is capped by their AOP (Actual Output Power).
However, Ninjutsu didn't have the same strict output cap based on aura training. As long as he had the Chakra, the Jutsu hit with a fixed base power that could be scaled up.
In a pure fistfight, Ronin would lose.
But by countering Uvogin's Big Bang Impact with Ninjutsu, he could draw blood.
This skirmish clarified his strategy for the upcoming ring match.
Listening to the wiretap, Ronin pondered his options.
If five or more Phantom Troupe members showed up, the smartest move would be to forfeit the match and vanish.
Getting cornered in the arena by five Spiders meant death, no matter how many tricks he had.
Shalnark's casual mention of "a lot of people might die" suggested they planned to massacre the audience to flush him out or block his escape.
Truly a lawless bunch.
Ronin toyed with a black credit card in his hand. It held his recent earnings: 4.6 Billion Jenny.
It wasn't an infinite amount, but it was enough to fund his next moves.
Five Spiders? Ronin's eyes glinted. He wasn't planning to run. He just hoped his preparations would pay off.
Room 2333 was sealed off. His Shadow Clone moved to Room 2412.
The wall screen lit up with a notification.
[Match Confirmed]
Location: 227th Floor Arena
Date: May 12th, 3:00 PM
The matchup: Ronin vs. Uvogin.
As soon as the date was set, the advertisements around the arena changed.
"The Genius Fighter," "God's Favorite," "The Brilliant Supernova" RONIN
VS
"The Blood-Drinking Savage," "The Iron-Armed Gorilla" UVOGIN!
Tune in on May 12th at 3:00 PM! Don't miss it!
Crack!
A stone shot through the air, shattering the TV screen in the 201st-floor restaurant.
Waiters rushed over in panic, but many patrons were snickering, stealing glances at a large man wearing a bear-fur vest that exposed his chest.
Because that man was the "Iron-Armed Gorilla" from the TV.
"He paid for this," Shalnark said simply. "He paid a lot for this marketing campaign."
"Who did it? I'm going to kill them," Uvogin growled, noticing the stares. He couldn't massacre everyone here; he needed to stay eligible for the match. Getting disqualified for brawling outside the ring would ruin his fun.
"Miria. A Golden Agent. But she's cautious. I can't find any recent digital footprints on her, and the local information brokers are tight-lipped. She has deep connections in Heavens Arena," Shalnark explained.
He hadn't forgotten to investigate Ronin's associates.
"Golden Agent?" Uvogin recalled a man in a suit approaching him when he qualified for the 200th floor, offering to manage his image and make him rich. Uvogin had told him to get lost.
"Fine. I'll endure it," Uvogin chugged a large glass of water, trying to douse the fire in his chest.
In a corner unnoticed by the Spiders, Kurapika sat quietly.
He had ditched his traditional clothes for a black casual outfit, a baseball cap, and black-rimmed glasses. He looked like a scholarly student.
He ate slowly, but his eyes were fixed on Uvogin's table.
He suspected their identities. Though not 100% sure, the probability was extremely high.
The conflict on the 200th floor hadn't been kept secret. Since Ronin was currently the hottest topic in the arena, rumors spread fast.
The story was that Ronin had humiliated Uvogin in the hallway, making him cough blood with a single exchange. Enraged, Uvogin recklessly challenged him to a match.
In the rumors, Uvogin was painted as a brainless brute.
While "Iron-Armed Gorilla" fit the description, Kurapika knew it wasn't that simple.
Connecting this with the attack on Room 2333 and the slashed door, Kurapika was certain the attacker was the man with the dead-fish eyes sitting next to Uvogin—the one whose hand never strayed from his katana.
Who would want to kill Ronin right now?
The Phantom Troupe.
The more certain he became, the more terrified he felt.
Hatred simmered inside him, but even from this distance, he could feel the terrifying aura radiating from those three men.
They were in a different dimension of strength.
Kurapika knew that if he released even a sliver of killing intent, he would be dead before he could take five steps toward their table.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Is Brother Ronin facing these monsters?
Kurapika swallowed hard. Only when Uvogin and his group left the restaurant did his tense muscles finally relax.
Suddenly, a figure sat down in the empty seat across from him.
"So? Do you see the gap between us and them?"
The familiar voice made Kurapika snap his head up. His eyes instantly turned Scarlet.
"Brother Ronin!" His voice trembled with emotion.
"Shh!" Ronin put a finger to his lips. Fortunately, Uvogin's oppressive aura had cleared out most of the nearby tables, so no one noticed.
Seeing Kurapika's glowing red eyes, Ronin stood up. "Follow me to a private room."
Kurapika pulled his cap down and hurried after Ronin.
His expression crumbled. Large tears began to roll down his cheeks.
Ronin noticed the soft sniffling sound behind him.
He sighed inwardly, slowed his pace, and reached back to hold Kurapika's hand.
Kurapika was only 13. He had lived a sheltered life in the village until recently. Despite trying to act mature, facing his only remaining family broke down his walls, revealing the fragile, traumatized boy underneath.
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