Chapter 34: Kurapika
It took a long time for Kurapika to calm down in the private room.
"Brother Ronin, you..." Kurapika hesitated, then asked, "Were you in the village when it happened?"
"I was," Ronin nodded. "My father saved me. But Uvogin killed him while we were escaping."
"So, Uvogin really is a member of the Phantom Troupe! And the two men with him are murderers too!" Kurapika's eyes, which had just returned to normal, flared Scarlet again due to the emotional surge.
"Yes," Ronin poured Kurapika a glass of water. "What do you plan to do?"
"Revenge!" Kurapika answered without hesitation.
"Can you win?" Ronin asked simply.
Kurapika fell silent.
Ronin smiled with relief. His biggest fear was that Kurapika, upon discovering the truth, would charge suicidally at Uvogin.
That was why Ronin had rushed to the restaurant as soon as Miria informed him of Kurapika's movements.
Part of his strength came from the Scarlet Eyes of his fallen clansmen. Protecting Kurapika—within reason—felt like a duty, a way to repay the clan.
Besides, Kurapika had immense investment value.
Ronin had realized something important in his month here: He was built for combat, not politics.
He wasn't good at intricate scheming or managing complex organizations.
Kurapika, however, was meticulous, intelligent, and a natural strategist.
Given their blood ties, Ronin was certain of one thing: Kurapika would never betray him.
Even if Kurapika found out Ronin was fusing with their kin's eyes for power, Ronin didn't believe Kurapika would turn against him.
In fact, he suspected Kurapika might even help him collect the eyes.
Of course, if that conversation went poorly, they would part ways. But Ronin hoped it wouldn't come to that. He genuinely liked Kurapika's character from the manga, and his predecessor's memories painted a positive picture of the boy.
Kurapika shook his head slowly. "I can feel it. The gap between us... it's a chasm."
"Correct. Your instincts are right," Ronin confirmed bluntly. "If you fight them now, it's like throwing an egg against a rock."
"What about you, Brother Ronin?" Kurapika looked at him with hopeful eyes.
Ronin shook his head. "I'm still far from ready."
Even with Miria's rental aura as a trump card, Ronin wasn't confident about the outcome of the impending clash with the Troupe.
But he enjoyed it. He thrived on the challenge.
Perhaps he was born a warrior.
If he weren't, the logical move after escaping would have been to hide and live anonymously. Instead, he stood in the spotlight.
When Miria found him, he admitted to himself that he was excited. Not just for the fame, but for the looming danger.
So he followed his instincts, partnered with Miria, and set the stage for this confrontation.
The only regret was not finding a third pair of Scarlet Eyes before fighting Uvogin.
If he had fused a third pair, the gap would have shrunk significantly, increasing his odds of winning—or even killing—Uvogin.
Kurapika's eyes dimmed. "Then..."
"Even if there's a gap, I'm going to tear a chunk of flesh off those bastards!" A ruthless expression crossed Ronin's face.
Being hunted repeatedly would anger anyone, especially someone like him who hated leaving debts unpaid.
Kurapika looked at Ronin, surprised for a moment, then his gaze filled with admiration.
Brother Ronin is so reliable!
"Brother Ronin, we can wait!" Kurapika tried to reason rationally.
As much as he wanted to hurt the Troupe, he didn't want to lose Ronin. But knowing Ronin was about to face his father's killer, Kurapika felt his words were weak.
"No. I've made arrangements. I won't die," Ronin said solemnly. "As for you... if you trust me, listen to my instructions. Leave Heavens Arena immediately."
"Go to Mordin City. Once I deal with things here, I'll come find you. Then, we will reclaim our clan's eyes together!"
"Okay."
Kurapika agreed without a second thought.
Ronin paused, looking at the trusting boy. His gaze hardened. "When we reunite, I'll tell you a secret. I hope you'll still trust and support me then."
Kurapika sensed the gravity in Ronin's tone.
He grew tense, his mind racing. The only bad outcome he could imagine was that Ronin wasn't actually planning to meet him—that this was a goodbye before a suicide mission.
Does he mean to die here?
"Don't overthink it. I don't joke with my life," Ronin saw through Kurapika's anxiety. He patted the boy's shoulder and smiled. "Go to Mordin City. I'll join you soon."
After sending a reluctant Kurapika away, Ronin returned to the arena feeling lighter.
Now, he could focus entirely on the battle with Uvogin.
Three days passed quickly.
In the waiting room, Ronin took the contract from Miria. The digital counter on the paper read: 15,000 Aura Units.
This time, Ronin signed his name without hesitation.
The abstract, doodle-like Rental Demon detached from Miria and perched on Ronin's shoulder.
"You should leave now," Ronin said, a hint of regret in his voice. "Things might go off script. After this fight, I probably won't be returning to Heavens Arena for a while."
Their partnership had been excellent. Miria was professional, and her ability was incredibly useful.
"So, what are you doing next?" Miria didn't rush to leave. "You've been researching the Mafia recently. That's a profitable sector. And frankly, with your skills... management isn't your strong suit. Want to continue our partnership?"
"Expanding your business portfolio, Miss Agent?" Ronin tilted his head.
"Money is money," Miria smiled. For the first time, she didn't hide her hands. She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, fully aware that Ronin's gaze would—and did—linger on her elegant fingers.
"Deal."
Ronin turned to leave. "Next stop is Mordin City. I assume you already figured that out."
"Naturally," Miria said, her tone softening with concern. "Don't die."
"Rest assured," Ronin raised a hand in a confident wave.
He walked out of the shadowy tunnel and into the blinding lights of the arena.
The crowd erupted into a frenzied roar as the announcer screamed his name.
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