Chapter 46: Omokage
The number of police patrols on the streets of Mordin City had increased dramatically. Dozens of suspicious individuals had been arrested.
Most of them had criminal records, often related to the organ trade.
The sudden influx of such unsavory characters had strained the small city's security forces.
Ronin closed the curtains. "It seems people have tracked us down. Impressive reach."
"No, it's just that Miria's promotion was too successful," Kurapika sighed helplessly.
Even though they had crossed to the Yorbian Continent, Ronin's identity as the Heavens Arena superstar was easily recognizable.
Especially for the paparazzi, who possessed observational skills far beyond the average person.
Unless Ronin used the Transformation Jutsu constantly, his casual disguises were transparent to professionals.
However, the reason most criminals were flocking here was likely the Sharingan Ronin had revealed in the ring.
Even in previous fight videos, that distinct crimson glow had attracted covetous eyes.
Different things were either worshipped or persecuted. Ronin's Sharingan was clearly marked as a target. The question was whether these scavengers had the strength to take it.
The decision regarding Omokage had been made.
Running wasn't Ronin's style. He preferred to strike first.
Of course, the fear of being ambushed if he fled was also a factor. But by taking the initiative, he could set traps and use his Shadow Clone to scout.
Since the doll's eye-stealing ability required eye contact with the original person, sending a clone was safe. Even if the clone encountered a doll, Ronin wouldn't lose his eyes.
The key to the prophecy was Ronin's main body.
If his eyes were stolen, it was game over.
In a church in Mordin City, a tall, thin man with long silver-grey hair and a bandaged right hand sat in the pews.
He was Omokage, Spider #4.
He liked churches. Perhaps because he often scavenged food from them in his childhood, or perhaps because they felt like places where he could reach out and touch souls.
Chrollo was interested in Ronin, but Omokage didn't intend to eat leftovers.
He wanted to steal Ronin's eyes first.
He had seen the videos Shalnark sent to Chrollo. It was obvious that Ronin's abilities were heavily tied to his changing eyes.
If Chrollo, the thief, confirmed this first, Omokage wasn't sure if the Boss would decide to steal the ability for himself.
Omokage had visited Uvogin.
The violent brute spent every day either roaring in pain from his burns or cursing Ronin, fantasizing about skinning him alive.
To Omokage, Uvogin was a pure lunatic.
But lunatics had their uses.
With a little guidance, Uvogin replayed his memories of Ronin.
Extracting those memories, Omokage created a Soul Doll of Ronin.
However, the eyeless Ronin doll was pathetic. Its abilities were a fraction of the real thing based on Uvogin's descriptions—basically just a mini-Uvogin with less power.
Why didn't Ronin just burn Uvogin to death? Omokage mused.
If Uvogin had died, Omokage could have dug up his corpse, taken his eyes, and installed them in a Uvogin doll. That would have been useful.
Now, he had to hunt for eyes alone.
As for Shalnark's analysis of Ronin's danger level? Omokage didn't care.
He had collected dolls of several Phantom Troupe members. He was confident that even alone, his combat power rivaled three Spiders combined.
Plus, with his eye-stealing ability, Ronin was nothing to worry about.
Shalnark had theorized that Ronin fought Uvogin to a standstill by borrowing Nen from someone else—likely Miria.
Since Miria was still at Heavens Arena, a Ronin without borrowed power was easy prey. If Omokage couldn't handle that, he might as well gouge his own eyes out.
Sitting in the front row, Omokage held two jars.
Both contained Scarlet Eyes.
These were his trophies from the Kurta Massacre.
Unfortunately, he hadn't found anything special about them. Installing them in dolls provided no noticeable boost compared to regular eyes.
But as bait for a Kurta survivor? He refused to believe Ronin wouldn't bite.
Of course, Ronin would likely send a clone first.
According to Shalnark, the main body wouldn't be far from the clone. So once the clone appeared, finding the real Ronin would be simple.
Then, a glance from an eyeless doll would seal the deal.
After that, Uvogin probably wouldn't care if the Ronin he tortured had eyes or not.
Two dolls materialized beside Omokage.
One was a doll of Nobunaga, complete with a katana at its waist.
The other was a boy with black hair and a gentle, kind face.
If Kurapika were here, he would scream the name: Pairo!
Kurapika's best friend.
The only Kurta whose head was severed and taken. Omokage remembered those breathtakingly beautiful eyes.
Too bad he didn't own them.
Now, Omokage placed the two pairs of Scarlet Eyes into the sockets of the Pairo doll and the Nobunaga doll.
The Nobunaga doll walked out of the church first. The Pairo doll climbed to the high vantage point of the church tower and sat there, waiting.
All Omokage had to do was wait.
But he didn't have much time. Chrollo was wrapping up his own business. Once the Boss arrived, Omokage might lose his chance.
More dolls emerged from the shadows, hiding in various corners of the church, ready to ambush anyone who entered.
As for the priest and the staff? They were already dead, their eyes stolen, their bodies disposed of.
The Nobunaga doll, eyes glowing scarlet, walked openly through the streets of Mordin City.
The hunters who had flocked to the city swarmed like sharks smelling blood.
A pair of Scarlet Eyes was worth over a billion Jenny. It was a fortune.
But when the "Nobunaga" doll effortlessly slaughtered wave after wave of attackers and walked away unscathed, the surviving hunters began to reconsider if the prize was worth their lives.
Ronin's Shadow Clone also spotted the doll.
Specifically, it spotted the Scarlet Eyes in the doll's sockets.
If he could get that pair, his strength would level up again.
His eyes would evolve from Two-Tomoe to Three-Tomoe, and his aura capacity would spike.
With that power boost, even if Omokage had help, Ronin felt confident he could fight.
I'm doing it.
To ensure he secured the eyes, he decided to bring his main body into the operation. This was a risk worth taking.
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