Chapter 52: Kakin and Training
"The waters in Kakin run deep. If we want to make a move there, we need to be thoroughly prepared," Kurapika warned.
He had spent days researching the Kakin Empire online.
Kakin was a vast nation, but it was relatively closed off.
Computer literacy was extremely low, and the internet was heavily restricted and monitored. Even mobile phones weren't ubiquitous. Despite the reforms that began with the "True Forest Incident" thirty years ago, Kakin was still considered somewhat backward.
However, in recent years, Kakin's economy had exploded. This rapid development had created a massive wealth gap.
The poor got poorer, and the rich got richer.
Social stratification was solidifying. Without a new catalyst, Kakin's current prosperity would likely stagnate soon.
Historically, such catalysts had appeared multiple times in Kakin.
Whenever society faced unrest or stagnation, a major event would occur, revitalizing the ancient nation.
"This catalyst is the succession of the King," Kurapika analyzed, organizing his notes. "The most recent one was 30 years ago—the 'Silent Revolution,' or the True Forest Incident."
"Specific details are scrubbed from the internet, even on the dark web. But the outcome is clear: After the incident, the current King, Nasubi Hui Guo Rou, took the throne. The country shifted from Imperial Socialism to Parliamentary Democracy."
"Online speculation suggests Kakin is the strongest contender to join the V5, potentially making it the V6."
Kurapika's ability to synthesize this much information in just a few days showcased his terrifying intellect.
Ronin, having read the manga, agreed with Kurapika's assessment.
The Succession Contest was likely a special ritual fueling Kakin's development—a ritual that ensured the nation's eternal prosperity.
A ritual that required a massive number of human sacrifices.
"Let's put Kakin aside for now. Since we can't touch them yet, we'll focus on collecting the eyes outside of Kakin first," Ronin parked the car on a roadside near a mountain.
Tserriednich held about 11 pairs. Ronin had absorbed 4. Minus him and Kurapika, that left roughly 35 pairs in existence.
Even ignoring Tserriednich, there were still about 20 pairs out there for Ronin to find.
"Once you master Nen, I'm handing over all Mafia-related matters to you. I really don't have the interest or patience for management," Ronin said, getting out of the car and waking up Neon, who was dozing in the back seat.
"I have to train too? No way!" Neon complained, reluctant.
It was already June. Yesterday, she had performed a new prophecy for Ronin and Kurapika.
This time, it was a full four-verse poem. However, according to Ronin, the verses were "mundane and boring," completely unworthy of her title as a "Cursed Oracle."
Neon wanted to scream that she was a Fortune Teller, not a curse-caster.
This guy... he was saved by her prophecy, yet now he was treating her like a laborer. Total jerk!
"Cut the crap," Ronin ignored her whining.
He took out several shovels from the trunk and tossed them to Kurapika and Neon. He then unloaded a wheelbarrow and some ropes.
"Are we burying bodies?" Neon's eyes lit up at the sight of the tools.
"Of course not," Ronin flicked her forehead. While she glared at him, rubbing her head, he locked the car and led them up the mountain. "We are going to dig. Or rather, you are going to dig."
This was the training method Biscuit Krueger used on Gon and Killua.
Ronin found it highly effective. He planned to open their Nen nodes at the appropriate time and then have them follow this regimen.
As for himself, he had a better training method. But it was currently only suitable for him; Kurapika and Neon weren't ready.
Kurapika had no objections. As long as he got stronger, he would do whatever Ronin asked.
Neon pouted the entire way.
"Your ability is useful, so I'm not letting you go. But I can't protect you 24/7. You need self-defense skills. Of course, if you don't mind dying, you can just sit on the sidelines and watch," Ronin said bluntly.
Even though he kidnapped her, he wasn't planning to be her lifelong babysitter.
He didn't know Neon's fate in the manga after losing her ability, but with Kurapika's protection, she likely survived, albeit without her princess lifestyle.
Kurapika wouldn't spoil her like her father did.
And her father definitely wouldn't spoil her once she became "useless."
If Ronin hadn't taken her from Mordin City, her ending would have been tragic.
Without Kurapika around, once Light Nostrade started trading her ability, Chrollo Lucilfer would inevitably find her. Even if not Chrollo, someone else would covet her power.
Could Light protect her? Unlikely.
Once captured, a girl with zero self-defense skills and a princess attitude wouldn't last long.
Of course, this was speculation.
Ronin wasn't trying to scare her into training. If she really was hopeless—lazy and indifferent to her own survival—he didn't mind keeping her as a "canary in a cage." A wealthy, private fortune teller wasn't a bad life.
But now...
Although Neon acted unhappy, Ronin noticed a lightness in her step as she followed Kurapika.
Having lost her mother early and being neglected by her father, Neon hadn't fully developed the tyrannical personality she might have later.
Even in the manga, aside from being willful and having a morbid hobby, she wasn't inherently evil. She treated her bodyguards relatively well.
Before starting the dig, Ronin handed them weighted gear from the wheelbarrow.
These were custom-made, mimicking the training weights of the Zoldyck family's Testing Gate.
First, physical conditioning with weights. Then, awakening Nen. That was the roadmap Ronin had drawn for them.
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