Gon's journey to win the card was bound to have twists and turns, stretching the time needed to achieve their goal.
Should I remind Gon of Ging's "friendship" plan from back then?
Ronnel mused with a mischievous glint in his eye, his gaze drifting to Ging, who was hiding his expression behind oversized sunglasses.
Ging shivered abruptly, clutching his jacket tighter around himself.
"Why do I feel like someone's cursing me?"
He tilted his head, puzzled. "Is it someone constantly badmouthing me?"
Feigning ignorance of Ging's self-talk, Ronnel tapped away at his device, sending a message to Shalnark.
The message was sent successfully, but the status showed "Out of Service Area."
Looks like they're still busy in Greed Island, Ronnel thought, scrolling further through his messages.
Bisky:
I found two excellent "rough stones." After some polishing, they might even surpass your level someday! Their names are Gon and Killua. Sounds familiar? 😉
At the end of the text, Bisky had attached an emoji that perfectly matched her mischievous nature. The message made Ronnel chuckle.
So Gon and Killua are still tagging along with Bisky, huh?
Pe:
Hey, Ronnel. My shooting game project is wrapping up. I had a few friends test it in the game world, and the feedback's great! But I feel it could be better. When will you and that bastard Ging finish playing archaeologist?
Ronnel smirked. Pe's efficiency really puts slowpoke programmers to shame.
After sharing some final thoughts on the game, Pe's quick reply came in two letters:
OK.
The final message caught Ronnel's attention.
Sender:
Official Representative of Heavens Arena - Battle Olympia Committee
The subject of the message jogged his memory. He still held the title of Champion of the Fighting Championships.
The message began with flattering praise for his achievements, carefully avoiding excessive embellishment, before concluding with a request:
Would Ronnel consider participating in next year's Battle Olympia?
"Next year, huh?" Ronnel muttered, thinking back to the events surrounding Jed and his vengeful campaign against the Hunter Association.
"Jed, the Evil Ghost, Purgatory, Shura... formidable opponents, every one of them. The Evil Ghost alone easily defeated Zushi and brought down several other hosts without breaking a sweat."
This kind of strength is worth a trip.
Ronnel made up his mind, typing his response while musing to himself:
"First Hisoka, and now Jed. In Hunter x Hunter, even death isn't an endpoint. If you count Kite and his reincarnation-like return, the afterlife feels like a revolving door."
Nen truly was extraordinary.
After confirming his participation, the reply came almost instantly. It was the usual formal gratitude:
"We deeply appreciate your decision. Thank you for accepting!"
The tone of the message gave Ronnel pause. The words were dripping with humility, almost like they were pleading for his favor.
Is Heavens Arena about to cry with joy?
The champions of past tournaments usually cooperated with Heavens Arena, giving interviews, participating in promotions, and raking in endorsements. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement that boosted the champion's visibility while driving up the arena's profits.
But last year...
When Ronnel abruptly disappeared after winning, embarking on a carefree "world tour" with Bisky, the Arena was left floundering.
They had tried reaching him, only to be thwarted by Bisky herself, who guarded her apprentice's privacy like a lioness protecting her cubs.
Left with no choice, Heavens Arena had leaned into Ronnel's mysterious persona, marketing him as a "master untouched by time" and elevating his image to mythical levels. The strategy paid off, drawing even larger crowds than previous years.
Still, the lack of a champion's active participation clearly left some bitterness. The complex emotions behind the latest invitation were easy to read.
But now that Ronnel had agreed to compete again, Heavens Arena could breathe a sigh of relief—albeit with lingering trepidation.
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