Uh, maybe he'd just been mocked so often that he got used to it. Even his so-called friends seemed to enjoy watching him get roasted. Ging Freecss certainly had a way with relationships.
"Have you laughed enough? Can my eyes be cured?"
As Ging's laughter finally tapered off, he pointed lazily to his face, his tone dripping with dry humor.
Emuksu instantly stopped laughing. His expression darkened as he stared at Ging's face, his eyes filled with sharp intensity.
"Your condition... it's complicated."
A flicker of interest lit up Emuksu's face, and he tilted his head as if piecing together a puzzle.
"You… what kind of trouble have you gotten yourself into this time?"
"That's a long story. I'll explain later. For now, can it be fixed?"
"It's not impossible." Emuksu stroked his chin, thinking it over.
Ging sighed, as if rolling his eyes—despite the obvious problem there.
"Whatever your price is, just say it."
"Haha, we'll discuss that when we meet. Why not introduce me to your new friend first?"
Emuksu smoothly shifted the topic to Ronnel, who had been quietly observing the conversation.
Ron, too, had been sizing up Emuksu. It was hard not to, given the man's sharp presence. And it wasn't lost on Emuksu that Ging, while blind, was traveling with someone unfamiliar.
"Oh, right. This is Ronnel. He's a talented hunter, with unique abilities and techniques for uncovering ancient sites."
"Ronnel?" Emuksu raised an eyebrow, looking intrigued. "I think I've heard that name somewhere…"
"And this is Emuksu," Ging added. "He's an old friend of mine—and the mastermind behind most of the special-function cards on Greed Island."
The two exchanged polite nods, though Emuksu's curiosity about Ronnel didn't fade.
"Have we met before? I swear I've seen you somewhere," Emuksu asked, his tone casual but probing.
Ron considered the question briefly before responding. "I don't think so. This is my first time in the Kakin Empire. But… I did compete in Heavens Arena a while back. Maybe you caught the broadcasts?"
Ronnel's words were matter-of-fact, devoid of arrogance. Winning the Battle Olympia Championship in Heavens Arena wasn't something he bragged about—it was just another stepping stone in his journey, mainly to pass Bisky's entrance test.
At the mention of Heavens Arena, Emuksu's eyes lit up. He snapped his fingers, a grin spreading across his face.
"Ah! I remember now! The champion of last year's Battle Olympia was named Ronnel! That was you, huh? No wonder your face looked familiar!"
Emuksu leaned forward, his excitement building.
"I watched every match that year. Gotta say, the competition level wasn't great, but your matches—"
He stopped, waving his hands as if correcting himself. "Actually, your matches had no suspense at all! It was like watching a demo reel. Honestly, the final fights seemed staged. Your moves were flashy, sure, but they didn't match your earlier performance."
"And your style," he continued, eyes narrowing thoughtfully. "It's a blend of multiple techniques—Shingen-ryu, Subai-style, and a few others, isn't it? By the way, when you used that Subai-style blade in the earlier rounds, I noticed something odd about it…"
Emuksu leaned back, his rapid analysis coming to a pause. Ronnel, meanwhile, just blinked at the barrage of observations, glancing at Ging for support.
Ging shrugged nonchalantly. "He's a fighting enthusiast. Likes to analyze every move and style. Don't take it personally—he's like this with everyone."
Ronnel nodded. It was like dealing with Bisky's obsessive tendencies, but with a broader scope. He could roll with it.
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