Is this his usual way of saying thank you? Or does he actually mean it?
That single word—"eyes"—stabbed right into Kurapika's heart.
As the last surviving member of the Kurta Clan, revenge and recovering the stolen Scarlet Eyes were the only things keeping him alive.
He quietly raised a finger and waved it in front of Roy's face…
Roy's blind eyes spun erratically—they didn't follow Kurapika's finger at all, not even a twitch. As if… he really couldn't see him.
"Yo xi~ The sea breeze is a bit noisy today~"
"It's a great day for fishing."
Sitting cross-legged on the deck of the Poseidon, Roy ignored Kurapika's silent probing. He held a short blade like a fishing rod, using Aura as the line, leaning lazily over the boat's railing.
With a flick, a glowing thread of energy—an extension of his Haki, infused with his Nen—snapped out across the air and plunged into the sea.
The idea came from Gon's incredible feat of catching the King of the Lake—and Roy saw something more valuable than food in that act: experience points.
The nature of Nen and Haki was, at its core, Qi—or life energy. If Machi could manipulate her aura into sharp threads, and Hisoka could shape his into elastic gum… then why couldn't Roy do the same, but with Armament Haki?
In the world of pirates, Haki's main application was "attachment"—cladding fists and swords in black armor, bypassing Devil Fruit powers, boosting raw strength. But what if… it could be used differently?
Roy had already experimented during his battle with Kite's clown puppet. He'd successfully projected his Haki outward—like a bullet. Now, he wanted more.
A fishing line.
"Biu~"
The energy thread stretched and vanished beneath the waves.
Unfortunately, it quickly dissolved, scattered by the pull of the sea. Roy sighed and tried again.
Ten seconds… lost.
Fifteen seconds… gone.
Twenty… thirty… finally, a full minute.
Every flick of the rod, every draw and pull, was training. Sharpening his ability to project and sustain his Armament Line.
All while everyone else on the ship looked at him like a complete lunatic.
"Mom~ look, it's a crazy guy."
"Blind and brain-dead. What a combo."
"Hey, old man! Did you stick that knife in the water for decoration? Don't tell me you're trying to fish?!"
"Hahahaha! He's lost it! Trying to catch fish without bait or line!"
Laughter roared. There was never a shortage of fools eager to mock what they couldn't understand.
Even the first mate, Goz, snorted as he followed orders to prepare the ship.
"Whatever, at least this nutjob will make the journey less boring."
"All aboard! Anyone not on the Poseidon, move it or swim!"
As the ship's horn echoed through the harbor, the gangway was pulled, sails dropped, and the Poseidon began to glide forward—
"Swoosh—!!"
Two figures landed on the deck in a burst of wind.
It was Gon Freecss, carrying a fishing rod, with Leorio Paradinight clinging awkwardly behind him.
Gon landed in a low crouch, springing up with childlike excitement.
"Ouch—damn it!"
Leorio had faceplanted behind him.
Standing up and brushing off his white coat, he grumbled.
"Next time, I'm walking like a normal person!"
Gon excitedly scanned the deck.
"Whoa… there's so many people! And they all look kinda scary…"
Among the candidates were all types: a smirking man spinning a dagger between his fingers, a cold blond boy in tribal clothes sitting silently in the corner, and—
"Eh?! Uncle Roy?!! What are you doing here?!"
Roy didn't bother looking back.
How is this boat your family's property? You're here, I'm here. Is it your business?
Roy simply smiled. After dozens of practice throws, the system panel finally chimed.
[Reminder: Experience +1]
He chuckled softly, pleased with the result. With a flick of the blade, another thread of Armament Line shot cleanly across the water.
"Uncle, are you fishing?"
"Want me to lend you a real line?"
"If you keep going like this, you'll never catch a thing~!"
Roy still didn't respond.
After all, who needed bait—
—when you yourself were the best bait on the ocean?