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Chapter 51: Development
Chrollo arrived in Mordin City seven days after Omokage's death.
They faced sniper attacks on the way.
According to Shalnark's investigation, someone had leaked intel on the Troupe members' abilities online.
Although the price for the intel was high, many bought it, and many acted on it.
From Heaven's Arena to Mordin City, they lost four airships to explosions.
Three members suffered minor injuries. Nobunaga, like Uvogin, lost an arm.
Fortunately, the arm wasn't destroyed. Thanks to Machi's sewing ability, Nobunaga would recover after some rest.
"Ronin observed our abilities during the massacre, didn't he? That clan still had some tricky individuals," Feitan said, walking with the group.
Essentially, all current Troupe members except Omokage were gathered here.
"Yeah, the intel matches what he could have seen. But his father probably told him some of it too. Based on where he was in my memory, he couldn't have seen everyone's abilities," Shalnark said helplessly.
Feitan narrowed his eyes and said bluntly, "If Uvogin wasn't such trash, that kid wouldn't have escaped."
"What did you say, shorty?" Uvogin's furious voice boomed from the back.
"You heard me!" Feitan muttered something unintelligible and vanished from his spot.
Bam!
Sounds of fighting erupted from the rear, but Chrollo and the others kept walking, ignoring the brawl.
"No news from Omokage," Isri, who hadn't been able to contact Omokage since the tip-off, spoke up. "He's probably dead."
"Ronin!" Chrollo wasn't surprised.
Omokage's obsession with eyes was obvious to everyone. He was just too impatient.
Knowing Ronin was dangerous, he still rushed in alone. Did he think his ability countered Ronin's?
He paid for his arrogance.
"Yes, he arrived first. His ability isn't weak, and it should counter Ronin. If he's gone, does that mean Ronin got stronger again?" Isri asked doubtfully.
He had never met Ronin, but from the others' descriptions, he knew the boy was a genius.
A Nen genius, a combat genius, an escape artist, and a bit of a lunatic.
No sane fugitive would publicize their location at Heaven's Arena while being hunted.
Isri certainly wouldn't.
In his view, such a paranoid, crazy guy was likely a stubborn Enhancer or an extremely opinionated Specialist.
Ronin seemed to be both.
"Who knows? Maybe he got a new helper," Shalnark said, having the most authority on the subject.
Reviewing Ronin's actions, the guy was contradictory.
He was cautious on the airship, leaving no trace, but then high-profile at the arena.
Decisive and fierce in combat, yet slippery and quick to flee afterward.
He clearly had ways to avoid their attacks, yet he actively provoked them.
Until a week ago, his logic shifted completely. No matter how Shalnark searched, Ronin had vanished without a trace.
The last place he was seen was Mordin City.
"Ronin probably ran. Should we exercise a bit?" Bonolenov, wrapped in bandages, asked with killing intent.
Some of his info had also leaked, putting him in a foul mood.
Those who were still probing and watching them seemed like excellent targets to vent on.
"Sure. Kill a few more. Make them fear us so they stay away," Chrollo said coldly.
...
Seven days ago, after killing Omokage and obtaining the Scarlet Eyes, Ronin fused them.
He felt the evolution of his eyes slowing down. He wasn't sure if fusing more eyes would truly awaken the Mangekyou Sharingan.
However, his aura capacity increased again, now exceeding 20,000.
Having found Neon and killed Omokage, Ronin's mission in Mordin City was perfectly accomplished.
Next stop: Yorknew City.
But before that, Kurapika asked for the Phantom Troupe's data.
He packaged and sold it as intel.
Ronin contacted Usamen and borrowed his Hunter account, as Troupe intel sold for a high price on the Hunter website.
Usamen took a cut, making it a win-win.
According to Kurapika's estimate, the leak would only cause minor trouble for the Troupe, not cripple them.
The key was the members' high combat power and their tendency to stick together.
People like Omokage, who schemed against their own team and acted alone, were rare.
Even if Omokage were alive, if attacked, he would have had backup. In that case, Ronin would have had no chance.
Ultimately, it came down to insufficient strength and lack of time to grow.
Kurapika was buying that time for both of them.
Ronin entrusted these matters to Kurapika with confidence. As a former draftsman/streamer/cosplayer, his experience was mostly theoretical.
Kurapika, absorbing knowledge from the internet, was becoming an expert.
According to him, the Troupe wouldn't find them for a while.
This window would last until late August. Because what they planned to do next was obvious to anyone with a brain:
Go to Yorknew City and buy the Scarlet Eyes at the auction!
"Kakin is off-limits for now. Although your intel says the 4th Prince Tserriednich has the eyes and is a normal human," Kurapika sat in the passenger seat, analyzing as he spoke. "My research into Kakin's history shows that no prince with succession rights has ever died of unnatural causes three months before a new king is crowned."
"If that's the case, it's tricky. Knowing Tserriednich, buying them back is impossible," Ronin drove toward the outskirts of Yorknew.
They had arrived three days early.
Finding no leads on the eyes in the city, he decided to take Kurapika and Neon to the wilderness for training.
Since at least five pairs of eyes would appear at the auction in September, they had two tasks until then: get stronger and get money.
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