"If you miss this chance, there won't be another one like it."
"It might be our only opportunity."
Ron made up his mind.
"All right, I'll take part in this game."
"Crack the Kurta Maze, obtain the map to the Kurta Clan's hidden settlement, then head there and absorb the Kurta Clan's traits to create my seventh Nen Beast."
He had once considered acquiring the Kurta Clan's traits, but since they led secluded lives and no one knew where they were hiding, Ron hadn't pursued it. Now, though, the intel had practically landed in his lap.
"First step: solve the poem."
Ron opened the attachment included in the email. It was a poem containing a hidden location. If you deciphered it correctly, you could go to that spot and attempt the Kurta Maze. Essentially, it was a way to filter participants—much like a preliminary round before the main Hunter Exam. The sender from Kakin had already whittled down the numbers by targeting only strong information brokers, but there would still be plenty of people trying their luck. Hence the second hurdle.
"I'll let Chii handle deciphering the poem."
Half an hour later, Chii finished cracking it. (t/N: ...what a cheater)
Ron pulled up a map and searched for that name.
"It's right around here?"
He raised an eyebrow. Block Town was very close to the city that housed Sky Arena—and, more importantly, it was next to Rocks City, the new urban area developed around Ganlu Temple under the Underworld Mafia.
A quick check told him there was a direct bus route to Rocks City. Once he got to the bus station, he could just buy a ticket. Plenty of wealthy people lived in the Sky Arena's city, and Rocks City offered the forms of entertainment they lacked, so it had become a popular destination.
After telling Nina and the others, Ron left the Sky Arena and headed to the bus station.
"One ticket to Rocks City, please."
The ticket seller, a young woman, knew exactly what kind of place Rocks City was. She seemed surprised that someone Ron's age would want to go there. Hardly any kids set out for that city, which was more of an adult playground.
"Traveling by yourself?"
She soon handed him a ticket.
"That'll be 1,000 Jenny."
Ron gave her the money, took the ticket, and found the bus. It wouldn't depart for another half hour, so he waited. The woman next to the ticket seller watched Ron walk away and shook her head.
"So young, and already heading to Rocks City?"
"Kids these days, maturing earlier and earlier."
The ticket seller hesitated.
"He might not be going there just for that. Maybe he's visiting someone."
Departure time arrived, and Ron lined up to board the bus. Most of the passengers were male: youths, middle-aged men, even a few with gray hair. Someone his age was exceptionally rare.
"Hey there, kid. You going to Rocks City too? All by yourself?"
A middle-aged man sitting beside Ron kept looking him over.
"You been there before?"
"You could say that."
Rocks City was built around Ganlu Temple. Ron had been to Ganlu Temple once, back when a battle broke out there. He didn't do much fighting himself—Silva did most of it—but he'd been present.
The man raised his eyebrows.
"Impressive. When I was your age, I didn't know a thing. These kids these days are something else."
He shook his head in wonder. Ron gave no response.
Suddenly, the man made a suggestion.
"Hey, want to meet up once we arrive?"
Ron declined at once.
"All right, suit yourself."
(t/N: wth is going on here?!)
The man looked a little disappointed.
With the roar of the engine, the bus rumbled away toward Rocks City. Darkness settled outside.
Two hours later, the bright lights of a bustling metropolis came into view.
Rocks City was built without walls—wide open from every direction. It was a full-blown entertainment hub, alive with lights even past midnight. One might say daytime was its night, and real life here began after dark.
The bus eased into Rocks City, and Ron peered out the window. Bars, barbeque joints, karaoke spots, hotels—places all devoted to pleasure. Women dressed in skimpy outfits lingered along the streets, catching eyes all around. The air was thick with the scent of raw excitement.
Just as the bus pulled into its stop, Ron sensed a mass of aura coalescing near him.
He looked up instinctively.
He recognized it right away: Ganlu Temple's aura. And the temple recognized him, too.
Without hesitation, Ron darted off the bus, escaping the temple's range. Ganlu Temple's aura couldn't catch up, only watch him slip away.
In the heart of Rocks City, a young man's eyes glinted as he turned to stare in the bus's direction.
"They've been here before?"
"Could it be a partner of that other person from before?"
He knew full well Ganlu Temple's story:
It was originally just a temple with a head monk—Ganlu Temple's master. Someone placed a hefty assassination request on him, hiring the Zoldyck family. The master was killed, and afterward, the Zoldycks sold Ganlu Temple to the Underworld Mafia. He was the one assigned by the Mafia to take over.
"If it's someone from the Zoldyck family, there's nothing to worry about. They sold Ganlu Temple already and won't take it back."
"But if it's a friend of that monk, they might be trying to reclaim the temple."
"I'll have to watch out."
"Ganlu Temple is mine."
Ever since tapping into Ganlu Temple's energy, this man—Rocks—had stepped into a whole new realm of power.