Right at that moment, in another space—
Specifically, inside the Kurta Clan's Nen Spirit space.
In a bare, sealed chamber, three figures stood in three separate spots:
The old man, Sheila, and Ron.
The old man kept his gaze fixed on Sheila, his eyes brimming with hatred and anger.
"Have you ever considered one question?"
"Your friend was indeed a victim of tragedy, but by doing this to the Kurta Clan, haven't you put the Kurta Clan in the same situation as your friend?"
He stared intently at Sheila.
"If your friend knew what you've done, how do you think she would feel?"
Sheila shook her head.
"You're from the outside world, and we're from Meteor City."
"We Meteor City folk were discarded by the world from the start. We're not the same 'type' as you."
"I merely wanted to take my own form of revenge. I don't concern myself with other matters."
The old man's voice went cold.
"So in other words, if you make it out of here alive, you're going to keep doing this?"
"That's correct. My revenge will never stop."
"Even if it means killing innocents? Even if their deaths far outnumber the killers you're hunting?"
Once more, the old man fell silent.
To be honest, he still couldn't accept it: that his Kurta Clan had been annihilated over such a ridiculous reason.
Sarasa's entire tragedy had nothing to do with the Kurta Clan.
The killers weren't connected to them.
What's more, he realized he had no way to make Sheila feel any remorse.
She didn't share normal human values.
Executing her would bring him no satisfaction.
"Are all people from Meteor City ?"
He couldn't help asking.
"Not necessarily," Sheila replied. "I don't know much about others, but the Phantom Troupe took a different path than I did."
"They decided to turn Meteor City into a place teeming with the worst criminals."
"That's why they chose to become the most notorious of criminals themselves."
"Outside Meteor City, they commit whatever evil they wish, letting the wider world know their infamy and might—making outsiders fear Meteor City so much they wouldn't dare treat it like before, wouldn't dare sell off Meteor City's people like livestock."
"At the same time, it attracts countless vicious criminals."
"They believe there's a high chance that the ones who killed Sarasa might be among them."
"Those kinds of people, after doing something like that, would surely leave some trace: photos, videos, audio."
"But that's not the approach I favor."
She paused, then continued.
"Regarding the Kurta Clan, I understand how furious you are. I understand your feelings."
"Still, I won't apologize, and I feel no guilt."
"The outside world wronged Meteor City first."
"We harbor hatred toward anyone outside."
"But if you cannot let go of the Kurta Clan's annihilation, then don't kill me yet."
"All I did was reveal the location of your hidden settlement."
"I'm not the one who wiped the Kurta Clan out. That was those outside invaders."
"They are all my targets for revenge."
"As long as I live, I'll keep hunting them down—until I die."
"The Kurta Clan has many enemies."
"I am but one of them."
"If you kill me now, you'll only be ending a single enemy of the Kurta Clan."
"But if you let me live, the Kurta Clan's enemies will keep on dying."
The old man narrowed his eyes.
"You're afraid to die?"
"Not at all. You can kill me right now; I don't mind. I've already taken the first step of my revenge for Sarasa. Even if I died this moment, I'd have no regrets," Sheila answered.
"But if I keep living, I'll carry on."
A flicker passed through the old man's gaze.
"I have to admit, you almost convinced me. But unfortunately, I can't kill you now… and neither can you two escape from this space."
"This space has already become a dead land."
"No one can leave here alive."
"Even if you have a spatial ability."
"My life is already at its end."
"I'm running on fumes."
"I'll die before long."
"Not long after, you two will follow me."
"You won't be leaving here."
"There's no water or food in this place. Even Nen users can't survive for long."
He suddenly turned toward Ron.
"Young man, what's your name?"
"Ron, I'm sorry I dragged you into this," the old man said apologetically. "I intended to bring only that one in, but I ended up pulling you along, too."
"I can sense your hands haven't been stained with any Kurta blood."
"You came with the invaders, but you're not like them."
"With your strength, it wouldn't have been hard to kill at least one Kurta member. Why didn't you?"
Ron hesitated briefly, then answered:
"I'm an assassin. If someone wants me to kill, they have to pay. The Hei-Ly Family hired me, offering around five hundred million Jenny for every pair of Scarlet Eyes."
"But to me, that was a poor deal."
"So I decided not to attack the Kurta Clan."
The old man paused, surprised by the answer.
"That's…unexpected. In that case, why did you still come? Surely they told you the terms beforehand. If you had no intention of killing them, why bother?"
"I practice Nen Beast cultivation. I travel to many places to observe and then create Nen Beasts suited to my needs. From my perspective, the Kurta Clan was worth observing."
Sighing, the old man continued:
"My apologies for bringing you into this. Unfortunately, I can't send you out now. You shouldn't have to die here, but unless someone gains Sumas's approval…"
Sumas was the name of the Kurta Clan's Nen Spirit.
"But that's impossible."
"I'm at the end of my rope."
"You two don't carry a drop of Kurta blood."
"Nearly all other Kurta members have been killed off."
"Even if a few survived, it would be a very long time before they found Sumas."
"You'll both be dead long before that."
What the old man didn't notice was that Ron, listening to him, showed no particular anxiety.
Or at most, he only feigned a bit of nervousness.
When he entered Sumas's internal space, Ron tried reaching out to Baki—but his aura was sealed.
That initially worried him, until he sensed something else: the Nen Spirit itself was extending a kind of closeness and recognition to him.
Which meant Ron could gain mastery over it, much like Dominica had the Colosseum or Rocks had Ganlu Temple. It would take some time, but it could be done. And no one would interfere.
Indeed, as the old man said, only someone with Kurta blood was supposed to receive Sumas's acknowledgment. Now that the old man was on the brink of death, and the rest of the Kurta were mostly gone, nobody could stand in Ron's way.
Ron could calmly seize control of Sumas.
His emotions were complicated.
Ron had only come to the Kurta Clan to absorb their characteristics and create a new Nen Beast.
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