Killua scanned the room. Ron was chatting with Zeno, Silva was asking Illumi about something, and Milluki sat on the couch playing a video game. Killua's gaze landed on Ron.
"Ron-nii still seems the most normal," Killua thought. Compared to Illumi or Milluki, it was Ron that Killua most wanted to emulate in the future.
Dinner time arrived. Zeno had already ordered beforehand. A large table seated six people—it looked a bit empty, but it needed to be that big to hold all the food. None of them were ordinary people; their appetites far exceeded those of normal humans, unless special ingredients were used.
It was similar to the world of Toriko's: Once someone awakened their Gourmet Cells, eating ordinary food was hardly enough to satisfy them. All Gourmands were gluttons among gluttons. Nen users were the same.
Meanwhile, Machi had returned to the hotel.
"Machi-neesan, how did it go?"
"The mission is complete," Machi said. "All the Ten Dons have been killed."
"Really? Can you tell us what happened?"
Everyone gathered around. Before returning, Machi had already asked Ron whether she could share details. Ron's answer was that there was no need to hide anything. Nina and the others were all part of Ron's team and trustworthy. Besides, the disappearance of the ark was something the Underworld Mafia would soon know about anyway—it couldn't be kept secret.
Machi slowly recounted everything that happened inside the ark.
"So that enormous ark was a nen entity? And it had so many strange rules."
"Yes, it was very dangerous… one wrong move and you could die in there," Machi replied.
"And the first choice was all luck. Good thing it was the captain and his cousin—anyone else probably couldn't have figured it out, or have enough manpower to test it."
"That nen beast could even grant power to ordinary people."
"All the Ten Dons became A-rank nen users."
"Those twelve cards sound interesting."
"So the captain has the ark now? I wonder if we'll get to see what it looks like when he returns."
After dinner, Silva sought out Ron alone.
"Ron, how is Killua's progress in learning nen?"
"He's learned the basic Four Major Principles and even developed his own ability, but the teacher sent by the Hunter Association didn't feel qualified to guide him further and stopped teaching," Ron explained. "They're planning to replace that teacher."
"Killua's developed his ability already? What kind of ability?"
"He converts his aura into electricity."
"That direction, huh," Silva murmured. It didn't surprise him—this was one of the directions he had expected for Killua from the start. Otherwise, Silva wouldn't have used electrical punishment methods when raising Killua as a child.
......................
The next day, Ron left the hotel and headed to where Nina and the others were staying. Zeno, Silva, Illumi, and Milluki had all departed. Killua had gone to see Gon again.
Though Illumi didn't agree with Killua's chosen path, with Zeno and Silva around, Illumi had no good way to stop it. Silva and Illumi had also had a serious conversation, forcing Illumi to temporarily stop interfering with Killua, despite how obsessed Illumi was with controlling his brother.
As soon as Ron reached the door, Nina had already opened it and everyone was standing there to greet him.
"Let's talk inside," Ron said, sitting on the couch and looking at Machi.
"Machi, you've already told them about the ark?"
Ron surveyed the group. "My initial thought is to transform the ark into our team's base. But that won't be easy—it'll take time. Next, I'll head to Meteor City. I made a deal with the Phantom Troupe and need to pick something up there."
"Machi, are you going?"
The others had no particular concerns, but Machi was different. She was from Meteor City. And until recently, she had been a member of the Phantom Troupe.
Machi hesitated for a moment. Then made a decision. "I'll go."
Meeting with the Troupe members would be awkward for her—she didn't even know what to say to them, especially now that Uvogin was dead. But she still wanted to return.
The Ten Dons were gone, and Machi wanted to visit Sarasa's grave and pay her respects. This had been her obsession for more than a decade. Ever since witnessing Sarasa's death, she had wanted revenge. Now, she had finally achieved it, even though she hadn't found the actual killer—because the Ten Dons had been a key part of what led to Sarasa's death. Without them, Meteor City wouldn't have suffered so many disappearances or outside predators, and Sarasa would never have encountered her murderer.
"Alright," Ron said. "Then get ready. We'll depart tomorrow morning." Read complete version only at novｅlfire.net
Just then, Ron's phone rang. He took it out—it was an unfamiliar number, but he answered anyway.
"Is this Ron? It's Kurapika."
"Kurapika? What is it?"
"I've captured a member of the Phantom Troupe—his name is Hooker. But he wasn't involved in the Kurta clan massacre, and he knows you."
"Yes, I know who he is."
"Do you have time now?"
"Give me your location."
Kurapika gave his location. Ron's eyes flickered thoughtfully. Technically, he owed Kurapika nothing. In fact, after leaving the Kurta clan's settlement, it was Ron who had saved Kurapika's life. Ron had acquired Sumas entirely on his own.
But Kurapika had captured Hooker and hadn't killed him—whether that was because of his own morals or out of consideration for Ron, it didn't matter. Either way, Ron felt that it was time to tell Kurapika what had really happened back then.
As for what Kurapika chose to do after hearing the truth, that would be his own decision. Ron wouldn't interfere.
Before long, Ron arrived at the location Kurapika had given: an abandoned building.
"Ron, over here," Kurapika called from a corner, waving.
Ron walked over. Hooker was bound in the corner, and as soon as he saw Ron, his expression lit up with excitement.