However, that sense of confusion didn't last long.
"My choice wasn't wrong. This is the path I've chosen. Starting today, I'm no longer a member of the Phantom Troupe, but someone who walked out of Meteor City. Starting today, I begin a life that belongs to me—my own life. One that I live for myself."
The confusion in Machi's eyes faded, replaced by a quiet sense of anticipation.
...............
......
.
"Ron, I'm here. I'm right outside the airship terminal."
"Alright."
Before long, Milluki entered Ron's field of view. The two got in the car, and Ron brought Milluki to the hotel he had previously checked into—a spacious suite with more than one bedroom. Even when traveling alone, Ron would book this kind of room. For him, the cost meant little. A larger room simply made people feel more comfortable, and there was always the possibility that others would come looking for him—like how it had been with Morena in the past, or now, with Milluki.
Of course, their roles in Ron's life were completely different. Morena was somewhere between a friend and a lover, while Milluki was his cousin.
"I'm exhausted," Milluki said the moment he entered the suite, collapsing onto the sofa. His chubby frame practically sank into the cushions as he completely relaxed.
As a recluse by nature, Milluki was actually very resistant to the idea of going out. The last time he'd gone out, all the way until now, had already been years ago—and he couldn't even remember what the reason had been that time. This time, his purpose was to get a Greed Island game console, though not for the sake of playing the game itself. What he wanted was to figure out why, with all his technical skills, he still couldn't crack it.
"You're still trying to crack Greed Island?" Ron asked.
Milluki nodded. "I won't be satisfied unless I try one more time."
Ron shrugged. He already knew it was impossible, but since Milluki insisted, there was no reason to stop him. Only by failing himself would Milluki accept reality. And honestly, the cost to let him try wasn't that high.
"Are you planning to bid directly at the auction?"
"Yeah," Milluki replied. "After our phone call, I have now prepared twenty billion Jenny for it. That should be enough under normal circumstances, but... who knows what kind of surprises might come up. Ron, can you lend me another ten billion Jenny? I'll pay you back after the auction. If I end up using it, I'll repay you by killing someone for you."
Ron nodded. "Sure."
Ten billion Jenny wasn't much to him now. He was long past the point where money dictated his decisions. In the past, he had to take assassination contracts just to make a living. Now, that kind of work was no longer necessary.
"They should be in Yorknew City by now," Milluki said. "They're after the login device too. Have you run into them?"
Ron shook his head. "Not yet."
A smirk tugged at the corners of Milluki's lips. "With their current situation, I doubt they'll be able to scrape together enough money to even qualify for the auction. I bet Killua will have to come begging me in the end."
Milluki still harbored a bit of resentment toward Killua. Despite being his elder brother, Killua showed little respect for him so, Milluki really looked forward to the day he could watch Killua squirm.
But Ron knew that scenario was unlikely to happen. Even with 30 billion Jenny, Milluki still couldn't compete financially with Battera. That man was prepared to go bankrupt just to get every single Greed Island login device—driving prices up was no concern to him.
"Since you're already here, want to check out the Bull Market?"
The Bull Market was one of the more unique open-air bazaars in Yorknew. It was known for its enormous foot traffic and transaction volume, and more importantly, the chance to stumble upon something valuable at a bargain. This had attracted many people, some of whom made a fortune there, while others suffered massive losses. The saying went: if you came to Yorknew and didn't visit the Bull Market, you might as well not have come at all.
Ron had scored big there once himself. That crystal featherbone he used years ago had come from that market. After so many years, the featherbone had finally been used up.
"Alright," Milluki said after a moment of hesitation, his interest piqued.
Despite his introverted personality, the idea of treasure-hunting was enough to appeal to just about anyone.
They tidied up and left the hotel, hailed a cab, and before long, the car stopped at the entrance to the Bull Market. As they stepped out, Milluki glanced around and muttered, "So many people..."—clearly starting to get a bit anxious.
"Let's go in."
Ron walked into the market ahead of him. Though he didn't care much for money these days, finding a lucky bargain still gave him a good feeling—it meant fortune was smiling on him. And everyone hoped to be that one lucky person.
Inside the Bull Market, the crowd was thick. Shops lined both sides, street vendors filled the walkways, and the plaza was bustling with an endless stream of people. The noise and excitement was palpable.
Once Milluki started browsing the stalls, his social anxiety vanished, replaced by a laser focus on finding bargains. He quickly became absorbed, eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Milluki, I'm heading over there. When you're ready to leave, just call me."
"Alright, got it."
Ron moved toward the other side of the market. Meanwhile, Milluki had already amassed a pile of items—everything he thought was valuable or could be flipped for profit. Once his arms were full, he found an empty stall, laid out his wares, and started selling.
Milluki had deep knowledge of these things. Though an assassin, he was more inclined toward intelligence work, with a broader knowledge base than even Ron or Illumi. By explaining each item's origin and function, he quickly drew a crowd, especially since his prices were low. For a moment, he truly felt like a fish in water. He could've easily made a life for himself in a place like this.
Just then, a familiar figure entered Ron's field of vision. When Ron turned to look, the person immediately sensed his gaze and turned back.
"Ron."
"Machi."
Ron was slightly surprised to see Machi here alone, especially considering the timeline. The underground auction in Yorknew was about to begin, and the Phantom Troupe should be preparing to act. In the original story, Machi didn't have the time to be wandering around on her own.
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