The Scarlet Eyes had another name in nearby cities: The Demon's Apostle.
This prejudice was likely why the clan disliked going outside. The people of this world treated anyone different as an anomaly.
Even if the difference caused no harm, the moment something bad happened, people would link it to the "outsiders."
Ronin didn't care much about the stigma. He was more concerned about whether Uvogin was still chasing him.
After a mission, Troupe members had free time.
His two attacks had thoroughly offended Uvogin, so the best move was to get as far away as possible.
Also, Shalnark (User of "Black Voice") might already have his Hunter License. He had excellent hacking skills, so Ronin needed to hide his identity.
The first step was ditching the distinctive Kurta ethnic clothing.
As for where to go next...
Ronin patted the dried bills in his pocket. I need to make money.
Whether buying Scarlet Eyes or intelligence, he needed cash.
The Yorknew City Auction in September was the best place to acquire the eyes, likely through underground channels just like Kurapika.
Body part collection was a dark hobby, so the transactions would be illicit.
Ronin remembered a pair of Scarlet Eyes appearing at the 1999 auction. Due to malicious bidding, Kurapika ended up paying 2.9 billion Jenny for them.
In Hunter x Hunter, the Jenny had roughly the same purchasing power as the Japanese Yen.
2.9 billion was not a small number.
The first method Ronin thought of was Heaven's Arena.
For a Nen user, it was easy money.
Reaching the 200th floor wouldn't be hard. Just making it to the 190th floor would net him 200 million Jenny.
He didn't know the prize money for reaching the 200th floor, but it should be more than 200 million. However, after the 200th floor, there was no prize money—only fighting for honor.
According to the manga, becoming a Floor Master (floors 230-250) brought fame and a life of luxury, implying other revenue streams.
Ronin planned to earn his initial capital there, then move to Yorknew.
As for finding Kurapika? Not yet.
He wasn't the original Ronin. And he wasn't gathering the eyes to return them to the clan; he was gathering them to consume them. He couldn't predict Kurapika's reaction to that.
Especially since he wasn't sure of Uvogin's status. Contacting Kurapika now might just bring danger to him.
Better to wait until he had money and had dealt with Uvogin.
Having planned his route, Ronin began his wilderness survival trek through the forest.
...
Meanwhile, Uvogin and Kortopi arrived at the spot where Ronin had discarded the sticker.
"He's smart," Kortopi judged, picking up the sticker. "He doesn't look like a novice. It seems he's been exposed to Nen for a long time and has thought deeply about it."
"His strength is definitely that of a beginner, but his fighting style is weird." Uvogin recalled the battle. "He seems to be in a state of Zetsu constantly, even when attacking."
"Trading defense for unpredictable abilities?" Kortopi mused.
"His style feels like a ninja," Uvogin said accurately. "Clones, substitutions... and every time he uses a move, he forms special hand seals."
"A strange Specialist... but overall, he leans toward Conjuration and Transmutation," Kortopi analyzed.
Conjuring a clone, even a fragile one, had a cost. Developing such abilities so soon after awakening Nen meant he must have used a Vow and Limitation.
"A pity," Uvogin commented, though his expression showed zero regret—only amusement. "If I hadn't chased him, he might have had a bright future."
"Do we keep chasing?" Kortopi looked at the dense forest ahead.
Without the sticker, finding Ronin would be difficult.
"My part here is done, right?" Uvogin rubbed his chin. He wasn't going to let the boy go.
Feitan's mockery still stung.
He had to retrieve those two pairs of eyes.
"Yeah." Kortopi didn't stop him. He even conjured a cell phone for him. "It'll last 24 hours. The runaway's name is Ronin. If he enters a city, maybe you can get Shalnark to find him."
"Thanks." Uvogin took the phone. "He probably won't go to Nancha. That leaves Yanshui City."
"Good luck." Kortopi waved.
As he waved, Uvogin was already sprinting away like a wild horse.
At his speed, he might reach Yanshui City before Ronin. But that was no longer Kortopi's concern.
...
Ronin tossed the newspaper into a trash can and walked quickly into the airship terminal.
He didn't buy a ticket. After confirming the flight, he used his Sharingan's Genjutsu on the ticket inspector to walk right past the checkpoint and onto the airship.
Genjutsu was mediocre against a Nen user like Uvogin, but against a normal person, it was a god-tier power.
Ronin did this for one reason: even if Shalnark hacked the flight records, his name wouldn't appear on the passenger list.
Once he left Yanshui, finding him would be a nightmare for the Phantom Troupe.
The airship slowly ascended. Ronin stood in the corridor, watching the airport shrink through the glass window.
Suddenly, a voice he dreaded hearing came from behind him.
"Trying to run? If you jump now, you might still live."
The moment the voice spoke, Ronin snapped his head around, his body instantly shifting into a combat stance.
His eyes transitioned into the Sharingan without hesitation.
But confusion filled his mind. Why is Uvogin on the airship?
Has he been watching me since I entered Yanshui? How did he get here so fast?!