Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all advance chapters!
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
───────────────────────────
Chapter 44: Neon and the Fortuneteller
"You like it?"
A stranger's voice startled Neon, making the pink-haired girl jump like a frightened character from a fairy tale.
Ronin looked at her without guilt.
He had been observing Neon for a while.
From the moment she entered the museum, she made a beeline for this heart. While she was entranced by the "monkey heart," Ronin noticed the elderly janitor passing by multiple times.
The janitor seemed very concerned about Neon.
Or rather, concerned about the heart Neon was watching.
Suspicious.
Ronin judged the janitor to be an ordinary person.
"Sorry, did I scare you? Is there something special about this monkey heart?" Ronin asked curiously, shifting his gaze to the specimen.
He couldn't see anything special.
Probably because he'd never seen a monkey heart before. Who puts that on display?
In that sense, it was strange.
"No, no, it's just a very normal hu—monkey heart," Neon blushed, averting her eyes.
The blonde hair, the rebellious eyes, the cold, noble temperament, the fitted suit, and the voice that was distant yet polite—Neon felt shy.
Like the school idol suddenly talking to her.
Ronin ignored her shyness. He caught her slip of the tongue. "Hu..."
Human heart?
That made sense. Neon was a collector of human parts. Why would she suddenly like a monkey heart? Unless monkeys looked like humans?
If the heart in the jar was human, then the janitor staring at it was highly suspicious.
But Ronin wasn't a judge. He pulled out a card and called a number.
Soon, a middle-aged man appeared.
The balding, ordinary-looking man was the museum curator.
"I want to buy this monkey heart. How much?" Ronin asked directly.
"500,000 Jenny. See anything else you like? Everything is for sale," the curator was pragmatic.
The price was low. Seeing Neon's expression of shock, regret, and unwillingness, Ronin paid immediately.
500,000 wasn't much, but selling a specimen for that price was decent business.
However, as Ronin bought it, he felt a faint killing intent from behind.
The janitor.
"Who are you?" Neon asked uncertainly after the curator left.
Ronin lifted the bag containing the heart. "Actually, I'm not interested in collecting organs. I'm interested in you!"
"Are you hitting on me?" Neon crossed her arms and stepped back.
"More accurately, I'm interested in your ability," Ronin explained.
Neon wasn't his type. Too flat. He worried about the future food supply for his children.
And her hands weren't as pretty as Milia's.
A flash of surprise crossed Neon's face, followed by a defensive reaction like a cat having its tail stepped on. "Your stare is rude!"
Ronin didn't care about politeness. He noted her attempt to hide.
It meant Neon was aware of her Nen ability but hadn't revealed it to her father yet.
Otherwise, her treatment would be vastly different.
Light wouldn't let strangers approach her so easily, and he would satisfy her every whim. A 500,000 Jenny heart would be pocket change to the pampered Neon.
"Let's talk about abilities. Since I know, we are the same kind," Ronin handed the heart to Neon. "A gift. You seem to like it."
"This..."
Neon was conflicted. She couldn't resist the heart, but Ronin's "same kind" comment intrigued and wary her.
Curiosity and desire won.
Besides, if he wanted to force her, she couldn't resist anyway. Giving a gift and inviting her was sincere enough.
They left the museum.
In a café, Ronin glanced out the window. He could see the janitor trying to hide.
"What is your ability?" Neon asked curiously. She liked Ronin, but so far she only knew his name.
"I can make water overflow," Ronin put his hands around his coffee cup. Under Neon's surprised gaze, the coffee spilled over the rim.
Neon stopped doubting. She pulled a pen and paper from her bag.
"Write your full name, date of birth, and blood type," she pushed the paper to Ronin.
Ronin complied.
Neon picked up her pen. A grotesque Nen beast appeared on her right hand.
The aura covered her arm, but the rest of her body remained normal.
Scritch-scratch. Neon wrote furiously.
"Done," she stopped quickly. "My ability is fortune-telling. People say it's accurate."
"People say?" Ronin took the paper.
"Yeah. The first time I found this power, I wrote something for a classmate. She told me later it all came true," Neon said seriously. "But the result was bad, so she called it a curse. I haven't done it for anyone since.
"But I know the auto-writing is a superpower. By the way, my prophecies are unique—four or five quatrains. They predict the events of each week of the current month. Right now, there's only one verse. Huh?"
Ronin read the paper, falling into thought.
"The precious scarlet hue shall be lost,
A played fate begins with a gaze.
The fiery red follows your steps,
Adding a new piece to the Spider's collection."
───────────────────────────
Support this fanfic by leaving positive reviews, comments, and Power Stones!
For advance chapters, visit:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations