"He looks like he's enjoying it," Uvogin said, clenching his fist.
"No—drop the 'looks like.'" A flash of cruelty flared in Nobunaga's eyes, but then, as if he remembered something, the corner of his mouth lifted slightly.
If you killed someone at the exact moment they were most smug… that was its own kind of pleasure.
"You seem to be eyeing my prey." Uvogin lowered his gaze at Nobunaga, open hostility in his eyes.
"This isn't the place to brawl." Shalnark stepped in as the peacemaker. "Are you planning to deal with him on the ring?"
"Aren't we done with his Scarlet Eyes?" Uvogin shot back.
"Yeah, we don't need them anymore." Shalnark nodded. "But running into him on the ring isn't that simple."
Uvogin turned and walked out of the arena, saying as he went, "Then put some pressure on the prey. If he runs, perfect—we kill him outside."
"Just don't overdo it." Shalnark followed casually. "His abilities are still pretty troublesome."
"If Uvogin can't handle it, I'll step in." Nobunaga tightened his grip on his katana, looking righteously determined.
But the moment the words left his mouth, killing intent exploded ahead.
Bang!
Nobunaga was sent flying backward.
The arena seating instantly fell into chaos, and security personnel rushed in.
But by then, Ronin was already gone from the ring.
…
"This round of promotion went pretty well. But after beating Sidney, no one's likely to challenge you for a while," Milia said. She'd already been waiting in the passageway beneath the stands to greet Ronin's return.
"That's fine. I can challenge other people," Ronin said, unconcerned.
There were plenty of fighters on the 200th floor: disgusting veterans who specialized in mentally torturing newcomers, and fearless powerhouses who waited for challengers.
Ronin's two matches so far had been him getting "picked."
Now that no one wanted to pick him, he could choose his next opponent himself.
"Good. I have a list here—solid fighters. Beating them would also make for good headlines." Milia handed him the prepared file. "Of course, if there's someone else you're interested in, we'll follow your plan."
Ronin took the file and also noticed the commotion coming from the stands outside the corridor.
"Let's go to the restaurant first," he said, not caring why there was chaos—because it didn't matter.
But as he stepped out of the waiting room, he received a letter almost immediately.
A staff member delivered it, saying a blond boy had asked him to pass it on.
Ronin glanced around but didn't see any familiar face. Instead, a blond boy's name surfaced in his mind:
Kurapika.
Had he come?
With that thought, Ronin examined the envelope carefully. Then, with Milia beside him, he opened it.
The content was simple:
"I'll throw you off Heavens Arena so you can enjoy the same high-altitude fall I did. I hope you don't die then!
—The one who stomped your father's head to pieces."
Ronin's pupils contracted.
The one who wrote it was clearly Uvogin.
And the one who handed it to the staff member wasn't Uvogin—but Shalnark, the Troupe member with pale blond hair.
"So it's here." Ronin felt some pressure—but not much.
If anything, the excitement in his chest was stronger.
Maybe he really was born for fighting. Just like when he first transmigrated—after absorbing the previous owner's memories, he'd still dared to challenge Uvogin.
Now that he had some real strength, he was even more eager to fight someone equal to him—or someone stronger.
And Uvogin was a perfect opponent.
But if he faced Uvogin, he couldn't fight the way he had against Sidney—without using ninjutsu.
At the same time, he didn't want to expose his ninjutsu in public.
So the best option was…
Ronin looked at Milia seriously.
Milia hadn't even understood yet when she saw a hint of expectation in his eyes.
"What do you mean?" Milia wanted to push up her glasses, but remembering Ronin was watching, she quietly hid her slender, jade-like hand behind her back instead.
"The Phantom Troupe is here." Ronin tucked the letter away and walked toward the elevator. "I need power. So it's time you tell me what your ability really is. You've been looking forward to this too, haven't you?"
Looking at Ronin as he turned, Milia pushed up her glasses, and a smile finally appeared at the corner of her mouth.
Her usually cool face suddenly lit with that faint smile—and when Ronin glanced sideways at her, his eyes brightened, almost as if he'd been stunned by her.
"We'll talk in detail over dinner," Milia said, not rushing it.
…
Hidden in the crowd, Shalnark watched Ronin and Milia leave.
He didn't sense tension in Ronin at all—only composure.
Uvogin's evaluation of the kid just kept gaining credibility.
This brat really was insanely arrogant.
That was Shalnark's most direct impression.
"How was it? Did you give him the letter?" Uvogin came up behind Shalnark. In the distance, Ronin and Milia had already entered the elevator.
"Yeah." Shalnark nodded.
"So? So? Did it scare him?" Uvogin asked eagerly.
He'd spent a long time thinking about that threat letter during the match—because he wanted to see fear or rage on Ronin's face.
Best case, Ronin would "turn red-eyed" and expose that he was a Kurta. That would be perfect.
Shalnark shook his head. "Then you're going to be disappointed. He was calm. He even casually lit the letter on fire and tossed it into a trash bin right before getting into the elevator."
As he spoke, Shalnark pointed to a nearby trash bin outside the elevator. Smoke was rising from it, and security personnel were already running over.
"Idiot with no common sense!" Uvogin slammed his fist into a stone pillar beside him, leaving a deep fist imprint.
"Let's just warn him face-to-face," Nobunaga said as he finally shook off the security staff and caught up. He shot Uvogin an annoyed look. "You're like a powder keg—set you off and you explode."
"Want to fight again?" Uvogin glared back.
"You think I'm scared?"
Shalnark covered his face.
…
At the same time, on a first-floor ring:
"Kurapika, you may proceed directly to the 50th floor."
After Kurapika defeated his opponent in a single move, the referee delivered the decision.
Kurapika nodded and stepped off the ring, leaving only the unconscious burly man behind.
~~~
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