Footage of the hallway fight began playing on the TV. As Ronin fine-tuned the audio, the sounds captured by the listening devices finally played back clearly—Shalnark's and Nobunaga's voices in full.
Ronin lightly tapped his fingers against the table.
The performance of ninjutsu in actual combat had been outstanding. Even C-rank techniques, when used well, could produce effects far beyond what abilities like Big Bang Impact could achieve in his hands.
The key lay in energy output.
With Nen, the amount of aura he could release directly limited the destructive power of a punch.
But some ninjutsu weren't restricted in the same way by chakra output.
In a straight fist-to-fist clash, Ronin would definitely lose.
But if he unleashed ninjutsu head-on against Uvogin's Big Bang Impact, he actually had a chance to injure him.
This probing encounter clarified his tactical approach for the upcoming arena battle.
Still, as he listened to the bugged audio, Ronin grew more cautious.
If the Phantom Troupe really had five members coming, then his best option for the next match would be to forfeit outright.
Otherwise, even with his abilities, if he got cornered, he could easily be killed inside the arena.
And judging by Shalnark's tone, they had no intention of sparing any of the spectators who would be inside the arena that day.
They really were a group without any regard for the law.
Ronin idly toyed with a black card in his hand. Inside it was his recent income—46 billion Jenny.
Not an outrageous amount, but more than enough to put his next plan into motion.
Five Phantom Troupe members—or maybe even more?
A sharp glint flashed in Ronin's eyes. He wasn't planning to run. He just hoped everything he'd arranged would go smoothly.
Room 2333 had already been sealed off. Ronin's new room was now Room 2412.
Combat information appeared on the wall display.
> Match Date Confirmed
> 227th Floor Arena
> Starts at 3:00 PM on May 12
The matchup was set: Ronin versus Uvogin.
Once the news was confirmed, the promotional slots and GG advertising throughout the arena immediately began to change.
> "The 'Genius Prodigy,' 'Favored by the God of Combat,' and 'Brilliant Supernova'—Ronin—
> will face off on May 12 against the 'Bloodthirsty Barbarian' and 'Iron-Armed Gorilla,' Uvogin!
>
> Join us at 3:00 PM on May 12 on the 227th floor arena. Don't miss it!"
Bang.
A stone shot through the air and smashed the TV in the restaurant on the 201st floor.
A waiter rushed over in panic, while many others snuck glances—some with barely hidden smirks—toward a towering man wearing a bear-hide vest, his chest fully exposed.
Because that man was none other than the "Iron-Armed Gorilla" from the TV—Uvogin himself.
"He paid for it," Shalnark said calmly. "And a lot, too. All for marketing and promotion."
"Who?" Uvogin growled, noticing the stares around him, though he couldn't exactly slaughter everyone here.
After all, he really was going to participate in the match.
If he went on a killing spree in the restaurant, he'd be expelled from Heaven's Arena.
"Milia. A top-tier manager," Shalnark explained. "But she's clearly guarding against us. I can't find any recent info on her online, and even the information brokers on the floors won't talk. Looks like she has serious pull in Heaven's Arena."
Shalnark hadn't forgotten to investigate the people around Ronin.
"A gold-star manager?" Uvogin suddenly recalled someone in a sharp suit.
Back when he earned his qualification to advance to the 200th floor, a polished professional like that had approached him, wanting to shape his image, hype him up, and rake in more money and fame.
Uvogin hadn't cared in the slightest—and had chased the guy off on the spot.
"Fine. I'll endure it," Uvogin said, downing a large glass of water as if trying to suppress the fire in his chest.
---
In a corner they hadn't noticed, Kurapika had already changed out of his highly distinctive traditional clothing.
He was now dressed in casual black attire, wearing a baseball cap pulled low and black-rimmed glasses on his nose. Overall, he looked mild-mannered and unassuming.
He ate slowly, calmly, while his gaze carefully observed Uvogin and the others.
He had his doubts about their identities. While he couldn't be one hundred percent certain, the likelihood that they were Troupe members was extremely high.
After all, the conflict on the 200th floor hadn't been kept secret.
Ronin's name was currently blazing through Heaven's Arena, even showing signs of rivaling the Floor Masters themselves.
Anything involving Ronin spread quickly—though whether the information was accurate depended on who received it.
What Kurapika had heard was that Ronin had crushed Uvogin's momentum on the 200th floor, injuring him badly enough to make him vomit blood in a single exchange.
Because of that clash, Uvogin had been filled with rage and had recklessly filed for a match against Ronin.
In these reports, Uvogin was painted as a brainless brute.
That image did fit his "Iron-Armed Gorilla" nickname—but Kurapika didn't believe things were that simple.
When he connected it with the recent attack on Room 2333, and the reports of the door being slashed apart, he was confident that the one who'd attacked that room was the dead-eyed young man sitting next to Uvogin—the one who never let his long sword stray more than arm's reach away, even while seated.
And who would want Ronin dead more than anyone at a time like this?
The answer was obvious.
The Phantom Troupe.
Yet the more certain Kurapika became, the less he dared to approach the three of them.
Hatred simmered in his heart, but even sitting here, he could sense how terrifying they were.
Their strength existed on a completely different level.
Kurapika knew very well that if he let even a trace of killing intent leak out, he'd likely be killed before he got within five meters of their table.
Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
Was this what Big Brother Ronin was about to face?
Kurapika swallowed hard. Only after Uvogin and the others left the restaurant did the tension finally drain from his body.
Just then, someone sat down across from him.
"So? You felt the gap, didn't you?"
The familiar voice made Kurapika jerk his head up. His eyes instantly flared into the Scarlet Eyes.
"Big Brother Ronin!" Kurapika's voice trembled with excitement.
"Shh." Ronin raised a finger, signaling him to keep it down. Fortunately, Kurapika's outburst hadn't drawn much attention.
That might have been because the oppressive atmosphere from Uvogin's table earlier had driven many patrons to pay and leave early, leaving only a few tables nearby.
Still, seeing Kurapika's blazing red eyes, Ronin stood up and gestured toward the private dining rooms. "Come with me first."
Kurapika lowered the brim of his cap and quickly followed.
His expression was already strained, and large tears rolled freely from his eyes.
Ronin noticed, of course. Even though Kurapika was trying his best to hold it together, the sound of his sniffing still gave him away.
Letting out a soft sigh, Ronin slowed his pace and reached out, taking Kurapika's hand.
Kurapika was only thirteen. He'd grown up almost entirely within the clan's homeland and had only recently begun to experience the outside world.
Even if life had forced him to shed much of his innocence…
In front of the last remaining family he had, he still revealed his most fragile—and most genuine—self.