Ronin held out a credit card. "Are you seriously not going to let this go?"
"Brother, I was wrong," Neon said, instantly folding like a cheap lawn chair. "When Kurapika was contacting Miss Millia, I... sort of added her number too."
"Why did you add her?" Ronin asked, eyeing her suspiciously.
"Well, you guys all know each other. I wanted to be in the loop, too," Neon said, shrugging. Her logic was terrifyingly simple.
"Fine." Ronin tossed the card to her. "There's a hundred million Jenny on that. Don't spend it all in one place."
"Thank you, big brother! You're the best!" Neon's face lit up with a sycophantic grin, completely devoid of the bratty arrogance she'd had in the manga.
"Stop. Just be normal. You're giving me goosebumps," Ronin said, shivering slightly.
Spending the last few months with Neon had changed her. The gloomy, depressive atmosphere that once hung over her was gone, replaced by a lively energy.
She was almost unrecognizable from the girl in the manga.
She had become sunny and confident. The spoiled, tyrannical entitlement had been ground out of her during their training and travels.
Now, she really did feel like his little sister.
Laughing and joking, the two made their way to the open-air auction market.
While the Southern Peace auction house had the truly expensive items, it was also crawling with Spiders today.
Ronin wasn't in the mood to poke that bear just yet. The open-air market, with its hustle and bustle, was a much safer way to experience the vibrancy of Yorknew City.
They parked outside the designated zone. The entire district had been cordoned off for the event. Thousands of tourists wandered through a maze of stalls, each displaying items up for bid.
The system was simple: see something you like, write your bid on the sheet next to it. If no one outbids you by the deadline, it's yours.
Treasure hunting in these markets was a quintessential Hunter world experience.
Ronin wasn't particularly interested in the trinkets, but he focused aura into his eyes anyway, scanning the stalls with Gyo.
Finding a hidden treasure might brighten his mood.
Neon, on the other hand, was having a blast. Though her excitement faded after a while—there wasn't much here that caught the eye of a girl used to collecting human body parts.
Ronin placed a few bids just for the hell of it.
But the novelty wore off quickly. He decided that wandering around here was a waste of time. He'd rather go to a comic convention or play some board games.
"Let's go."
After a short stroll, they unanimously decided to bail and get some food instead.
"Hey," Neon said, watching Ronin curiously as they waited for their order. "What are you going to do after all this Phantom Troupe stuff is over?"
"Become a pro Hunter, I guess. Then become a Floor Master at Heaven's Arena. Wait for the Battle Olympia, win the championship," Ronin said, outlining his simple retirement plan. "In my free time, I'll read manga, play video games, go to fan meetups, maybe travel a bit."
"Aside from the fighting part, that sounds really... chill," Neon said, surprised and a little wistful.
"Fighting is just a new hobby," Ronin said, picking up his coffee. "It's like... if you're rich but don't go back to your hometown to show off, it's like wearing brocade at night. Nobody sees it."
"What?" Neon looked confused.
"It means if you have something worth bragging about, you should brag about it. Otherwise, what's the point?" Ronin laughed.
Basically: if you've got it, flaunt it.
Ronin was perfectly comfortable admitting he was that shallow.
"What about you?" Ronin asked.
Neon looked out the window, following his gaze. "Me? I haven't decided. Maybe I'll become a Hunter like you. Travel around, find things I want to collect."
"That sounds nice. Being a Hunter gives you a valid excuse to hunt for whatever you want," Ronin said, leaning back in his chair. "If I become a Hunter... what should I hunt?"
Images of Kite, Netero, and Meruem flashed through his mind.
I should hunt the strong.
It seemed he had a warlike gene in his bones. Being hunted by the Troupe hadn't scared him; it had excited him.
His solo duel with Uvogin had unleashed a savagery he didn't know he possessed. Stomping Uvogin's head into paste had felt... satisfying.
When he fought Hisoka at the Cemetery Building, he hadn't used ninjutsu not because he feared being identified, but because he wanted to enjoy the visceral thrill of hand-to-hand combat.
When he saw the Troupe members in the basement, his real body on the roof had felt an urge to jump down and join the fray.
Even when he saw Silva and Zeno, his first instinct had been the thrill of the hunt.
Fighting either of them with everything he had would be exhilarating.
But with the Troupe breathing down his neck and victory far from guaranteed, he had chosen restraint.
As for the Dark Continent and the Five Threats? Ronin wasn't particularly interested.
Compared to the unknown horrors beyond Lake Mobius, he preferred the neon lights of the city and the roar of the crowd in the arena.
Their food arrived.
Ronin ate absentmindedly. Neon stayed quiet, sensing his mood.
As the meal neared its end, Ronin noticed a commotion outside. Police cars were racing down the street, sirens blaring.
Ronin frowned. They were heading toward the Arden Hotel. A sudden, irrational sense of dread settled in his gut.
He pulled out his phone and dialed Kurapika.
Seeing his expression, Neon put down her fork, worry clouding her eyes.
The call didn't connect.
Ronin stood up. In a flicker of movement, he vanished from the restaurant. The phone was still ringing in his ear as he sprinted toward the hotel, moving like the wind.
Halfway there, lightning crackled around his body. Lightning Chakra Mode.
For a moment, he became a streak of blue light. Pedestrians on the street didn't even see him pass; they only felt a sudden, violent gust of wind.
Even from a distance, Ronin could see the black smoke rising into the sky.
The phone still wouldn't connect. The smoke was coming from the upper floors of the Arden Hotel.
Ronin's mind raced. He cast the Shadow Clone Jutsu while still running.
The clone surged ahead at maximum speed, still wreathed in lightning. The original Ronin, however, cut the power, slowing down and putting on a disguise before approaching the scene.
A crowd had gathered below the hotel. Police cars blocked the entrance. Through the noise, Ronin caught snippets of conversation.
Someone fell... fell from the roof...
He pushed through the crowd, stopping at the yellow police tape. Looking past the busy officers, Ronin saw a body lying on the pavement, covered by a white sheet.
His heart began to hammer against his ribs.
He raised a hand, gathering a subtle amount of aura, and flicked his wrist upward.
The air shifted. A sudden gust of wind lifted the corner of the white sheet.
The illusion of safety shattered. The face staring blankly at the sky was one Ronin knew all too well.
The person who had called him "Big Brother" Ronin.
Kurapika.
But... how is this possible?!