Back in Meteor City...
Sheila stood still, her fists clenched as she stared blankly at the spot where Ron left.
Seeing the person supposed to accompany her disappear, her eyelids twitched aggressively.
"I knew it... Something was suspicious when he suddenly pushed me away.
It turns out he's planning on leaving me here."
Sheila sighed deeply, accepting her fate, knowing nothing's going to change.
She just followed after him at a considerate pace.
Despite being left behind, Sheila was confident that they would meet again, sooner.
***
Terebellum!
Ron never expected to meet a member of the Heil-Ly family. His gaze lingered on him, observing with caution.
The Kakin Empire should be located on a different continent. Yet, he was here? What for?
So, Ron found it weird for Terebellum to be present in this place, not to mention working as service staff.
But after recalling he was a hitman, probably in for some business.
Well... Isn't this a good opportunity?
Ron fetched the cart and decided to go after his Nen.
Even though it's a mid-tier ability, it was still useful since any damage taken could be transferred.
"Wait a minute," he called.
Terebellum halted and glanced at Ron in puzzlement.
"Is there something else you need, sir?"
Ron lied without blinking.
"Actually, there's a problem with the room lights and I'd like you to have a look."
Although he was on a mission, Terebellum was originally a hitman.
He played along without knowing it was a tiger's den.
"Certainly..."
A small smirk formed across Ron's face.
"Come in..."
The moment he entered, Ron choked and slammed him.
Terebellum, who was unguarded, couldn't put up any defensive measures.
Well, even with preparation, the outcome wouldn't change.
There's a clear difference between their strength.
Seeing him struggle, Ron kissed his own finger and tightened his grip.
"Shhh... If you keep moving around, I wouldn't be able to restrain myself from torturing you..."
Feeling the strong murderous intent, cold sweat poured off his forehead.
Terebellum gulped and looked at Ron in disbelief.
He didn't understand why such a big shot was going after a small-time hitman.
Ron loosened his grip, briefly allowing him to breathe as he explained.
"Your Nen ability is called Damage: Sweet Home...
It's an emission type, where damage can be transferred to the object held in the left hand...
By using the right hand on someone at the perfect time, you can also transfer the damage.
But without an object in your possession, you will take the damage yourself..."
Terebellum was dumbfounded. He even felt his ears steam.
What nonsense is he blabbering about?
He had no idea.
Was this guy mistaking him for someone else?
He never had such an ability!
Ron was unaware of his thoughts, but it didn't matter, the conditions were met.
Seeing the Damage: Sweet Home in the Skill Slot, his lips formed a thin smile.
"Now it's time for the final touch..."
Without wasting any seconds, he twisted Terebellum's neck and opened a portal before tossing him aside.
"Another condition should be fulfilled..."
The darkened Skill Slot brightened up with frame animation, indicating Ron had succeeded.
"This is my ability — Hunter's Fest (Finders Keepers)."
By meeting all the strict conditions, Ron could plunder their future ability, making it his own.
However, it's restricted to Nen users who haven't developed or manifested their abilities yet and stores them into his Skill Slots.
To fully integrate, Ron must understand the ability's conditions and limitations.
And to complete the ceremony, he must kill the original owner himself.
Any ability can be put inside the Skill Slot; it only requires his imagination (assuming it's accurate).
But if the original user developed the ability or died before the conditions were met, the occupied Skill Slot would be locked and lost forever.
It's a variant of Chrollo's Skill Hunter. He created it based on this.
Ron never received a system.
As a conjurer, his will was strong enough that he transitioned into a specialist.
It's already proven that a person can dual wield or have multiple complex abilities without being restricted by Nen type and wasting memory space.
Ron concluded it's possible with these scenarios:
1. By creating an external space to contain the abilities, just like Chrollo's Skill Hunter.
2. By inheriting abilities, intentionally set up by someone (restriction), just like Prince Benjamin and Xi-yu (Zombie Girl).
3. By using a conjured Nen object like the Seed Urn Ceremony.
4. And lastly, by having a talent similar to Ging Freecss.
Ron met the two conditions, which are external space or specific abilities to store the plundered ability, and inheritance.
"While I could potentially develop simple abilities...
My Skill Slot number was limited so I needed to be extremely careful in choosing which abilities I should take in the future."
Once upon a time, before meeting Pakunoda,
Ron was inclined toward her abilities, but he remembered her restriction [not to touch the person she cares about the most], so he gave up the idea.
It would contradict his promise.
Ron would rather miss such an ability than sacrifice Machi.
Upon seeing the transparent interface only he could see, a satisfied smile formed across his lips.
The conjured system displayed:
Hunter's Fest (Finders Keepers!)
Name: Ron Komacine
Age: 18
Aura Capacity (MOP): #&$¥¢£%π§∆
Dual Wielding (passive):
Skill Slot 1 (Locked):
Redo of Healer
Skill Slot 2 (Equipped):
Hide and Seek (Fourth Dimensional Mansion)
***
Skill Slot 1:
Dual Wielding
Skill Slot 2:
Redo of Healer
Skill Slot 3:
Hide and Seek (Fourth Dimensional Mansion)
Skill Slot 4:
Soul Link (Red String of Fate)
Skill Slot 5:
Neuropasta
Skill Slot 6:
Damage: Sweet Home
Skill Slot 7:
[Empty]
Skill Slot 8:
[Empty]
Skill Slot 9:
[Empty]
Skill Slot 10:
[Empty]
***
Ron didn't know why there was an error (faulty symbols) in his aura capacity, probably something to do with being a reincarnated person.
Since Nen was connected to the soul of an individual, just like Chimera Ants, but that's just a theory.
But that wasn't the only great mystery.
Additionally, three skills just popped up randomly without his awareness.
Dual Wielding
Redo of Healer
Soul Link (Red String of Fate)
Since Ron based his ability on Chrollo, he suspected that Dual Wielding was like Bookmark, which turned out to be true.
However, Redo of Healer and Soul Link suddenly appeared.
As for Redo of Healer, Ron had a theory.
It's probably an inherited ability since after creating this interface, it somehow showed itself, occupied a Skill Slot, and even locked itself into Dual Wielding.
The audacity!
Since it couldn't be unequipped,
it's probably a parasitic ability. He just didn't know where it came from.
As for this Soul Link?
It just appeared after Ron woke up.
There were so many mysteries...
Since he set the conditions and restrictions, even he himself didn't know the actual description of this ability, but Redo of Healer seemed to give him a healing ability no less than that of Breath of Archangel.
Thanks to this, he amassed billions of Jenny by curing Mr. Battera's lover after putting her into a coma.
***
The next morning...
Ron decided to wander around alone in search of a restaurant.
He wanted to bring Machi, but she refused to go out. He thought the reason was that she had her period, since she walked strangely.
But apparently, Machi dedicated herself to training Hatsu...
That's right.
Although he had been teaching her for a long time,
Ron hadn't let her develop Hatsu yet. Instead, he focused on training other aspects.
Machi didn't have any complaints since she already had an idea.
There's no need to rush.
It's probably Nen threads, just like in the canon.
Well, since she refused to go out and train by herself...
Ron had to go alone.
He chose a shop at random, eventually finding one with the right amount of people.
Upon noticing the unfamiliar face, the chef's eyes twitched for a brief moment.
A faint spark flickered in his pupils before he greeted him enthusiastically.
"Oh, we got some new face here... Welcome to my ramen restaurant! What would you like to order, young one?"
Ron noticed the subtle reaction but ignored it, having half-expected something like that to come.
He calmly picked up the menu and began scanning through the options.
"I'd like to order your large specialty: one dine-in and one takeout."
The chef smiled.
"Coming right up..."
While cooking, he hummed a rhythmic sound repeatedly.
Morse code...
Ron inwardly chuckled.
Heh, did they think I wouldn't notice?
To others, it looked like he was simply enjoying himself and humming, but he was secretly sending a coded message.
Ron asked himself.
So are they finally going to make a move?
Once the message was received, the customers dining behind him left the shop.
After a few minutes—
A girl with long purple hair wearing reading glasses entered the shop.
Her eyes briefly darted toward Ron, a faint glint reflecting in them before she calmly took a seat beside him.
"Rize, welcome. Is it the usual?"
She replied evenly,
"Yes! One large bowl with extra toppings."
"Okay. Coming right up!"
Once the chef finished preparing his food, he placed one bowl of ramen on the table and packed the other for takeout.
"Here's your order... Enjoy."
Ron ate at an unhurried pace, as if completely oblivious to the intentions of the people surrounding him.
He was voluntarily making himself vulnerable as provocation for attack.
There's nothing to worry about, even if they come all at once.
Ron could manhandle them.
In fact, in pure hand-to-hand combat, they were no match against him.
So was there any need to be afraid?
Let them come.
Seeing his carefree attitude, Rize only showed a faint smile.
But inwardly, she was expressing her disdain.
Is this the person you claimed to be good, Ken?
He doesn't seem to be aware of his own surroundings.
Also, what's with the carefree attitude?
Well, it doesn't matter.
All I have to do is make contact, and we will know if he is truly capable or not.
"Hello, young one. I have never seen you before. Are you new here?"
Ron replied indifferently.
"No, I've been here before..."
"Oh?"
Rize kept her smile while playfully caressing her cheek.
"Mind telling me, young one? I'm very interested..."
Ron gave her a hollow glance and said,
"Sure... I've killed a woman here before. Dismantled her body into 36 parts, starting from her toe all the way up. It was a fun experience."
Hearing this, the corners of their mouths twitched.
Who in the world would start a conversation like that!?
"T—that's a good joke. Young ones really know how to play," she said, smacking the air lightly.
"Well, it's true... I dismantled someone. She looked ugly with purple hair and reading glasses. Very talkative. I found that annoying, so I killed her."
Purple hair and reading glasses... talkative...
Isn't that me?
Are you saying you were going to kill me? Hehe... Interesting.
Rize lowered her head slightly, making her glasses gleam. A small smirk formed across her lips.
"I get it... So you are aware of us all this time? And here I thought you were an idiot."
Ron gave her a glance and continued eating his food.
"Yeah. You had your man tailing me all this time, isn't that right?"
"That's true..."
She paused briefly.
"...The person who stopped the family's operation in Meteor City, it was you, right? Did you know you are a wanted man?"
"Was that the case? I've never known someone like me could be wanted. Unfortunately, I'm not into nerdy girls, so I'll pass."
This guy...
Rize's teeth clattered, her eyelids twitched involuntarily.
She was never truly fit to be a leader due to her small patience and mediocre intellect. But with her subordinate Ken's support, their group took a standing in the Family. In a way, she's an offhand boss.
"Well... I'd like to have a conversation with you later. Assuming you survive the upcoming attacks."
Leaving those words, Rize left unhurriedly.
The people dining started to surround the place, making sure Ron would never be able to escape alive.
Ron pushed the bowl after taking the last drop of soup.
"The food here... is pretty bad."
"Is that so?"
The chef asked before turning around and hacking him with a machete.
"Then die—"