099 - Things Seem To Be Getting More and More Interesting

"How is this possible?!" Leorio's jaw dropped in disbelief.

"Ronnel… he's a member of the Phantom Troupe?!"

Gon stared at the vivid spider tattoo on Ronnel's right shoulder. It was far more detailed than the one on the fake Troupe member they had seen earlier. Even though Gon had never seen the real tattoo before, something about it told him this one was authentic.

"Oooh!"

Killua let out a whistle, withdrawing his hands from his pockets and adopting a defensive stance, his sharp instincts already kicking in. He wasn't called a killer for nothing—his mind was as alert as ever. Thoughts of danger flickered in his head, similar to what Leorio might have been considering.

Although the odds of them being able to take Ronnel down were slim, being cautious never hurt.

"Things are definitely getting more and more interesting~" Killua mused.

Despite the different thoughts racing through their minds, it was Kurapika's voice, low and full of hate, that grabbed everyone's attention.

"Spider…"

Kurapika's words were soft, but the venomous rage behind them was chilling. Everyone froze in place.

The red light in Kurapika's eyes blazed even brighter than when he had spotted the fake Troupe member earlier, filled with unbridled hatred. The sheer intensity of his emotions made him even more terrifying—and mesmerizing.

The Scarlet Eyes of the Kurta Clan… one of the world's seven most beautiful things, indeed.

"There's no mistake. This is a real spider tattoo… a real Phantom Troupe member. I've finally found one…"

"Kurapika, are you okay?!"

Leorio and Gon rushed forward, alarmed by Kurapika's intense reaction.

"Calm down, Kurapika! Just calm down!" Leorio pleaded, trying to block his friend's view of the tattoo.

"How can I calm down?! I've been waiting for this moment! I must avenge my clan!" Kurapika's voice, which had started low, suddenly erupted into a roar. He swiftly unsheathed two wooden swords, his body tense and ready for battle. He was on the brink of losing control.

"Wait, Kurapika!" Leorio said hurriedly. "Isn't there a chance this is a misunderstanding? Ronnel doesn't seem like the kind of person who would slaughter an entire clan, does he?"

"I agree!" Gon added, nodding firmly. "Ronnel doesn't feel like a bad guy to me."

"His killing intent isn't even close to mine," Killua pointed out casually. "If he'd killed as many people as me, we would've felt it."

Leorio placed a hand on Kurapika's shoulder. "We've been through three rounds of the Hunter Exam together. We've seen Ronnel's actions with our own eyes. You should talk to him first, before jumping to conclusions."

Leorio's tone was serious, his eyes full of concern. He didn't want his friend blinded by rage, making a terrible mistake in the heat of the moment. Leorio truly believed there had to be some misunderstanding. From what they'd seen over the past few days, Ronnel didn't seem like the type to be involved in the massacre of Kurapika's entire clan.

Sure, Ronnel had his flaws, but he wasn't some bloodthirsty monster.

Even Killua, who had more experience with killers, had said as much. If Ronnel had been involved in the massacre, he would've been drenched in the blood of the Kurta Clan. The aura of someone responsible for such an atrocity would've been overwhelming, far beyond anything Ronnel had displayed so far.

Besides, Leorio thought, even if Ronnel was a member of the Phantom Troupe, there was still a chance he hadn't participated in the massacre.

But even if, by some terrible twist of fate, Ronnel had been involved…

Leorio tightened his grip on Kurapika's shoulder. He couldn't let his friend rush into a fight that would surely lead to his death.

In the first phase of the exam, Ronnel had gone toe-to-toe with Hisoka. He had killed seven wild pigs with a single blow. He had even sparred with Chairman Netero. With power like that, there was no way Leorio could let Kurapika throw his life away.

None of them could beat Hisoka, and Ronnel was even stronger. The difference in their abilities was obvious.

So, no matter what, Leorio needed to calm Kurapika down. Even if Ronnel turned out to be one of the worst members of the Phantom Troupe, they would need to bide their time. They needed to pass the Hunter Exam, earn their licenses, and gain the ability to use Nen before they even thought about confronting him.

Leorio threw his briefcase to the side, while Gon placed his fishing rod down. They both stood ready, prepared to hold Kurapika back if necessary.

"Let me go! I have to—"

Thwack!

A sharp sound rang out as Killua delivered a swift chop to the back of Kurapika's head, sending him crumpling to the ground.

"Well, that made things easier~" Killua said nonchalantly, shaking his hand.

Gon and Leorio blinked in surprise before looking at each other. Then, with a sigh, they both turned their attention back to the situation unfolding in the arena.

In the arena, Majtani stared at Ronnel's back, completely speechless.

He had no doubt that the tattoo was real—he had seen it before with his own eyes.

Back when his life had hit rock bottom, before he became a scam artist, he had crossed paths with the Troupe. At that time, with a face disfigured from failed plastic surgery and a soul full of bitterness, Majtani had decided to take his revenge on the world. He had bought a pack of powerful explosives, determined to go out with a bang in the biggest shopping mall in the Republic of Padokea.

But before he could detonate the bomb, he had seen them… the Phantom Troupe.

The tattoo he saw now on Ronnel's back was exactly like the one he had seen on that day—the day that changed everything.

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