The beautiful girl in pink and purple, with a cold face, replayed the video of the match between Ronnel and the host over and over again.
"It's only been half a year, and he's grown to this level?" Machi's face remained expressionless, but she was muttering to herself.
This Floor Master, Machi herself could kill, and fighters like Feitan and Uvogin could take him down with ease.
However, someone like Ronnel — who didn't even give the opponent a chance to parry, defeating them in a single, effortless strike — was a rare sight. Even Feitan, with all his skill, might not manage it as swiftly.
Though Machi wasn't sure of his full strength, from her perspective, Ronnel's speed had already surpassed Feitan's. His speed had become so quick — who knows how strong he truly was.
For someone to reach this level of ability in just six months… How many bodies had Ronnel left behind in his wake?
Machi was both impressed and slightly uneasy. When the Phantom Troupe first encountered him, they hadn't been exactly friendly. Though she hadn't held any thoughts of conflict at the time, with Ronnel's rapid growth, who was to say he wouldn't develop resentment toward them?
After a moment's thought, Machi decided to make a call to Chrollo.
Far away, on the Azian Continent, in a sacred church…
"Really? His strength is growing quickly, even faster than Feitan's?" Chrollo, with his indifferent dark eyes, held the phone to his ear, speaking softly.
Pakunoda and Kortopi, who were nearby, lifted their heads upon hearing his words, their gazes shifting to Chrollo.
"So what if he's stronger?" Chrollo said with a light chuckle, confidence evident in his tone.
"You're still in Heavens Arena, right?"
"Yes," Machi replied.
"Then that's it. If he had any grudges or lingering resentment over what happened back then, he would've acted already. There's no need to worry. But if you're truly concerned, you can always trust your intuition and test him."
"…Alright, I understand."
Ending the call, Chrollo put the phone away, a faint smile on his face as he resumed his chanting.
Back in Heavens Arena, Machi scrolled through her phone's contacts and dialed the number saved as "No. 8 Debt."
Beep… Beep… Click.
After two rings, the call connected.
"What is it? Are you calling to collect on the debt?" Ronnel's calm voice came through from the other end.
"No, just checking in casually," Machi replied, her tone unchanged.
"If you're ever injured, come to me. I'll give you a discount on my services."
"..."
An awkward silence followed.
"???"
On the other end of the line, Ronnel's forehead wrinkled in confusion. After a moment, he responded, his tone flat.
"I'm fine," he said before promptly hanging up.
What was with that woman? Was she out of her mind? Or… were those certain days of the month approaching?
Meanwhile, Machi, unfazed by the sound of the call ending, nodded to herself.
"It seems he really doesn't hold any grudges..."
But what kind of grudges could Ronnel have harbored?
He had considered it once or twice — taking revenge on the Phantom Troupe, scavenging corpses after their battles. But until he gained enough power to completely overshadow Chrollo, he wouldn't act rashly.
Besides, staying on good terms with the Phantom Troupe had its perks for now. The bodies of the Ten Dons, Uvogin, Pakunoda, and others in Yorknew City were still waiting for him to collect their Nen abilities when the time came. And, with a bit of patience, Kurapika would take out Uvogin and Pakunoda, and Hisoka would eliminate Shalnark and Kortopi, leaving four corpses for Ronnel to reap, without him lifting a finger.
If he played his cards right, perhaps he could even eliminate a few more Troupe members, reaping greater benefits.
Thus, at present, Ronnel harbored no grand designs of revenge.
Lucky for him, when Chrollo sent Shalnark and Machi to find Ronnel, they didn't bring Feitan or Phinks. With Feitan's volatile nature, things could have escalated dangerously that day.
As for what would happen when the Phantom Troupe clashed with the protagonists like Gon… that was a thought Ronnel found amusing. It made him all the more excited for the upcoming Hunter Exam.
...
As the world's premier martial arts competition, the Battle Olympia drew vast crowds every year. Those unable to attend in person would still watch the event via television, the Internet, and other advanced technologies.
Whether ordinary citizens, fighting enthusiasts, or Nen users, everyone paid attention to this tournament.
It was even said that during the Battle Olympia, Milluki Zoldyck, the second eldest of the Zoldyck Family, hacked into several TV stations, setting up dozens of screens in his room to watch the tournament from every angle.
With snacks and instant noodles, Milluki had gleefully enjoyed the sight of fists and bodies flying across the screen.
For both contestants and spectators, the tournament was a grand carnival. Meanwhile, businesses and industries around the event prepared to make a fortune.
Tickets for the combat festival were already selling out, and the surrounding casinos were busy making their own preparations.
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