Uvogin gave a broad grin, typical of his usual demeanor, as he glanced at his fellow Spiders. Yet in an instant, Phinks' hand flashed, his knife-edged fingers slicing through Dalzollene, who fell limply to the ground, clueless until the end.
"Seriously, I was expecting some sort of ambush here," Phinks muttered, pulling a handkerchief from his pocket. He wiped his hands clean, then replaced his cherished pharaoh hat atop his head.
Ronnel retrieved a small vial from his space backpack, tossing it effortlessly to Uvogin.
"Antidote. Neutralizes nerve toxins fast," he remarked.
Uvogin bit off the cap, downing the liquid in a single gulp. His body seemed to regain its vigor instantly, and he let out a loud, feral roar.
"That damn Chain User... I'll never forgive him!"
Ignoring the attempts of Shalnark and the others to hold him back, Uvogin, pride stinging, prepared to track down Kurapika.
But Ronnel's calm voice cut through the tension.
"By all means, go after him if you like," he said, "but maybe describe him a bit first, so if you get killed, we can find someone to pick up where you left off."
"Me, get killed? Don't make me laugh!" Uvogin's eyes flared with anger.
"Then again," Ronnel continued, glancing at him thoughtfully, "I can see the bruise on your nose. Looks like he got you good. Despite all that hardening, you couldn't stop one punch from him. You had to feel his strength firsthand... isn't that right?"
Uvogin's silence was all Ronnel needed. Even Nobunaga, his closest companion, looked concerned, recognizing the strength of the Chain User who had managed to injure Uvogin.
"I'm fine. I can handle this alone," Uvogin grumbled.
Still, after a moment, he added in a low voice, "On the way here, I think I heard his name... Kurapika. Not sure if it's real, though."
The name struck a familiar chord with the others, especially Ronnel, who flashed a wry smile.
"Kurapika, huh? That name rings a bell. Could be someone I know… if it's the same person, that is."
With a subtle nudge, Ronnel continued to press Uvogin into recalling Kurapika's name, setting the stage for Shalnark's search. Soon enough, the name would reach the ears of the other Hunters who had passed the 287th Hunter Exam.
As the Spiders prepared for future confrontations, Ronnel had his own plans. He wasn't about to leave the Phantom Troupe just yet. With Hisoka lurking in the background and the prince's succession war brewing, the upcoming journey to the Dark Continent would open new opportunities. If Hisoka withdrew, Ronnel's position within the Troupe would shift intriguingly, perhaps even granting him leverage.
After all, with the Troupe and their enemies so preoccupied, Ronnel was prepared to bide his time, exploiting each twist of fate to his advantage.
"What's on your mind, Ronnel? Do you actually know this guy?" Uvogin asked impatiently.
"I do," Ronnel replied, shrugging, "but right now, shouldn't you be worrying about the leech eggs in your system?"
"Right! Almost forgot!" Uvogin grumbled. "Where's the beer?"
With a sigh, Shalnark guided Uvogin towards Franklin, who had a stash of beer at the ready. The rest of the Spiders made their way back to the base, talking amongst themselves as they planned their next steps.
(T/N: Probably a traditional or superstitious treatment)
Some distance away, Gon and Leorio exited the underground trading post.
"I didn't know Ronnel had such connections...," Gon said cheerfully.
"Yeah, Ronnel sure knows a lot of people," Leorio agreed, scratching his head in wonder.
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