After hearing Rocky's words, some members of the Kuruta tribe appeared confused, but the rest seemed to suddenly gain clarity.
A glimmer of joy surfaced in their eyes.
For most of the Kuruta people, the bloodline they carried often felt more like a burden than a blessing.
Not all members of the Kuruta tribe could activate the Scarlet Eyes when angry. While those with stronger bloodlines had a higher probability of triggering the phenomenon, many tribe members might only experience the Scarlet Eyes once or twice in their entire lives, and only under extreme emotions.
Most of the time, they were just like ordinary people.
Living an ordinary life was something they had always desired.
Rocky smiled reassuringly and said, "Just like now, I hope everyone can live in peace and learn to control their emotions. Peace is the most important thing."
He paused before adding, "And try to learn the language of the outside world as much as possible."
The Kuruta tribe's language was vastly different from that of the outside world. Among them, only a few could manage basic communication with outsiders.
"We're already learning," one tribesman replied. "Since we settled here, we've been practicing. Now, most of us can handle simple greetings."
Rocky nodded approvingly.
As they welcomed him into their small village, Rocky took in its modest size. Villages like this were common in NGL, and the sudden emergence of one more wouldn't raise any suspicions. This anonymity spared the Kuruta tribe from unnecessary trouble.
That evening, no more words were exchanged.
Spending the day living among the tribe, Rocky couldn't help but feel out of place.
When the chief, his grandfather, had been alive, he hadn't felt this disconnect. But now, the sense of belonging he once had was slipping away.
Rocky realized he no longer fit into this peaceful way of life.
For someone like him, a Nen user striving to grow stronger, staying here could only invite danger to the tribe.
Late that night, Rocky lay awake, his mind racing.
He reflected on how long he had been away from Greed Island—nearly a year. The cooldown period for modifying his bloodline was almost over, with less than a month remaining.
He found himself growing curious. Would anything new appear in the information bar this time?
But two more pressing matters consumed his thoughts:
**First**, Rocky needed to return to the original site of the Kuruta tribe. At the very least, he wanted to build a memorial for the fallen tribe members.
**Second**, he sought revenge.
Now that he had found the surviving members of the tribe and ensured their safety, his next step was to avenge the chief and the others who had perished.
*All of the Phantom Troupe must be eliminated.*
But something about the massacre still didn't sit right with him.
Rocky replayed the events in his mind. He recalled the mysterious figures who had intercepted the Kuruta people in that remote town.
Could it be that the Phantom Troupe weren't the true masterminds behind the genocide?
It was possible they had merely carried out someone else's orders. If that were the case, Rocky needed to uncover the truth.
However, regardless of the reasons, the Phantom Troupe had blood on their hands. They had to pay.
Rocky clenched his fists, determination hardening his resolve.
With his current strength, he felt confident he could face the members of the Phantom Troupe.
His time training with Ging over the past three months had accelerated his growth, and Rocky couldn't help but wonder just how far he had come.
The Phantom Troupe would serve as his whetstone.
They were among the most skilled Nen users in the world. If he could defeat them, Rocky believed he would undergo a true transformation.
For now, vengeance was his goal. And with vengeance came the promise of growth, clarity, and perhaps even closure.
------
At dawn, Rocky quietly packed his belongings. His brief rest was over, just as Ging had once said:
*"On the road of Nen, if you don't move forward, you'll fall behind. You can't afford to stop for even a moment."*
Yesterday, Rocky hadn't practiced his basic Nen techniques, and today, he could already feel the effects. His condition had noticeably declined, even after just one missed day.
The Kuruta tribe members seemed to sense that Rocky was leaving.
They all approached him, one by one, speaking with him in hushed tones. No one tried to stop him—they understood his resolve.
When the last Kuruta child finished their words, everyone silently gathered around, watching Rocky with a quiet but heartfelt gaze.
Rocky returned their looks, smiled faintly, and turned to leave without saying much.
As he began to walk away, a voice suddenly called out.
"Lord Rocky!"
He paused and turned back, smiling. "Don't worry. I'll come back to visit when I have the time!"
But the tribe member shook their head. "No, it's not that. I wanted to tell you—your uncle, Lord Satsuki, recovered from his injuries and left a few months ago. He said there are still members of the Kuruta tribe out there to find."
Rocky froze for a moment, his mind racing.
*There are still people!*
He remembered then—just before the tribe had been attacked, the chief had instructed Haizo to lead a group of Kuruta people through a hidden passage into the forest. If anything went wrong, they were to leave immediately.
The boats that had departed the town afterward must have been reserved by Haizo in advance.
But where Haizo and his group had gone remained a mystery.
"Did Satsuki say where he was going to search?"
The tribe members exchanged glances and shook their heads. "He didn't tell us," one replied hesitantly.
Rocky sighed. It wasn't that Satsuki hadn't told them—he likely didn't know where to search himself.
As a warrior of the Kuruta tribe and a Nen user, Satsuki couldn't live an ordinary life in peace. He wouldn't rest until he found every last surviving tribesman.
Rocky nodded firmly. "Don't worry. I'll find him—and I'll find Haizo and the others, too!"
The group Haizo had led away numbered about 30 people. Combined with the 20-plus tribe members who had settled here, it meant that more than half of the Kuruta tribe had escaped annihilation.
Fifty or sixty lives saved out of the entire tribe.
Rocky wasn't sure if this outcome should be considered fortunate or tragic.
Determined, Rocky activated his Nen and vanished into a flash of white light.
The sight left the Kuruta tribe members wide-eyed in amazement.
The younger children, no more than ten years old, watched in awe, their admiration for Rocky evident.
"I want to become a warrior like Rocky someday!" one of them exclaimed, eyes shining with determination.
Rocky's own thoughts were in turmoil as he ascended into the sky.
He now had four tasks before him:
Return to the original site of the Kuruta tribe and create a memorial for the fallen.
Search for his uncle, Satsuki.
Take revenge on the Phantom Troupe.
Locate Haizo and the group of missing tribesmen.
For a moment, Rocky felt unsure of which task to tackle first.
After some thought, he decided to return to the tribe's original site. If he was lucky, he might find clues left behind by Satsuki that would aid in the search.
Little did Rocky know that Satsuki was searching for him, too.
---
**Sky Arena**
Satsuki stood before a receptionist at the towering Sky Arena, his expression stern.
"Are you sure this kid registered here to become a player?"
"Yes, I'm sure," the receptionist replied politely.
"Where is he now?" Satsuki pressed.
"He registered, but he left the Sky Arena shortly afterward."
"Do you know where he went?"
The receptionist shook their head. "I'm sorry, but we can't provide that kind of information."
Satsuki frowned. "I'll pay."
"It's not about the money, sir," the receptionist explained. "However, if you're a Hunter, I can disclose more details."
Satsuki froze, caught off guard. "A Hunter?"
"Yes," the receptionist confirmed. "If you hold a Hunter license, you can easily access information from various places. You can also log in to the Hunter-only website, which contains all kinds of information. As long as you have the funds, you can purchase whatever you need."
Satsuki lowered his head in thought, murmuring to himself, "A Hunter…"
His voice trailed off as he began to consider his next move.