"They're private soldiers of the Third Prince, temporarily assigned under the Second Queen," Kurapika explained, scanning the room. "Where's the soldier named Vincent?"
"We have two soldiers from the First Prince here, and their presence is too conspicuous," Bill said.
"With Morgan's permission, I had Vincent change out of his uniform and into a suit to discreetly guard Her Highness."
As he spoke, Bill tilted his chin toward the man in sunglasses standing quietly behind Queen Oito. His long horse-like face made him easy to identify.
Each prince's soldiers wear distinctive uniforms. Benjamin's troops, especially, are easily recognized that way. But once they change into suits, it's hard to tell whether they're personal guards or hired bodyguards.
Slakka and Sakata, Hashito didn't recognize Vincent at all.
Kurapika gave a small nod. "Those two from the Third Prince may lean toward us in action, but their priority is gathering intel on Nen."
"And Slakka seems like trouble. Keep an eye on him."
Though the comment was aimed at Bill, it was clear Kurapika meant it as a reminder to Ronnel.
Of course, Ronnel caught on easily.
He casually raised his hand. The ability Little Eye activated, and three floating spheres of telekinesis materialized in his palm.
Seeing this, both Bill and Kurapika subtly stiffened, tension briefly rippling through them before settling back into focus. The atmosphere steadied.
"I'll keep tabs on Sakata," Ronnel said calmly. "You handle Hashito. He seems easier to approach than that cold, bald guy—Coventoba, was it?"
Slakka slapped Babimyna on the shoulder with a smirk. "I'm putting you in charge of him."
But before Babimyna could reply, Slakka suddenly froze mid-motion.
In Babimyna's eyes, there was a flash of cold amusement. Slakka's world spun—and he dropped to the floor with a dull thud.
Sakata and Hashito, who had been alertly monitoring the room, turned sharply at the noise. Their expressions darkened.
Before they could react, the telekinesis spheres shot forward.
Direct hits.
The two crumpled, joining Slakka on the floor.
With that, the subordinate soldiers of the Second and Third Queens had officially switched allegiance. Fourteenth Prince Woble's camp now included power from the First, Second, and Third Princes.
The guard's strength had suddenly skyrocketed.
Queen Oito, watching this unfold, recognized the familiar application of Nen—and she had already been briefed on Little Eye by Bill.
Her frantic heartbeat eased. She exhaled deeply, and her eyes drifted toward Ronnel.
He lounged on the sofa, as if this effortless victory had cost him nothing.
But everything—the decisive action, the overwhelming power, the sense of security—came from him.
For the first time, Queen Oito dared to believe she had a future.
So long as this man was by her side, she might actually survive this blood-soaked succession war.
She'd cling to life with the tenacity of a cockroach if she had to.
...
Slap!
In the civilian section on the first floor of the Black Whale, in Area 37564, a drunken guy crushed a cockroach under his hand.
"These things squeeze in through any crack... hic."
He tilted his head and looked at the short man seated across from him—dressed in a skull-print outfit and hiding his mouth behind a cloth.
"What's with you? You look like hell."
...
Feitan, seated and silent, glanced sideways at the drunk who, in his current state, treated Feitan like an old friend.
"Hey, don't ignore me," he slurred. "Judging by that sour face, you've had a rough journey, huh?"
"Hic—Now that you're on this ship, just forget all that worldly crap~"
People nearby turned away, disgusted by the stench of alcohol.
Feitan narrowed his eyes, but not at the drunkard—at something behind him.
"This isn't something you forget. This is something you destroy."
A voice spoke from behind the drunken guy. He tried to turn, but his inebriated body gave out. He slumped to the ground, half-conscious.
As his mind faded, he caught bits of conversation.
"Come on, Feitan. The boss is done talking to the Zoldyck family."
"What's the verdict? Also, where the hell's your pharaoh hat?"
"I forgot it. I'll go back and check. You'll know the outcome when you see it."
...
"I'm Maor. I'm here to negotiate the peace terms."
In room 1014, Kurapika and the Queens had just secured control over three newly converted guards when a calm voice came from outside the door, followed by the sound of the bell.
As arranged, it was Lieutenant Maor, under the Fifth Prince Tsubeppa.
With a nod from the Queen, the servant opened the door.
An old man stepped in—wrinkled, but sharp-eyed and upright, exuding a disciplined, military aura.
He swept the room in seconds.
The Fourteenth Prince was nestled in Queen Oito's arms. Eight guards stood behind them.
Five men in suits were spaced throughout the room—Slakka, Kurapika, Bill, Hashito, and Sakata. One man still wore a soldier's uniform—likely from the master.
...
Maor's brow furrowed briefly as his gaze fell on Ronnel, who remained seated on the sofa, displaying none of the expected formal etiquette.
But that frown quickly shifted into confusion.
Despite Ronnel's casual demeanor, neither the Queen nor the others showed any disapproval. In fact, they seemed to accept his behavior completely naturally.
Maor, with decades of experience, could tell it wasn't an act. They genuinely respected this man.
And that was the strangest part.
Even soldiers under the First Prince—sticklers for protocol and hierarchy—showed no complaint.
This man's presence changed the rules.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)