If this person really wanted to die, Ronnel would've just stood aside and watched—let the murderous guards do what they wanted.
But the fact that he saved her meant, at the very least, that he bore no ill will toward her.
Judging by his skill, he could've taken out even the guards under the First Queen without breaking a sweat. That made him a rare powerhouse.
So now, Momoze's only hope was the man in front of her—the one who called himself "No. 4."
"Everything from now on is up to you."
"Leave it to me, Your Highness. I'll make sure you're safe until the succession war ends."
As the sound of approaching footsteps echoed from outside, the two of them shared an unspoken understanding.
...
At the same time, Kurapika finished explaining things to Lieutenant Maor, who served under the Fifth Prince, and struck a temporary agreement. Meanwhile, the other princes were also being fed information about Nen from various sources.
"Nen's power varies depending on different conditions?" Prince Tubeppa adjusted his glasses thoughtfully as Maor gave his report. "Mental state, physical state, environment, and even specific numerical conditions... high-risk, high-reward. Fascinating."
He turned to Maor, who stood beside him. "What do you think their intention is, offering to teach us these abilities?"
"I suspect," Maor replied respectfully, "that they're trying to prolong the stalemate of the succession war."
His tone grew serious. "We can observe the Nen training for now, but there's something strange going on with the First Prince's soldiers, and even some of the guards near the Fourteenth Prince. We should be cautious."
"Oh?" Tubeppa chuckled. "I heard Prince Zhang Lei sent two of his trusted men over as well. Maybe we're not the ones who should be worried."
He looked to Maor. "Send word to Prince Zhang Lei and First Prince Benjamin. I'd love to see how my arrogant eldest brother reacts when he hears his prized soldiers are behaving oddly."
"Yes, Your Highness. Shall we send someone to the Nen lessons tomorrow morning?"
"Of course we will. If Benjamin and Zhang Lei are sending people, I want to observe both their reactions... and their methods."
He added with a smirk, "Also, that guard named Morgan, wasn't it? The one lounging around on the sofa without a care? Check his background for me."
"Understood. Should I inform the Third Prince about Morgan as well?"
"No need," Tubeppa said, laughing. "Some things are better kept quiet."
...
Room 1003
"So just through basic training, a Nen user can surpass an ordinary person by several times—or even dozens of times?" Third Prince Zhang Lei tapped his fingers on the edge of a lavish table, mulling over the report delivered by his subordinate. The information had come via the Fourteenth Prince's guards, Sakata and Hashito.
Both guards were under Kurapika's influence now, their loyalty shifted with Ronnel's consent. They had even passed on messages meant to ease Zhang Lei's suspicions.
"A difference like that... it's not just a metaphor. It's like comparing adults to children. Hah. Nen really is something else."
His subordinate, sensing Zhang Lei's interest, hesitated briefly before asking,
"Then... Your Highness, about the Fifth Prince's warning?"
"You mean Hashito and Sakata's strange behavior?" Zhang Lei raised an eyebrow. "Just check it out tomorrow morning during the lesson. If they're really acting odd... you know what to do."
"Yes!"
"Be careful. Whoever attacked even the First Prince's private soldiers must be using Nen we're not familiar with. Don't fall into their trap."
"Understood!"
...
Room 1004
"Oh? So they're offering open Nen training?"
Fourth Prince Tserriednich opened his eyes from meditation at the news.
"Send someone. I'd like to see how others besides Theta go about learning Nen."
He clearly wasn't placing all his trust in Theta's teachings.
Rather, he believed that by collecting information from multiple sources—Theta, the Fourteenth Prince's guard, and others—he could discern the most effective path to mastering Nen with his own genius.
Especially since he'd caught onto the key claim: Nen could be learned within two weeks.
"Go find Theta. I have some questions for her... heh, two weeks~"
...
After receiving the news, the princes swiftly reached their decisions.
Kurapika's final report was:
The Nen training session would begin at 9:00 AM the following day. All the princes except for Second Prince Camilla, Sixth Prince Tyson, and Twelfth Prince Momoze would be sending guards to attend.
Word about what happened to Momoze spread quickly through the royal quarters.
After all, her condition was obvious—swollen wounds, visible trauma. It was impossible to ignore.
And with her injured body on display like a puppet propped up, the atmosphere among the princes turned tense.
Less than half a day after setting sail, a brutal incident had already occurred. It made the deadly nature of the succession battle hit home for everyone.
The attackers were affiliated with the First Queen. And since they were already dead, the Royal Guard performed only a token investigation before closing the case.
After all, when the most powerful of the queens speaks lightly—"He was driven mad by ambition"—that alone is enough to make the matter vanish.
In accordance with the long-standing principle of "the fewer complications, the better," the King's Army quickly classified the attack as a one-off tragedy.
As for how Momoze herself felt?
Well... no one was sure she'd even survive long enough for it to matter.
Her mother, Queen Sevanti, made a brief appearance to offer formal condolences—and then immediately requested clone No. 4 from Momoze, as if nothing had happened.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)