Sheila didn't try to talk Kurapika out of getting revenge. Instead, she told him quite a lot about the Troupe members.
From the way she spoke, it was clear that every Phantom Troupe member had another side beyond their brutality.
For example, Machi had studied mortuary makeup from undertakers so that future companions, if they died, could at least be laid to rest with the same dignity Sarasa had received.
Uvogin, meanwhile, often came to the church with Nobunaga to teach the children there a few survival-oriented combat tricks.
Pakunoda, Shalnark, Feitan, and Phinks also frequently brought novel things from outside for the church's orphans.
That was exactly why those homeless children gathered in the church had looked at Ronin's group with open hostility.
Still, with Sheila present, none of the kids did anything too reckless.
Ronin listened quietly. He didn't care in the slightest how well the Troupe treated their own people in Meteor City.
Kurapika felt the same way. In fact, the more he listened to Sheila, the more he hated them.
These people clearly understood the pain of loss, so why did they keep stealing away the people and things others treasured?
Bastards.
Kurapika's scarlet eyes burned even brighter, and the killing intent pouring off him made Sheila's voice grow softer and softer.
Ronin's group didn't stay at the church much longer. But before leaving, Ronin said something meaningful to Sheila:
"If the kids here are willing, send them to Elder Ryan's place. He'll give them work, a warm meal, maybe even some wages."
Ronin didn't know whether Sheila really took that in, but he knew some of the older and more mature kids definitely understood what he meant.
"They'll die," Kurapika said suddenly after they'd gone some distance from the church.
"Who knows," Ronin replied with a shrug.
The ambitious ones would definitely go work under Ryan. And when that happened, the first enemies they'd likely face would be the Phantom Troupe.
Whether they lived or died would depend on their fate.
After a long silence, Kurapika said, "You're harsher than I am."
"That's because I've never claimed to be a gentleman. If I'm being honest, after gaining power, I probably lean more toward being a bad person," Ronin said of himself.
He had seen the malice and viciousness in those people's eyes.
If some lingering morality hadn't still been restraining him, he might have slaughtered everyone in that church himself.
Kurapika didn't quite know what to say. "Actually… I don't want your hands stained with too much blood, Big Brother Ronin."
"Don't say stupid things. The one who's supposed to stay clean is you. My moral bottom line isn't that high," Ronin said with a smile. "If I weren't so bad at planning and scheming, I'd rather you keep living with a bright, positive outlook instead of spending every day tangled up in calculations and mind games."
Kurapika smiled faintly. "That wish of yours was doomed from the start. And honestly… I quite like the life I have now."
Ronin gave him a long look, then suddenly changed the subject. "How much of what Sheila said do you think is true?"
The chain on Kurapika's ring finger hadn't reacted as if she were lying, but that didn't mean she had told them everything.
There were plenty of ways to avoid the detection of Kurapika's chain.
And Ronin couldn't shake the feeling that Sheila wasn't nearly as simple as she seemed.
"I don't know," Kurapika said, shaking his head. "I just hope she really is as ignorant as she claims."
A pure white lotus who grew up in a place like Meteor City? Ronin found Sheila far too fake.
So fake that everything she said and did was flawless, as if she were the cleanest, purest, most innocent person in all of Meteor City.
But was she really?
Ronin couldn't see through her.
Time passed quietly. By September 27, Ronin still hadn't gotten a call from Hisoka.
Instead, when he called Hisoka himself, he heard the roar of a crowd in the background. It sounded like Hisoka had already reached Heavens Arena and was preparing for their upcoming match.
"If you come, there's a good chance you'll run into Chrollo," Ronin said.
"No rush. Compared to Chrollo, I'm more interested in you right now," Hisoka replied in that same infuriating tone of his.
"That's a shame," Ronin said.
"What, are you planning to break your promise?" Hisoka's voice immediately changed, gaining a trace of displeasure and killing intent.
"Of course not. I'm looking forward to fighting you too," Ronin answered without hesitation.
"Good. Then I'll see you in the ring on October 1," Hisoka said, his voice turning cheerful again, as if he could hardly wait.
At that moment, the announcer's voice carried through the phone:
"Contestant Hisoka actually chose to answer a phone call in the middle of such a tense match! Contestant Kastro seems to have taken that as the ultimate insult—his attacks are getting fiercer and fiercer!
And yet even so, he still can't touch a single corner of the magician's clothes! Hisoka is practically dancing the most elegant waltz on the tip of a blade! This is insane—!"
So Kastro was appearing around this time?
He was actually a genius. He had just taken the wrong path, developing a Conjuration ability completely unsuited to an Enhancer and wasting most of his talent.
If he had followed the proper training path, would he have had some advantage against Hisoka a few years later?
Ronin looked at the phone after Hisoka hung up, then decisively searched for Milia's number.
If Kastro didn't die to Hisoka this time either, then maybe Milia should sign him.
When Ronin returned to Heavens Arena, he could personally meet Kastro and explain Nen to him properly.
It would count as planting a good seed.
Even back when reading the manga, Ronin had felt Kastro's death was a bit of a waste. He was a pretty cool guy.
Milia picked up quickly. "What is it? Recommending another newcomer to me?"
Hisoka was currently signed under Milia too, so the hype around this fight was especially intense. Even though Hisoka hadn't yet reached the 200th floor, he was already fairly well known in Heavens Arena.
"Yeah. The guy fighting Hisoka right now—Kastro. He's talented," Ronin said directly.
"I can see that. But he seems to have his own school or master behind him, so he won't be easy to recruit," Milia replied.
She had a much clearer view than Ronin, since she was literally sitting in the audience.
On the stage, Hisoka was obviously wearing the expression of someone who had found an interesting prey while fighting Kastro.
Every move Kastro made was full of momentum, but it was also obvious he had only been in contact with Nen for a short time.
Against a Nen user like Hisoka, whose control was already polished to a frightening degree, he was completely outclassed.
"It'd be best if you could help arrange a meeting, or at least get me his contact info. If that really doesn't work, then forget it."
Ronin wasn't obsessed with the idea.
"You want to teach him?" Milia immediately caught on to his intention.
"Not exactly. I just don't want to watch someone with that much potential walk down the wrong road," Ronin said honestly.
"Fine. I'll try to set something up for you," Milia agreed.
~~~
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