Chapter 120: Return to Heavens Arena
Illumi had indeed successfully contacted his great-great-grandfather, Maha Zoldyck.
It wasn't that he didn't want to recruit his great-grandfather, Zigg, but the old man was impossible to track down. Zigg was a wanderer by nature, prone to vanishing for years at a time on whims that even the family couldn't predict.
Maha, however, held a soft spot for his descendant, Illumi. Upon hearing that a contract had proven too "troublesome" for the current generation and required his direct intervention, the legendary assassin agreed to accompany him.
Additionally, Illumi had cornered Milluki in his room.
The middle child of the Zoldyck family was currently busy unboxing a limited-edition anime figure. Illumi had drafted him as technical support. He needed to know for certain if the "Ronin" he was targeting was the main body or just another elusive clone, and Milluki—a master of surveillance and cyber-warfare—was the only one who could provide that certainty.
Milluki didn't even try to refuse.
He had felt Illumi's gaze linger on his new figure collection, and he had no doubt that if he said "no," his precious treasures would meet a gruesome end. Joining the mission was the only way to save his "waifus" and earn a fat commission in the process.
Satisfied with his team, Illumi led them away from Kukuroo Mountain. Even as a brother, Milluki couldn't help but shiver at the bone-chilling aura radiating from Illumi's back.
The trio headed straight for Heavens Arena.
Time slipped away silently, bringing them to the final day of September.
When Ronin arrived at Heavens Arena, he was greeted by a city in a frenzy. His face was everywhere—plastered on billboards, flickering on digital screens, and taped to every公告 column in the district.
However, the space for his opponent on the posters was occupied by a giant, glowing question mark.
Miria's marketing genius was on full display. She had spent a week building a "Mystery Opponent" narrative to drive the public's curiosity to a breaking point.
The moment Ronin stepped out of his vehicle, dozens of cameras swiveled to face him.
His return was like dropping a boulder into a still pond. The ripples turned into waves instantly.
Although Ronin rarely provided Miria with "Aura Interest," he was her most profitable asset. Not just because of his looks or his noble, cold temperament, but because his victories provided the kind of spectacle audiences craved.
The match against Uvogin was still the most-watched VOD in Arena history.
"The Pyromancer Ronin." "The Fire God."
These titles had circulated globally during his absence. When he had briefly returned for his fourth match, the legends only grew.
Every fire-style jutsu he used was a cinematic masterpiece of heat and light. Under Miria's guidance, his matches had transitioned from simple fights into "Must-See Combat Performances."
His undefeated streak only added to the mystique. To the betting public, Ronin was a force of nature.
Ronin pushed through the crowd, ignoring the reporters, and headed for his private suite.
Miria was already waiting for him.
As he entered, Ronin's gaze instinctively landed on her hands—elegant and perfect as always—before moving to her refined face.
He was surprised to see Dalila, the Toy Hunter, standing beside her.
Miria noticed his gaze. This time, she didn't hide her hands or act coy. She openly raised a hand to tuck a stray hair behind her ear, a gesture of quiet confidence and feminine grace. In that light, she looked absolutely radiant.
"I see you've expanded your circle, Ronin," Miria said, her voice smooth and melodic. Her eyes drifted to Shizuku and Neon.
She knew Neon, of course. But Shizuku—the girl Ronin had gone all the way to Meteor City to recruit—pique her interest.
"They're good teammates," Ronin said, nodding toward the girls.
"This is Shizuku. Our newest member," Ronin introduced her.
Shizuku adjusted her large glasses, staring at Miria with her usual blank curiosity. She wondered if Miria fell under the "Team Rules" Kurapika had established. If she was a teammate, Shizuku had to be nice. If not, she didn't need to remember her name.
Ronin saw the look in Shizuku's eyes and intervened. "Miria is a core member of the team. She's our chief of logistics and our strategic technical lead, even if she doesn't fight on the front lines."
"You're quite generous with the titles today," Miria smiled, a rare warmth reaching her eyes.
"It's the truth. Without your support, Kurapika and I would still be stuck in the mud in Yorknew. We definitely wouldn't have pulled off the Meteor City operation so cleanly," Ronin said sincerely.
Meeting Miria was, in Ronin's mind, the greatest stroke of luck he'd had in this world.
She had secured the eyes he needed, boosted his strength when he was outmatched by Uvogin, and provided the infrastructure for Kurapika to build their shadow empire.
Under Ronin's sincere praise, Miria felt a faint flush touch her cheeks. She wasn't used to this kind of atmosphere.
"I get it. Now, the real question: are you ready for Hisoka?"
"I'm ready. Don't worry," Ronin said, his voice brimming with confidence.
He had already fought Hisoka once. He knew the Magician's tricks, the elasticity of his gum, and the lethality of his cards. He was genuinely curious: Can Bungee Gum even interact with the Susanoo?
"Be careful. Don't underestimate him," Miria warned solemnly. "Hisoka is... different. He thrives on the verge of death."
Ronin's expression turned serious. He knew the "Lion and Rabbit" rule. Especially when the rabbit was a homicidal magician who could turn a gum wrapper into a lethal weapon.
Hisoka likely knew about the Susanoo and Amaterasu by now through the rumor mill. Tomorrow's match wouldn't be a test of strength—it would be a war of attrition and ingenuity.
"I'll use everything I have," Ronin promised. "I won't let you down."
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