Chapter 128: The Glas Clan
Ronin moved on.
He had made a pact with Kastro—not for a duel, but an agreement to meet again. Kastro vowed to challenge Hisoka once more after refining his training, and he asked Ronin to be there outside the ring to witness his growth and his eventual victory.
Ronin accepted.
Three days later, their airship touched down in the northern region of the Yorbian Continent, at the City of Indulgence: Gram Gasland.
According to the intel Milluki provided, the current holder of the Scarlet Eyes was a high-ranking member of the city's ruling elite—the Glas Clan.
In its early years, Gram Gasland was a barren wasteland of red clay mountains. However, a nomadic tribe known as the Gram Jara discovered massive natural gas reserves beneath the peaks. They abandoned their wandering lifestyle, settled the land, and built a metropolis named after their clan.
The gas eventually ran dry due to over-extraction, but the Glas Clan—now billionaires several times over—pivoted. They transformed Gasland into a hub of casinos and luxury hotels. To attract high-rollers, the hotels began hosting elaborate stage shows.
Over time, the performance industry eclipsed the gambling trade. The city became a magnet for theater troupes, circuses, and world-class magicians, giving Gram Gasland a unique, artistic allure that masked its cutthroat foundations.
It was only natural that an aristocrat in such a city would covet the Scarlet Eyes, one of the Seven Most Beautiful Colors in the World.
"The Glas Clan has controlled Gasland's wealth for generations. They aren't just rich; they're entrenched," Kurapika analyzed as they settled into their hotel suite. "Securing the eyes through a legitimate transaction would be the ideal path."
"But generally speaking, the 'ideal path' never actually opens up," Shizuku noted with her characteristic, blunt accuracy.
"True," Kurapika nodded with a sigh. "Our initial attempts to contact the collector have been stonewalled."
Milluki had been able to track the target because of a paper trail left during an underground trade, but that didn't mean the owner was looking to sell. The Glas Clan didn't need the money. A high-priced buy-back was likely off the table.
"As I thought. The Thief's Way is the most efficient method," Shizuku said.
"But we aren't the Phantom Troupe," Neon interjected.
"Agreed. However, if the target turns out to be a monster, I see no reason we can't act as 'Chivalrous Thieves,'" Ronin said. His moral compass was flexible; he tailored his ethics to the caliber of his opponent.
He knew Kurapika would agree. The boy was driven by a sense of justice, not just a desire for loot.
"Ronin is right," Kurapika said. "While our methods might get messy, that is what distinguishes us from the Spiders. I refuse to become the very dragon we are trying to slay."
"Did Milluki provide a full criminal profile?" Neon asked.
"He gave us their identities, but their records are clean. Milluki probably didn't care enough to dig deeper," Kurapika shrugged. "Or, more likely, the Glas Clan's status allows them to scrub any record of their 'indiscretions.' We'll have to conduct our own recon."
"Assign the roles," Ronin said, yawning.
He was the muscle, and he preferred it that way. Besides, he had heard that a massive Cosplay Convention was being held in Gasland this week. As a former streamer and cosplayer, he was far more interested in the convention than a stakeout.
He planned to send a Shadow Clone to handle Kurapika's mission while his main body enjoyed the festival.
Kurapika anticipated this. He knew Ronin's abilities were vital for investigation, but he also respected Ronin's need for "leisure."
The teams were set: Ronin and Neon would handle the public-facing recon (and the convention); Kurapika and Shizuku would handle the deep-cover surveillance.
Shizuku's lack of strategic depth was balanced by her raw power. Her POP (Potential Output Power) was currently the highest in the group after Ronin—roughly 10,000 units. She was the perfect partner to keep Kurapika safe in a bind.
Kurapika was also eager to finish this hunt. He wanted to secure these eyes as quickly as possible so they could finally enter Greed Island.
Ryan Glas had purchased a pair of Scarlet Eyes at an underground auction months ago for 700 million Jenny. He never expected that within less than a year, the "limited edition" status of the eyes would drive their value over 2 billion.
But to Ryan, the money was irrelevant. He was mesmerized by their aesthetic value.
Before acquiring the eyes, Ryan had no interest in collecting body parts. He had actually found the hobby primitive and distasteful. But the eyes had changed him. They were a gateway drug. Once he had the "best," he became curious about the "rest." He began researching the world's most exotic biological specimens.
He had even built a private, high-security gallery within his hotel to display his "finds."
Currently, the gallery was mostly empty, housing only a few choice organs he had scavenged from the black market. At his current pace, it would take years to fill the hall.
However, during a circus performance a month ago, Ryan found a shortcut.
The Freak Show.
Many of these traveling circuses employed "freaks"—individuals with rare physical mutations, bizarre deformities, or even demi-human traits.
To Ryan, these weren't people. They were unpolished gems. If he could kill them and preserve their unique features as specimens, his gallery would become a world-class masterpiece in a single night.
Using the influence of the Glas name, Ryan issued a formal invitation to the "Macabre Menagerie Circus."
In two days, a private "Freak Show" would be held in the gardens of the Glas Hotel. The performers had already checked in and were busy rehearsing for what they thought was a lucrative private contract.
None of them realized it would be their final curtain call.
Ryan sipped a glass of vintage red wine, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. He imagined them as polished art pieces, adored by connoisseurs for centuries to come.
As for the various "buyers" and "brokers" who had been trying to contact him lately to purchase his Scarlet Eyes? He ignored them all. Let them rot. He had a much more interesting project to focus on.
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