Chapter 102: 102 This Is How Things Look Like...
Although they were all familiar with each other, no one questioned anyone's choice of future paths.
Take their attitude towards Hisoka, for example. Hisoka had killed so many right under their noses, treating it like a game—he's a real sadist.
Leorio and the others couldn't condone his actions, but they never said anything. In fact, Gon and Killua even invited Hisoka to team up to beat Greed Island.
Killua, originally a trained assassin who thought nothing of human life, had become Gon's best friend.
So when it came to Ronnel being a member of the Phantom Troupe, Leorio and the others didn't feel particularly troubled.
The only issue was Kurapika's connection with the Troupe, which left a heavy weight on all their minds.
Otherwise, whether or not Ronnel was a member of the Phantom Troupe wouldn't have been much of a concern for them.
"Well~~"
As they talked, Kurapika—slung over Leorio's shoulder—began to stir, slowly waking up.
The moment he opened his eyes and saw Ronnel standing before him—
"Spider! Phantom Troupe!!"
Kurapika's eyes lit up with a furious red glow, and he immediately started struggling.
"Calm down, Kurapika!!"
Seeing Kurapika's violent reaction, Leorio rushed to hold him down.
"Listen to me first! Here's what happened..."
Fortunately, even though Kurapika was agitated, he still had some rationality left. He didn't plug his ears and refuse to listen.
So, as Leorio and Gon explained the situation, the crimson glow in Kurapika's eyes gradually faded.
Then, he looked up at Ronnel, who had been watching the whole scene with casual indifference.
"Sorry, Ronnel, I was too impulsive."
Kurapika, regaining his composure, quickly apologized.
However, Leorio and Gon exchanged uneasy glances.
Kurapika's apology may have sounded polite, but the cold distance in his words was impossible to miss.
Clearly, Kurapika hadn't fully come to terms with Ronnel's involvement with the Phantom Troupe.
Though he might need some time to truly understand the situation, for now, his heart remained unresolved.
Even though Ronnel wasn't involved in the massacre of Kurapika's people, the fact that he carried the identity of a Phantom Troupe member was something Kurapika couldn't overlook.
As for Hisoka, he had never really considered himself a part of the Troupe, and the spider tattoo on his back was just a fake.
Everyone understood this, and Ronnel had anticipated Kurapika's reaction from the beginning. But he didn't care.
Ronnel had no desire to make amends with Kurapika. He simply waved a hand and turned away, walking down the road ahead.
"Ronnel!"
Kurapika's voice suddenly called out, halting him in his tracks.
He didn't turn around, but he waited for Kurapika's next words.
"What will you do if I seek revenge on the Phantom Troupe?"
Gon and Leorio held their breath, ready to step in if things escalated.
Ronnel didn't look back. His voice remained calm, almost detached as it reached their ears.
"That question is pointless. With your current strength, any member of the Troupe could easily kill you."
"And even if, by some miracle, you manage to kill one or two of them, the entire Troupe will hunt you down for revenge. You won't be able to handle the consequences."
"And finally, if you start down that path of revenge, and I happen to run into you again… maybe I'll be the one to kill you."
With those words, Ronnel continued walking, his figure growing smaller as he disappeared down the road, leaving Kurapika behind with clenched fists, and Leorio and Gon with troubled expressions.
As for Killua, he didn't care much about any of this.
All Killua was thinking about now was passing the Hunter Exam, where the reward would be a Hunter license and advanced Nen training.
With that power, he could take his siblings far away from their family's dark world!
Lost in thought, Killua stuffed his hands into his pockets and followed after Ronnel.
Leorio and Gon approached Kurapika's side.
"I'm fine," Kurapika said quietly, shaking his head. The crimson light in his eyes was gone, replaced by a steely determination.
"I will become a Hunter and get my Hunter license!"
Ronnel's words hadn't discouraged him—in fact, they had only strengthened Kurapika's resolve.
With renewed determination, Kurapika strode forward, his steps filled with purpose.
Leorio and Gon exchanged another glance, sighed, and followed.
Even though the five of them had passed what should have been the toughest challenge together, the bond between them felt like a broken mirror—no longer as strong as it once was.
In a way, it seemed that Lippo had gotten exactly what he wanted.
In the dim corridor, only the sounds of ticking chains and mechanical noises echoed through the still air.
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