With a mysterious grin on his face, Ronnel bent down to pick up a few of the small stones scattered across the shattered floor.
"But when you set out to deceive people, you'd better come prepared, both in knowledge and appearance," he remarked casually.
"Here we go!"
Lippo, who had been slouching in front of the screen, sat up straight, grabbing a handful of potato chips and stuffing them into his mouth. The two bumbling goons behind him crowded in closer, eager to watch Ronnel's performance and the inevitable dismantling of Majtani's ruse.
"First off, a person's voice gives away their physical condition. Yours is shaky and lacks the steadiness of someone powerful, let alone a member of the Phantom Troupe."
Ronnel paused, his eyes locking onto Majtani's arm. "And then there's the clumsy, irregular twist of your muscles. Let me guess—you're hiding iron plates or something similar under your skin to boost your strength?"
He tossed a pebble in the air, catching it as he continued, "The strength behind those plates couldn't even crack the floor properly. If you were a real Phantom Troupe member, even the weakest of them could do far more damage."
The quiet arena echoed with Ronnel's calm but cutting words. Majtani started sweating profusely as Ronnel carried on.
"And that ridiculous tattoo? Nineteen kills? Are you kidding me? The Phantom Troupe doesn't keep track of their kills like some street gang." Ronnel chuckled lightly, flicking another stone into the air.
"They have thirteen members. I've never heard of any 'King of Destroyers' title you're so proud of. What a joke."
He shook his head, stepping forward as Majtani backed up instinctively.
"Your spider tattoo is fake, too. The real members have their numbers marked in the center of the spider. You, on the other hand, can only fool people who've never seen the real thing."
The crowd watched in silence, the tension thick in the air. Majtani's bravado faded fast, his body trembling under the weight of Ronnel's words.
"I've never heard of a Phantom Troupe member getting caught either," Ronnel continued, his voice steady.
"The only time new members join is when someone dies, not because they were captured."
Majtani was drenched in sweat by now, unable to stop the trembling in his arm as Ronnel stepped closer.
"And one last thing, the Phantom Troupe members are all... decent-looking, to say the least. Even the least attractive of them looks way better than you, with your botched face."
At this, the arena went silent. Candleman Sedokan, lounging against a nearby wall, snorted in disdain.
"You thought you could pull this off with low-tier tricks? Even I can make better props than you."
Leroute and Johness exchanged quiet glances, while Sedokan's mocking laughter echoed in the background.
"This guy... he knows too much about the Phantom Troupe," Leroute muttered, a frown creasing her brow.
"Maybe he's just someone hunter who's done his work," Leroute shrugged, brushing off her concern. Johness, however, remained silent, though his fingers twitched with barely contained excitement.
"I hope I'm overthinking this," Leroute said quietly, her expression still uneasy.
On the opposite cliff, Leorio couldn't help but nod in understanding. "So that's how the Phantom Troupe really operates… good to know for future reference."
Gon, ever eager, also nodded in agreement, but Killua's sharp mind was already racing with curiosity.
"Even the weakest of them can do more than that?" Killua mused, leaning back with his hands behind his head. "Ronnel sure knows a lot about the Phantom Troupe."
Kurapika, who had remained silent, was fixated on Ronnel, his mind working overtime. Ronnel knows too much… When we get back, I need to talk to him.
On the field, Majtani was now on the edge of panic. "Who's to say what you're spouting is true? You've got no proof! Show me some evidence, you liar!"
His voice cracked, desperation creeping in as his proud facade crumbled. He sounded like a gambler on the verge of losing everything, grasping at straws.
"Evidence?" Ronnel stopped, his gaze steady. "I do have evidence. I've seen the Phantom Troupe with my own eyes."
The crowd was stunned. Gon, Leorio, and Leroute stared wide-eyed at the screen, unable to comprehend what they were hearing. Kurapika's fists clenched at his sides as his breath came in shallow gasps.
Ronnel... had seen the Phantom Troupe?
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