Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
─────
Chapter 119: Return to Heaven's Arena
Illumi had indeed contacted his great-great-grandfather, Maha. It wasn't that he didn't want to contact his great-grandfather Zigg, but rather that he couldn't reach him at all; the man was completely restless and could be anywhere.
Maha was quite fond of Illumi, so when he heard his descendant had taken on a difficult assignment and needed backup, he happily agreed to help.
Illumi also managed to track down Milluki, who was hiding in his room unboxing a new limited-edition figure. He drafted the chubby Zoldyck as his tech support. He needed to know if the target he was assassinating was Ronin's true body, and Milluki—with his mastery of various technologies—was the best person for the job.
Milluki didn't dare refuse. Illumi's dead eyes were locked squarely on his newly arrived figure. He had zero doubt that if he declined, Illumi would hold his precious collectible hostage. And even if he capitulated later, the figure would probably meet a grim end.
Better to just join the mission. He'd save his figure and earn a cut of the commission to boot.
Illumi was very pleased with Milluki's cooperation. Before leaving the estate, he checked on Killua, only to learn from a butler that Killua had been taken out for field training by their father. Illumi felt a pang of regret. He rarely came home, and missing his beloved little brother left a cold void in his chest.
Milluki trailed behind Illumi, shivering involuntarily as the bone-chilling aura rolling off his older brother washed over him.
Leaving Kukuroo Mountain, the trio headed straight for Heaven's Arena.
September silently bled into its final day.
By the time Ronin arrived at Heaven's Arena, his promotional posters were already plastered across every billboard. Opposite his image, the challenger's spot was marked with a massive question mark.
It was a brilliant marketing tactic that had kept the audience's curiosity peaking for an entire week. Ronin's arrival was like a boulder dropped into a tranquil lake, instantly sending massive ripples through the crowds. Countless camera lenses snapped to him in an instant.
This was all Milia's doing. Though Ronin rarely provided her with aura, he was far and away her biggest cash cow. This wasn't just because of his striking looks and exceptional charisma, but because every single one of his victories delivered overwhelming visual shock to the audience. His brutal dismantling of Uvogin was still the hottest topic in the arena.
Titles like [The Fire-Breather] and [Fire God Ronin] had begun circulating even after he left the arena. They grew even louder upon his return for his fourth match, where he utilized Fire Style once again. The raw, visceral impact of towering flames and searing heat was deeply mesmerizing.
Through Milia's aggressive hyping and his own spectacular performances, his matches had transformed into highly anticipated spectacles. Combined, they pushed his popularity to unprecedented heights—especially since he hadn't lost a single match.
Fulfilling the press obligations Milia had set up, Ronin pushed through the crowd and headed up to his private room. Milia was already waiting for them inside.
When they met, Ronin's eyes instinctively dropped to Milia's flawless hands before moving up to her exquisite face. To his surprise, Delilah was also sitting with her.
Milia naturally noticed his gaze. This time, however, she didn't try to hide her hands as she usually did. Instead, she boldly reached up and tucked a stray lock of hair behind her ear. The movement perfectly accentuated her feminine charm. In Ronin's eyes, she practically glowed.
"Looks like you've found quite a few new companions, Ronin." Milia's lips parted slightly as her gaze swept over Shizuku and Neon.
She was already familiar with Neon. But Shizuku—the girl Ronin had specifically gone to Meteor City to find—piqued her interest.
"Yeah, picked up a good crew," Ronin admitted openly. He was quite satisfied with the team composition he had put together.
"This is Shizuku Murasaki, a new comrade I picked up in Meteor City," Ronin introduced.
Shizuku pushed up her oversized glasses, studying Milia curiously. She wasn't sure if Milia counted as part of the team. If she did, then Kurapika's team rules applied to her. If not, Shizuku had no interest in getting to know her.
Ronin caught Shizuku's look and instantly knew what she was thinking. "Milia is also part of our team. While she won't be traveling with us most of the time, she's our biggest technical supporter and logistics manager."
"You sure know how to give me fancy titles," Milia said, a rare smile gracing her beautiful face.
"I'm just telling the truth. If you hadn't helped us out, Kurapika and I might still be stuck in the mud in Yorknew, let alone pulling off any operations in Meteor City," Ronin said earnestly.
Meeting Milia was undeniably a stroke of profound luck. If she hadn't intervened when Uvogin first showed up at the arena, Ronin likely would have fled to avoid fighting him. It was her assistance that allowed him to obtain the Scarlet Eyes, rapidly boost his strength, and borrow her Nen to inflict heavy damage on Uvogin—buying enough time for Kurapika to arrive and setting the stage for everything that followed.
Milia flushed slightly under Ronin's earnest gaze. She wasn't used to this kind of atmosphere. "I understand. So, are you fully prepared to face Hisoka?"
"Yeah. Don't sweat it," Ronin grinned. He had fought Hisoka once before and knew exactly how his abilities worked. He was incredibly curious to see if Hisoka could actually break through the defense of his Susanoo.
"Be careful. Don't let your guard down. Hisoka is extremely dangerous," Milia warned seriously.
Ronin's expression matched hers. He understood that a lion uses its full strength even when hunting a rabbit. Not to mention, his opponent was Hisoka—a man who had already witnessed his Susanoo and Amaterasu.
He would go all out tomorrow. He just hoped Hisoka wouldn't disappoint him!
─────
Support this fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones.
For Advance Chapters:
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations