Nine thirty in the evening.
Near the commercial district surrounding the Sky Arena.
As one of the most famous landmarks in the world of Hunter × Hunter, the Sky Arena naturally has a fully developed commercial zone around it.
In this city where money and fame converge, as long as you have enough Jenny, you can enjoy luxuries that 99% of people in the world will never experience in their lifetime.
Because of this, the area gathers cuisine from almost every region across the known world, along with rare ingredients that only Hunters can obtainespecially those handled by professional Gourmet Hunters.
Compared to Cambie Town where Rimo stayed before, this place could truly be called a paradise of food.
"AhMaster… Nion is so full… I want a hug…"
After walking out of a restaurant that specialized in monster cuisine near the Sky Arena, Nion rubbed her slightly bulging belly and raised both arms toward Rimo with a pitiful expression.
It was said that the head chef behind this chain was a Two-Star Gourmet Hunter. Even though this was only a branch restaurant, the taste was still outstanding.
More importantly, the quality of the ingredients was extremely highmost of them coming from dangerous creatures captured in the wild, processed with Hunter-level techniques.
Even Rimo had to admit that this was the best meal he had eaten since arriving in this world.
Looking at Nion's little round belly, it was obvious she had completely lost control while eating.
If there was a chance, Rimo even considered visiting the main storepreferably when that Two-Star Hunter personally cooked.
After all, anyone who opens a restaurant clearly values profit.
And Rimo had no shortage of resourcesmoney, Nen, or ability.
However, this time, Rimo didn't indulge Nion.
He raised two fingers and tapped her forehead lightlyjust like Itachi Uchiha poking Sasuke Uchiha.
"You walk by yourself after eating. You need to digest. Otherwise, you'll become a little fat girl."
"Ah!"
Nion covered her forehead, puffing her cheeks.
"Fine… Nion will walk…"
Even so, she obediently grabbed Rimo's hand.
Seeing her obedient expression, Rimo smiled faintly.
"Good girl. Then tonight, I'll reduce one training session for you."
"Woohoo! Long live Master!"
Nion immediately jumped happily.
This was one downside of Biscuit's absence.
Without Biscuit Krueger's strict supervision, Rimo often found himself softening toward Nion.
Just as Rimo was about to take Nion back to the private room he had on the higher floors of the Sky Arena
His footsteps suddenly stopped.
"Hm? Master?"
Nion tilted her head.
"Nothing," Rimo said casually. "I just found a shortcut. Let's go this way."
He pointed toward a dim alley nearby.
"Oh, okay."
Nion didn't question him.
But the moment they stepped into the alley, Rimo's eyes sharpened.
Five people.
From the moment they left the restaurant, they had been followed.
After undergoing Biscuit's hell-level Nen training, Rimo's perception had reached a completely different level.
Even without activating En (Circle), he could clearly detect killing intent and presence within a certain range.
If the current Rimo were to face Silva Zoldyck again, it would be impossible for Silva to approach him unnoticed like before.
As they walked deeper into the alley
Three figures suddenly jumped down from above, landing in front of Rimo.
At the same time, the remaining two blocked the rear.
A perfect encirclement.
"Heh… kid, you really chose the wrong road."
Among the three in front, the shortest one spoke in a hoarse, damaged voice.
"If you had stayed on the main street, we wouldn't have had the chance. But you walked into the alley yourself… hahaha…"
Rimo remained calm.
"So… what do you want?"
A tall man beside the speaker sneered.
They had already observed Rimo.
In every match, he never showed visible Nen.
To them, that meant one thing
He wasn't a Nen user.
Their leader, however, was.
To them, that was the difference between humans and gods.
A classic misunderstanding from people who barely understood Nenignorant of the fundamentals like Ten, Zetsu, Ren, and Hatsu.
They didn't know about Gyo, and they certainly couldn't perceive Rimo's perfectly controlled aura.
"Simple," the one-eyed leader stepped forward.
His left eye socket was replaced with a prosthetic, surrounded by deep scarsa sign of surviving harsh battles.
"In your next match, you will lose on purpose."
"And we'll let you live."
Ah.
So that was it.
They weren't fighters.
They were gamblers.
Hyenas feeding off the Sky Arena betting system.
Unlike official fighters, these people specialized in manipulating match results through threats and coercionprofiting from the enormous betting odds.
And Rimo…
Was the perfect target.
His odds were always extreme.
If he lost even once, the profit margin would exceed 500%.
In simple terms
This was exactly the kind of situation described in the famous economic principle:
Once profit exceeds 300%, people are willing to risk anything.
Rimo looked at them, a faint smile forming.
"Oh? And if I refuse?"
The one-eyed man burst into laughter.
"Refuse?"
"You're just an ordinary person. Don't think you're special just because you slap people around."
Then his expression darkened.
"You're even carrying a child."
"I really don't want to traumatize her… by crippling you in front of her."
As he spoke
He released his aura.
A crude, unrefined Ren surged forward, attempting to crush Rimo psychologically.
Rimo clicked his tongue.
"Tch…"
"The world is really full of ignorant insects."
The next second
A violent surge of aura exploded outward.
Before anyone could react
Rimo disappeared.
Puff!
A sharp slicing sound echoed in the narrow alley.
In an instant
Rimo appeared behind the three men in front.
His hand, shaped like a blade and reinforced with Nen, swept across their necks in a single motion.
Clean.
Efficient.
Brutal.
Three bodies froze.
Then
Collapsed.
Due to their height differences, one lost his entire head, while another had only the upper skull severed.
Blood sprayed like broken fountains.
Rimo frowned slightly.
"Messy."
The remaining two
Collapsed to the ground instantly.
"You… what… how…"
Their voices trembled uncontrollably.
Wasn't he supposed to be an ordinary person?!
Why did he feel like a monster?
Rimo turned slowly, his gaze landing on them.
The two men immediately broke down.
"You… you can't kill us!"
"That's right! We belong to Lord Tours!"
Their last attempt at survival
A threat.
Unfortunately for them
They had just said the worst possible thing.
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