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Chapter 116: Exchange
Although Sheila didn't know Ronin's true identity, seeing him appear alongside Kurapika—and hearing Kurapika solemnly ask about the Phantom Troupe—gave her a bad premonition.
Thinking carefully about Ronin's question, she finally answered, "Yes, Pakunoda used to help me up."
"Did she ever ask you where you've been going recently?" Ronin pressed.
"She did. Pakunoda always liked to ask about those things. She's a good person and was very worried about me," Sheila said, a genuine smile breaking across her face. "Sarasa, Pakunoda, and I all grew up together here in the church. Although I drifted apart from Chrollo and the others after Sarasa was murdered, Pakunoda remained a good friend. Whenever I came back from outside, we would even stay up talking all night."
Ronin glanced at Kurapika.
Kurapika proceeded to ask the most crucial question. "Sheila, do you know what Pakunoda's Nen ability is?"
Sheila shook her head. "She never told me. Maybe it's because I'm not a member of the Troupe that Chrollo founded. They rarely talked to me about Troupe matters, and I rarely asked. I just know they chose to become A-Class Wanted Criminals on their own terms, believing it was the best way to track down whoever killed Sarasa. But I never agreed with fighting violence with violence, so over the years, I've been looking for my own way to find the killers. Becoming a Hunter seemed like the most reliable path to me."
Sheila was completely open and honest, holding nothing back from Kurapika's inquiries. It was obvious from her tone that her ideals severely clashed with the Phantom Troupe's methods.
It seemed the key to the problem lay with Pakunoda.
She's been using her ability to extract intel from Sheila. But why? Doubt crept into Ronin's mind. He studied Sheila closely but couldn't detect anything particularly special about her. Was the key hidden within Sheila's own abilities?
Kurapika's expression visibly relaxed as Sheila answered. He hadn't expected her to be someone who grew up alongside the Phantom Troupe, but he could tell that their diverging views on Sarasa's death had driven them down completely different paths. Yet, even with their conflicting ideals, years of deep affection didn't just fade away overnight.
"So, what happened, Kurapika?" Sheila's expression turned dead serious.
A terrible guess was already forming in her mind, but she desperately hoped she was wrong. If she was right... then how were Chrollo and the others any different from the monsters who had killed Sarasa back then?
"Aside from Ronin and me, every single member of the Kurta Clan, including Pairo... was slaughtered by the Phantom Troupe."
Kurapika finally delivered the news Sheila had dreaded the most.
Standing nearby beside Neon, Shizuku also just realized that Ronin and Kurapika were from the Kurta Clan. Not that it mattered much to her; it simply meant the Troupe was now an enemy. Since Ronin had helped avenge her, it was only natural she do something for him in return.
She didn't have much of an impression of the Phantom Troupe anyway, only knowing them as a group that many in Meteor City worshipped. If Ronin hadn't shown up, she probably would have teamed up with the Phantom Troupe to deal with Spence, just as Ronin had guessed!
At the very least, she knew that with her current strength, she might have had a chance against Spence one-on-one. But facing both Spence and his butler in his manor simultaneously? Her odds of winning would have been slim. Spence's abilities weren't weak; he only lost so quickly because Ronin was overwhelmingly strong.
Sheila blanched at the horrific news.
She had grown up with Chrollo and the rest. She knew their ideals differed, but she never imagined they would go to such extremes. What difference was there between them and the demons who killed Sarasa?
Sheila felt profoundly disappointed.
"I'm sorry..." Not knowing what else to say, she kept bowing in apology, repeating the words over and over.
Kurapika sighed. "I don't blame you."
Just as Ronin had said before: even without him or Sheila, once the Phantom Troupe set their sights on the Scarlet Eyes, finding the Kurta village was only a matter of time. If Brother Ronin had possessed his current strength back then, they might have had a chance to fight back. Paradoxically, without the Troupe's attack, Ronin might never have awakened the ability to merge the Scarlet Eyes and boost his power.
It was an endless, tragic loop.
Unless someone could rewind time and send a fully-powered Ronin back to the day of the massacre. But did an ability like that even exist?
Kurapika shook his head, tossing the chaotic thoughts from his mind.
"So, what are your plans? Why did you come here?" A hint of caution crept into Sheila's eyes.
Though she believed the Kurapika she knew wouldn't take his anger out on the innocent, she had no idea how the annihilation of his clan might have warped his personality. Chrollo had turned into a demon just from experiencing Sarasa's death. What about Kurapika? Could he still maintain his bright and positive outlook?
"Don't worry," Ronin stepped forward. "We aren't here to make trouble for the church. We're just here to take a look. Or, more accurately, to leave a warning for Chrollo."
"He won't care," Sheila smiled bitterly, shaking her head. "He isn't the Chrollo I grew up with. I don't know exactly what happened to him, but the Chrollo who used to gather his friends to put on shows and bring laughter to Meteor City disappeared a long time ago."
Sheila turned to look at the children gathered behind her, a helpless look in her eyes. "They call it a church, but it's more of an orphanage. Ever since the Sister died, Chrollo hasn't returned here in a very long time."
The children eyed Ronin's group warily. Many glared at them with open hostility. It was obvious from the conversation that Ronin and his companions were enemies of the Phantom Troupe.
Ronin could read the admiration for the Troupe shining in those young eyes. To these brats, the Phantom Troupe weren't vicious criminals; they were the true heroes of Meteor City.
Thinking about it from their perspective, it made sense.
Ronin pulled his gaze away. From his standpoint, he only hoped Sheila would teach them well. Otherwise, once they grew up, they'd probably end up dying senselessly in some forgotten gutter.
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