"He seems to be enjoying himself," Uvogin said, clenching his fists tight.
"No, get rid of 'seems'," Nobunaga replied. A flash of ruthlessness erupted in his eyes, but then, as if thinking of something, the corners of his mouth curled up slightly. "If one can kill the opponent at their moment of greatest pride, that in itself seems like a kind of enjoyment."
"You seem to be eyeing my prey." Uvogin looked down at Nobunaga, his gaze carrying a hint of hostility.
"This is no place for a fight," Shalnark acted as the peacemaker. "Are you planning to settle him on the stage?"
"Don't we no longer need his Scarlet Eyes?" Uvogin countered.
"Yeah, we don't need them anymore," Shalnark nodded. "But meeting him on the stage might be a bit of a hassle."
Uvogin turned and walked toward the exit of the arena, saying, "Then let's create some pressure for the prey. If he dares to run, then we can just kill him outside."
"Just don't overplay your hand," Shalnark followed indifferently. "His ability is still quite tricky."
"If Uvogin can't handle it, I'll step in," Nobunaga tightened his grip on his katana, looking dutiful.
As soon as he finished speaking, Uvogin's killing intent surged from ahead.
*Bang!*
Nobunaga was sent flying.
Chaos instantly erupted on the arena stage, and security guards rushed in. However, by that time, Luo Ning was already gone from the ring.
...
"The publicity this time was pretty good. But after winning against Sydney, it's unlikely anyone will challenge you in the short term," Milia said. She had been waiting in the tunnel beneath the stage for Luo Ning's triumphant return.
"It's fine, I can challenge others," Luo Ning replied, completely unbothered.
The number of participants gathered here on the 200th floor was by no means small. There were disgusting veterans who specifically waited to bully newcomers, and there were also powerful experts who were completely fearless and waited to be challenged.
In Luo Ning's two matches, he had played the role of the one being chosen. Now that no one was picking him, he could finally choose his next opponent.
"Alright, I have a list here. They are all quite capable, and winning against them would create a lot of hype," Milia handed over the materials she had prepared. "Of course, if you have any other targets in mind, you can go with your own ideas."
Luo Ning took the documents and noticed the chaotic noise coming from the stands outside the tunnel.
"Let's go to the restaurant first," Luo Ning ignored the cause of the chaos; it didn't matter to him.
Just as they stepped out of the lounge, he immediately received a letter.
The letter was delivered by a service staff member, who said a blonde boy had asked him to pass it on.
Luo Ning looked around but didn't see any familiar figures. Instead, a blonde youth came to mind.
'Kurapika?'
Had he found his way here?
With that thought, he examined the letter carefully before opening it with Milia by his side.
The content of the letter was simple.
"I will throw you down from Heaven's Arena, giving you the same experience of falling from a great height. I hope you don't die then!
—The one who crushed your father's skull."
Luo Ning's pupils constricted slightly.
Clearly, the person who wrote this was Uvogin, but the one who gave it to the waiter wasn't him—it was Shalnark, who had light blonde hair.
'The inevitable has come.' Luo Ning felt some pressure, but not much.
Instead, there was more excitement deep in his heart.
Perhaps he was born for battle. Just like when he first transmigrated and dared to challenge Uvogin after merging his previous memories. Now that he had a certain level of strength, he looked forward even more to fighting opponents who were his equals or even superior to him.
And Uvogin was an excellent opponent.
However, if he were to face Uvogin, he wouldn't be able to refrain from using his ninjutsu like he did against Sydney.
But he really didn't want to expose the power of his ninjutsu in front of others. So, the best way was...
Luo Ning looked seriously at Milia.
Milia didn't understand what he meant yet, but she saw a trace of anticipation in his gaze.
'What does he mean?' Milia wanted to push up her glasses, but seeing Luo Ning looking at her, she quietly hid her slender hand behind her back.
"The Phantom Troupe is here," Luo Ning said as he tucked the letter away and walked toward the elevator. "I need power, so it's time you told me what your ability is. You've been looking forward to this too, haven't you?"
Watching Luo Ning's retreating back, Milia pushed up her glasses, and a smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of her mouth.
A sudden smile on a face that was usually cold made Luo Ning, who turned back to look at her, feel his eyes light up. It was a stunning sight.
"I'll tell you in detail when we're eating," Milia said, not in a hurry.
...
Shalnark, hidden in the crowd, watched the two leave. He didn't sense any nervousness from Luo Ning; instead, he saw composure.
Uvogin's evaluation of Luo Ning's worth was still rising. This kid was truly arrogant!
That was Shalnark's most direct impression.
"Well? Did you give him the letter?" Uvogin approached Shalnark from behind, but Luo Ning and Milia had already entered the elevator in the distance.
"I gave it to him," Shalnark nodded.
"So? So? Was he scared?" Uvogin asked expectantly.
He had spent a long time thinking during the match before writing that threatening letter, all to see Luo Ning's fear or anger. Ideally, he wanted Luo Ning to see red and expose his identity as a member of the Kurta Clan; that would be perfect.
Shalnark shook his head. "You're going to be disappointed. He was very calm. He even ignited the letter and tossed it into a trash can before entering the elevator."
As he spoke, Shalnark pointed to a trash can outside the distant elevator. Smoke was rising from it, and security personnel were already running toward it.
"That brat has no common sense!" Uvogin punched a nearby stone pillar, leaving a deep fist print in the stone.
"We should just go directly to him and give him a warning, or I can help by just cutting him down," Nobunaga found the two after shaking off the security guards. He glared at Uvogin with dissatisfaction. This guy was like a powder keg; he'd explode at the slightest touch.
"Want to go another round?" Uvogin looked over with ill intent.
"You think I'm afraid of you?"
Shalnark covered his face.
...
At the same time, on a stage on the first floor.
"Kurapika, you may proceed directly to the 50th floor."
After Kurapika defeated his opponent in a single move, the referee gave his judgment.
Kurapika nodded and turned to walk off the stage, leaving behind only the burly man who had been knocked unconscious.