When Kurapika stepped off the train in Mauldin City, his mind was entirely occupied by the events at Heaven's Arena. However, that worry didn't last long.
Information had already been sent to him via text message. Although Kurapika had only recently left his village, he was naturally sharp-witted and quick-thinking. He had made arrangements before leaving Heaven's Arena.
The message came from a martial arts enthusiast who frequented the arena year-round. It was filled with descriptions of just how earth-shattering the battle between Luo Ning and Uvogin had been. Luo Ning's titles had shifted from 'Supernova' and 'Red Flash' to 'Fire God', 'Flame Emperor', and 'Controller of Flames'.
But these titles weren't what truly concerned Kurapika. He cared about only two points. First, Luo Ning was alive but had vanished—at least, he hadn't appeared in the two days since Kurapika's departure. Second, Uvogin was also alive; he had been seriously injured and rescued, and three individuals had appeared near the stage to attack Luo Ning at the time.
Kurapika recorded the characteristics of those individuals. This way, he could quickly recognize them during their next encounter and gain the upper hand.
Carefully reviewing Luo Ning's actions, Kurapika could see many traces of idealized planning. It was clear that Luo Ning was not skilled at strategizing. Had he been there to help, Kurapika was certain he could have given Luo Ning enough time to kill Uvogin on stage and leave safely.
It was a pity. However, he had also learned about the existence of Nen through various channels. Among the descriptions he found, one theory suggested that people of the Enhancer type—like Luo Ning—tended to be simple-minded and relied more on intuition. It felt as though Luo Ning's success at Heaven's Arena was driven more by instinct than by calculating the best possible options.
Precisely because Big Brother Luo Ning was not good at planning and maneuvering, he needed Kurapika even more!
Kurapika clenched his fist. Big Brother Luo Ning could become the strongest spear; Kurapika's job was to ensure that spear could unleash its destructive power to the fullest extent.
Two days later, Kurapika met Luo Ning at the station. Luo Ning was in a simple disguise, and Kurapika had also ditched his traditional Kurta Clan attire for casual clothes. When they met, the two shared a brief hug.
Luo Ning hadn't expected the usually reserved Kurapika from his memories to show such a side.
"Sorry to keep you waiting," Luo Ning said after letting go.
Kurapika shook his head.
"It's a shame my planning was too simple. Not only did I almost put myself in danger, but I also failed to finish off Uvogin," Luo Ning remarked as he led Kurapika out of the station.
He had to admit that while he was a capable hand in battle, he fell far short when it came to analytical strategy. If he had planned better, he should have been able to leave Uvogin dead on that stage. Hisoka's evaluation of him seemed to grow more accurate by the day.
'Is this what an Enhancer is like? All my points are put into combat!'
"You did very well. Besides, burning him to death would have been too easy on him. I heard about your uncle..." Kurapika looked at Luo Ning apologetically.
"I know," Luo Ning said without evasion. "He was the one Uvogin stomped to pieces while he was hunting me down."
"I'm sorry," Kurapika said again.
Luo Ning shook his head. "He got lucky this time, but his luck won't last. Next time we meet, I will definitely take his head!"
"We'll do it together!" Kurapika said firmly.
"Of course. You are my strategist, after all." After this incident, Luo Ning had gained some self-awareness. Compared to the intrigue of scheming, he preferred to focus on his cultivation.
Whether it was for revenge or collecting the Scarlet Eyes, both strength and money were indispensable. With Kurapika's sharp mind and meticulous thinking, Luo Ning could feel at ease leaving those matters to him.
As they chatted about various things, they arrived at the hotel Kurapika had booked. Luo Ning had used the genjutsu of his Sharingan to influence others throughout his journey to Mauldin City, making it impossible to find a record of his travels. Now that the hotel was in Kurapika's name, it would be even harder to track him down through information gathering.
"But this isn't entirely safe," Kurapika analyzed after they sat down, considering the intelligence Luo Ning provided. "If Nen didn't exist, your approach would be perfect. But with Nen, there might be special methods to confirm your general location. If they investigate based on that, they might eventually find us. Moreover, you're a celebrity now; the probability of being discovered is higher. The best course of action is not to stay in one place for too long. Alternatively, we should set up traps to determine if we are being investigated and then decide whether to counter-attack or retreat. We must keep the initiative in our hands."
"Then can we use me as bait to lure the members of the Troupe out?" Luo Ning proposed.
"Not feasible," Kurapika shook his head. "The strength you displayed at Heaven's Arena is enough for them to take you seriously. Using a bait tactic blindly might backfire, and we could actually be swallowed up. Next time the Troupe faces you, there won't just be five of them, and they certainly won't give you a one-on-one fight like Uvogin did. It's more likely they will attack you together. How many of them can you handle at once?"
Luo Ning shook his head. "In a duel, I fear no one. But against two or three, I can only guarantee an escape. If there are more than three, the chance of death is extremely high."
With the ability to activate the Lightning Release Chakra Mode, Luo Ning was confident in his ability to flee. This was one of the reasons he remained unfazed even when Shalnark blocked his path in the tunnel. What he lacked now was control over the Lightning Release Chakra Mode and a sufficient reserve of chakra. Once those improved, his combat power would skyrocket.
Kurapika's eyes lit up. "Can I learn Nen?"
He didn't just want to support Luo Ning outside of combat; he wanted to personally kill the people who slaughtered the Kurta Clan!
Luo Ning naturally knew what Kurapika was thinking.
"Of course," Luo Ning said as if it were a given. "But we need to take it step by step. You need a solid foundation to master Nen and go further!"
Kurapika nodded heavily.
Luo Ning didn't believe that blood-stained tasks had to be handled alone. Since Kurapika wanted revenge, then so be it. He would stand by Kurapika. Revenge wouldn't be the entirety of Kurapika's future; he deserved a much broader life.
"I told you before that I would tell you a secret once we reached Mauldin City." Luo Ning's expression became very serious.
Kurapika braced himself solemnly.
[Support the story with Reviews, Power Stones, and Comments—they mean a lot and keep me going! 30+ chapters waiting on patreon.com/elite_reads]