Ron wasted no time once his decision was made. He immediately began clearing out the cultivation chamber.
The monsters that had been bred there were all transferred into the Prison Library, locked away with the other creatures from the pyramid region. The library was vast, so even after this transfer, most of the space still remained empty, leaving ample room for many more.
With the chamber cleared, Ron activated its cultivation functions. For now, he only opened the plant section. The animal side was problematic—everything it produced turned into monsters. Soon, countless plants sprouted within the chamber.
"Sumas!"
Ron fused the Rotten Life Blade into Sumas. At once, cockroaches appeared, swarming over the plants in the chamber. Slowly, they devoured the life energy of the plants, converting it into aura, which was then channeled into Sumas—and through Sumas, fed into the Ark's Nen spirit.
A single plant's energy was meager, but the sheer number made the total output considerable. Ron had deliberately chosen species with strong vitality to maximize results.
Meanwhile, cockroaches also appeared in the Prison Library, attaching themselves to the bodies of prisoners. They fed slowly, siphoning aura from criminals and monsters alike. These captives had no use for their nen; better to make use of it this way.
By the time he was finished, Ron returned to the Ark's core. He could already feel the Nen spirit swelling with stored energy. With time, Sumas would continuously funnel more into it.
"I've truly pushed the Rotten Life Blade to its limit."
Once, Ron had relied on it heavily in combat. Its draining effects had crippled countless foes and given him immense advantage. But now that it no longer offered much value in battle, he had found a new way to make it indispensable—providing the Ark's spirit with endless energy.
With sufficient aura, the Ark's spirit could now produce stronger cards—cards Ron intended for his teammates. Their power was his power.
Twelve Zodiac Cards appeared before him. Ron studied them, considering carefully.
"The Sheep Card suits Ponzu best. Her bees are effective for scouting and harassment, but their raw damage is limited. If I enhance them with Sheep's ability, their lethality will skyrocket. Plus, her ability to turn other items into bombs means her self-defense will also grow stronger."
For Misty, Ron weighed several options.
"The Ox Card, the Horse Card, even the Tiger Card… Misty's role is direct combat. Any of these would amplify her frontline capability. Best to let her choose the one that fits her style."
"Machi… the Snake Card or the Dragon Card. Both are Transformation-type, fitting her skills well."
"For Nina, the Monkey Card. It'll conceal her abilities, hiding key details from enemies. That's ideal for her."
As for Shizuku… Ron hesitated.
"I'm not sure yet which card fits her best."
He leaned back slightly. "My thoughts are only suggestions. The final choice should be theirs. But the sooner they receive these cards, the better. Mastery takes practice. And since they're already inside Greed Island, it's the perfect time to begin."
He reached out to a familiar contact, one of the players he had traded with before. Soon, a young man entered.
"I need the locations of these people."
Ron handed him a photo of Nina and her companions.
Half a day later, he had their whereabouts. Without delay, he used the spell card:
"Accompany—Soufrabi."
They arrived in the coastal city of Soufrabi, where Razor and the Fourteen Pirates resided. When fifteen players gathered here using Accompany, the city event triggered.
The prize: the Strip of Beach card.
But obtaining it required defeating Razor and his men. That condition alone had kept anyone from clearing the game before Gon arrived. Razor was no ordinary player—he was an elite among A-rank Nen users, feared even by members of the Phantom Troupe.
Most Greed Island players were far weaker than Razor. Hisoka, the Troupe, Ron, and Biscuit were exceptions—they hadn't come to play in the usual sense. Hisoka sought amusement. The Troupe sought an Exorcist. Ron sought to unravel the game's secrets. Biscuit sought to train Gon and Killua.
The true "players" were people like Tsezguerra and the Bomb Devils. But against Razor, they stood no chance.
Landing in Soufrabi, Ron crouched, then leapt high into the air. From above, his sharp gaze swept across the city in an instant. Then—
"Found you."
He landed, darting swiftly toward the target he'd spotted. But as he neared, he halted.
Misty stood at a small street vendor, buying supplies. Someone was tailing her, shadowing her every move.
Bag in hand, Misty casually glanced back, feigning ignorance. Then she turned into a narrow alley.
The stalker hurried after her.
The moment he entered—
Bang!
Misty struck, her fist slamming into his chest. He flew back, crashing deep into the wall.
"Pfft!"
A mouthful of blood sprayed forth.
Hearing footsteps approaching, Misty spun, her eyes tense—only to relax instantly when she saw the figure.
Her face lit up with surprise and joy.
"Big brother!"
She rushed toward him at a run.