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Chapter 55: Kurapika's Goal
Aside from training, Ronin focused on investigating the Mafia.
A Mafia background was the most convenient way to recover the Scarlet Eyes, as demonstrated by Kurapika in the manga.
Ronin left this task to Kurapika.
However, unlike Ronin's idea of targeting the Ten Dons, Kurapika chose a smaller family.
"Smaller families are easier to control. Even if you take out a Ten Don, if you can't control the core, a new Don will just pop up," Kurapika explained. "Also, my investigation shows the Ten Dons command a special unit called the Shadow Beasts. I suspect they are all Nen users. Fighting them is risky.
"Starting with a local family allows us to recruit Hunters and achieve our goals more easily."
Ronin had let Kurapika handle it, but he still preferred the Ten Dons. Not because he looked down on small families, but because challenging the Ten Dons was a good trial.
Specifically, his target was the Shadow Beasts.
Nen training could be like Netero's mountain isolation, but Ronin preferred combat.
Whether it was the thrill of melee or the suppression of Ninjutsu, he enjoyed it.
He even enjoyed the cheers of Heaven's Arena.
If not for the Troupe threat, he might have returned to challenge the Floor Masters or the Battle Olympia.
"I still suggest aiming for the Ten Dons. Sitting in that chair would be a huge help for our future," Ronin said.
"That means facing the Shadow Beasts," Kurapika said seriously.
"Scared?"
"No. Actually, I'm eager to try," Kurapika smiled.
During his training, Kurapika had determined his Nen type via Water Divination.
Normal state: Conjurer. Scarlet Eyes state: Specialist.
He hadn't decided on his Hatsu yet, still focusing on basics with Neon.
But he had an idea for his conjured item.
If he were an Enhancer, he might have chosen a frontal combat style like Ronin.
But he wasn't.
So he positioned himself as a support.
He knew exactly what they lacked to avenge the clan and reclaim the eyes.
First: Strength.
Realizing he and Ronin were both Specialists (in a sense), Kurapika knew what they needed most: Time.
Given enough time, their growth would outstrip anyone.
Training highlighted the biggest time-sink: Recovery.
Nen training was a grind. Stamina depleted constantly.
Besides food, having a support ability to speed up recovery would accelerate their training.
So, Kurapika's first desired ability was Recovery/Healing.
Second: Intelligence.
More intel meant finding eyes faster and knowing enemy weaknesses.
Nen battles were information warfare.
Ronin beat Uvogin and Omokage by knowing their abilities first.
Third: Healing.
Ronin was strong, but injuries were inevitable. Kurapika wanted to handle logistics.
Fourth: Self-Defense.
He didn't want to be a burden.
Finally, a selfish desire: He wanted to make those who stole his family feel the pain of having their hope stolen!
He needed a Stealing/Sealing ability!
To satisfy all these greedy demands, Kurapika found a solution in the Nen knowledge Ronin provided.
Vows and Limitations.
If he conjured chains, could each of the five fingers hold a different ability?
And his Specialist nature could be the key to boosting all five!
Ronin didn't know Kurapika's thoughts, but hearing his eagerness, he smiled with relief.
It was settled.
But finding the Ten Dons wasn't easy. They had to start with the Mafia community.
Only by causing enough waves would the Shadow Beasts be deployed. And the Shadow Beasts were the key to finding the Ten Dons.
"Let's do something big," Kurapika pulled up info on a small Mafia family at the campsite.
Training was done for the day; they were resting by the river, grilling food.
"Like what?" Ronin asked, interested.
"We don't have much money. Why not just rob the Mafia auction?" Kurapika wrote his idea on a blackboard.
Ronin felt this Kurapika was a bit darker than the original.
But he didn't interrupt. If he could get the eyes without spending money, he wouldn't mind.
Though becoming wanted criminals wasn't ideal.
"We rob them as the Phantom Troupe."
Kurapika's next sentence made Ronin smile.
"The Troupe will definitely guess we'll be at the Yorknew Auction on September 1st. I suspect the Scarlet Eyes in the auction were submitted by them.
"Since that's the case, why not use their identity to do bad things? They have so much debt, a little more won't hurt."
Kurapika wrote "Shadow Clone Jutsu" and "Transformation Technique" on the board!
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