Chapter 207: Saiyu
During the process of selling off the initial batch of Scarlet Eyes, Chrollo had used the transaction trails to confirm that the individuals active in Meteor City years ago were inextricably linked to Kakin.
Further investigation into the Empire's anomalies had led him to a singular target: the Fourth Prince, Tserriednich, a man whose "unique" aesthetic tastes were legendary in the underworld.
Upon arriving in Kakin, Chrollo and Shalnark had split up to conduct recon, but progress was slow.
Following the recent assassination attempts, Tserriednich had retreated into the heart of the Royal Palace, suspending all public appearances. Even for the Phantom Troupe, storming the Kakin Palace was not a task to be taken lightly.
They noted that even Ronin, with all his destructive power, had refrained from breaching the Palace walls. For the first time, Chrollo and Shalnark found themselves unconsciously monitoring Ronin's movements to gauge the limits of the Empire's security.
However, they knew the Prince wouldn't stay in the Palace forever. Tserriednich had spent years living in his private hotel; unless it was a state ceremony, he found the Palace suffocating.
The hotel remained the most likely location for his hoard of Scarlet Eyes.
Chrollo kept his eyes on the hotel, but he didn't rush. The building felt like a giant, open-mawed trap.
Furthermore, his investigation into the Fourth Prince had uncovered a darker thread: more clues regarding the decade-long string of disappearances in Meteor City. Everything pointed toward Tserriednich and the Hei-Ly Family, the Mafia syndicate that served as his shadow.
While he couldn't yet define the Prince's exact role in Sarasa's death, Chrollo had already added Tserriednich's name to the Spider's death list.
But killing a Prince protected by a "Safety Net" of sacrificial guards required a specialized tool.
"How is the investigation into Saiyu progressing?" Chrollo asked, shifting his focus to the task he had assigned Shalnark.
Chrollo wasn't a Hunter.
But Shalnark held a professional license, and it was that status that allowed them to track Saiyu.
Saiyu was the specialist Chrollo had identified as the "Blinder"—a Nen user capable of stripping a target of their vision.
But he was far from a simple mercenary.
Saiyu was a Pro Hunter and a member of the Zodiacs, the twelve elite Hunters who served as Chairman Netero's inner council. He represented the Monkey.
In the world of Nen, a seat on the Zodiacs was a testament to one's contribution to the Association. While it wasn't a direct ranking of combat power, a combat-oriented Zodiac like a Blacklist Hunter or a Martial Arts Master was guaranteed to be top-tier.
There was a high probability that Saiyu was actually stronger than Ronin.
To target the Zodiac to kill the Rogue... it's a dangerous gamble, Chrollo thought.
But he was desperate. If he could secure Saiyu's ability—either through cooperation or theft—his success rate against Ronin would jump to over 90%.
"My advice? Don't provoke him," Shalnark said, his expression unusually grim. "Saiyu is a high-ranking Hunter. He isn't someone we can bully."
"And if we use an intermediary?" Chrollo pressed. "We don't need him to join us. We just need him to lock Ronin's sight for a few seconds. That's our window."
"Even if he accepts a contract, what happens when he realizes we're the Spiders? The fallout of having a Zodiac hunt us across the continent is a price I'm not sure we want to pay. Even to kill Ronin." Chrollo rubbed his temples. He knew Shalnark was right. He was reaching for straws.
"I can try to post a high-tier bounty on a private board," Shalnark suggested. "Saiyu might take it. But when he moves, how he moves, and whether he succeeds... those are all unknowns. And doing this will definitely alert Ronin that we've hired a Pro."
"I know. Do it anyway," Chrollo decided.
Saiyu was the only hope he had found in months. He had to try.
Saiyu, the Monkey of the Zodiacs, had indeed arrived in Kakin.
With his short blonde hair, a golden headband (circlet), and traditional martial arts attire, he bore a striking resemblance to the mythological Monkey King.
His arrival in the capital was a secret, even to him.
Technically, as a Zodiac, he had no official business in Kakin. His presence could cause a diplomatic incident if exposed.
But this wasn't an Association mission. This was a direct order from Beyond Netero.
Saiyu didn't care about the risk of exposure. That was Beyond's headache. His job was simple: follow orders and collect the paycheck.
His current directive was ambiguous, which annoyed him.
According to Beyond: If you find an opening, eliminate Ronin. If not, don't force it. Try to build a rapport instead.
"I hate 'maybe' missions," Saiyu muttered, checking his laptop in a cheap motel room.
Then, a high-value bounty on a private Hunter forum caught his eye.
The target: Ronin.
It was the perfect excuse. He could move against the boy under the guise of a freelance contract. He didn't even need to check the source; he knew only the Phantom Troupe would pay this much for Ronin's head.
Saiyu accepted the contract without hesitation.
At the same time, Kurapika was monitoring the web from their safehouse. He spotted the bounty on Ronin almost immediately.
"The Spiders have officially entered the market," Kurapika said, his eyes narrowing as he analyzed the forum data. "But I don't understand their play."
Hiring Pro Hunters was a radical departure from the Troupe's usual "do-it-ourselves" philosophy.
But Kurapika couldn't think of anyone else who would put a multi-billion Jenny price tag on Ronin right now.
Is it a distraction? he wondered. Are they trying to tie us up with professionals so they can find the eyes? Or are they waiting for a Hunter to engage Ronin so they can strike from the flank?
"Stay alert," Kurapika warned.
Ronin grinned, cracking his knuckles. "We'll just keep using Shadow Clones as bait. If the "Pro" is good, he'll catch a clone. If he's a master, he'll find me."
"Either way, I'm done with the waiting. Let's see who the Spiders sent to die."
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