"The waters in Kakin are quite deep. If you want to cause trouble there, it is best to be well-prepared," Kurapika warned.
He had searched for a great deal of information regarding Kakin online. Kakin was a massive nation, but it existed in a relatively isolated state. The penetration rate of computers in Kakin was extremely low, and the internet was subject to certain restrictions and controls. Even mobile phones were not owned by everyone. Despite the reforms that began thirty years ago following the Zhenlin Hall Incident, it was still considered a relatively backward country.
In recent years, Kakin's economy had entered a period of rapid development, but this boom had caused a wealth gap among the populace. The poor became poorer, while the rich became richer. Social classes had gradually solidified over time. Without some sort of new catalyst, Kakin's current prosperity might soon stagnate.
Such a catalyst had appeared more than once in Kakin. Or rather, whenever social unrest occurred or national power stagnated, a major event would break out in Kakin, and this ancient country would regain its vitality to continue moving forward.
"This catalyst is the succession of kings," Kurapika analyzed after organizing the data he had spent days compiling. "The most recent example was thirty years ago, known as the most peaceful revolution in history—the Zhenlin Hall Incident. Specific details of the event cannot be found online, even at a high price, but the information available indicates that after the incident ended, the current king, Nasubi Hui Guo Rou, took power. The country also transitioned from imperial socialism to parliamentary democracy. Additionally, some online speculate that Kakin is the most promising candidate to become part of the V6."
The fact that Kurapika could organize Kakin's data to such a detailed extent in just a few days was a testament to his immense talent. Luo Ning, who had read the manga, held the same view as Kurapika's speculation. The Succession Contest was likely a special ritual in Kakin's development—a ritual that allowed Kakin to prosper and never decline. However, this ritual likely required a vast number of living people as sacrifices.
"Let's put the Kakin matter aside for now. Since it isn't suitable to move against Kakin in the short term, we will first collect the eyes of our tribespeople outside of Kakin," Luo Ning parked the car on a roadside near a mountain.
Tserriednich had roughly eleven pairs of Scarlet Eyes. Luo Ning had already absorbed four pairs. Excluding his own and Kurapika's, the total number of Scarlet Eyes should be thirty-five pairs. This meant that even without touching Tserriednich, Luo Ning should still be able to obtain twenty pairs of Scarlet Eyes.
"As for the mafia business, I will hand it over to you entirely once you have mastered Nen. I truly don't have much interest or patience for that side of things." Luo Ning pushed the door open and stepped out, calling to Neon, who was nearly asleep in the back seat.
"Do I have to train too? Please, no!" Neon was extremely reluctant.
It was already June, and she had just performed a divination for Luo Ning and Kurapika yesterday. This time, it was four complete poems, but according to Luo Ning, these four poems were plain and utterly failed to live up to her status as a 'Curse Master.' Neon really wanted to say that she was performing divinations and prophecies, not curses. This guy Luo Ning had just been saved by her divination, yet he was already burning the bridge after crossing it. He was such a jerk!
"Stop complaining," Luo Ning didn't care what Neon thought. He took a shovel he had bought earlier from the trunk and tossed it to them after they got out, then took a wheelbarrow out of the car. The car was loaded with things like ropes.
"Are we going to kill someone and bury the body?" Neon's eyes lit up as she looked at the tools of the trade.
"Of course not." Luo Ning tapped Neon's head. While she clutched her head and glared at him in dissatisfaction, he locked the car and led the two toward the mountain. "We are going to dig into the mountain. Actually, you two are going to dig into the mountain."
This training method was how Bisky had taught Killua and Gon. Luo Ning felt it was very reasonable, so he planned to help the two open their Nen at the right time and then have them train in the mountains following this routine. As for himself, he had a better training method. But that method was only suitable for him for now; Kurapika and Neon couldn't use it yet.
Kurapika had no objections. As long as he could become stronger, he would do whatever Big Brother Luo Ning asked. Neon, however, pouted in dissatisfaction.
"Your ability is quite useful, and I don't plan on letting you go. But while you are with us, I cannot protect you forever, so you need a certain amount of self-defense capability. Of course, if you aren't afraid of death, you can just watch from the side." Luo Ning wasn't being polite.
Even though Neon had been taken by force, he didn't plan on being her babysitter for the rest of her life. Luo Ning didn't know what Neon's fate was after she lost her ability in the manga, but with Kurapika's protection, he guessed she likely wouldn't die, though it would be hard for her to maintain her old spoiled princess attitude. After all, Kurapika wouldn't indulge her like her father did. In fact, Luo Ning was certain that once Neon lost her ability, her father would definitely stop indulging her.
If Luo Ning hadn't appeared in Mauldin City to take Neon away, her ending would certainly not have been good. Because this time, Kurapika definitely wouldn't be by her side, and Light's use of her ability for trade would surely expose her uniqueness. In that case, there was a high probability that Chrollo would appear. Even if Chrollo didn't show up, others would surely covet her divination ability. Could Light really protect Neon? Once he failed, given Neon's persona as a spoiled princess with zero self-defense skills, would she really have a good ending?
Of course, this was all Luo Ning's speculation. He didn't intend to use these guesses to persuade Neon to train. If Neon really was a hopeless case who didn't care about her own safety and only wanted to coast along with him, Luo Ning wouldn't mind keeping a 'hidden beauty.' He could let her be a wealthy girl and his private fortune-teller.
But for now...
Though Neon acted unhappy, Luo Ning noticed her steps were clearly light as she followed Kurapika. Neon, whose mother had died early and who was ignored by her father, hadn't yet developed that willful and arrogant personality. And from Neon's attitude toward those around her in the manga, it was clear that aside from being a bit stubborn and liking the collection of human organs, she wasn't a bad person overall.
Before they started digging, Luo Ning handed them some weights from the wheelbarrow. These were specially crafted, imitating the training method of the Zoldyck family gatekeepers. First, use weight training to build their physiques, then open their Nen and proceed to the next stage of training—this was the cultivation plan Luo Ning had prepared for them.
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