'"Hmph!"
The attacker let out a snicker.
"So this Nen Beast again."
"But this Nen Beast alone can't possibly stop my attack."
"You have no other trump cards left."
Just then…
"Rashomon, Susano'o!"
An enormous, dark-red giant appeared, enveloping Sasuke within. The attacker's strike slammed down—
Clang!
A metallic crash rang out. The attacker's pupils shrank.
"How is this possible?"
Sasuke reached out, trying to grab the attacker. Caught off guard, he couldn't dodge in time. He had just poured all his aura into that blow, and Sasuke's sudden display left him stunned for a split second—just enough time for Sasuke to seize him.
In that moment, another figure appeared beside the attacker. A black-haired girl drew her blade.
Slice!
A moment later, the attacker felt an inexplicable change in his body.
"Demon Blade Murasame—one strike, one kill!"
Death engulfed him in an instant.
Thud!
He collapsed to the ground, all strength draining away, eyes wide with disbelief.
"Why…?"
He had been so sure this attack would succeed. He was certain he could kill Ron and avenge his brother. He'd been convinced that Ron had only one powerful Nen Beast, currently held in check. The attacker recalled clearly how, during a past ambush, they had forced Ron to the brink, and Ron had never shown more hidden abilities—he'd only escaped. But now, out of nowhere, Ron had unleashed new techniques, far stronger than before. It hadn't even been that long.
"How did he grow so fast? It's not fair!"
Nesli's eyes were wide with shock.
"He's dead already? That attacker was an A‑level Nen user. Even if Ron's strongest Nen Beast was occupied, and this ambush came out of nowhere, the result was still this one-sided?"
Not only had the attacker failed to threaten Ron at all, he was killed in an instant.
"Just how powerful is Ron?"
She could hardly believe it.
"If he ever wanted to kill me, he could do it easily," Nesli realized. "No wonder he's so unconcerned."
She halted her offensive and returned to her original position, as did Natsu. Apart from the attacker's body now lying on the ground, it was as if nothing had happened. Both Ron and the attacker had seemed roughly on par at A‑level, but there can be enormous gaps even within the same rank. Yet it wasn't just a question of raw strength—the attacker had acted based on outdated information.
He believed he knew Ron's capabilities, unaware Ron had acquired far more techniques and grown stronger overall. Sasuke's previous weakness was defense, but the appearance of Rashomon Susano'o had completely filled that gap. Once the attacker's strike was blocked, he hesitated for a single instant—long enough for Sasuke to grab him.
However, if nothing else had intervened at that point, both the attacker and Sasuke would likely have been injured. That's when Akame appeared. The attacker had no intel on her at all. She was a new Nen Beast Ron had created after leaving the Saheerta Federation. On the surface, she only registered as B‑level, so he never imagined her ability could be so deadly: an instant kill. He was just flesh and blood without any special regenerative powers, and the moment Akame's blade landed, it was over.
Had the attacker been more cautious, fighting Ron head-on, he might not have died so quickly. But in Nen battles, intelligence is critical. A lack of information makes an opponent wary, but thinking you know what you're up against can be even more dangerous.
Nesli stared blankly at the computer screen, already despairing. She could no longer resent Ron for his indifference; now that she'd calmed down, she realized that Ron's outlook and principles had never actually changed—it was she who kept shifting her perspective. When Ron's attitude inadvertently spared her life, she felt lucky. But when she wanted to rescue her two partners and Ron restricted her movements, she resented him. Yet if Ron had just killed her from the start, she wouldn't even have had the chance to worry about her companions.
Besides, she knew why she was fighting. But why should Ron trust her? He was just an outsider who had been hired by Tuck; he held no real position in Saheerta Federation affairs. Most people in the Federation didn't trust Nesli's group, labeling them criminals. Now she had the gall to demand anything of Ron?
"If I'm going to blame someone, it can only be Tuck and myself," she thought.
"Ron is here because Tuck hired him.
"And if I were just a bit stronger, this might have turned out differently.
"I guess…this is my fate."
Suddenly, a thought struck Nesli.
"Your mission won't change, but…can I commission you for something?"
Ron nodded.
"Yes."
"In that case, how about I hire you to kill Tuck?"
"You can suggest any commission you like, along with the reward," Ron replied. "I'll decide whether I accept. And just so you know—I already have a contract with Tuck, and he's something of a friend. If you want me to kill him.
You'll have to pay extra."
Nesli hesitated.
"I have a Nen tool that's space‑based. It can hold living things inside, about one cubic meter. Would that be enough?"
Ron shook his head.
"No."
Before obtaining Sumas, he might have been interested. But Sumas offered far more space, so her item held no great appeal.
"Then…what about killing Karu? Is that enough?"
"If it is, I'll give you the tool right now," she offered.
Ron looked at Karu on the screen, weighing his options.