042 (Vol 4) HxH: Tombbound Power

After Ronnel finished speaking, a heavy silence fell over the room.

Everyone stared at him, wide-eyed, with the same thought running through their minds:

"Is this guy nuts?"

But when they saw Ronnel's calm expression, and realized he meant every word, irritation began bubbling up.

You've got to be kidding!

Beyond, oblivious to the growing tension in the room and the darkening looks from everyone else, kept smiling cheerfully. But deep in his eyes, something more calculating flickered.

Those who already knew Ronnel's strength—people like Usamen and Curly—exchanged glances and quietly drifted to the back of the crowd without saying a word.

It's not that they hadn't warned the others about Ronnel. But hearing about someone and seeing them in action are two very different things.

Some folks just love being blindly confident. They'd laughed off Usamen's advice, brushing it off as exaggeration.

And for that, Usamen and the others had made peace with it.

We've said what needed to be said. If you're still too stubborn to listen, then whatever happens next isn't on us.

Just hope you make it out alive.

They chanted this silently in their minds...

Then came the pressure.

A wave of aura so suffocating it felt like it might stop their hearts.

Here it comes again!

As soon as the familiar presence struck them, Usamen and the others didn't hesitate. They immediately dove for cover, distancing themselves from the danger zone.

They'd learned their lesson and made sure to stay clear early on. But the ones at the front—face to face with Ronnel—were hit full force by the pressure.

Boom!

A few couldn't even stay standing and were slammed to the ground instantly.

Others staggered, barely holding their ground, until they too collapsed, one by one.

Only a handful remained upright, their teeth clenched as they struggled against the weight of Ronnel's aura.

Ronnel glanced at them, his tone cold:

"If you're mad, or want to challenge me, that's fine. I don't have the time—or patience—to fight you one by one. So I'll cut the line here. If you want to go against me, first push through the aura I'm releasing."

"As Nen users, you should understand what this means. If you can't withstand the killing intent I'm emitting, then it's obvious how far the gap is between us."

"And if anyone else still wants a fight, I'm happy to oblige... but I won't be holding back~"

He let that statement linger for a few moments, letting his Nen smother the room like a blanket of dread, before finally retracting it—just as Beyond opened his mouth to step in.

...

"Well, that answers that," Beyond said, clearly impressed, stroking his beard with a hint of admiration in his voice.

"To think I managed to find a partner this capable... looks like I made a good call."

He clapped his hands together and addressed the stunned group.

"We're all going to be partners from here on out. And now that everything's been laid out clearly, there shouldn't be any more questions, right? This kind of clarity is exactly what we need for a smooth collaboration!"

He gave a couple of exaggerated coughs and stood up to smooth things over.

But nobody was listening. The room was still catching its breath.

Those hit by Ronnel's aura were drenched in sweat, trembling slightly, and not a single person dared meet his gaze.

Even when Ronnel glanced their way, all he saw in their eyes was fear.

Clearly, this little show of force had worked. No one was going to challenge his place anymore—nor demand extra privileges.

...

Beyond cleared his throat again.

"Alright then, take a seat. Everyone's here now. Let's take a short rest and then begin our journey."

This expedition wasn't just their group heading to the Dark Continent.

Behind them, the Hunter Association was watching closely.

And even more dangerous were the V5. If they tried to break away or go rogue, there was no chance they'd be left alone.

Their only hope of shaking off those shadows was to reach the Dark Continent as soon as possible.

"Before we depart officially," Beyond asked, "any last questions?"

It was a routine check. Most of the details had already been discussed beforehand with every participant...

...

"I've got one," Pariston said suddenly, raising a hand with a cheerful smile.

He had been watching from the sidelines the whole time, his expression unreadable.

"If this is a partnership, then how exactly are we splitting the profits?"

His eyes gleamed mischievously as he spoke.

"For example, let's say we discover something rare—like Nitro Rice, or one of the Three Major Stones—and there's not enough to go around. Wouldn't it make sense to have a clear agreement in place beforehand?"

At the front of the group, Ging looked over with narrowed eyes.

Of course you'd start with that.

"A profit split, huh? I've already thought about that," Beyond said casually. But then he turned to Ronnel with a grin.

"Still, before I say anything, I'd like to hear what you think, Ronnel."

"I assume you've considered this too when you agreed to work with me, right?"

Ronnel nodded. "Yeah, I've thought about it."

"Well then," Beyond said, clearly interested, "do tell."

Pariston, still smiling, slipped back into the crowd.

Ronnel didn't waste time.

"I think we should each rely on our own strength."

"Rely on our own strength?" Beyond raised an eyebrow. "What do you mean?"

"Well," Ronnel replied, not answering directly, "since we're partners, I should at least show a little sincerity."

He reached toward the ground, and with a snap of his fingers, a dark portal shaped like a manhole cover opened at his feet.

"This is a space-type ability I obtained. It's called [Hide and Seek]. It's safe. I can live inside it without issue."

Beyond's eyes lit up.

"Wait—Knov's Hide and Seek? That one?"

"Oh? So Captain Beyond's familiar with it. That saves me an explanation. I take it you've seen this power in action before?"

As he said this, Ronnel snapped his fingers again...