Hunter X Hunter, Reborn as a Kuruta Tribesmen

Kite glanced at the extra 3 billion Jenny in his account.

While Kite understood that Ging's information was priceless—something money couldn't truly buy—he also recognized the disparity in its value compared to the intelligence on the Phantom Troupe.

Ging's whereabouts were vital to specific individuals, but for the general populace, the information held no practical value.

Kite looked at Rocky with a slight smile. "Alright, I'll take the money. Truth is, I need it. I've even mortgaged my Hunter license."

Rocky, caught off guard, stood up. "You mortgaged your Hunter license?"

It was surprising to hear how much Kite had sacrificed just to gain information about Ging. People like Kite or Ging rarely cared about money. It wasn't because they were rich, but because their priorities lay elsewhere. Even when opportunities to amass wealth came their way, they seldom pursued them.

But this was the power of being a Hunter. Even if one lacked funds, they always found ways to raise significant sums in a short period.

Kite folded his arms and gave Rocky a determined look. "Since you've paid me, consider this a hiring. I'll join you to deal with the Phantom Troupe."

Rocky was momentarily stunned. "You're coming with me?"

Kite nodded. "Of course. If you're going after the Phantom Troupe, it's not something you should do alone. It's too dangerous."

"Alright, I won't say no," Rocky agreed. The Phantom Troupe was made up of top-tier Nen users, and facing them solo was undeniably risky. With Kite accompanying him, the odds would improve significantly.

While Kite wasn't at his peak yet, he was still strong enough to defeat or at least stall one member of the Troupe. For 3 billion Jenny, Rocky considered it a worthwhile investment to gain Kite's support.

"Then we'll leave tomorrow. Book two tickets," Rocky instructed.

Kite raised an eyebrow. "What about you?"

Rocky gave a sheepish grin. "I gave you all my money. You're the only one with funds now."

Kite chuckled. "Fair enough. I'll take care of it."

The next day, the two met at the airship airport. The journey to their destination would take three days.

During the trip, Kite began to notice something peculiar about Rocky. At times, bursts of powerful Nen would radiate from him uncontrollably.

Curious, Kite asked, "Your Nen seems unstable. What's going on? It doesn't look like you're controlling it properly."

Rocky leaned back in his seat, smirking. "You noticed, huh? My Nen has been growing wildly lately."

"Growing... wildly?" Kite frowned.

"Yeah, even if I do nothing, it increases on its own. Controlling it has been... challenging."

Kite's brows furrowed in confusion. A sudden surge of Nen? That was unheard of. Nen typically required consistent training and refinement to grow.

Yet here was Rocky—his aura not only growing on its own but doing so at an astonishing rate.

What made it more shocking was Rocky's age. He was only nine, possibly younger than ten, and yet his strength surpassed most seasoned Hunters.

Kite's mind raced. "I don't get it. How is your Nen growing automatically?"

Rocky shrugged, a mischievous glint in his eye. "I was with Ging for three months. He's sort of like my teacher. He taught me a lot. Maybe my Nen growth has something to do with his training."

Kite's interest piqued at the mention of Ging. "You spent three months with Ging? Tell me more."

The two spent the remainder of the flight talking about Ging, Hunters, and Nen techniques. Rocky shared stories of his time with Ging, which only deepened Kite's respect for his former mentor.

Three days later, they arrived at the airship terminal. The moment Rocky stepped off the airship, an unsettling feeling washed over him.

Kite felt it too. He gave Rocky a pointed look, his expression calm yet serious. "We're being watched," he murmured.

Rocky nodded slightly. "Yeah. Do you know where they are?"

"No," Kite admitted. "But whoever it is, they're skilled at concealing their presence."

Rocky's lips curled into a grin. "If my Nen wasn't in this state, I'd have pinpointed them by now."

Kite's eyes widened in surprise. "You could sense their location? Their aura is completely hidden—what kind of range are we talking about?"

"Hard to say," Rocky replied. "Thanks to Ging's training, my 'En' can reach up to 100 meters. If I could use it properly, I'd have found them already."

Kite's astonishment grew. A 100-meter range for En was no small feat, especially for someone so young.

"100 meters? Now it should be more than that. If I can stay calm and focus, I think my range could reach about 200 meters,"

Rocky remarked confidently.

Rocky turned to Kite, his grin unwavering. "Let's keep moving. If they want something, they'll show themselves eventually."

Kite went silent, the weight of Rocky's words settling in.

As Ging's disciple, Kite was no weakling. While his understanding and application of Nen were at a solid level, he wasn't quite a master. Kite's maximum range for *En* was only about 50 meters—a fact that stung a little now.

But here was Rocky, a child younger than Kite, claiming a range double his own with room for improvement. And *En* wasn't a simple skill—it was as difficult to master as Nen itself, if not more so.

"A demon like Ging..." Kite muttered to himself, trailing off.

They continued walking, leaving the bustling streets behind. Their path led them into a more secluded, quiet area—perfect for flushing out whoever was tailing them.

Eventually, they arrived at an old, rundown basketball court.

Rocky came to a halt, prompting Kite to stop as well. The two stood back to back, their senses sharp and ready.

Rocky smirked. "Whoever it is, they're definitely skilled. They haven't made a single mistake so far."

Kite nodded, scanning their surroundings. "True, but staying hidden won't work for much longer. Let's see if they choose to retreat or reveal themselves."

By this level of skill, both Rocky and Kite could detect even the subtlest of glances directed their way in a crowd, let alone in an empty area like this. It was only a matter of time before their stalker made a move.

Then it happened.

**Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!**

Suddenly, playing cards shot out from the surrounding residential buildings, descending on the basketball court like a flurry of snowflakes.

Rocky's eyes narrowed. *Cards? Could it be…*

**Ding!**

Kite's blade flashed as he unsheathed it, deflecting a card that had been stealthily hidden among the others.

"Stay sharp. They're concealing their attacks!" Kite warned.

**Ding!**

Rocky's Phantom Sword shimmered, its white crystal glowing faintly as another card collided with its surface. The attack was blocked with ease.

Rocky let out a small sigh, a wry smile tugging at his lips. *Not everyone's attacks are as overwhelming as Ging's. At least these can't shatter my Phantom Sword in one strike.*

Even though the attacker's Nen was formidable, Rocky felt confident in his Phantom Sword's defense. Unless the cards were concentrated in one devastating strike, they wouldn't pose a threat to him.

From the shadows, a voice broke through the tension.

**"Ah la la la! What a delightful surprise!"**

The figure of a man emerged from amidst the scattered cards, his voice laced with amusement.

**"I didn't expect my luck to be so good—to stumble upon such interesting individuals!"**

Rocky's gaze fixed on the approaching figure, his eyes narrowing further. The flamboyant clothing, the unnerving smirk, the unmistakable aura—it could only be one person.

**Hisoka.**

It was him. As soon as the cards appeared, Rocky had a suspicion, and now it was confirmed.

But why? Why had Hisoka chosen to target them?

Rocky's expression darkened. He realized the cause almost immediately. His own fluctuating aura must have leaked traces of his presence here and there—enough to catch the Magician's interest.

And if there was one thing Rocky knew about Hisoka, it was that he only pursued those who intrigued him.