NOVEL NEXT Chapter 80: Why Are You Running?
The massacre of the Kurta Clan had once shaken the world.
But no one knew that one boy had borne the weight of it all.
Unbearable sorrow and rage.
A soul wandering like the living dead.
A boy named Kurapika had spent every waking moment drowning in darkness, struggling to breathe.
The horrific images of his slaughtered clan members were etched into his memory, constantly tormenting him with relentless nightmares.
For an entire year after the massacre, Kurapika was on the verge of mental collapse.
But in the end, he did not break.
From that abyss of despair, he slowly pulled himself back together.
He would avenge his people.
He would recover their stolen Scarlet Eyes.
No matter how difficult or painful the path ahead, he could never turn back.
At the very least, he had to ensure that his clan's souls found peace.
The Airport Terminal
At the entrance of the crowded airport terminal, a young Kurapika tightened the strap of his satchel.
His ashen eyes reflected the endless flow of people passing by.
Standing at the doorway, he kept his head lowered, avoiding any direct eye contact before silently stepping forward, merging into the crowd.
The moment Kurapika learned about the location of the stolen Scarlet Eyes, he had made an impulsive decision—he had to go to Yorknew City.
Perhaps he hadn't even thought through his plan.
He had no idea how to track down the stolen eyes.
He had no plan for how to reclaim them.
For a boy barely fourteen, who had just clawed his way out of despair, expecting him to form a calculated strategy was too much to ask.
From a logical perspective, he should not have stepped through the airport's departure gates.
But no matter how many times he could relive this moment, he knew he would always make the same choice—to follow his emotions and walk through that door.
Inside the vast and bustling airport hall, a cacophony of sounds filled the air—
chatter, footsteps, rolling suitcases, all blending into a constant hum.
Kurapika moved cautiously, ensuring he didn't bump into anyone, weaving through the crowd in a somewhat clumsy, zigzagging path toward the check-in counter.
As he passed the waiting area, his peripheral vision caught a glimpse of a twin-tailed blonde girl standing alone by a magazine rack.
But his gaze did not linger.
At the Magazine Rack
The twin-tailed blonde girl's eyes sparkled as she excitedly pulled out a magazine featuring a handsome blonde man on the cover.
"A thrilling discovery while waiting for my flight—how wonderful!"
Inwardly, she praised the airport for being so thoughtfully stocked.
"Slurp~"
She wiped the corner of her mouth with her gloved hand, eyes filled with glee.
Letting out a small, delighted giggle, she hurriedly flipped through the pages, unable to contain her excitement.
The surrounding travelers began to notice the girl's odd behavior, casting her bewildered glances.
But the twin-tailed girl paid no mind to the strange stares from the people around her.
She was completely immersed in the world of beautiful men.
Meanwhile, another blonde youth was drifting further and further away—
His presence far more isolated, fragile, and distant than hers.
Yorknew City – Southpeace Auction House, VIP Lounge
Inside a lavishly decorated VIP room, a middle-aged man with deep wrinkles sat across from Moro.
This was Axel, a senior appraiser from Southpeace Auction House.
With a careful touch, he held up the unheated emerald, lifting it toward the light.
The gemstone's rich green glow shimmered like a living entity beneath the illumination.
Even though this gem had never undergone heat treatment, its exceptional quality was undeniable.
Had it been processed, its color and clarity would have been flawless.
But Axel preferred gemstones in their purest natural state.
Even if he could enhance its value through treatment, he had no desire to alter it.
Closing the lid of the jewelry box, Axel turned to Moro with a pleased smile.
"This is a fine piece."
"It's been a long time since I've seen a natural gemstone of this caliber."
"Moro, you have quite the keen eye—discovering something like this inside an unassuming old clock is impressive."
Moro nodded modestly.
He hadn't actually explained how he knew about the gemstone hidden inside the clock.
He also wasn't sure if Axel was connected to the antique shop owner who had posted the discovery online.
But considering the ongoing Yorknew Auction Festival, it wasn't surprising that collectors were actively sharing their finds.
After all, most antique enthusiasts loved to boast about their rarest acquisitions.
That was half the thrill of collecting.
Axel calmly snapped the box shut and, with a subtle hint of curiosity, said:
"But there's one thing I don't understand."
"How did you 'already' know there was a gemstone inside the clock?"
"You promised to bring me a gemstone two days ago—before you even purchased it."
Moro smiled smoothly, his voice steady.
"Axel, I never said I would give you a 'specific' gemstone."
"Even if I hadn't found this one, I could have easily bought another that you'd be satisfied with."
"I just happened to get lucky while exploring the city."
He gestured toward the auction house window, overlooking the bustling streets below.
"This is Yorknew. If you have the money, you can buy whatever your heart desires."
Axel burst into laughter.
"You're absolutely right."
Satisfied, he shifted the conversation to discuss the auction details for the Scarlet Eyes and other rare items.
Moro had no objections to the pre-scheduled auction date of September 10th.
As long as the Scarlet Eyes were placed in Southpeace's high-profile auction, that was more than enough.
Besides, Moro planned to stay in Yorknew until the auction festival concluded.
After finalizing the auction logistics, Moro left the building and headed toward Yorknew's Bargain Market.
Unlike the high-end auctions, the Bargain Market was a casual trading hub where buyers could bid on goods in a free-market format—essentially a hybrid between flea markets and auctions.
For Moro, this was the perfect place to find objects infused with Nen to power up his ability.
Two Days Later – Yorknew Bargain Market
Moro had thoroughly scoured the market and managed to locate five Nen-infused artifacts.
As a result, his Chrono Rings' energy level had risen to 26%.
However, compared to absorbing Post-Mortem Nen, this method was far less efficient.
Perhaps it was time to seek out specific jobs where he could purposely extract Post-Mortem Nen—
This way, he could boost his power and make money simultaneously.
Deep in thought, he walked down the market street when suddenly—
"Ahhh~"
A certain twin-tailed blonde girl pretended to trip in front of him, her expression pitiful and helpless.
With teary eyes, she looked up expectantly at the young man who had been lost in thought.
But—
"Huh? Where is he?!"
She quickly turned her head—
Only to see Moro sprinting away at full speed, already vanishing into the distance.
"???"
"Wait, why are you running?!?!"
For 20 advanced chapters: https://www.patreon.com/c/Ely225