"Killua, why do you care so much about this?"
"Because it's impossible not to care."
Killua's voice was quiet but firm.
"In the two years I spent at Heavens Arena, my goal was always Kaizen. Once I qualified for the 200th floor, I wanted to challenge him."
"But you stopped me, Father."
"I thought I had improved a lot since then... but during the Hunter Exam, I asked to fight Kaizen again—and I was crushed."
"There wasn't even a fight. I couldn't do anything."
"After that, Kaizen and I talked a lot."
"At the time, I thought he came from some other assassin family."
"I envied him... for having friends. Partners."
"But I didn't think I could have that."
"I didn't even know Kaizen was my cousin until the final phase of the exam."
"And Big Brother knew all along."
Killua looked up at his father.
"Father... is it possible for someone from the Zoldyck family to have friends? Real friends?"
Silva was silent for a moment.
Then he spoke:
"Friends and partners... that's a difficult thing to define, Killua. Before I answer your question, let me ask you one first."
"What is it?"
"Do you value friends and partners more than family?"
"...Huh?"
Killua blinked, stunned.
"Father, what do you mean?"
"I mean... if one day, your friends and your family are on opposite sides—let's say, for example, the friends you made are in a life-or-death battle with Illumi. Who would you help?"
Killua lowered his gaze.
A long silence.
"I... I wouldn't let that happen."
"And how would you stop it?" Silva asked calmly.
"I'd tell them to stop. If they really consider me a friend—or family—they would stop. But if they don't... then it means they never truly saw me as either."
Silva nodded slightly.
"So you'd shift the burden to them."
He gave a rare hint of approval.
"That's actually a good way to handle it."
"Now I can answer your question. Yes, Zoldycks can have friends—but only if they're real. The kind you just described—the kind who would stop for your sake."
Silva leaned back slightly.
"Alright. That's enough of that topic for now. Tell me about your journey this time."
"Where did you go?"
"Who did you meet?"
"What were you thinking?"
He gave a faint smile.
"Come to think of it, we've never really talked like this before."
"Don't hold back. Say whatever's on your mind."
Killua nodded.
"Yes, Father."
...
Outside, Gon and the others finally pushed open the Testing Gate.
As they entered, Mike appeared silently and quickly, alerted by the movement. Once he confirmed that the trio had made it through the Testing Gate, he quietly withdrew.
"That guy is still creepy as ever," Leorio muttered, watching Mike's back.
"No matter how many times I see him... he doesn't seem human."
"Compared to the beasts in the Milsy Wetlands, he makes them look tame."
Kurapika nodded.
"Yeah. But as long as we passed the Testing Gate, he won't stop us."
"It wasn't easy... but we finally made it."
"I still don't know how Killua managed to open the third door by himself."
"And Kaizen followed right after him. That friend of his must be really strong too."
"In comparison, we've still got a long way to go."
After surviving the Hunter Exam, they'd gained some confidence in their strength and potential.
Kaizen, Hisoka, Illumi, Hanzo...
They were strong, of course—but they were older.
Kurapika had assumed Kaizen was older too, based on his height and aura. He didn't know Kaizen was the same age as them.
They still had a lot of room to grow.
But when Zebro told them about what Kaizen and his friends had accomplished years ago, the gap became painfully clear.
...
After they entered the estate, the path led them up a steep mountain road.
"Sorry," Zebro said, stopping at the edge of the path. "With my authority, I can only escort you this far."
"Beyond here... is out of my hands."
Ahead, a figure appeared and blocked their way.
A young woman with dark skin and curly hair—Canary.
She was from Meteor City, and had served at the Zoldyck estate for years. The family had appointed her as Killua's butler, just like Gotoh and the others before her.
Canary had trained in the Zoldyck assassination techniques. She had talent. She had strength.
She stood firmly in their path.
"You can't go any further," she said coldly.
...
Ponzu hadn't been present when Kaizen and Gogus had been talking on the phone.
She only arrived after the call had ended.
"Team Leader."
"Hmm?"
"Tucker's here."
"Good."
Kaizen stood, packed up everything, and sent it into the Sumas space.
Tucker was already waiting outside.
"Thanks for coming, Kaizen."
Kaizen gestured toward the bench. "Sit."
Tucker sat down without hesitation.
"So... what are you planning to do now?"
Kaizen already knew what had happened in the United States of Saherta Tower. Tucker had once placed great hopes on that place. Kaizen, as his friend, didn't want to interfere—but he'd seen this result coming for a long time.
Tucker fell silent.
Then he said:
"I'm going to join the Dark Night."
He took a breath.
"I used to think the corruption among the nobles was just isolated. That if I worked hard enough, I could make a difference."
"I really believed the people above me would support me."
"But now I realize... that was just naive."
"This entire country—its nobles, its leaders—they're all rotten to the core."
"Karoo is that noble's nephew. There's no way that noble didn't know what Karoo was doing."
"I misunderstood everything about the Dark Night."
"I thought they were just murderers."
"But they've never killed a single innocent person."
"They target nobles to make them afraid... and to buy time for the Revolutionary Army."
"Because the Dark Night is backed by the Revolutionary Army."
"They're the real hope for this country."
"But the nobles are too powerful. The Revolutionary Army is still far too weak."
"That's why they need time to grow."
"And I'm willing to fight for that hope."
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