Inside a room of the Zoldyck family mansion.
A tall figure emerged from the shadows into the dim light.
The figure was none other than Kalluto's mother, Kikyo, dressed in an ornate, court-style gown adorned with intricate lace and ribbons. The slender cinched waist and the specially structured bell skirt created a striking three-dimensional silhouette.
Kikyo wore a VR-like device that covered most of her face, its display centered with a red electronic eye.
At that moment, the edges of the electronic eye rippled like water waves as she stared at Kalluto, who had abruptly hung up the phone, waiting for an answer.
Kalluto kept his head lowered, not daring to meet Kikyo's gaze. But since the call had already ended, he could answer without hesitation, "It was a client."
"..."
Kikyo fell silent for a moment.
Without another word, she walked over to the coat rack and hung up a deep purple gothic-style evening gown she had been holding.
She had come here intending to have her beloved "daughter" try on this specially tailored dress to see how it looked.
But she hadn't expected to catch Kalluto speaking to "a client" on the phone.
This was also the first time she had seen an inappropriate smile on Kalluto's face.
Yes, inappropriate.
Her children were allowed to smile when playing at home, to be happy when receiving toys, or to feel joy when enjoying delicious meals.
But they should never wear such a heartfelt smile while speaking to a client.
To be more precise, it wasn't just inappropriate, it was illogical.
After hanging up the gothic gown, Kikyo slowly turned around. The ripples at the edges of her electronic eye had vanished, returning to stillness.
"Kalluto, I'll say it again."
Kikyo stared at Kalluto, stepping forward deliberately as she enunciated each word, "Explain clearly."
"It really was just..."
Kalluto kept his head down but suddenly noticed a shadow slowly creeping over him from the front, cutting off his next words.
Lying to Mother was forbidden.
Kalluto obeyed this rule, but his voice grew faint, as if drained of strength, "Morrow... I was talking to Morrow."
The shadow, rising from the floor, climbed over his feet, knees, and eventually enveloped his body and face.
Kikyo stood before Kalluto.
The natural, authoritative presence of a parent pressed down alongside the shadow.
But in the next instant, that oppressive aura vanished without a trace.
Replacing it was a surge of boiling affection.
"Mmm~ That's my sweet little Kalluto~"
Kikyo crouched down, pulling Kalluto into a tight embrace, pressing her small chin against his head as she cooed with delight, "So you must never lie to Mommy, understand?"
"Yes."
Kalluto, wrapped in his mother's overwhelming love, replied obediently.
"Mommy, that dress..."
Kalluto reached out, slipping his arms past Kikyo's, pointing at the gothic gown on the rack.
Hearing this, Kikyo released him and stood up, her red lips curling into a smile. "Do you like it?"
"Yes. I love anything Mommy gives me. Can I try it on now?"
Kalluto tilted his head slightly, his expression questioning.
Kikyo beamed. "Of course, but..."
Her gaze shifted to the open door, and her tone changed. "Not right now."
"Mom."
A trace of anxiety flickered deep in Kalluto's eyes, though his face remained composed. "But I want to wear it now, I—"
Kikyo extended her right hand, gently resting it atop Kalluto's small head, cutting off his words.
"Kalluto, you should have sensed my arrival immediately, yet you didn't."
Kikyo looked down into Kalluto's eyes, catching a glimmer of unease there.
An assassin must remain calm at all times, never swayed by emotions.
This discipline not only increases the success rate of assassination missions but also serves as a protective shield.
So how could something as trivial as this stir up anxiety?
A surge of anger rose within Kikyo.
But this anger wasn't directed at Kalluto.
She didn't let it show, continuing to gently stroke the head of her ever-understanding, obedient child. Softly, she said, "It's alright. You're just being affected by some unnecessary emotions."
"No, it's just that Mom's 'Zetsu' is too powerful."
Kalluto tensed up, his entire body stiffening with nervousness.
Kikyo didn't respond, instead smoothing down Kalluto's hair.
"Morrow, was it? I've heard Tsubone mention him. Let's go meet your client."
"..."
Kalluto clenched his sleeve tightly, his heart filled with urgency and regret, regret that in his haste to hang up the phone, he hadn't managed to give Morrow even the slightest hint.
No matter how obscure the hint, he believed Morrow would have understood.
Yet he'd failed to provide one.
In his anxious frustration, Kalluto didn't realize, even without a hint, Morrow would grasp the situation instantly.
The reason?
As a transmigrator, Morrow wasn't as uninformed about the Zoldyck Family as Kalluto assumed.
Perhaps in the finer details, he knew less than Kalluto.
But on a broader scale, he understood the Zoldycks far better.
—--
Before the Testing Gate.
Maybe I should just leave. Less trouble that way.
Morrow pocketed his phone.
Just before the call ended, he could roughly guess what was unfolding on Kalluto's side.
Originally, he'd planned to use the "commission method" to help Kalluto secure freedom to leave, then casually accompany him to the town at the mountain's base.
After some fun, he'd subtly ask to borrow the Zoldyck Family's special alloy-weighted training gear.
He hadn't expected Kikyo to intervene.
Plans change.
With a quiet sigh, Morrow turned and started back down the mountain path.
But after walking some distance, he suddenly stopped.
He recalled Kalluto's silence when unwilling to say "it's a client" before the call ended.
What Kalluto truly wanted to say was "friend."
Yet such an honest answer was the last thing that belonged in that place.
So, caught between choices, silence was all that remained, just like most of Kalluto's usual reticence.
Never mind.
Pausing where he stood, Morrow shook his head slightly.
Inside the guard booth, Zebro watched in bewilderment as the young man turned and walked back.
A long time passed.
Then, abruptly, the Testing Gate stirred.
With a low, rumbling sound, the bottommost gate was pushed open from both sides by two black-uniformed Zoldyck butlers.
Among the butlers, Morrow immediately recognized one, this must be Gotoh from the original story, who met a tragic end at Hisoka's hands.
Between the open Testing Gates, Kalluto and Kikyo stood side by side.
Morrow looked over and said,
"Just now, the weather forecast mentioned it might rain. I suddenly remembered I hadn't brought in the laundry. I was thinking of quickly running back to collect the clothes, but then I realized it's not easy to come all this way, so I decided to stay."
As he spoke, Morrow's gaze lingered on Kalluto, and he smiled. "As a Zoldyck assassin, may I ask if the previously discussed commission still stands?"
"..."
The area fell silent.
Multiple pairs of eyes focused on Morrow.
His expression remained calm, clearly presenting himself as nothing more than "a client."
Meanwhile, Kalluto understood Morrow's nonsense and unconsciously tightened his grip on the hem of his kimono, struggling to conceal his unease.