Making friends and going out to play with them.
This was what Killua yearned for.
As clever as he was, even though Kalluto had concealed it well, Killua could guess that Morrow had used the pretext of a mission to take Kalluto out for the day.
Moreover, Kalluto had already given himself away.
Once Killua confirmed this fact, his envy was beyond words.
He didn't bother hiding it either. Right in front of Kalluto, he openly displayed his envy and straightforwardly asked to be included next time.
Faced with Killua's request, Kalluto ultimately couldn't refuse and agreed.
"How did you two meet?"
Killua's small face lit up with a smile as he wiped chocolate sauce from the corner of his mouth, asking curiously.
Kalluto answered somewhat awkwardly, "Because of a mission…"
"Ohh, so where did you go today?"
Killua swiftly changed the subject.
This genius, upon whom the entire Zoldyck Family placed their highest hopes, was naturally brilliant. Despite his young age, he possessed an extraordinary sensitivity, able to discern more from the subtlest details.
Kalluto's mental maturity was also advanced, but in front of Killua, he was still just a child.
So Killua immediately picked up on Kalluto's discomfort, sensing there might be some embarrassing truths behind it.
Thus, even though Killua was very curious about the details, he decisively shifted the topic.
Rather than satisfying his own curiosity, he didn't want to put Kalluto in an awkward position.
Kalluto, thinking his brother was simply more interested in hearing about their outing, didn't dwell on it and happily recounted the day's adventures.
Killua listened beside him, his small face openly displaying envy, but his heart grew increasingly despondent.
The family's rules were unshakable.
Yet Kalluto had a friend like Morrow, who thought of using "business" as an excuse to openly take him out to play.
So this was how it could be done. So people like this existed.
If only I could find a friend like Morrow too…
While laughing along with Kalluto's stories, Killua silently wished in his heart.
Inside the room, the two children, engrossed in sharing their fun experiences, remained completely unaware that just outside the door, someone was pressed against the wall, eavesdropping on their conversation.
It was late at night, and the hallway lights were dim.
Even so, in the faint glow, a pair of pitch-black eyes—devoid of any emotion, like stagnant water—could be seen.
Had Kalluto and Killua noticed this person's presence, they would have instantly suppressed all their thoughts.
Because this person was their eldest brother, Illumi—someone who, in some ways, frightened them more than their Father.
That wasn't entirely accurate, though.
Kalluto and Killua held reverence and fear for their Father.
But for their eldest brother Illumi, there was only pure dread.
Illumi listened for a long time before silently slipping away.
"So, my 'proposal' was correct. Continuing to hesitate like this will only worsen the 'situation.'"
Arriving in the living room, Illumi stared straight ahead, speaking as if to himself.
But in the shadows of the corner, Kikyo stood silently.
Illumi's words had been meant for her.
"Mistakes must be corrected." Illumi tilted his head slightly to look at Kikyo, his pitch-black eyes brimming with an extreme desire for control. "If it can't be corrected, then the methods aren't forceful enough. Father and Grandfather will soon realize this too."
"..."
Kikyo remained silent, but the flickering of her red electronic eye betrayed her unsettled emotions.
—--
On the airship heading to Heavens Arena.
Morrow donned the weighted training gear Kalluto had "borrowed" from the family.
The Zoldyck Family seemed to possess a special alloy.
In the original story, Killua's pair of yo-yos were crafted from this very alloy.
Even the everyday items used by the family butlers for training were infused with traces of this metal.
Thus, despite their small size, they carried significant weight.
Morrow was more than satisfied to have obtained a set of weighted training clothes through Kalluto's help.
"Pant… pant…"
After an intense round of physical training, Morrow collapsed onto his back, gasping for air, his clothes drenched in sweat.
His training method was simple yet brutal.
Maintaining a state of Zetsu, he pushed his body to its limits under heavy weights.
This allowed him to simultaneously train both his Zetsu and physical endurance.
Moreover, being in Zetsu accelerated his recovery from fatigue and helped clear his mind, enabling Morrow to focus entirely on his training.
The only downside was the potential for overexertion, which could lead to physical strain.
But this was where Menchi's medicinal cuisine proved invaluable.
The puzzle pieces addressing his weaknesses were nearly complete.
Now, all he needed was to follow his meticulously laid-out plan over the next three months of dedicated training…
Morrow was confident it would be enough to transform him entirely.
Two days later.
November 9th.
Morrow returned to Heavens Arena just in time for his scheduled match.
After a grueling battle, he emerged victorious.
This marked his fourth win on the 200th floor. Just six more victories, and he would earn the right to challenge a Floor Master.
In the days that followed,
Morrow's routine consisted of relentless high-intensity training, regular consumption of medicinal cuisine, and waiting for each upcoming match.
Though exhaustion weighed on him daily, he gritted his teeth and persevered.
Having pushed through the most grueling initial phase, the mental burden gradually lightened.
His insane training regimen not only left Menchi astonished but also inspired Kastro and Calista to ramp up their own training efforts.
As time passed,
By the end of November, Morrow secured his eighth victory on the 200th floor.
With only about a week left until December's Battle Olympia,
Perhaps due to the approaching event, many 200th-floor fighters grew restless, frequently registering for matches at the counter.
Some were even forced to sign up as their registration deadlines loomed.
During this period, whenever Morrow submitted a match request, it was scheduled almost immediately.
His goal was clear: secure two more wins, then choose one of the twenty-one Floor Masters as his opponent.
December 2nd.
Morrow claimed his ninth victory, now just one step away from qualification.
Leaving the arena, he headed straight for the 200th-floor counter as usual. But someone was waiting for him at the 200th-floor elevator entrance.
"Hello, I'm Wing, a fellow 200th-floor contestant like you."
Wing got straight to the point: "I want to challenge you to a match."
"..."
Morrow was slightly surprised.