"Imagine stretching and lengthening the Nen, bending it into the shape of a fishhook, breaking through the water's resistance, seeking the fish's trail, and actively hooking onto it... The key lies in 'infusing imagination'."
Hunter Calendar Year 1986, December 27th, Winter. Less than ten days remained before the start of the 274th Hunter Exam. In a deep pool within Kukuroo Mountain, Roy, draped in a thick pure cotton coat, sat cross-legged on a green stone. The notebook from his great-grandfather rested on his lap. He held a "semi-finished" fishing rod, attempting to fish.
It was called "semi-finished" because it lacked any accessories, not even a hook or line; it was simply a bamboo pole with its branches hastily trimmed off.
Having decided to improve the "quality" of his Nen to withstand the consumption of the "Sun," Roy adopted Grandpa Zigg's training method—"Hookless Fishing"—in the days before his departure. He aimed to temper his "Nen line" and deepen his understanding of the essence of "Nen shape transformation."
Just as Hisoka infused imagination into his Nen, mimicking paper to pull out thin sheets of "Nen skin," constructing his "Texture Surprise."
Roy used Ten to wrap the bamboo pole, imagining extending his Nen outward... At the end of the pole, a tendril of aura emerged, gradually showing a tendency to drip downward.
"Young master, the luggage is packed. We can depart now." Behind him... Gotoh stood quietly, two large suitcases beside him.
He had been there for a while. Noticing Roy was engrossed in his training, he tactfully refrained from disturbing him. Only when the end of the bamboo pole faintly showed the prototype of a "Nen line," which snapped with a "pop" due to losing control of the force and pulling too quickly, did he finally speak to inform Roy.
The young man silently lamented the missed opportunity but wasn't discouraged. He put away the fishing rod, stood up, and said, "Let's go."
He took the lead, walking down the mountain path towards the foot... Gotoh followed with the luggage. As they drew closer, they could faintly see the butler guarding the mountain, quietly standing at the entrance of the path, holding a staff, like a stone statue.
He had neat, short white hair and wasn't particularly tall, looking somewhat familiar... A closer look revealed it was Kastro.
A few days ago, Roy had heard from Gotoh that right after his Nen was opened, he had issued a challenge, got beaten soundly, and became obedient. "It's just a pity he tested as an Enhancer. It will take some time to cultivate him towards the direction of a Transmuter." Gotoh would occasionally check on Kastro's training progress, still fixated on nurturing him into a tool surpassing even Tsubone.
Roy, however, didn't mind. At least a Transmuter was adjacent to an Enhancer. It was better than blind training that resulted in a Conjurer's doppelganger.
"Young master."
Footsteps echoed on the mountain path...
Hearing the noise, Kastro opened his eyes, looked back, noticed it was Roy, and bowed in salute.
The young man still looked like a pig's head, his face not fully healed... Roy glanced at Gotoh, suspecting that he might have been jealous of Kastro's good looks and aimed all the blows at his face. Look how badly the kid was beaten; he even lisped when he spoke...
Gotoh, carrying the luggage, looked up at the sky. 'Nothing to do with me.'
Roy rolled his eyes at him, turned to Kastro, nodded, and walked past his shoulder.
The young man listened as the footsteps faded into the distance. He straightened up and suddenly called out, "Young master, if I defeat that guy, can I become your personal butler?"
Roy stopped. He suddenly felt a vast killing intent surge skyward. Looking up, Gotoh had abruptly turned back, dropped the luggage, pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on the bridge of his nose, and narrowed his eyes, glaring at Kastro. "Are you serious?!"
Kastro stuck out his neck, showing no fear. "I wasn't talking to you. I was asking the young master."
Gotoh shoved both hands into his pockets, gripping several coins, and turned his head to look at Roy. "Young master, perhaps it's best to just kill him after all."
Then, the veins on his forehead bulged, clearly on the verge of losing control! As long as Roy gave the order, he dared to instantly dismember Kastro into eight pieces...
Roy watched this scene with amusement, reached out, and patted his shoulder. "Let's go."
He neither responded to Gotoh nor Kastro, simply lifted his foot and walked out of the mountain path... Gotoh shot Kastro a look that said, "You watch yourself," suppressed his anger, and followed... Only the young man was left alone at the entrance of the path, watching the two leave, secretly clenching his fists.
At this point, they were less than a hundred meters from the mountain gate. Roy walked in front, Gotoh behind. Silence spread between master and servant. Seeing Zebro doff his hat and salute Roy, Gotoh took a breath and said in a deep voice, "Young master, I want to become stronger."
Roy didn't stop walking.
Gotoh continued, "I must become stronger."
The young butler was unprecedentedly serious. "I cannot accept losing you, young master."
"And then?" Roy stopped in front of the mountain gate and turned to look at Gotoh. "You'll kill yourself?"
"Yes." Gotoh placed his right hand over his chest. "That is my vow, and it will be my glory."
With that, he knelt on one knee and lowered his head...
'A Limitation and Vow?'
A cold wind blew, causing his collar to flutter. Roy remembered the words he had spoken that night and stood before him, watching him silently. "Don't worry..."
"Even if one day you want to die, you won't without my permission."
It was 11:30 AM. The car was already waiting outside the gate.
Zebro reminded him, "Young master, the gate is open."
Flexing his arms, he opened the mountain gate with a loud rumble. Sunlight streamed in, dispelling some of the chill.
He watched Roy and Gotoh get into the car one after the other, pretending not to have seen the previous scene. Holding a thermos cup, he looked up at the sun and sighed warmly in his heart, 'What a beautiful day.'
"Vroom..." With a press of the accelerator by the driver, the black sedan shot forward rapidly.
The mountain gate closed heavily behind them, simultaneously cutting off a line of sight.
At 11:31 AM, a call reached Illumi. "Young master, the eldest young master has departed."
"Understood."
The call ended. Behind Illumi was his already packed suitcase. He sat by the desk, staring blankly at his reflection in the mirror, having changed into Roy's face at some unknown time.
'Who said he left? He's clearly been here with me all along...'
Illumi touched his chest, reluctant to tear his eyes away from the mirror. His figure then flickered. The door creaked open and swung in the wind...
In the small room just across the corridor, a certain old man, hearing the noise, retracted his enlarged ears. It was unclear whether he was listening to the cartoon or something else—certainly not the corner. Rocking in his chair, he smiled with narrowed eyes, enjoying himself.
"Youth is wonderful... He chases, he flees, unable to escape even with wings..."
"Finally acting a bit like brothers..."
T/n:
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