'How does he know?'
Kurajing's gaze locked firmly onto Roy.
The boy fished quietly, not turning back, but he could clearly feel how shocked the stare coming from behind him was.
'The Kurta Clan... Scarlet Eyes... one of the Seven Great Beauties of the world... Kurapika... Kakin's Fourth Prince, Tserriednich...' These images surfaced involuntarily in his mind...
Roy said lightly, "No need to be so surprised. There is no place in the world the sun cannot reach, so naturally, there are no true secrets."
"It's nighttime now, there is no sun." Kurajing pushed up the glasses on her nose and said sternly, "I don't know how you found out, but I must ask you not to reveal this."
Just how rare the Scarlet Eyes were in this world... why the Kurta Clan chose to live in seclusion... no one understood the reasons and dangers better than Kurajing, who was one of them.
But there is no such thing as a wall that doesn't leak. Just as Roy said, as long as something exists, it will be found. As long as it's found, someone will collect it. The future annihilation of the entire Kurta Clan, leaving Kurapika as the sole survivor, was clear proof.
"Who gave you the nerve to make demands of the Young Master?" Gotoh glared at Kurajing, grabbing her by the collar and lifting her up!
The girl gripped Gotoh's large hand tightly, not struggling. Her eyes hardened and quickly turned red. The weak appearance she had when begging for help earlier was completely gone, replaced by an extremely fierce attitude. She stared at Gotoh, defiant in the face of death, and said, "You can question me, or you can strangle me!"
"It's fine even if you gouge out my eyes!"
"As long as you don't leak my clan's information... I, Kurajing, will accept any disposal!"
'Kurajing?'
"Let her down." Roy suddenly thought of that blond, red-eyed boy with the superior intellect. He said calmly, "I have no interest in your clan, and even less interest in your eyes."
Even if the Scarlet Eyes possessed the trait of allowing 100% mastery of all Nen categories, it wasn't of much use to the current Roy.
'It's not like I can gouge out my own eyes and swap them, right...'
"Yes." Gotoh released Kurajing.
The girl smoothed the wrinkles on her collar and looked deeply at Roy. "How am I supposed to trust you?"
Roy: "Believe it or don't."
Kurajing narrowed her eyes. "I'm going to follow you."
Gotoh: "?"
The girl said righteously, "I know of the Zoldycks, the world's number one family of assassins. It was described in 'My Years as an Assassin.' I can also apply to be a butler and join the Zoldycks."
'"Only by becoming 'one of you' can I ensure the secret won't be leaked,"' Kurajing silently added in her heart.
It had to be said, the girl's thinking was very clear. She came to participate in the test precisely to obtain a Hunter License and latch onto the Hunter Association. That way, she could add some support for the Kurta Clan.
Now... Kurajing looked stubbornly at Roy. She had seen every bit of the boy's performance earlier. This was an equally thick thigh to latch onto, and it didn't conflict with the Hunter Association!
"Gotoh."
"Yes, Young Master."
"Find that author and give them a harsh beating!"
Roy said without turning his head, "Preferably, rip out their tongue so they stop spouting nonsense!"
"Yes."
Kurajing: "..."
She secretly swallowed, unsure how to respond...
Gotoh shot her a glare and ignored her.
After dropping that line, Roy said nothing more. Not long after... [Hint: Nen "Shape Transformation" +15]...
He fished in silence, continuing to temper his Nen ability. Before he knew it, night fell.
Night. The moon hung high in the sky.
Aboard the "Neptune," the slaughter continued, yet all was peaceful and quiet on Roy's end.
No one dared approach the bow, and no one dared to target Kurajing anymore. They just assumed she was "part of" Roy's group. This indirectly allowed her to luck out, riding his coattails to find an unlucky fool, steal their number plate, and accumulate points.
Roy and Gotoh turned a blind eye, too lazy to bother with her. Kurajing, however, knew her place. She started her post early, playing the role of a butler, pushing a dining cart over to serve them dinner.
Eat what you must, kill whom you must. The Hunter Association had never been stingy when it came to ensuring the candidates were fed.
Tonight's dinner was locally sourced, featuring a lot of seafood. Gotoh attended to Roy, peeling a Spanner crab for him. Beside them, Kurajing rested her chin on her hand, watching quietly. Suddenly, she asked, "Aren't you afraid I'll poison it?"
Gotoh sneered. Roy ate even faster and more happily... The idea of a Zoldyck being killed by poison was such a massive joke that it surely wasn't recorded by that author in 'My Years as an Assassin.'
Soon, under Kurajing's smiling gaze, Roy left behind a pile of crab shells, turned, and returned to the bow, sitting down cross-legged.
It had been several days since he last practiced his blade. The boy discovered that as long as he didn't push open the Demon Slayer gate, nothing would happen that night. He would sleep normally and wake normally, completely according to his will... This undoubtedly gave him more freedom in entering and exiting the "cognitive world."
Moreover, after the previous battle with Pariston Hill, no one dared to cross him... According to the old captain, Maxim, they were still five or six days away from reaching Dolle Island.
Roy thus instructed Gotoh to wake him if anything came up... He closed his eyes, mediated, and began to fall asleep, preparing to fulfill the promise he made to his master, Urokodaki Sakonji—
To set out and learn "Breathing Styles"!
Gradually... drowsiness washed over him, and the sounds of slaughter in his ears grew fainter. The boy's head dipped slightly as he fell into dreamland. Soon, using "deep sleep," he passed through the colorful dream passage and arrived at the familiar Sea of Cognition.
This time, he didn't rest, directly pushing open the Demon Slayer gate and stepping inside.
The familiar sensation of falling washed over him....
When he groggily opened his eyes again, his nostrils twitched, catching the aroma of porridge.
Roy smiled slightly, rolled over, and sat up from the kang. He stretched his arms wide, yawning, and planted his feet firmly on the ground.
The sea was unlike the land, not as turbulent. Having his feet on solid ground felt more reassuring.
"Eiichiro, Master made you something delicious again~" Makomo had always regretted not being able to personally taste Urokodaki Sakonji's cooking... so she always asked Roy to share his "post-meal impressions" to satisfy her own small craving.
"What is it?"
"Fresh fish porridge." The little girl said, not without envy, "Master went to the river at four o'clock to catch fish for you. He probably figured you were learning Breathing Styles today and wanted you to feel the rhythm of 'water' beforehand."
"Don't listen to her nonsense." Sabito couldn't help but roll his eyes at Makomo. "Eating fish has nothing to do with learning 'Water Breathing.' Eiichiro, prepare yourself for the pressure."
Sabito's words held a deeper meaning.
Roy listened quietly, the image of Tanjiro Kamado training with his sword under a waterfall automatically appearing in his mind. If things went as expected...
He would likely have to go through the same ordeal today.
Sure enough, Urokodaki Sakonji hadn't spared the future Tanjiro, and he certainly wasn't sparing him. In fact, he was being even harsher than he would be with Tanjiro in the future. He couldn't wait even a day, immediately making him take off his shirt, go under the waterfall, and mimic his movements to practice "Water Breathing."
"Water Breathing, First Form: Water Surface Slash..."
"Second Form: Water Wheel... Third Form: Flowing Dance... Fourth Form: Striking Tide..."
"Wrong! Raise the sword higher... Breathe from your abdomen, I didn't tell you to breathe with your mouth... Remember the point of exertion, drive your arms with your core, I didn't tell you to use brute force... Also, what about the rhythm of your breathing? I said it must be steady, gentle, and exhibit fluidity, just like water..."
"Who are you performing for, being so stiff? Sooner or later, a demon will eat you!"
Urokodaki Sakonji's instruction, mixed with the pounding of the waterfall, struck at this piece of raw jade, Roy, again and again.
Sabito and Makomo watched from the side. They had never heard him speak so much. They glanced at each other, both speechless.
'Master is... completely treating Eiichiro as inhuman!'
And yet... Eiichiro didn't make a sound. He focused on learning, and slowly, he actually started to get the hang of it. The speed of his progress was unbelievable!
"Water Breathing, Seventh Form: Piercing Rain Drop!"
Half a day later, Roy lunged forward with a thrust.
The glint of steel arrived first. Water ripples spread, gathering the waterfall's spray as it stabbed forward!
A sharp pillar of water tore through the air, suddenly taking shape. It brushed past the ears of Sabito and Makomo and shot toward a cypress tree on the bank... The thick cypress was wider than two people could encircle, yet from receiving this one blow from Roy, a large hole was instantly pierced through the center of its trunk!
[Hint: "Water Breathing" has been activated. EXP +10...]