There's no place like home, and no one can replace your own flesh and blood.
Everyone needs a sense of belonging. This human continent surrounded by Lake Mobius was not Vivian's home. The ends of the ocean, that unknown land guarded by the Gatekeeper, was her true home...
Ging knew this. He had always known.
But when this day finally arrived, the sorrow of parting twisted like a knife in his heart, making it incredibly hard to let go.
"Waaah..." Gon wailed in his arms. Perhaps sensing something, the baby flailed his tiny hands and kicked his little legs, grasping at the empty air. However...
His mother had already turned into a reef, facing the depths of the ocean in a posture of longing for home, devoid of breath...
Hunter Association.
At the very top of the headquarters building, inside an office bearing the plaque "A Martial Artist".
An old man, who constantly reminded himself to never forget his original intention and had not dared to forget his identity as a martial artist for nearly ninety years, was wearing a sports tank top. He settled into a horse stance, staring straight ahead. At a certain moment, his gaze sharpened, and his right fist shot forward with a sharp crack.
It was a sudden, straight punch that whipped through the air, causing it to explode. He seemed to be repeating his daily training, or perhaps searching for the passionate youth of his past. Regardless, Netero had increasingly felt lately that his energy was not as boundless as it used to be.
Part of this was certainly due to his advancing age, but it was also because the V5 higher-ups kept bothering him, having been indirectly enlightened by the [Church of Truth].
"Believe in [Truth] and gain eternal life. Even I'm starting to feel a bit tempted," he muttered.
Retracting his fist, Netero turned his head to glance at Beanman. "Bean, if only the people from that continent were as law-abiding as you."
Beanman was buried behind his desk, organizing the intelligence gathered from all over. He came across a report concerning the Zoldycks, stating that someone had commissioned Zeno Zoldyck to assassinate Guzman, the [Archbishop of Truth]. Knowing better, he kept quiet.
As for what the Dark Continent was like, Beanman rarely brought it up since following Netero. As a member of the Demon race, they were neither [Human] nor [Beast]. Despised and rejected by both sides, their lives had naturally been difficult. His current law-abiding nature was merely a good habit retained from his days of cautiously surviving in the cracks between worlds.
After finishing the report, Beanman rolled his tiny eyes, which were barely larger than mung beans, and looked at Netero. "Chairman, the head of the Zoldyck family has made a move."
"I know." Netero pulled back his fist and threw another punch with a loud crack.
With his back to Beanman, Netero said without turning his head, "Zeno mentioned it. Turns out, it wasn't the main target."
The old man's movements were unhurried. They appeared slow but were actually incredibly fast. His leisurely punches gave off an unavoidable, inescapable presence. He spoke faintly, "No one from your homeland is easy to deal with. The Church of Truth... whose divine servant is this one?"
Beasts were categorized into Demon, Phantom, and Rare. Humans, too, were invisibly divided into different classes based on their profession, gender, faith, and upbringing. Upon receiving the first-hand information on the Church of Truth, Netero immediately determined that the other party was not someone from their own continent. Combined with the fact that Zeno had actually taken the job... The old man recalled the past, a sunny morning when he had an exhilarating riverside race with a certain young man. His old eyes narrowed as he secretly formed a guess—
The other party was coming for Zigg and... that brat Roy!
Their current frantic preaching was merely a way to secretly accumulate power, or perhaps to break through... some kind of restriction.
As Netero's thoughts wandered, he was suddenly interrupted by a ringtone coming from Beanman's pocket.
"Beep..." The call connected.
Beanman froze for a second. Holding the phone, he said to Netero, "Chairman, the Zoldycks had a baby... It's a boy, and it seems he has... silver hair!"
Silver hair?
Netero's eyes flashed. He stopped his punches and stood straight, chuckling. "Born at a good time... If I go this time under the guise of offering congratulations, surely I won't be publicly kicked out by a certain stubborn old bag of bones again..."
Time had passed slowly. Having followed Netero for so long, Beanman knew there were very few people the Chairman would call an old bag of bones. He first ruled out himself, then Linne, leaving only... the one from the Zoldyck family... the legendary Ultimate Assassin—Maha Zoldyck!
A shriveled figure automatically surfaced in his mind. Beanman suddenly shivered. He remembered clearly that the last time he accompanied Netero to visit the Zoldycks, it had not been a pleasant experience. Not to mention... he always felt like he had seen the man somewhere before. He racked his brain trying to remember, but to no avail, so he had to drop it.
Changing the subject, he said, "Chairman, the list you asked me to compile has roughly taken shape."
"Aside from Gigant securing the Chen Long position... we have candidates for Snake and Horse. Oh, and Boar too..."
"You asked me to contact Ging, and I did... He said,"
"Said what?" Netero noticed Beanman's hesitant tone and glanced back at him.
Beanman's expression was rather odd as he carefully replied, "He said he has to take care of his kid and doesn't have time. Unless... Roy goes, then he'll go."
Netero paused. That rascal, when did he get to know that brat Roy? He raised a long eyebrow, stroked his beard, and laughed. "Very well. I'll ask Roy myself when the time comes."
'I wonder how much that kid has grown,'
'And if he can take one of my punches...'
His hands were itching.
Netero suddenly threw another punch. This time, the strike completely obliterated the air, forming a terrifying vacuum cavity!
Kakin Empire.
Capital, Spanto.
Adjacent to the power center controlled by the Hui Guo Rou Family—the Royal Palace—at the southern end of Tulip Avenue, sat the luxurious manor registered under Beyond's name.
Having just returned from the royal palace after a two-day secret rendezvous with the queen, Beyond stepped back into his study and couldn't help but let out a soft sigh. His burly physique, even more massive than Netero's, looked noticeably deflated. It was unclear if he had been drained dry or simply overworked, so much so that...
When he looked through the pristine floor-to-ceiling windows at the construction progress of the Black Whale in the shipyard, just as he usually did, he didn't even hear Pariston come in to greet him. He remained in a daze for quite a while before finally reacting.
"Leaving already?"
"You know I really can't hold back anymore..." The blond youth wore an exquisite suit and pointed leather shoes. His posture was upright, and he had grown noticeably taller compared to two years ago. In his hand, he held an open pocket watch. Inside was an embedded photograph, its edges yellowed from constant handling, yet it clearly displayed Roy's ruggedly handsome face.
Seeing this, Beyond's mouth twitched. He casually said, "Go if you want. I happen to have a task for you anyway."
"What is it?"
"Join the Zodiacs." Beyond tilted his head and stared deeply at the youth, opening his mouth to reveal two rows of white teeth.
The man let out a rough laugh. "Nyahahaha, aren't you going to retake the Hunter Exam? You might as well join the Zodiacs while you're at it. You know... I need someone by the old man's side to keep an eye on him for me."
Just like he needed his people by Hui Guo Rou's side to watch him—whether it was the queen, the princes, or the guards around the princes... which were essentially his own seed. In short...
Thinking of the [Church of Truth] that had been spreading like wildfire in the royal capital recently, Beyond's desperate desire to go to the Dark Continent grew even more restless!
Pariston remained silent. He snapped his pocket watch shut and looked up at Beyond. "Have you been taking drugs?"
Rumor had it that the [Church of Truth] circulated a drug that not only greatly improved human physical fitness but also helped delay aging and increased Nen... Under intentional stimulation, it could even enhance the reproductive desires and functions of men and women. Beyond let out a sinister laugh, giving Pariston a meaningful glance. "I can only tell you this: stay away from women, especially women on drugs..."
A look of disgust and revulsion immediately surfaced on Pariston's handsome face. He turned and left without a moment's hesitation.
Creak. The door slammed shut with a heavy thud.
Beyond shouted at the youth's retreating back, "You'd better not forget your mission."
Pariston replied without looking back, "You'd better hope I don't die."
Saying that, he gripped the pocket watch tightly, exited the manor, and vanished into the bustling streets in the blink of an eye.
"My dear... Roy Zoldyck, your most beloved Pariston Hill... is coming!"
"Achoo!"
Republic of Padokea, Kukuroo Mountain, Zoldyck Family Estate.
A sudden gust of wind hit the back of Milluki's neck, causing him to sneeze unexpectedly. He leaned forward, trying to stand on his tiptoes and squeeze through the formation of Maha and Zeno to get a look at Killua's little face.
What silver hair meant to the Zoldyck family was something the not-yet-five-year-old Milluki could already understand. At this moment... not to mention Maha and Zeno, just looking at the faces of Tsubone, Luca, and the rest of the Zoldyck butlers and servants, it was obvious... Killua's birth was an extraordinary event for the Zoldyck family.
"Aren't you going to take a look?" Illumi leaned against the wall, pulling a square handkerchief from his pocket to carefully wipe his [Divine Spear Wooden Nail]. If Roy didn't go, he wouldn't go. If Roy didn't move, he wouldn't move. One, two, three—the boy was acting like they were playing statues. Instead of focusing on the newborn Killua, his attention was entirely fixed on Roy. Was it a younger brother's respect, or an older brother's glory and pride?
Roy slowly looked toward Killua, who was surrounded by the crowd. Through the gaps, he could only vaguely see a corner of the swaddling clothes, completely unable to see the baby's face. He said softly, "Whether I look or not, he's right there. What does it matter?"
Illumi's hand paused in wiping the [Divine Spear Wooden Nail]. He stared over with his hollow, dead-fish eyes. "Are you implying something?"
"Nothing. I just remembered a poem I read a long time ago..."
"A poem?" Illumi was visibly taken aback. His suspicious gaze locked onto Roy, his expression practically screaming, 'You actually read?' He immediately received a sharp glare from Roy in return.
"A killer who doesn't use his brain will only ever be a killer for the rest of his life."
'I already am,' Illumi wanted to blurt out in retort, but he forcefully held himself back and asked instead, "What poem? Let's hear it."
"Read it for this old man to hear as well..." Maha walked over holding Killua, his burning gaze fixed on Roy. He and Zeno looked at him as if they had seen a ghost, perfectly echoing that old saying...
Enhancers were all a bunch of unrefined brutes. Maha was like this, Uvogin was like this, Nobunaga was like this... As long as they could use brute force, they would never think to use their brains. It was truly exasperating.
Roy threw his hands up. "I read it a long time ago. I don't know who wrote it."
Meeting the circle of curious gazes, the boy gathered his thoughts and recited: "Whether you meet me or not,"
"I am right there, neither sad nor joyful."
"Whether you miss me or not,"
"The feeling is right there, neither coming nor going."
"Whether you love me or not,"
"The love is right there, neither increasing nor decreasing."
"Whether you follow me or not,"
"My hand is in yours, never to be abandoned."
"Come into my embrace, or"
"Let me reside in your heart."
"Loving in silence, rejoicing in tranquility."
"Illumi asked me why I wasn't looking at Killua. I figured, whether I look or not, he's right there. He's my little brother, someone I love. There's no rush for this single moment..."
Maha, Zeno, Illumi, Tsubone, and even the clueless Milluki all stared at Roy, completely stunned. They instantly fell into an eerie silence.
Wait, you actually know poetry?
"Maha, this poem... is so beautiful..." A faint, incredibly familiar murmur suddenly surfaced in Maha's mind. It was... Betty...
"Indeed, it's beautiful... and also melancholic..." Just as everyone was lost in thought, a rift suddenly appeared in the time-worn corridor in front of the second-floor bedroom of the Zoldyck family castle. Then, a primal elephant trumpet echoed from within the rift...
In an instant, Roy was pulled back to that afternoon when he explored the underwater ruins with Ging. Inside that magnificently beautiful cathedral, he had seen an elephant and a person. The elephant was the Elephant Baku, a dead Elephant Baku. The person was a skeleton... a living skeleton... the skeleton who had exposed his identity with a single sentence!
"Who's there?!" Zeno was startled!
His figure flashed as he lunged straight for the rift.
Closely following him was Silva, who smashed through the main door of the bedroom... Illumi, who instantly raised his [Divine Spear Wooden Nail]... and Maha, whose old eyes narrowed as he instantly straightened his spine and handed Killua over to Tsubone!
"Spatial Authority?!" The old man's expression turned solemn. He raised his voice to stop the Zoldycks, saying, "Friend, since you're already here, why not show yourself?"
"I mean no harm." A weathered voice drifted leisurely from the rift. Hearing him speak, Roy's body trembled as he once again felt that sense of familiarity. It was... definitely that skeleton!
The boy swallowed hard, lifted his foot, and slowly walked forward, stepping out from the crowd. "Great-grandfather, Grandfather, Father... I think he's here... for me."
Maha, Zeno, and Silva all looked over. The rift instantly expanded a fraction, and a thick elephant trunk reached out from within, curling around a wooden box. It extended right in front of Roy and shoved it into his hands.
"Congratulations, young man."
Having delivered the gift, the elephant trunk retracted, and the rift vanished into thin air in an instant.
Only Roy, holding the box, and the members of the Zoldyck family looking on were left standing there, frozen in place, staring at each other in bewilderment.
"Stay here and don't move,"
"This old man is going to meet him!"
##Discount##
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