Kastro felt wretched and panicked. His limbs were heavy, and his vision blurred as blood loss sapped his strength. He ran for his life, his face smeared with dirt and drawn with exhaustion.
The madman chased him relentlessly. Each attack left a new wound. Kastro had no idea why he was being hunted and no time to wonder. He ran through streets and alleys, his frantic escape making bystanders scream.
He was almost there. The sound of engines reached him as Kastro wiped blood from his face and forced his way past airport security. Looking up, he saw the young man and his butler waiting at the entrance, the butler leaning on his cane sword.
Kastro wanted to cry. What filled his eyes – blood or tears – he couldn't tell. He staggered forward a few more steps, vision darkening, then collapsed to the ground. "I... made it..." Intense conviction drove him to crawl to Roy's feet. Then his head tilted and he lost consciousness.
A gust of wind swept by as Illumi jumped over the barrier, using Shadow Step to chase after him. Just as he prepared to attack with Snake Awakens, a calm voice stopped him.
"Haven't you caused enough trouble?" Their gazes collided. Gotoh dragged Kastro to safety. Roy calmly watched Illumi. Illumi defiantly watched Roy. They confronted each other silently for a moment.
Illumi finally withdrew his hand from the blade's hilt, shoving his hands in his pockets, brushing past Roy's shoulder into the terminal. "You'd better keep protecting him!"
Airport security chased after them with riot gear, but the young man slipped into the crowd and vanished. Roy looked at Kastro. "Treat his wounds," he said, then went inside.
10 a.m. The airship departed. 6 hours later, it landed.
A black sedan pulled up at the exit. Gotoh opened the door for Roy, who got in first. Kastro, now awake and bandaged by the airship's medical staff, followed. Thanks to Gotoh's quick work, he was out of danger.
The driver floored it, the car shooting forward. Kastro leaned forward with the momentum, his gaze traveling past the front seats to Roy's back. He'd already learned from Gotoh that Roy was the eldest son of the so-called "World's Number One Assassin Family."
The combination of "World's Number One" and "Assassin" always inspired awe. He'd never heard of such a title before. Turning toward the window, he couldn't stop replaying that flying slash in his mind, silently watching the scenery fly past. 'What kind of monster organization am I getting involved with?'
"Remember, the young master dislikes stuffy back seats. When going out, he only sits in the front passenger seat." Gotoh, seated beside Kastro, was already providing advanced butler training. Kastro listened absentmindedly. The car soon screeched to a stop. He followed Gotoh out and looked up to see an imposing gate.
The gate had seven doors, weathered by years. A guard stood at the entrance, waiting. Seeing Roy exit, he removed his hat and bowed. "Young master, I'll open the door for you."
"Let me." As a first-time butler-in-training, Kastro felt he should make a good impression on his master. Taking the lead and rolling up his sleeves, he stepped forward and stood before the Testing Gate.
'Who's this?' Zebro glanced toward Roy. Roy and Gotoh said nothing, making no move to stop him. Seeing this, Zebro wisely kept quiet and stepped aside.
It was 11:20 a.m. The sunlight was brutal, making everyone irritable. Kastro had planned to push with one hand, then turn and gesture "please" to Roy, respectfully welcoming the young master home. The Testing Gate didn't budge. Embarrassment flooded through him.
He couldn't bring himself to look back. Hurriedly, he pushed again with both hands. Still motionless. He threw all his strength into a third attempt, his face flushing red. Still motionless.
His wounds from the recent battle tore open from the strain, spurting blood that stained his bandages. He swayed twice before falling backward.
'Don't bite off more than you can chew,' Zebro thought, shaking his head.
Kastro struggled up from the ground. He heard footsteps and instinctively looked up. Roy extended one finger toward the Testing Gate. The magnificent ancient door swung open, one section sliding aside. Without stopping, he walked straight in.
"Stay here. When you can push open the first door, report to the butler's office." Gotoh dropped this line before following inside.
The Testing Gate slammed shut with a heavy boom, leaving Kastro collapsed on the ground, staring blankly.
"See? I told you, we should've killed him. The Zoldycks don't need trash."
Inside the gate, Illumi stood with his hands in his pockets against the wall, seemingly waiting for someone. He turned to look at Roy. Roy didn't break stride, not even bothering to glance, walking straight up the mountain path.
He threw out a single line as he passed: "My business is none of your concern. Next time, I'll shut your mouth for you."
Illumi clenched his fists, glaring at his back, watching for a moment before following him up the mountain.
"Young master." At the castle entrance, Luke stood waiting, bowed in greeting. He held an electric baton that looked ordinary, but the Nen script on it radiated powerful energy.
Nen script was a special writing system in the Hunter world, used to infuse Nen abilities into weapons and items with advanced techniques. Greed Island's card book used it, for example. Is Ging already planning that game and gathering partners like Razor? Roy wondered.
Roy glanced at the script but ignored Luke. He looked up at the second floor, where a man stood by a large window, arms crossed and face expressionless, silently watching from above.
After waiting in vain for a response, Luke bowed lower. "Please proceed to the training room, young master."
Roy ignored him and met his father's gaze without fear. The tension between them was palpable.
"Silva, time's up. Continue later." From behind Silva, a woman wrapped her arms around his waist. Silva's body stiffened. He turned and scooped her up, carrying her away from the window as she squealed.
A single command floated down from the second floor: "Shock him hard."
Luke glanced nervously at Roy. The young man remained expressionless, stepping past him. "Do I need to remind you?"
"N-no..." Luke wiped the sweat from his forehead and carried the electric baton, following behind.