"Young master."
"Young master."
"Young master."
The security door swung open. Scarface, One-Eye, and Tsubone bowed deeply, standing on either side to clear Roy's path. They bent so low at the waist that even Tsubone's pink twin tails hung down, nearly brushing her toes.
Roy pushed the food cart forward. "I left the chrysanthemums inside. I don't want to see them wither."
Tsubone replied quickly, "I'll find a flower pot and water them regularly."
Scarface added, "I'll take them outside for sunlight every day."
One-Eye nodded. "I'll weed and fertilize."
The young man hummed softly. "Thank you for your hard work." He casually handed the cart to Tsubone, clasped his hands behind his back as he surveyed the area, then left.
His footsteps gradually faded. The three slowly straightened their backs. Roy's figure had already vanished from view.
The moon hung high overhead, the sunset long since swallowed by the darkness creeping across the horizon. Leaving the underground chamber, Roy strolled through the castle's weathered corridor where lamps already glowed on both walls. At the far end near that dim yellow room, he looked up and spotted Maha again. The old man leaned against the windowsill, gazing at the scenery. For a moment, Roy had the strange feeling he was looking at an elderly Zigg. Too similar. Far too similar.
He stopped, calling softly, "Great-grandfather."
Maha stared at the willow tree in the garden, seemingly not hearing him. He spoke as if to himself. "Re: Game of the Dead is your Grandfather Zigg's Nen ability. Through physical contact, he can forcibly pull someone's consciousness into games woven from his memories."
Roy listened silently. This matched his earlier theory almost perfectly.
"The year he died, he used 'bloodline' as the catalyst and established a Limitation and Pledge. All Zoldyck descendants can enter and exit his mind. The price? Excluding the bloodline's source, meaning me. Back then, I was furious. I wanted to beat him to death. Who told him not to listen? Insisting on sneaking out like that. And then, before I could even lay a hand on him, he closed his eyes."
So that eye is Zigg's brain, mutated after death? Roy continued listening quietly.
Maha's voice carried a hint of anger. "He always said the Zoldycks couldn't lose anyone except me. He was afraid I'd view his memories and return to the Dark Continent seeking revenge. That idiot. Does he really think I'm that reckless?"
Yes! You absolutely are! Roy picked up the thread, joking lightly, "Maybe Grandfather Zigg thought you might accidentally kill his enemy first, robbing him of his revenge."
Either way, the old man wasn't someone who'd sit idle while enemies roamed free. Otherwise, it wouldn't suit an Enhancer's personality.
Maha turned to glare at him. The young man forced a smile, tactfully shifting topics."So, great-grandfather, did Grandfather Zigg truly die, or did he fake his death?"
A mutated brain still needs energy to survive. If he truly died, what's feeding it? Roy's thoughts suddenly jumped to Scarface and One-Eye. The moment the question formed, his eyelids twitched involuntarily.
"Seems you've figured it out." Maha, wise with age, noticed the young man's expression shift. He continued leisurely, "He's 'living dead.' Ridiculous, isn't it? Against his own will, he became exactly the type of monster he despised most in life: a Magic Eye that feeds on Nen."
Is this a curse? Roy thought of Nanika. The shadow hanging over the Zoldycks' hearts hadn't arrived yet, but that didn't mean it would never come.
"So, great-grandfather, you called me to pay my respects because you want me to retrace Grandfather Zigg's path and hunt down his killer?"
"You?" Maha smiled mockingly, patting his shoulder. "Don't get ahead of yourself. Your grandfather and father both failed. What makes you think it's your turn?"
That stung. Though Roy had only lasted fifteen seconds, he hadn't even managed to speak with Zigg in those memories.
The old man looked at Roy with meaningful intent. "I'm just giving you a fair warning so you understand what's at stake. If someday you truly get such ideas..." Maha's smile didn't reach his eyes. "This old man will break your legs and won't feel an ounce of guilt about it."
"I..." Roy recalled that dream, the vivid scene of Zigg being dragged under a tree for a savage beating. "You're overestimating me, great-grandfather." Roy pointed to his jet-black hair, saying awkwardly, "My talent has its limits."
Fifteen seconds isn't limited, you silly child. Maha rolled his eyes. "Get lost."
Roy felt like he'd been granted a pardon. "Good night, great-grandfather." Brushing past the old man's shoulder, he hurried away.
It was 8 PM. Gotoh should have dinner ready by now. He needed food to replenish his energy. Behind him, Maha stood with hands clasped behind his back, watching Roy's retreating figure. He called out, "Visit Zigg more often."
The young man readily agreed. Not just to ease Grandfather Zigg's loneliness. At the very least, I need to fully withstand that monster's Ren first.
Night deepened. The young man rounded the corner and vanished from sight. Only Maha remained, lost in thought. The evening wind stirred his robes, making them sway gently.
Rapid footsteps approached from behind. It was Tsubone.
"Lord Maha, the time is calculated."
"I know. Fifteen seconds." Maha waved his hand, entering the room. The door slammed shut with a sharp bang.
Tsubone bowed, completely unsurprised. She'd only come as a formality anyway. She glanced toward Roy's bedroom before hurrying off.
Roy's bedroom. Tonight's dinner was Western cuisine. He'd thought that after paying his respects, he could enjoy some Chinese food from the offerings. Reality taught him otherwise. The world was full of unimaginable surprises. Aside from a few vegetable leaves, all the meat had disappeared straight into Zigg's stomach.
Left with no choice, Roy settled for biting into a sandwich while lamenting just how complicated the Zoldyck family truly was. Without sufficient strength, some places were simply off-limits. In the future, if he ever departed to explore the Dark Continent, judging from the old man's words, he'd have to pass this test too. Otherwise, just look at how badly Zigg got beaten in that dream. That painted a clear enough picture.
"Young master, Zebro called. He said Kastro pushed open the first door this evening." Gotoh poured a glass of milk and handed it over. "I've arranged for him to report to the butler's office."
Roy accepted it, drained the glass in one go, then handed it back. "His talent isn't bad. Train him properly and station him at the mountain gate."
In the original story, someone who could trade blows evenly with Hisoka couldn't be weak. Leaving Gotoh to clear the table, Roy finished eating, took a quick shower, and went straight to bed.
His mind raced with possibilities. He was almost impatient to discover whether that "Gate to the Dark Continent" standing in his cognitive sea still existed after disconnecting from Zigg's consciousness.
If it still exists... Roy's eyes narrowed to slits. It was easy to imagine. When his strength became sufficient, even without the old man breaking his legs, he could bypass this world's countless restrictions. He could be the first to glimpse the Dark Continent's true form. And enter and exit at will, whenever the mood struck.