'Can you withstand one punch from me......'
Feeling itchy,
Netero suddenly unleashed another punch. This time, the punch directly shattered the air, creating a terrifying vacuum void!
.....
Kakin Empire.
Capital, Sponto.
At the southern end of Tulip Street, which is adjacent to the power center controlled by the Gray Górs family—the royal palace, lies a luxurious manor under Beyond's name.
Having just returned from the palace where he spent two days liaisons with the queen, Beyond went back to his study, unable to resist letting out a sigh... His physique, even more robust than Netero's, seemed a bit deflated, whether from being drained or overexerted, it was unclear....
As he looked through the spotless floor-to-ceiling windows at the shipyard's progress on the Black Whale, he didn't even hear Pariston coming to greet him, lost in thought for a good while before he snapped back to reality,
"Leaving already?"
"You know, I really can't hold back anymore...." The blond youth, dressed in an exquisite suit with pointed leather shoes, noticeably taller than two years ago, held a pocket watch. The watch's face opened up, revealing a photograph that had become yellow with age but clearly reflected Roy's rugged yet handsome face.....
Seeing this, Beyond twitched his lips and casually said, "If you want to go, just go. I happen to have an assignment for you."
"What?"
"Join the Zodiac Twelve." Beyond turned his head to deeply gaze at the youth, opening his mouth to reveal two rows of white teeth,
The man laughed gruffly, "Heh heh heh, aren't you planning to retake the Hunter's License exam? Might as well join the Zodiac Twelve. You know... I need someone close to the old man to keep an eye on him for me."
Just like he needed someone close to the roast meat to watch the roast meat, whether it's the queen, the prince, or the bodyguard next to the prince... all of them his seeds, in any case.....
Beyond couldn't help but think of the recently rampant rumors in the royal capital about the "True God Cult," his urgent desire to go to the Dark Continent growing ever more restless!
Pariston remained silent, closing the pocket watch with a "snap," looking up at Beyond and saying, "Are you on drugs?"
It was said that the "True God Cult" circulated a kind of drug that not only greatly improved human physical fitness but also helped delay aging and enhance "Nen" energy... Stimulating it with intent could even increase male and female reproductive desires and functions... Beyond gave a sinister laugh, casting a meaningful glance at Pariston, "I can only tell you, don't touch women, especially women on drugs....."
Pariston's handsome face immediately displayed a look of disdain and disgust, turning and leaving without a moment's hesitation.....
"Creak~" The door closed with a heavy thud.
Beyond shouted at the youth's departing back, "You better not forget the assignment."
Pariston replied without turning his head, "You better hope I don't die,"
With that, he clutched the pocket watch tightly, exiting the manor, and quickly vanished into the bustling street......
"Dear... Roy Zoldyck, your dearest, Pariston Hill... is here!"
....
"Achoo~"
Kukuroo Mountain, Republic of Padokea, Zoldyck Family's estate.
A sudden gust of wind hit Milluki's neck, causing him to sneeze unexpectedly. He leaned forward, trying to tiptoe into the formation of Maha and Zeno for a glimpse at Killua's little face.
Silver hair meant something to the Zoldyck Family. Even now, Milluki, who was not yet five years old, could understand. At this moment... Not to mention Maha and Zeno, but merely the faces of Tsubone, Luca, and the other Zoldyck servants showed... Killua's appearance was quite significant for the Zoldyck Family.
"Aren't you going to take a look?" Illumi leaned against the wall, carefully wiping the "Divine Spear" wooden nail from his pocket... Roy didn't go, so he didn't go. Roy didn't move, so he didn't move. One, two, three, the youth seemed to play a statue game... His heart wasn't on just-born Killua, but on him. Should it be said that the younger brother respected him or that being an older brother was his glory and pride?
Roy slowly observed Killua, surrounded by everyone, through the gaps, only able to see the corner of a swaddle but completely unable to see his face, softly saying, "Whether I see him or not, he's still there, what's the difference?"
Illumi paused in his wiping of the "Divine Spear" wooden nail, staring with those dead fish eyes: "Are you implying something?"
"Nothing, just reminded of a poem I read once...."
"A poem?" Illumi visibly hesitated, his suspicious gaze locking onto Roy, his forehead nearly etched with 'You can read?' which immediately earned him a glare from Roy.
"Assassins don't need brains; they'll just be assassins all their lives."
'I am that,' Illumi almost retorted with this, but he forcibly restrained himself and countered: "What poem, read it to me."
"And to let the old man hear it..." Maha came over holding Killua, his fiery eyes on Roy, looking at him like he was seeing a ghost, no different, perfectly fitting that saying.....
"Those in the Enhancement category" are just a bunch of uncouth warriors... Maha was like that, Uvogin was like that, Nobunaga was like that... Whenever they could use brute force, they'd never think to use their brains, leaving others helpless.....
Roy shrugged, "It was something I saw before, I don't know who wrote it,"
The youth met a circle of curious eyes, organized his thoughts, and said: "You'll see me, or not,"
"I'm there, not sad or happy"
"You miss me, or not"
"The affection is there, neither coming nor going"
"You love me, or not"
"The love is there, neither increasing nor decreasing"
"You follow me, or not"
"My hand is in yours, neither let go nor leave"
"Come into my arms, or"
"Let me reside in your heart"
"Silently loving, quietly joyous"
"Illumi asked me why I didn't see Killua, I thought whether I see him or not, he's still there, always my brother, always someone I love, there's no rush for this moment....."
Maha, Zeno, Illumi, Tsubone, and even the bewildered Milluki all looked at Roy, stunned, and immediately fell into an eerie silence....
No way, are you really that adept?
"Maha, this poem... it's beautiful...." A familiar whisper, familiar beyond familiarity, popped up in Maha's mind. It was... Betty......
"Indeed, very beautiful... also melancholic....." In the moment of their daze, in the corridor of the Zoldyck Family castle on the second floor, an ancient path dense with the marks of time, suddenly a crack appeared... Then from the crack came a desolate elephant's trumpet.....
In an instant, it pulled Roy back to that afternoon exploring the underwater ruins with Ging, to that immensely splendid cathedral, where he saw that elephant and human... An elephant was a Baku, a deceased Baku, and the human was a skeleton... a living skeleton... A skeleton identifying with a single word!
"Who?!" Zeno was startled!
His figure flashed, charging straight to the crack,
Following closely was Silva smashing through the bedroom door... Instantly lifting the "Divine Spear" wooden nail Illumi, and the elder eyes squinting, abruptly straightening his spine, handing Killua over to Tsubone's... Maha!
"Space authority?!" The old man's expression grew solemn, shouting to halt the entire Zoldyck Family: "Friend, since you came, why not show yourself?"
"I bear no ill will." A timeless voice wafted from the crack... Hearing it, Roy's body shook, feeling that familiar sensation again, it was... that skeleton without mistake!
The youth swallowed a gulp of saliva, stepped forward, breaking from the crowd and said: "Great-grandfather, grandfather, father... It seems he's here... for me."
Maha, Zeno, Silva all looked over, the crack expanded slightly, a thick elephant trunk extended, carrying a wooden box, stretching truly to Roy's face, delivering it to him.
"Congratulations, young man."
The testament given, the elephant trunk retracted, disappearing with the crack swiftly in the air.....
Leaving only Roy holding the box, and the Zoldyck Family left shocked, exchanging glances in dumbfounded silence.....
"You all stay here, don't move,"
"The old man will go meet him!"