Netero didn't respond,
The old man, smiling with squinted eyes, glanced at Kurapika, curious about the current expression and actions of the young boy.
Before Netero could discern anything, Zebro followed his gaze, initially captivated by Netero's arrival, but failed to notice the child standing beside him, dressed in ethnic attire almost identical to what Kurajing wore when she first entered the mountain... Zebro's eyes gleamed, and he immediately adopted a kind and gentle smile, taking two quick steps forward,
brushing past Netero's shoulder, reaching Kurapika's side, and grabbing his small hand: "Why are you only here now, child? The young master instructed that once you arrived, you should go and meet him."
Netero: "...."
Mamen Beans: "...."
Dazed, the two of them returned to their senses, exchanged glances, looking at each other in bewilderment....
Nearby, as Zebro's warm, rough hand suddenly clasped his small hand, Kurapika's body stiffened, clearly tense for a moment, but when he looked up and saw Zebro's gentle, kind smile, the boy visibly relaxed, glanced sideways at Netero, and softly said: "Mm."
With that, he moved his feet, following Zebro as he personally opened the Gate of Trial for him, silently accompanying the old gatekeeper inside.
"Boom~" The towering Gate of Trial rose and fell again, causing the ticket lady stationed fifty meters away and the crowd of travelers to stare in astonishment. Someone couldn't help but shout, "That child... might he be a young master from the Zoldyck family?"
As soon as the words were spoken,
it was like a massive stone thrown into a tranquil lake, causing a roar of chatter!
Someone slapped their thigh in regret, saying, "Ah, if I'd known he was from there, I would've asked him for an autograph... A genuine autograph from a direct descendant of the world's top assassin family, even selling it, would surely fetch some money....."
"Hnmm, I imagine it should be worth a few thousand Jenny... The thing is, didn't we miss our chance?"
"Indeed... Who could imagine a child from such a prominent family would ride the same vehicle as us?"
Regret... Pity... Disappointment... The air buzzed with excitement....
In front of the tightly closed Gate of Trial, in the blink of an eye, only Netero and Mamen Beans were left, standing there alone, like... two clumsy poles....
At this moment, Mamen Beans seemed to finally extract their thoughts from the scene they had just witnessed, cautiously glanced at Netero and said: "Chairman, what are we going to do?"
Netero was silent for a while, truly not expecting to run into a youngster halfway, with quite significant ties to the Zoldyck family. Gazing up at the seven-fold Gate of Trial stretching across his path, blocking the way and separating him from the Zoldyck family, the old man eventually sighed and said, "Call Zeno."
Mamen Beans visibly relaxed, hurriedly dug out their phone, seemingly worried that Netero would change his mind the next second and attempt to break in... Although, as long as they could open the Gate of Trial, anyone could enter the mountain without being eaten by Mikai (also known as Sanmao). But... is the problem Sanmao? It's the one standing behind all the Zoldycks!
Mamen Beans recalled witnessing Netero being kicked and punched all the way to the mountain base by that individual, startling them into a cold sweat, swallowed hard, and dialed Zeno's number.....
A few minutes passed,
After Zebro had escorted Kurapika, he opened the Gate of Trial from the inside, clearly under orders, and glanced lightly at Netero: "Chairman, the master invites you in."
Netero waved his sleeves, "Come on, let's go, Beans."
Then, he stepped inside, following Kurapika into the mountain, once again provoking the ticket lady and travelers' chatter, as the Gateway of Trial descended heavily. Inside, he stood by Zebro's side.
"Chairman, this way." There was only one small path leading up the mountain, and Zebro gestured with one hand.
Netero strolled and climbed the steps, ascending all the way, turning his back to the mountain gate until he reached the mountain pass, where he stopped.
In those days, he vaguely remembered there should be a mountain keeper here, a scar-faced youngster, following behind Jager like Zebro... Now, years have passed, things have changed....
Jager is nowhere to be found, and it seems the mountain keeper has also disappeared... Netero was full of emotion, glanced sideways at Zebro and said: "Is there no mountain keeper now?"
Although the Gate of Trial is heavy, there are people in the world who can open it,
by this point, a mountain keeper is needed to handle it.
"There is," Zebro replied with a smile: "Kurajing's younger brother has arrived, the young master specifically gave her a week's leave to show Pika around the mountain."
Kurajing... younger brother?
Netero paused, then nodded: "Is that child?"
"He is Kurajing's younger brother, Kurajing is the young master's steward, serving alongside Wutong, now... responsible for guarding the mountain."
So that's it.....
The fog cleared, the puzzle solved, Netero silently twisted his flowery white beard under the chin, said: "It seems this Kurajing is quite valued by your young master."
Zebro chuckled: "That's for sure, the young master... treats his own like family, Kurajing the girl is like that, Wutong the boy is even luckier."
Wutong? Netero searched in his memory, finally found a portrait in an inconspicuous corner,
It was a young steward with some whiskers under his chin, always appearing somewhat melancholy, wearing gold-rimmed glasses year-round... During the Hunter Exam, he stood by Roy's side, ever vigilant against potential dangers and swords aimed at Roy, evident that...
a competent and loyal good steward....
Netero subtly raised his foot again, casually chatting with Zebro, curious: "What's meant by luck?"
Bringing that up... Zebro replied enviously: "I don't quite know, just heard that when he wakes up, this boy might soar, from then on, it will be different....."
Zebro wasn't present to witness Wutong accepting the Initial Embrace and falling into deep sleep,
He occasionally saw while passing by the steward's villa at night during shift changes, always noticing... Tsubone staring at the cocoon of blood enveloping him....
And for someone of that stature, the top of the steward world, having followed Jager from a young age, to pay silent attention....
Zebro was originally a clever and astute person, which is why he became the "helper" and "guide" of Gon, Leorio, Kurapika in the original narrative, immediately recognizing the unusual undertones.
"Tap... tap....." Footsteps echoed in the silent Kukuroo Mountain.....
Casually chatting while climbing the steps, until halfway up the mountain, nestled in the woods beside a scenic path, lying the imposing steward's villa, hardly any less than common villas outside, appeared before them,
Netero's curiosity arose, like a cat being scratched, suddenly said: "Ask Roy if I... am allowed to take a look?"
Looking at whom... just from the direction of Netero's gaze, it's self-evident.
Zebro was a bit troubled: "Chairman, the master is still waiting for you in the study."
"He knows I've arrived." Netero's white beard moved, gazing far at the end of the steps, the ancient castle at the mountaintop filled with the aura of years, he said softly.
Before Zebro could react, his phone rang in his pocket, and upon answering, Roy's familiar voice came from within: "If the Chairman wants to see, let him see. It's nothing that can't be revealed."
After speaking, "Clack~" The phone was hung up directly,
Zebro holding the phone, bowed and replied: "Yes."
Then straightened his posture, one-handedly gestured towards Netero, directing him to the steward's villa: "Chairman, please."
Netero nodded towards the mountain peak from afar, turning to lead Mamen Beans, followed Zebro's footsteps, and passed through layers of forest, arriving at the steward's villa.
Near,
A few hundred meters took merely two to three minutes....
As Netero arrived at the villa entrance, he suddenly cast his gaze towards the second floor,
The northernmost, sun-facing bedroom,
His brow abruptly furrowed in concentration!