"Mr. Gotoh, there's noise coming from the foot of the mountain. It seems that group has entered Mike's territory. They are Master Killua's friends. Should we intervene?"
A male servant asked worriedly.
Gotoh's expression was grave. But these were Illumi's orders.
In this family, Killua's status couldn't compare to Illumi's. Illumi was the eldest son, superior in every way.
Although Gotoh wanted to help Killua, his position forbade him from interfering.
"Since they chose to come here, they should be prepared. We just do our jobs."
Gotoh was silent for a few seconds, then shook his head helplessly.
Overstepping his authority would invite punishment from the true masters.
The other servants lowered their heads, silent.
At the same time.
In a secret room.
Illumi Zoldyck stood quietly. Before him was a burly man with a mane of golden hair, radiating immense pressure.
Silva Zoldyck.
The current head of the family and his father.
"You're saying that during the Hunter Exam, you encountered an opponent you couldn't defeat? And that person is Killua's friend, Ryker?"
"You suspect he has disguise abilities similar to yours and posed as an Examiner?"
"His strength defeated Hisoka the Magician? Potentially reaching our level? And he controls Lightning Nen?"
Silva's face was unprecedentedly serious.
He had never heard his eldest son evaluate an opponent so highly.
Illumi was usually silent, proud, and efficient. He never wasted words on targets.
This meant something went very wrong during the exam.
Hisoka. Silva knew of him. A dangerous man, perhaps slightly stronger than Illumi.
Yet, he was utterly defeated.
By a teenager.
While the teenager was disguised.
That meant Ryker wasn't even fighting at full capacity (disguise usually hinders peak performance), yet he still crushed a top-tier fighter.
"You want us to team up and force him to hand over his cultivation method and the Lightning Nen technique?"
Silva narrowed his eyes at his son.
Illumi nodded. "Yes. If we acquire his skills—especially the advanced disguise and Lightning Nen—it would be a massive asset for the family. We could integrate it into our inheritance."
The Zoldycks grew strong by accumulating lethal techniques over generations. Ryker was a walking treasure chest.
"I need to consider this. If he truly has the potential you describe, failing to subdue him would mean making an impossible enemy. It could be a catastrophe for the family," Silva said heavily.
"He might have more secrets. If we get them, perhaps even you, Father... could take a step further," Illumi added.
Silva paused.
At his level—second only to Netero—advancement was nearly impossible.
And Netero's longevity... If Ryker held the secret to breaking human limits, the temptation was absolute.
Just as Silva was considering it, he stopped.
He stared toward the foot of the mountain.
"Father..." Illumi tried to persuade him. He knew he couldn't take Ryker alone. But with Silva and Zeno? Ryker was dead meat.
"Drop the idea."
Silva spoke suddenly.
"Huh?" Illumi froze.
"I said, drop the idea immediately. I forbid you from harboring any thoughts against him. From this moment on, Ryker and his friends are guests. Friends of the family."
Silva did a complete 180.
"Why?" Illumi couldn't understand.
"Mike... is dead."
Silva's voice was low.
"Before he died... he felt fear. True fear. Something not even my father could instill in him."
"Your idea is too dangerous. It will drag the family into an abyss. Ryker is Killua's friend, and now, he is ours."
Silva's tone was absolute. An order.
As the head of the family, his senses were sharper than Illumi's.
He felt the death of the Dark Continent beast.
He felt the ripple of fear Mike emitted before being obliterated.
A creature with Dark Continent blood doesn't fear humans. It fears apex predators.
Ryker possessed an aura that rivaled the calamities of the Dark Continent.
Provoking him was suicide.
"That being said... I'm afraid I have to give him an explanation. You started this, Illumi. Be prepared."
Silva stood up and walked out cold, leaving a stunned Illumi behind.
Underground Dungeon.
The air was damp and smelled of mold.
Killua was chained to the wall by thick iron shackles, his arms hoisted high. His clothes were tattered, his body covered in whip marks.
Milluki walked in, holding a whip. He smiled cruelly. No brotherly love, just jealousy and rage.
"Think you can escape, Killua?"
Killua looked up. No fear. Only mockery. "I just want to live my own life."
Crack!
Milluki whipped him.
Killua didn't flinch. He just stared.
When he ran away from home, he had slashed Milluki's stomach. Milluki held a grudge.
"You traitor!" Milluki roared, whipping him again and again.
But Killua's endurance was forged in hell. He closed his eyes, thinking of freedom.
"Are you tired, Milluki?" Killua asked calmly. "I'm about to fall asleep."
"Damn it! DAMN IT!!"
Milluki lost it. He whipped harder.
"Tired yet? Bro, what time is it?" Killua yawned.
Milluki pressed a burning cigarette into Killua's chest. Sizzle.
"So hot. Brother, I've reflected. I was wrong."
Killua lied smoothly.
Slap!
The whip hit his face.
"Don't get cocky! Liar!!" Milluki screamed.
"Hehe. You caught me." Killua laughed.
Suddenly, Milluki's phone rang. It was their mother.
"Oh! Hahahaha! Killua, guess what? Good news! Your friends came to find you. But they were unlucky. They entered Mike's territory. By now, they're probably just bones."
"I wonder if you can identify them from their skeletons? Hahahaha!!"
Milluki laughed maniacally. He wanted to break Killua's spirit.
But the moment he said those words, Killua's face changed.
His eyes turned ice cold.
SNAP!
Killua shattered the iron shackles like they were made of glass.
"Milluki. If you touch them, I'll kill you."
Killua's voice was death itself.
Intra-family killing was generally allowed in the Zoldyck tradition if necessary.
Clink. Clank.
Killua ripped the chains apart. He had only stayed here out of respect for his father and grandfather. Milluki was nothing to him.
Just then, two figures walked in.
An old man with his hands behind his back. Zeno Zoldyck.
And Silva Zoldyck.
"Grandpa! Dad! Killua isn't reflecting at all! He's trying to run away with those outsiders!"
Milluki tattled immediately.
"Enough, Milluki. Leave us." Zeno said calmly.
"But... Grandpa..."
"Go." Silva repeated.
Milluki scurried away, glaring at Killua one last time.
Killua didn't look at them. He walked toward the exit.
"Where are you going, Killua?" Silva asked.
"I'm leaving. I'm going to save my friends. They can't die to Mike. If you try to stop me, I won't back down."
Killua assumed a combat stance.
He knew he couldn't win. Facing Silva and Zeno was suicide.
But he wouldn't let his friends die.
"Oh? You won't back down? You mean you'll fight both of us?" Silva asked coldly.
"Don't scare him, Silva."
Zeno chuckled.
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