Chapter 99: Three Months
Killua was left with the rest of the task.
The Zoldycks must have noticed the hidden rules, but even if Haze hadn't mentioned them, it wouldn't have mattered.
Everyone including Illumi realized that the hidden rules weren't important. What truly mattered was Killua himself. Only Killua could take advantage of them, and that made him crucial.
Moreover, Killua already knew the hidden rules.
Even if someone else figured them out, it would be useless...
Therefore, Zeno and Silva had no intention of pressing further. After paying the remaining balance for the job, Haze left with Gotoh.
The only one who came to see him off was Illumi.
"Don't bother me... Your father and grandfather understand that even knowing the truth wouldn't help not you, not me. The key is Killua. If nothing unexpected happens, your father will talk to him."
As they walked, Haze glanced at Illumi, who trailed a few steps behind.
"The Zoldyck family will do everything possible to control Alluka," he said calmly. "So Silva will reach out to Killua."
"Killua's still young," Illumi replied, his tone low. "He doesn't understand his family's good intentions toward him he still holds certain repressed feelings. So... any talk his father has with him is doomed to fail."
Illumi raised a finger and looked directly at Haze. "You already guessed that, didn't you? That's why you're so confident now."
"Exactly."
Haze flashed a grin.
After this incident, Killua would understand the truth that under a certain level of danger, Alluka was considered disposable. An object, not family.
Silva would tell Killua the truth, and that truth would shake him deeply… because Alluka was his sister.
Thus, a scene that was supposed to happen years later would unfold ahead of time Killua would choose to protect Alluka and keep the truth from his family.
Even if it meant breaking away from them, enduring inhuman torment, or even death…
Killua would say nothing.
That was Killua.
In the end, both Silva and Zeno would likely settle for a compromise.
They couldn't kill Killua… and since Alluka's confinement, there hadn't been any serious incidents. Maintaining the current situation was enough.
But Illumi the older brother would certainly take an unconventional route. He would inevitably try to make Killua reveal the truth.
And even that wouldn't be enough. Illumi also wanted to completely control Killua. Whether he succeeded or not would depend on Killua himself.
Pushing too far wouldn't work either.
At first glance, Illumi's obsession with controlling Killua seemed pathological. But in reality, his priority had always been his family and the Zoldyck clan only after that came his own interests.
"What are you going to do now? Recover?"
After a while, the three reached the outskirts of the Zoldyck estate, near the Gate of Trials. Mondel was waiting beside the black sedan, visibly anxious.
Illumi stopped asking about Killua.
Mondel's face lit up when he saw Haze emerge.
"I suppose so…" Haze said. The sun was setting, casting a long shadow behind him.
He walked toward Mondel, who opened the car door for him.
"I'll have to think twice before making another deal with you," Illumi said bluntly, glancing sideways at him.
"Don't be so petty… I promise it won't happen again," Haze replied with a yawn, not even turning around.
"I don't believe you," Illumi said.
"Goodbye."
Haze waved lazily and got into the car.
Moments later, the vehicle disappeared down the winding mountain road, leaving Gotoh and Illumi watching silently.
"Do you think… he's a bad person?" Illumi suddenly asked, turning toward Gotoh.
"..."
Gotoh adjusted his glasses, silent for a long moment. "I'm sorry, young master… I don't know him that well."
"You've met him before, haven't you?" Illumi asked again.
Gotoh looked at him and shook his head. "No."
Inside the car, Haze watched the passing scenery through the window, feeling rather content.
His condition had improved to about 70 or 80 percent, though that didn't mean his strength had fully returned. He raised his hand, watching the Nen energy flow between his fingers, and smiled faintly.
His telekinesis had condensed becoming more refined, more deeply integrated into his being.
His heart and mind were now one.
The quality of his Nen had evolved.
Because of that, his current strength… was even greater than before his "death."
Still, the loss he'd suffered had taken its toll his efficiency in battle had dropped noticeably.
Then suddenly, a chill crept up his spine. It felt as if his very thoughts had frozen over. Outside the window, the road ahead had vanished, swallowed by an endless darkness.
It seemed ready to consume him whole.
But the illusion vanished as quickly as it appeared.
Mondel glanced at him in the rearview mirror, his face pale. "Sir…"
He thought he had done something wrong.
That Haze was going to kill him.
"Don't worry," Haze said with a grin. "I'm just testing something."
That simple smile brought Mondel back to his senses.
Haze reactivated the system the previously dark interface flickered back to life.
"First, let's find the old man…"
He smiled again.
Netero still owed him a favor regarding Aldama.
A few days later.
Haze, dressed in a sleek black suit and looking in good spirits, arrived at the entrance of the Hunter Association headquarters.
Passing Hunters recognized him immediately, whispering among themselves.
Haze had become famous within the Association. Everyone knew his name and stories about him had spread far and wide.
Some were curious, since rumors claimed that he had been crippled after a mission for the Association… but clearly, that was no longer the case.
"Congratulations…"
Just as he was about to enter the building, a familiar face appeared almost as if it had been waiting for him.
Pariston.
Smiling as always, Pariston's expression radiated charm. "I never thought you'd recover. When I first saw you injured, I thought "
Haze didn't even want to hear the rest.
Maybe the severity of his injuries had made Pariston lose interest. Otherwise, he might've done something far worse.
Either way, Haze was sure he'd been under observation.
He ignored him once again.
Pariston's grin didn't fade he simply watched as Haze walked into the building.
Ten minutes later, Haze stood before the door to President Netero's office and knocked.
Biscuit wasn't around the Association at the moment.
"Come in," said the old man's voice from inside.
Haze pushed open the door and stepped in.
The first thing he saw was Netero standing on a yoga mat, performing a complicated stretching pose one of those "health exercises" that seemed both ancient and eccentric.
A beautiful yoga instructor was demonstrating on the TV.
Without hesitation, Haze grabbed the remote and turned the screen off.
"Hahaha! My friend, you're quite serious about this," Netero laughed. "You've recovered just as you wanted. Shouldn't you be happier?"
"At first," Haze replied, "you promised to make me stronger and in return, you said you'd grant me one small request. Remember?"
Netero nodded with a smile. "Using external energy to nourish the body and spirit. Since you understand that, there's no need for me to teach you."
"I want you to be my sparring partner," said Haze bluntly.
"Well, well. You can't talk about strength without testing strength," Netero said, amused. "For someone like you, power means everything… Ah, youth so full of fire."
He finished his final stretch, exhaled a long breath, and stood upright.
Wiping imaginary sweat from his brow, the old man asked calmly, "How long?"
"Half a year."
"Three months," Netero interrupted without hesitation.
"Deal."
Haze didn't hesitate either.
He could tell Netero had anticipated this visit had even foreseen his intentions.
"It's rare to see you so eager," Netero said with a grin. "Before, you tried to avoid me. You'd better be ready, though it's been a while since I trained anyone new. I might not hold back."
He chuckled, almost gleefully.
Haze met his mischievous eyes and smiled back, resolved.
"Fine by me."
(End of Chapter)