"Since that's the case, there's no need to push him too hard anymore."
Maha had already accepted this.
Illumi's talent alone was enough to sustain the Zoldyck legacy.
There was no need to hold unrealistic expectations for every heir, but the younger generation, of course, each had their own opinions.
Especially their mother, Kikyo, who is extremely neurotic.
She is wholeheartedly obsessed with turning her children into killers.
Illumi, as the eldest, grew up shaped entirely under her twisted and distorted worldview.
Although Illumi appears normal on the surface, he is nearly nothing more than a killing machine now.
If not for the emotional bond he still has with his younger brothers, he might have already fallen completely into that abyss.
And speaking of younger brothers, he has never really cared much about Milluki.
Instead, he seems to pay far more attention to the newly born third child, Killua.
Yes, Illumi's behavior is mainly influenced by their mother, because Kikyo was extremely ecstatic when Killua was born.
Because… after passing the bald baby stage and growing hair, Killua's hair turned out to be the same silver color as Silva and Zeno.
It might just be a simple hereditary trait in the family.
But in Kikyo's eyes, this represented the purest lineage of the Zoldyck Family!
It also meant he might be the one to inherit the greatest talent and abilities from Zeno and Silva!
This made Kikyo place immense expectations on Killua's future.
And it also slightly eased her sorrow caused by Milluki.
Yes, seeing Milluki's poor performance, Kikyo, as his mother, of course, didn't just sit back and ignore it.
The result… even when the highly neurotic Kikyo personally trained Milluki, the outcome… It wasn't exactly bad, but it was disappointing, to say the least.
How disappointing?
So disappointing that it completely failed to reach Kikyo's standards.
Milluki is a very obedient and filial child.
Whatever Kikyo tells him to do, he does it.
But... He just can't do it well.
This not doing well means there's nothing impressive or noteworthy about his results.
For example, when he is told to kill someone and learn the family's assassination techniques, Silent Gaits and Rhythm Echo, Milluki does it.
But he does it completely routinely, with no finesse, no skill, nothing refined.
He kills people, yes.
But the way he kills them is ordinary, just like any common assassin.
If this were some ordinary assassin organization in the outside world, Milluki might even be considered elite-level.
But in the Zoldyck Family... He doesn't come close to meeting the standard.
Even for the inherited family assassination techniques, he trained hard, really hard.
But… according to the very tactful comments of the house servants who sparred with him: "Young master Milluki works very hard."
Yes, the only praise-worthy thing is... His effort.
As for actual results…
"We do not recommend that he rely on these assassination skills to achieve anything."
Kikyo refused to accept this and personally stepped in again.
The result was… she mentally collapsed.
Milluki is simply not suited for assassination.
He tries hard, but he cannot do it well.
This has nothing to do with personality or intelligence; he is just not meant to be a killer.
Instead, Milluki would excel as a normal, outstanding child.
If he had been born into any normal family.
In politics, he could have been a brilliant heir.
But unfortunately, he was born into a family of assassins.
And talents that are useless for assassination... are worthless here.
After breaking down, Kikyo finally gave up.
She had other sons anyway.
And now, her new baby, Killua, with that striking silver hair, was clearly the most gifted among them!
So all the disappointment, frustration, and emotional collapse she accumulated from Milluki was transferred into expectation for Killua.
Naturally, Milluki, who could not earn his mother's approval, felt deeply hurt.
He tried so hard to make her happy, yet he still failed.
He wanted to spend time with his father or grandfather, but those two…
Yes, they are not the type to spend time with children.
As for his big brother Illumi… whenever Milluki sees him, he can only avoid him.
Illumi is even more frightening and more distant than their father and grandfather.
"So... What should I do?"
This is what Milluki asked a person he could not see, inside the network world.
Milluki discovered the internet by accident.
Because the guards at the gate could no longer handle the endless stream of suicidal fools coming to challenge the family, they installed electronic surveillance.
Milluki noticed, grew curious, researched it, and discovered the world of the internet.
Once he stepped into it, he became completely absorbed.
Here, he could speak freely.
He could express any thought, any emotion, without anyone knowing who he was.
Everyone wore masks online; no one knew the other's identity.
This freedom became the only light in Milluki's increasingly suffocating life.
"Is there any way... I could attract my mother's attention again?"
Milluki typed rapidly.
His online username was Ikullim.
He thought he was being clever by reversing his own name.
"No one will figure out it's me!"
He was very pleased with himself.
Despite the world offering bounties for the identity of Zoldyck Family members, no one actually knows their real names.
And Milluki, being cautious, definitely didn't use his real name; he reversed it instead.
"I'm so smart!"
While he basked in his self-pride, the chat window shook.
A reply appeared.
[Great Inventor]: "Simple. Just figure out what your mother likes, and give her that."
This Great Inventor was an internet friend he had recently met.
They talked a few times, and Milluki found him knowledgeable and willing to chat.
So they became acquainted.
Milluki quickly responded: "But my mother wants me to become what she expects, but I can't..."
[Great Inventor]: "I asked what your mother likes, not what she expects. Learn the difference."
Milluki paused.
Likes and expectations... Aren't they the same?
He thought, and suddenly his silver-haired little brother Killua came to his mind.
[Ikullim]: "Lately, my mother really likes my younger brother..."
[Great Inventor]: "Then start with your brother. If she likes him, there's a reason. Understand that reason, and work from there."
Mother likes Killua because… he inherited their father and grandfather's talent… she has high hopes for him…
Milluki seemed to grasp something.
[Ikullim]: "I think I know what to do."
"But..."
He typed again, feeling a little sad: "If I do this, won't my mother just pay even more attention to him... and ignore me completely?"