Disheveled, panicked, limbs weak, vision blurred...
The loss of blood was gradually devouring Haseki Dorou's vitality. The boy ran for his life, his once fair face now stained with exhaustion and dirt.
Behind him, a madman pursued relentlessly, leaving a wound with each strike of a hand blade.
He didn't understand, nor had the time to think about why the other wouldn't let go of him. Filled with frustration, he dashed through streets and alleys, startling a chorus of screams...
Closer... he could faintly hear the rumbling of an engine...
Haseki Dorou wiped the blood from his face, broke through a checkpoint, struggled free from three or four big hands of airport security, and managed to lift his head. He could already see... the young master, accompanied by his loyal butler, stood at the gate with the staff blade in hand, waiting.
At that moment, Haseki Dorou felt like crying, unsure whether it was blood or tears in his eyes. He staggered a few steps forward, everything went black, and with a "thud," he fell to the ground.
"I... have arrived..." The strong will drove him to crawl to Roy's feet, then his head tilted, and he lost consciousness.
A sudden gust of wind blew through. Illumi leaped over the fence, pursuing with "Dark Step," activating "Snake Life" mid-air, only to be interrupted by a calm voice.
"Had enough?" Their gazes met... Haseki Dorou was dragged away by Wutong.
Roy calmly watched Illumi... Illumi stared unyieldingly at Roy, and they silently faced off for a moment.....
Eventually, Illumi put away his hand blade, slipped his hands into his pockets, brushed past Roy's shoulder, and walked into the terminal: "You better always protect him!"
Airport security, armed with riot forks and shields, chased after, while the boy blended into the crowd and disappeared in the blink of an eye...
Roy glanced at Haseki Dorou: "Take care of him."
He then turned and walked in.
At ten in the morning, the airship took off.
At four in the afternoon, the airship landed.
A black sedan stopped at the exit. Wutong helped Roy open the car door, watching as the young master got in, followed by a now-awake Haseki Dorou.
Thanks to the diligent care of the airship's medical staff, his wounds had stopped bleeding. Bandaged, he followed Wutong into the car, his life no longer in danger.
"Vroom..."
The driver stepped on the gas, and they sped away.
Haseki Dorou, propelled forward by inertia, looked past the front seat at Roy's back. He had already learned from Wutong that Roy was the eldest son of the "world's number one assassin family"...
The combination of "world's number one" and "assassin" always sounded imposingly impressive. It was the first time the boy heard this title in his young life. He turned his head to gaze out the window, his mind replaying the Flying Slash, silently watching as the scenery slipped by, feeling slightly bewildered about the colossal entity he would face next!
"Remember, the young master dislikes the back seat being stuffy; he only rides in the passenger seat when going out." Wutong, sitting next to Haseki Dorou, had already given him a "lesson" in advance. Haseki Dorou half-heartedly listened... soon,
as the car screeched to a halt, he followed Wutong out of the car, and looking up... a majestic gate came into view.
The gate had seven sections, exuding an air of antiquity tempered by the passage of time....
A security guard stood waiting at the gate from afar. Seeing Roy get out of the car, he took off his hat and bowed: "Young master, I'll open the door for you."
"Let me do it." As a first-time trainee butler, Haseki Dorou thought he should make a good impression on the master. He stepped forward ahead of Zebro, rolled up his sleeves, and stood before the "Gate of the Underworld."
Who is this... Zebro silently glanced at Roy.
With Wutong saying nothing, Roy didn't stop him. Seeing this, Zebro wisely closed his mouth, silently stepping aside.
It was 11:20 in the scorching midday sun, making people irritable... Haseki Dorou wanted to push open the gate with one hand, then turned to gesture for Roy to enter, welcoming the young master home.
However, the Gate of the Underworld didn't budge, immediately resulting in an awkward situation....
Embarrassed to turn back, the boy quickly used both hands to push... still, it didn't budge...
Summoning all his strength, his face flushed as he pushed a third time... it still didn't budge....
But instead, due to exerting too much force, his wound split open, blood gushed out, staining the bandages red,
He wobbled twice, then fell flat on his back.
'If you don't have the skills, don't take on the task.' Zebro quietly shook his head beside him.
Struggling to get up from the ground, Haseki Dorou suddenly heard footsteps. Subconsciously, he looked up... Roy stretched out a finger, and with a point at the Gate of the Underworld, a part of the majestic old gate silently opened, and he walked straight in without stopping.
"You'll stay here. When you can open the first gate, report to the butler's office." Wutong left a sentence and followed inside.
With a heavy "boom," the Gate of the Underworld closed,
leaving Haseki Dorou lying on the ground, staring in a daze.
"That's why I said he should be killed."
"The Zoldyck don't need useless people."
Inside the gate, Illumi leaned against the wall with hands in his pockets, seeming to wait for someone,
He turned his head to look at Roy, who kept walking without glancing at him, heading straight up the mountain.
Leaving just one sentence in his ear: "It's not your place to speak about my affairs. Next time, I'll slap your mouth."
Illumi suddenly clenched his fists,
staring intently at Roy's back, silently watching for a while before following up the mountain.
"Young master." At the castle's main door, Luke had received the news and bowed at the entrance.
He held an electric stick, which looked no different from an ordinary one, but the "Divine Characters" etched on it emitted circles of pulsating waves that couldn't be ignored.
[Divine Characters]: A text system in the Hunter World formed by combining "Nenryoku" and special techniques, primarily used in scenarios like "weapon modification" and "ability enhancement."
Mass usage example: The cards of Greed Island.
Thinking back, it was around this time that Ging had the idea of making this game.
It's uncertain whether he has started "gathering" partners, such as Razor.
Roy glanced at the "Divine Characters," ignored Luke, and looked towards the second floor of the castle... At the massive floor-to-ceiling window, a man stood with arms crossed, looking down stoically, his face betraying no hint of emotion.
He just watched silently...
Unable to get a response, Luke bowed even lower: "Please, young master, proceed to the training room."
Roy paid no heed, boldly meeting the gaze, the air seeming to crackle with tension between them...
"Silva, get on with it." At that moment, a woman slid her arms around the man's waist from behind.
His body stiffened momentarily; he lifted the woman into his arms and left the window, accompanying her screams.
"Give a good shock."
A voice drifted down from the second floor...
Luke cautiously looked at Roy.
The young master, expressionless, stepped past him,
"Do I have to call you again?"
"Oh... oh..." Quickly wiping the cold sweat from his forehead, he hurriedly grabbed the electric stick and followed.