If it meant securing freedom for Killua and Alluka, Moses wouldn't hesitate to clash head-on with the Zoldyck Family.
At this point, whether in terms of strength or status, he had the capability to stand against them openly.
But if possible-
Moses still hoped to resolve this matter in the easiest way possible.
Now that Maha was willing to give him a chance to fight for it, things would be much easier moving forward.
No need for reason, just fists.
"Let's have a match, Mr. Maha."
After receiving his approval, Moses stepped forward and made his proposal bluntly:
"If I win, you will grant Killua and Alluka their freedom. If I lose, I can represent the Hunter Association to agree to three requests you make within our capabilities."
The moment these words were spoken, silence fell over the area once again.
Not only the members of the Zoldyck Family, but even the butlers who were on standby were stunned by Moses's words.
Maha's expression did not change at all. He raised his finger to tap his forehead lightly, as if considering the feasibility of the proposal.
Three opportunities to leverage the Hunter Association's influence...
But compared to the power and resources possessed by the Hunter Association, Maha was more interested in Moses himself.
Ignoring the others' reactions, Moses calmly looked at Maha and added: "The rules are simple: I'll stand still and let you attack me three times. If I remain unharmed after those three attacks, I win the match."
This statement made everyone present feel it was utterly absurd.
Even Maha, who had always remained calm, couldn't help but show a flicker of surprise.
"Arrogant."
Kikyo's electronic eyes flared with a deep red light, showing her emotions at the moment.
Personally, she couldn't tolerate an outsider interfering in their family's matters, especially since this matter was related to Killua.
So, she despised Moses.
Now, seeing Moses being so arrogant, her fury burned even hotter, but she also hoped that Maha would accept the challenge and take this opportunity to teach this overconfident young Chairman a harsh lesson.
Silva and Zeno were well aware of Moses's strength, but they still felt proposing such terms for the match was nothing short of audacious.
Moses paid no attention to Kikyo's murderous gaze or the shocked reactions of the younger members of Zoldyck Family like Illumi. Instead, he quietly stared at Maha, waiting for an answer.
No matter what, he was determined to secure freedom for Killua and Alluka this time.
This was likely the last thing he wanted to accomplish.
Maha carefully considered the proposal for about a minute.
Finally-
after scrutinizing Moses's expression, he slowly replied: "Very well."
He decided to give Moses the chance.
Given the terms of the match, Moses was undoubtedly being arrogant.
Under normal circumstances, Maha wouldn't have agreed to such terms.
Because as an old monster, he had no interest in taking advantage of a younger generation.
But he saw absolute confidence in Moses's demeanor.
That is the confidence that said, 'I will never lose'.
So Maha agreed, wanting to see what could possibly justify such unwavering self-assurance.
…
A few minutes later.
On the open ground in front of the Zoldyck Family's estate.
Moses and Maha stood facing each other, while Zeno and the others watched from the sidelines. Further away was the nest of Zoldyck Family's dragon.
However, ever since Moses set foot on Kukuroo Mountain, this creature hadn't even dared to poke its head out.
On the field-
Moses's body was enveloped in dense, steady Aura, and his expression was composed.
He didn't underestimate Maha's strength, but he had even greater confidence in the [Isolation] of the Gatekeeper.
Even the Gatekeeper's level of Manifested Aura could not break through the [Isolation], how could this old monster from Zoldyck Family before him?
'If even this world's greatest assassin can't find a weakness to exploit, then I truly am the strongest human in existence.'
Moses calmly looked at Maha, who was already gathering his strength, and thought silently in his heart.
The purpose of proposing this competition is not only to help Killua and Alluka gain their freedom, but also to further verify the title as 'the strongest human'.
'It seemed-'
'On the summit, I alone could gaze down upon all others.'
Just as Moses was thinking about it, Maha had finished preparing his attack.
As the strongest member of the Zoldyck Family, he had once fought the prime Netero to a standstill.
Although he is very old now, his mastery of Nen had only grown more refined, like aged wine.
He didn't possess any particularly unique Nen Abilities, all he has is the eyes to spot an enemy's weakness and assassination techniques that could condense Aura to its limits.
What he needed to do now was focus his maximally compressed Aura into Moses's most vulnerable point.
A large amount of Aura, as silent as stagnant pool, began to gather in Maha's hands.
He didn't rush to strike, but instead carefully and meticulously took advantage of the 'match rules' to their fullest.
This wasn't overreaching-
Any skilled Nen User would exploit every possible condition to their benefit.
It was the most basic combat principle.
While gathering his strength, Maha slowly closed the distance between himself and Moses, who remained motionless.
This deliberate, step-by-step approach was meant to suffocate an opponent with mounting pressure.
However, such tricks had no effect on Moses.
Maha recognized this and abruptly made his move.
Whoosh-
From slow to fast, Maha's figure vanished in an instant.
The next moment-
Maha reappeared behind Moses, and his right hand, which was filled with powerful Aura, suddenly stabbed towards Moses's butt.
Choosing the buttocks as the target wasn't due to any peculiar preference.
It's simply because Maha is limited by his height and that spot was the easiest to strike.
Facing Maha's sudden and fatal moves, Moses followed the rules of the match and his whole body remained as still as a statue.
'Impressive…'
In that split second, Maha marveled inwardly at Moses's composure.
Strength aside, any human would instinctively react in such a moment, be it a slight tremble, tensed muscles, or some other reflexive response.
But Moses stood as steady as a boulder. In terms of mental fortitude alone, he was already extraordinary.
Even as Maha admired this, his razor-sharp palm strike landed squarely on Moses's butt.
For a brief instant, Maha thought he had succeeded.
However, the sensation that traveled from his fingertips sent a shock through his heart.
Instead of the soft resistance of flesh being torn, what he felt was a searing, tearing pain.
"Hm?"
Maha's eyes widened and he was shocked to find that his palm, which should have pierced into Moses's flesh and blood, had instead been mangled as if fed through a meat grinder, reduced to a bloody, unrecognizable mess in an instant.
The intense pain Maha hadn't experienced in decades surged through every nerve in his body.
But Maha showed no outward reaction to the agony. He stood frozen in place, staring at Moses's butt with wide eyes.
He knew that 'this result' did not come from the difference in Manifested Aura.
He could clearly sense that his attack hadn't actually landed on Moses, but instead struck an invisible barrier.
Maha suddenly stopped moving, and Moses still didn't move, without even turning around.
Outside the venue.
When Zeno and the others saw this scene, they were all shocked.
'How is this possible?!'
In their understanding, Maha's assassination techniques, which is honed over countless years, should have guaranteed victory under such favorable conditions.
So they never could have imagined that the result would be like this.
Both inside and outside the venue, silence reigned for a brief moment.
A few seconds later-
Moses was the first to speak, breaking the heavy stillness.
"Two more moves left."
"…"
After hearing this, Maha remained silent for a long while.
"No need. You win."
Maha retracted his mangled right hand extremely slowly and spoke each word with deliberate slowness.
In some matches, the results can be determined from the first exchange.
"Thank you."
Moses still did not turn around, but walked straight towards the open doors of the estate under the stunned and disbelieving gazes of Zeno and the others.
He won this match.
So, according to the prior agreement, he will take Killua and Alluka to embrace the rare and precious freedom they deserved.
Among the crowd-
Illumi silently stared at Moses's back as he walked towards the doors of the estate, with complex and unspeakable emotions floating in his dark eyes.
Recalling their first meeting-
It was on the city streets at night.
Even now, Illumi still remembers that he gave Moses an 'Average' evaluation back then.
At that time, how could he have imagined that he would be defeated by this man, who was rated as 'Average' not long after, nor would he have thought that he would become a mortal enemy with this man because of Killua?
Once, he had an extremely strong desire to kill Moses, this annoying guy-
But now, all that remained was a deep feeling of powerlessness.
'It turns out-'
'This was what a true monster looked like.'
Illumi remained silent.