Killua's instincts flared the moment Roy's expression changed.
The smile on his blind older brother's face wasn't warmth—it was a sign of impending danger.
He knew Roy far too well by now. This wasn't the smile of a kind sibling. No, this was the smile of a Zoldyck.
Then Roy's words landed like a precision strike.
"Just because it's in your crotch?"
"…HUH?!"
Killua's face flushed red in an instant. "Y-You… WHAT DID YOU DO WHILE I WAS ASLEEP?!"
He yanked open his pants in panic.
Roy calmly pulled out his phone and flashed an image on the screen—Killua curled up like a kitten in his sleep, drooling, limbs sprawled awkwardly, a pose no proud assassin would want made public.
"My adorable little brother," Roy said sweetly, "how much do you think this photo would go for at a black-market auction? I hear collectors pay a fortune for Zoldyck memorabilia~"
"ROY, YOU BASTARD!!"
Killua lunged at the phone like a feral cat. "DELETE IT RIGHT NOW!"
Roy, unfazed, flicked his finger. A thud echoed as his knuckle landed on Killua's forehead, infused with just a touch of his Nen-enhanced "brotherly love."
"GAAAHHH—!"
Killua collapsed like a puppet with cut strings, clutching his forehead. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT?! You hit harder than Grandpa Zeno!!"
He writhed on the floor, tears threatening to spill. "That wasn't normal strength! What did you use?! Nen? Hatsu? Some weird Fujitora-style gravity aura?!"
Roy tilted his head, expression unreadable behind those unseeing eyes. The quiet clink of his blade being sheathed made Killua tense.
"I call that one 'The Second Brother's Loving Correction'. Very effective."
"SCREW YOUR CORRECTION!"
Killua growled, crawling back to the table. He grabbed the phone and instantly deleted the photo with lightning speed.
Panting, rubbing the welt on his forehead, he grumbled, "Tch… I should've stayed with Gon. At least he doesn't weaponize affection."
Just as he was about to stomp off, his eyes drifted back to the table… to the still-steaming food.
"…Hmph." Killua sat down again and seized his chopsticks. "Fine. If I can't beat you, I'll eat you out of house and home!"
Then he devoured three bowls of rice in a row like a demon released from Greed Island.
Roy sighed. "Only a Zoldyck could be this shameless while freeloading."
"Hey!" Killua said between mouthfuls. "Blame Dad. He raised me with expensive taste."
Roy rolled his eyes behind his blindfold. "And I'm the one who chose to be financially independent. What a terrible decision."
Killua paused, stuffing his cheeks. "Why don't you just come back to Kukuroo Mountain? I'll put in a word with Dad. You'll be drowning in luxuries again."
Roy waved him off. "No thanks. I'd rather eat gravel than go back to being someone's family trophy."
(Except soft rice… I'll make exceptions for soft rice.)
He kept that thought to himself.
"Hmph, stubborn deadbeat," Killua mumbled. "Bet you're broke as hell."
Roy gave a small chuckle. "I do alright."
That's when his phone buzzed.
[Ding~]
[Notice: Your account ending in 7086 has received a transfer of 75,000,000 Jenny.]
[Current balance: 2,098,134,760 Jenny and 56 cents.]
Killua stared at the screen like he'd seen a ghost.
"…TWO BILLION?!"
He nearly dropped his chopsticks.
How many assassinations… how many S-Rank missions… how many Greed Island carts did it take to earn that kind of money?! He had to kill people for years to make that much!
"Wait—YOU'RE STILL CRYING POOR?! I CAN'T EVEN GET POCKET MONEY FROM YOU!"
Roy coughed awkwardly and slid the phone back into his coat.
"Ahem. It's fake… all fake. Definitely a scam. Killua, you should really be more careful. The internet's full of lies these days."
Killua's jaw dropped.
"You liar! You absolute conman!"
Roy leaned back, arms behind his head, grinning.
"You're still buying me lunch though, right?"