"How many days has he been gone now?
Man… getting old really messes with your memory…"
A few crows cawed outside the window, and the moon hung silently in the sky. Yet Maha couldn't sleep.
Sitting up, he glanced at the latest issue of Pirate King published by Jump Agency. The words "on hiatus this week" were printed in bold across the cover. His mood soured.
"If you're not going to draw properly, why don't you just go take the damn Hunter Exam? Useless brat doesn't even do his job…"
"Ahem~ I can't pretend I didn't hear that~"
The door creaked open. Zeno walked in, holding a phone in hand.
The voice came from the phone.
"Ahem… Grandpa, it's Netero." Zeno offered the phone carefully.
"Don't answer it."
Maha glared at Zeno and scolded him right in front of Netero.
"Has the Zoldyck family fallen so far that we answer just anyone's calls now?"
Zeno's eye twitched violently. He'd been getting scolded by the old man a lot lately. It was as if Maha had rubbed some kind of energy ointment on himself — never running out of strength to yell.
At first, Zeno thought it was his fault — maybe he'd done something to offend the old man.
But gradually, he realized:
It had nothing to do with him.
It was just because that brat Roy wasn't here, and the old man was depressed.
So now Netero calls, and he suddenly cares?
Seriously? Is Roy his actual grandson now?
What kind of double standard is this?!
"Oh ho ho ho ho~ It's been decades, and the old man's still got that temper,"
Netero chuckled through the speaker, completely unfazed.
"Not many old-timers like us left, you know. If you've got the time, why not meet up sometime?"
Meet up? What, to play some ridiculous ball game?
Maha responded impatiently, "If you've got something to say, say it. No need for the emotional crap.
We Zoldycks are assassins — no time for sentiment."
"That's scary~"
Netero scratched his head.
"Actually, it's nothing serious. My hands are just a little tied up right now…"
"I heard three boys from your family showed up for this year's Hunter Exam. They gave my subordinates quite the surprise."
"I figured… I'd ask the old man himself, hehe."
Maha yawned. "The kids have grown up. They go wherever they want. I'm just an old man — can't control them anymore. You, on the other hand, might want to let go of some power. Being chairman for decades? Careful, or you'll drop dead before me."
Like it wasn't obvious.
He's a fossil who probably ate longevity rice or something.
Netero ignored the jab and got to the point.
"I'll say it straight. The Hunter Exam won't show favoritism to anyone."
"If your grandson isn't qualified, he'll be eliminated. I hope… the old man won't have any objections then."
In the Zoldyck family, the one whose word actually matters is Maha.
Netero didn't fear him, but he didn't want unnecessary conflict either — not over a few juniors. Better to give a heads-up…
But Maha… burst out laughing.
He suddenly thought of his lazy, good-for-nothing grandson and said with a sneer:
"Passing the Hunter Exam? You just need hands."
"Boy, our Zoldycks haven't fallen so low we can't even pass a test."
In the original timeline, Killua would've passed the exam easily if Illumi hadn't interfered.
The following year, he did get his license — with ease.
Now, add Roy and Illumi — both far more terrifying than Killua…
"Oh?" Netero raised an eyebrow.
The old man's really confident. But the Hunter Exam isn't child's play.
He gave a sly smile.
"I heard your second son isn't doing so well~"
"Blind at birth, mediocre talent, and even you don't seem to like him much."
"You think he can pass the exam?"
Roy? Good grief.
Netero must be talking about Roy.
Maha and Zeno exchanged glances, completely speechless.
If a monster like Roy can't pass the exam…
Then… what kind of monster could?
"Why aren't they talking?"
Back at the Chairman's office, Netero glanced at his phone, puzzled.
"Is the call dead?"
"No, it's still on," said Beans, checking the device. He tried saying "Hello" a few times. Finally, Maha's dry cough came through.
"Ahem…" Maha cleared his throat and said coolly:
"Boy, I don't have much to say to you."
"But mark my words — if Roy fails this year's Hunter Exam…"
"Then your Hunter Association can forget about passing anyone this year."
Huh?
Netero froze.
What the hell did that mean?
He turned to Beans.
Beans stood up straight and quickly explained:
"The blind second son of their family is Roy."
Wait a minute…
So this Roy… is actually Zoldyck's trump card?
Maha didn't say anything else. But just before hanging up, he left Netero with a cryptic parting line:
"The world's a big place, full of rough waves. If you've got nothing better to do… go take a look around."
Click!
The call ended.
In the Chairman's office, Netero stared at the phone for a long time. Eventually, he smiled.
"Interesting… Roy, huh?"
"This year's exam might just get entertaining."
Jin's son, Zoldyck's third son, a Kurta orphan, and several wildcard candidates…
"Hey~ maybe these old bones should stretch a little…"
With a grin, Netero tossed the phone to Beans and walked out of the office.
Meanwhile, back at the Zoldyck Estate…
After hanging up on Netero, Zeno remained standing.
He had something else on his mind — a concern that had been bothering him for days.
"Grandpa, I'm worried about Illumi."
"He and Roy have never gotten along. Now that they've run into each other again, I fear something might happen."
"You're worried Roy will kill him?"
Maha reclined back in his rocking chair and said indifferently,
"Do you know why that kid doesn't like you?"
"…Because I nitpick too much?" Zeno guessed.
Maha rolled his eyes. "That, and because you're too soft."
"If Illumi really dies, then it's because he wasn't raised properly."
Zeno: "…"
Cautiously, he asked, "What about Roy?"
"Who dares to lay a hand on Maha's grandson?"
Maha narrowed his eyes. A wave of killing intent filled the room, and the temperature noticeably dropped.
Zeno: "…"
Suddenly, everything made sense.
In the end… connections matter.
"Ilmi… Grandpa wishes you happiness,"
Maha muttered softly, eyes half-closed in the dark.
"Let's hope we see each other again this year."