"Ho ho ho~ of course…"
It's like paying homage to the dead.
"Ha… I like fans like you."
With a snap, Roy grabbed Hisoka's hand and pulled him in close. Turning to the camera, he added a playful, "Yeah~"
Hisoka was momentarily stunned. Before he could react, his body tilted, and he nearly stumbled.
Only then did he realize… this blind man was fast!
"Tsk~" Hisoka licked his lips with an unnerving expression of pleasure.
I thought he was a rotten apple, but this guy… he's full of surprises.
Without hesitation, Hisoka clamped down tightly on Roy's hand.
Put away your pitiful 150-point strength stat…
Roy's smile remained warm and relaxed — though in truth, his sharp eyes had already caught a glimpse of Hisoka's underpants.
[Status: Hisoka]
Age: 27
Physique: 110 (Average human: ~10)
Speed: 140
Strength: 150
Nen Capacity: 170
Strong… but limited.
Compared to Roy's overwhelming 199 points, Hisoka's stats were downright cute.
The invisible wrestling match continued as Hisoka mimicked Roy's "Yeah~" to the camera, grinning with crooked lips stretched nearly to his ears.
"Ah~ Subarashii~ What a delicious apple… but it's rotten. Rotten right at its ripest~"
Pain started creeping into his palm. Hisoka's eyes lit up with excitement.
He was shaking — trembling from pure thrill. He squeezed Roy's hand harder, veins bulging.
But no matter how much force he exerted, Roy's hand remained firm — like an immovable rock.
Then…
"Kacha~"
A faint crack.
The two let go.
Both smiled.
Both satisfied.
"One hundred million. I wish you luck in your next exam." Roy patted Hisoka's shoulder with genuine enthusiasm.
Hisoka beamed, eyes curling into crescent moons. He pulled out his phone and transferred the money right there, then waved goodbye like a cheerful fan.
"Jānā"
Just like that — like a real fan who had gotten his photo and now left in satisfaction.
Meanwhile, Gon, Kurapika, Leorio, and the crowd of Roy's true fans stood frozen in disbelief.
"What!? I thought he was going to attack Teacher Tiandao!"
"Turns out… he just wanted a group photo?!"
"Tsk~ Even a pervert like Hisoka got charmed by Master Tao… I could cry."
"Oh hoho~ A lot of clowns in this episode, huh?"
Back at the Hunter Association HQ…
In the president's office, the first meeting between Roy and Hisoka played on the TV.
Netero turned his head slowly to glance at —
A certain Zoldyck elder, lounging on his sofa, hogging his chips, monopolizing the remote, and ordering Netero's bean-faced assistant around.
The corners of the old man's eyes twitched.
"Sigh~ Young people these days. No shame at all, stealing an old man's potato chips…"
Maha lay there, lips puffed like a balloon from stuffing in the entire bag. He didn't even spare Netero a single chip. All that was left in the bag was powder.
He tossed it at Netero.
"Hey~ There's still some crumbs left. You can still taste it if you lick the bag~"
I'm not licking anything from you, old man!
Netero scowled, voice deadpan.
"Aren't you supposed to be half-blind?"
He remembered — when he called earlier, this geezer was full of bravado. Yet the moment the test ended, he rushed over himself?
"Hey~ You'll never understand the loneliness of an empty-nest grandpa~"
Maha flipped over lazily, motioning for the bean-faced man to massage his back. As he stared at Roy's face on the screen, he sighed like an old man missing his grandchild on their first day away from home.
#1 Empty-nest syndrome?
"Hey~" Netero chuckled, stroking his beard.
Empty-nest? More like your family's a graveyard. Isn't Zeno and Silva enough? They're your damn kids!
"Oh, oh, oh~ If you wanted a grandson so badly, you should've just said so~ I understand~"
Understand your ass.
Maha waved the bean-faced man to press harder, then glared at Netero.
"Look — my grandson got bullied the moment he arrived here."
"My poor heart aches~"
"Well then, here's the deal: give me ten billion, and I'll forget the fact that you let my grandson get bullied!"
Netero:
Bean-faced man:
…
Dog days… this geezer's crazy about money.
Trying to rip off the Hunter Association!?
Netero's voice dropped to a low grumble.
"Hmph… so your eyesight is that bad."
"Go ahead and dig those eyes out while you're at it."
He pointed at the screen.
"Your 'grandson' broke someone's wrist. Do I really need to say who bullied who?"
"Broken wrist? I didn't see that." Maha scoffed.
"They're the ones who provoked my grandson first. He's so sweet and honest — of course he accidentally used a little too much strength."
On TV, the footage shifted.
Hisoka was walking away from Roy, toward Illumi. But something was off.
His body… started trembling uncontrollably.
I'm going crazy… I'm going crazy… I really can't take this…
"Irumi~ Your brother is absolutely amazing… he tastes even better than you~"
Hisoka muttered with obsession in his voice.
Looking down at his right hand, he barely managed to keep walking.
Then —
He subtly flicked his left hand. A paper-thin layer peeled off his right palm… revealing the broken, limp hand beneath it.