It wasn't surprising at all.
Demons who have lost their sanity are ultimately just monsters. The fact that Ginta was now able to find his "self" and restore his reason was entirely due to Roy's Nen-exorcism. To say he saved Ginta was no exaggeration.
In fact, if Ging, Razor, or even Ginta's close friend Zale put themselves in Ginta's shoes, they would have acted even more impulsively than the simple-minded Ginta.
Roy accepted Ginta's bow naturally. Just as he had in the dream, he reached out to help the man up and said, "Tell your companion to put away his Nen ability."
Ginta straightened his back and looked past Roy at Ging, then at Razor. Ultimately, he chose to trust Roy's judgment. "Zale!" he boomed.
The [Black Curtain] flickered, and a dark shadow could be seen within, followed closely by a relentless Nen thread that refused to let go. Zale's long nose was huffing and puffing, and his tongue hung out like a dying dog's. He was exhausted and on the verge of collapsing. Hearing the call was like hearing divine music. He roared, "Stop chasing! I surrender!"
He tumbled out of the black curtain and rolled onto the ground, sprawling there paralyzed. Whiz! The final Nen bullet left a crater in the ground less than a meter from his feet.
Gotoh spun his pistol and released the trigger. As the [Black Curtain] faded and disappeared, the connection to the outside world was restored. The young butler merely exhaled softly and, without a word, took his place standing behind Roy.
Despite outputting Nen for nearly five minutes straight, Gotoh was not flushed or out of breath. He looked as if nothing had happened, showing no signs of Nen depletion. As soon as he stood behind Roy, Razor gave him a sidelong glance, sizing him up with narrowed eyes.
'Such sustained output capability... He acts as if Nen consumption is nothing. Does he have some other means of replenishment?'
While an amateur enjoys the spectacle, an expert looks at the technique. Razor had focused on Roy for so long that he hadn't noticed the butler by the boy's side. Now, looking closely, Razor realized the difference between Gotoh and other Emitters. He didn't seem concerned with "maintaining his capacity," nor did he deliberately "calculate his reserves." It was as if he could use it freely because it would be replenished immediately. He acted without fear.
Razor narrowed his eyes and walked over, stepping slowly through the group of prison guards who were lying scattered and fast asleep.
At that moment, Gotoh shot him a sharp look and pushed up his gold-rimmed glasses. He whispered into Roy's ear, "Young Master."
Roy turned around. A large hand was extended toward him. He took a step forward, grasped Razor's right hand, and shook it firmly.
"Razor."
"Roy Zoldyck."
The boy was a head shorter than Razor's towering frame, but his calm and composed demeanor was not inferior to this top-tier Emitter who could maintain the Nen supply of the entire Greed Island alone. Standing behind him, Gotoh's gaze blurred for a moment; he saw a shadow of Silva. The master used to have this same presence—without saying a word, just by standing there, neither employer nor target dared to ignore him.
'Zoldyck?' Razor turned and glared at Ging again. This was more information he hadn't been told.
Ging scratched his head. How did he forget to mention that?
Just as Ging opened his mouth to explain, Razor turned his head away, giving him the cold shoulder. Instead, he smiled warmly and kept a firm grip on Roy's hand. "The world's number one assassin family lives up to its reputation. Thank you for the rescue, Roy Zoldyck."
"I was just doing a job for the money," Roy said.
"I don't care about that," Razor replied. He looked seriously at the boy, seeing his own reflection in Roy's pitch-black pupils. He said solemnly, "From today on, I, Razor, consider you a friend."
[NOTICE: ONE "POTENTIAL BELIEVER" DETECTED...]
[POTENTIAL BELIEVER RAZOR IS GRATEFUL FOR YOUR RESCUE AND VALUES YOUR POTENTIAL...]
[LOYALTY: CLOSE FRIEND. ABSOLUTE LOYALTY NOT YET REACHED, BUT TRUSTWORTHY...]
[URGENT NEED FOR DEVELOPMENT...]
The panel notification rang out.
Roy looked directly into Razor's eyes and nodded slightly. He then felt a gaze of confusion, disappointment, and a hint of sadness from behind. Looking back, he saw Ginta helping Zale up. Separated from Roy by Gotoh, Ginta's simple gaze was uncharacteristically complex. His thick lips moved for a moment before he finally said, "He is a criminal. He is a bad person."
He was reminding Roy to draw a line between himself and Razor. Ginta's worldview was pure—either "good" or "bad." Perhaps this simplicity was what allowed him to grow to his current strength, but it was also why he was easily possessed by his own Nen ability, becoming a vessel for a demon. In the world of adults, things are complex, but he remained a child who would never grow up.
Razor felt his hand go empty. Roy sighed softly, stood on his tiptoes, and gently patted Ginta's forehead. He said warmly, "If I told you he isn't a criminal, would you... be willing to believe me?"
Ginta nodded vigorously. "I believe you."
"Good." Roy smiled and glanced at Ging. "Bring it out. I don't believe you didn't prepare it."
The Hunter Association handles contracts for governments or corporations; it is essentially the "white glove" used by the V5 and other major nations to control Nen users. As a Pro Hunter, even if he hadn't achieved Double-Star status yet, Ging was still bound by the "Hunter's Ten Commandments." Unless he wanted to make an enemy of the entire Hunter world, he wouldn't commit a crime like a jailbreak to openly defy the Association or embarrass the V5 and the world government.
Thus, when Roy received the news from Elena about the jailbreak, he was certain Ging had made full preparations.
Sure enough, upon being called out by Roy, Ging reached into his robe and pulled out a crumpled piece of paper. He smoothed it out and tossed it to Ginta. "This is the 'Release Order' issued by the government. Take a look."
"Zale." Ginta handed it to Zale. Zale, who was much smaller than Ginta and looked like a skinny monkey, opened it and looked. It was indeed a release order declaring Razor's "exoneration and release." He nodded.
Ginta scratched his head, clearly relieved. He said bluntly, "If he's not a criminal, why were we protecting him?"
Zale was speechless and felt like coughing blood even more than Ginta. He was the one who had actually maintained the [Black Curtain] while being chased the whole way by Gotoh!
[NOTICE: POTENTIAL BELIEVER GINTA, LOYALTY +10...]
"Because people... like to be difficult," Roy said, receiving the panel prompt. He didn't look at Ging or Razor, but simply rubbed Ginta's explosive hair with a smile.
Ging and Razor's mouths twitched simultaneously. They wanted to argue, but for a moment, they couldn't find a reason to!
Exactly as Roy said, even if Ging had shown the "Release Order" immediately, with Razor's personality, he wouldn't have left without a fight. It was a way for powerful people to send a signal—to prove they are on the same level, in the same circle, and can play together. It was a necessary "difficulty."
"That really is difficult," Ginta echoed, having a "realization."
Ging and Razor remained silent, looking at each other.
Elena, who had seen all of this through her "Overview," burst into laughter. She retracted her [En] and caught up. Her eyes held a trace of mockery, making Ging and Razor feel uneasy, causing them to quietly distance themselves from each other.
"Ahem..." Ging coughed a few times to remind the boy. "Roy, this isn't the place to talk. Let's head out first?"
Roy didn't answer him. He spoke warmly to Ginta: "After you go back, if you feel uncomfortable again, feel free to find me."
The "negative emotions" hidden inside a living being cannot be truly eradicated. Just like Ginta's perception of "good" and "bad," "light" and "dark" exist as opposing and objective truths. No one can escape them. Roy knew that Ginta, who was determined to protect his region and become a Hunter to stop poachers, would eventually be burdened by the negative emotions of the animals and magical beasts he protected. Roy had already anchored his existence through the Potential Believer panel.
"How do I find you... Are you unwilling to stay with me?" Ginta's clear, foolish eyes were filled with deep reluctance and conflict. Roy winked at him and kept it a mystery. "Just call my name in your heart. When the time comes, I will naturally appear."
'However, that will be in a dream,' Roy added in his mind.
He turned back, nodded to Ging, and left the area with Gotoh, Razor, and Elena.
"Hey! Roy! You have to keep your word!"
Step... step... As the footsteps grew distant, Ginta suddenly shouted.
Walking with Ging and Razor on either side, followed a step behind by Gotoh and Elena, the boy smiled. He raised his right hand and waved two fingers behind his back. Under the sunlight reflecting off a distant cloud in a rainbow arc, they gradually vanished from Ginta's sight.
"Phew..."
'An Exorcist... hmph, an Exorcist from the world's number one assassin family.' After Roy and the others left, Zale patted Ginta's broad arm. "Stop looking, Ginta. He said you'd meet, so you definitely will."
The man said deeply, "No one with the name Zoldyck is inconspicuous. You won't even need to look for him. One day, news of him will likely spread all over the world!"
"Yeah!" Ginta nodded with conviction.
He took one last look. Roy and the others were already far away.
Four people had arrived, and five left. That evening, as the sun set, they drove to Tibilisi and found a random hotel to stay in.
8:00 PM.
Gotoh served Roy his dinner, then was firmly ordered by Roy to eat with him. After the meal, Gotoh summarized the day's gains and losses. From time to time, he stole a glance at Roy, looking as if he wanted to say something.
"If you have something to say, say it. Do I have to teach you that too?" Roy finished his dinner and slowly wiped his mouth with a napkin before glancing at Gotoh.
The young butler pushed up his glasses. After a moment of hesitation, his gaze hardened, and he made up his mind. "Young Master, I have a request. Please grant it."
With that, Gotoh placed his right hand over his chest and knelt on one knee. He said deeply, "I want to fight that man!"
"Which one?"
"The one we went to rescue."
"Razor?"
"Yes!"
"The reason?"
"He is also an Emitter, and... I can feel that he is stronger than me!"
"So?"
"I want to test my limits!" Gotoh looked up at Roy with burning eyes. "I want to become stronger. I want to clearly see the gap so I can truly help the Young Master!"
Silence fell, as quiet as the neon night outside the window.
Roy said nothing. He crumpled the napkin into a ball and flicked it. The paper ball followed a perfect arc and landed in the wastebasket. Gotoh swallowed hard before he heard the boy speak softly. "I have no reason to refuse."
Roy stood up, took Gotoh's arm, and helped him up. He said warmly, "If you want to fight, then fight. Since you've made up your mind..." Roy's gaze sharpened. "Then hit him as hard as you can!"
"Yes!" Gotoh straightened up and pulled out the [Infinite] pistol, offering it to Roy. Roy took it, knowing Gotoh's mind was made up to test his limits without relying on external items. Gotoh then turned and left.
Roy sat back on the edge of the dining table, quietly watching him close the door. He clicked the gun's slide and, by the neon light from the window, began to idly play with the weapon as he waited.
About an hour later, the door opened.
Gotoh had returned. He was being carried back by Razor.
"It's a pity he didn't bring that pistol." The man laid the unconscious butler on a nearby sofa. He sat on the table next to Roy, casually tousling his spiky hair. "With the pistol, he could have lasted ten minutes longer."
Roy shook his head. "He wouldn't have brought it."
"I know he wouldn't." Razor opened his vest and sighed. "To be honest, he's quite troublesome." Razor lifted his shirt to reveal several dark bruises on his chest and ribs, speaking with no small amount of praise. "Look at this. These are his handiwork."
Razor shifted his tone and glanced at Roy. "As the price for helping you train your subordinate, shouldn't you pay me a reward?"
"You said we were friends. Who asks a friend for a reward?"
"Even brothers keep clear accounts!"
"Fine. Tell me, what do you want?"
"The secret to that guy's endurance." Razor pointed at Gotoh, his eyes burning as he looked at Roy. "I want to know how he recovers his Nen so quickly."
During the jailbreak fight, Razor had noticed something strange about Gotoh. After fighting him personally just now, he was certain the man possessed a method for rapid "Qi recovery." If it weren't for the fact that Gotoh's understanding and cultivation of Nen were not yet sufficient, it's not certain who would have won that fight. At the very least, in terms of stamina and recovery speed, Razor admitted he was inferior to Gotoh.
"It's a Breathing Style." Roy pulled out a booklet he had compiled for Water Breathing and tossed it to Razor. Razor looked stunned at the large characters "Water Breathing" written on the cover. He looked at Roy, who merely said, "What? Isn't this what you've been wanting?"
Razor snapped out of it and gripped the booklet. "I just didn't think you'd give it to me so easily." He stood up from the table. "I thought you'd be biased toward your subordinate and wouldn't want to give it to me." He stood with his back to Gotoh, his tall shadow looming over the boy. He narrowed his eyes. "Aren't you afraid I'll leave him even further behind?"
"I'm not afraid." Roy ignored Razor and walked around him. He took a blanket from the bed and covered Gotoh, straightening his body to make him more comfortable. He said softly, "Gotoh will surpass you sooner or later. Giving it to you doesn't matter much."
Razor: "..."
'You brat... look at me when you say that!'