Zoldyck?
Under the Peking opera mask, Botobai's thick eyebrows slightly furrowed, and two gas dragons puffed from his nostrils with a hum: "It's a pity it's not Silva Zoldyck."
He had heard this man's name before and seen him on some occasions but unfortunately had not crossed paths, which he regrets.
Anyway... Mamen Beans, seeing his straightforward demeanor, remembered someone still sipping tea in the chairman's office and couldn't help but tiptoe as they whispered, "Even though the chairman said you don't have to hold back, it doesn't mean you should kill him. After all, it's a test, and assessment is the priority."
"I understand that," Botobai didn't want to say much, clearly having his own plans.
Mamen Beans had delivered the message, conveyed all necessary reminders, and if something went wrong... there was always the chairman to cover. Waving goodbye to both, they left the underground corridor.
The elevator closed.
Garu tossed a test tube to Botobai: "When the time comes, help me collect some Zoldyck blood."
Having heard that the family is immune to all poisons, she wanted to test if they were as formidable as rumored.
"Snap~" The test tube shattered with a "supersonic punch," and Botobai boomed, "Do it yourself."
Garu: "..."
Indignant.
Secretly cursing herself for partnering with his straightforward blockhead.
The woman turned her face away to focus on her pharmacology.
Before long, night gradually deepened.
After over two hours of flight, the fierce fox dad led Wutong and others to the official venue city—Saba City, just before 11 PM... A majestic palace came into view.
A flock of white doves flapped their wings over the palace...
Permanently residing in the secluded Kurta Race village, Kurajing had never witnessed such a grand spectacle and couldn't help but exclaim in her heart, "As expected of the Hunter Association, such a grand spectacle for just one exam."
Unexpectedly, the fierce fox dad pointed to a slightly humble barbecue shop in the corner next to the palace, took out three number tokens from his pocket, and respectfully handed them over: "Your honor, the barbecue shop beside the palace is the official entrance to the venue."
"Turn left upon entry, take the elevator down to the basement, and you'll arrive at the examination site. These are your candidate numbers."
In the end, he wanted to add, "Your honor, next year I'd be happy to guide you again."
But then he thought, considering Roy's level and the person backing him, how could he possibly fail this year's test? He bit his tongue and swallowed the words, avoiding ridicule.
の... Kurajing was a bit dumbfounded, stupidly accepting the tokens from Wutong, not expecting to mistake Saba City's city hall for the official Hunter Exam venue. Realizing her mistake, she awkwardly brushed back her hair, glanced at her token, which was number 407, and kept it close to her chest.
According to the official schedule, the exam officially starts at 2 PM tomorrow.
Tonight they must find a place to stay, then wear it tomorrow.
"Then I won't disturb your supper." Roy patted the fierce fox dad's shoulder and nodded to the fierce fox son, instructing Wutong to pack the tokens, and checked into a nearby inn under their watchful eyes...
Leading Kurajing, they walked unhurriedly towards the inn.
In a moment, the three pushed open the revolving door and disappeared from sight.
The fierce fox son turned to look at the fierce fox dad and said, "Father, how did he know we always go to the barbecue shop for steak whenever we're in Saba City?"
The fierce fox dad paused in silence and said wistfully, "That's why he's a god."
God loves the people; how could he not know what pleases them?
The fierce fox dad turned and pushed open the barbecue shop's door, shouting inside: "Boss, one steak set, slow, medium-rare..."
"Huh? Father, what about mine?"
"Who cares about you!"
"No... I don't have any money..."
Saba City was bustling noisily that night.
Wutong completed the check-in, as usual, inspected the room, and just as Kurajing opened the door to poke her head in, she said, "Young master, call me if you need anything."
But before Roy could respond, Wutong slammed the door shut in her face.
'Overthinking.' That was Wutong's evaluation of Kurajing.
Roy finished washing up, wrestling the Golden Crow in the bathtub, which pecked at his head in displeasure, then turned to Wutong and said, "Go and rest now."
The young man patted the Golden Crow, letting it grasp one of his fingers, explaining with a smile, "Jinx and I are in sync."
"If anything happens, it will alert me. Meanwhile... you've been sailing with me for over ten days without proper sleep, take the opportunity tonight to rest well."
"Young master, I'm not tired," Wutong said with a yawn.
"Out."
"Yes."
The door opened, then closed.
Wutong stood outside the door, glancing at the girl leaning against the wall with arms crossed. He glared at her and said, "What are you looking at?"
Kurajing smiled without a word, eventually turning to leave, saying, "I just wanted to remind you, the young master isn't yours alone, that's all."
"Bang~" The door shut.
In the empty corridor, Wutong remained standing silently...
After a moment, he adjusted his glasses and gave a cold snort, "Well, he's not yours either."
He went downstairs to open a room, right next to Roy's, opened the door, and went in.
At 11 PM, Saba City's night lights gradually dimmed, and aside from a few night markets, the entire city seemed to have been muted, slowly falling silent.
Roy turned on the desk lamp, using the light to half-recline on the bed, letting the Golden Crow roll around the soft bed, opening his grandfather Jager's notebook, and turning to the page about [Shu] training, began to read carefully.
After the battle with Tomioka Giyu, Roy knew it was time for him to leave.
Heading to Mount Fujikasane, slaying the Demon, avenging the fellow brothers and sisters, fulfilling their wishes... was the first battle Roy set for himself after leaving the master's tutelage.
Perhaps he had anticipated something; Roy noticed that Makomo seemed off, often staring at him absentmindedly, sometimes watching his master Urokodaki Sakonji's back all day long, perhaps knowing... the moment the Demon dies, these souls, whether actively or passively, lose the support of "resentment"....
They would soon dissipate.
Which made them melancholic.
Maybe, broad-minded like Brother Sabito, or as carefree as Shinsuke, Fukuda, and other seniors, were not too concerned about disappearing.
But for sensitive souls like Makomo and Sister Yajiu, their hearts might not be well, not because of anything else, just... unwillingness to let go...
Unwilling to leave Sagiri yama, unwilling to part from fellow disciples, unwilling to let go of master Urokodaki Sakonji, perhaps, plus... such a little junior like him.
Therefore, Roy planned to give his senior brothers and sisters a surprise, also a possibility...
Learning [Shu], to coat the jar with [Ten], becoming a substitute for the Demon, a place for senior brothers and sisters to continue residing.
The "Will Scissors Technique," through imagination, creates a pair of "Will Scissors," severing the "nen" link between body and object, achieving [Shu] that can still preserve even with "nen" separation.
"Will Scissors" fits quite well with the training methods of the Conjuration system. Roy associated it with his grandfather Jager's nen ability [re: Game of the Deceased] which also seemed to be related to the Conjuration system....
Settling down, he continued to read... Gradually sleep overtook him, and unconsciously, he drifted into slumber...
"Caw~" The Golden Crow hopped and fluttered, clinging to his neck, flapping its wings, climbing to his head's pinnacle, revealing only two golden eyes outside...
Soon, gentle snores spread....
Roy, groggily navigating the passage of colorful dreams, reached the familiar Sea of Cognition, stretched out lazily on the soft sand for a while, replenishing the vibrancy lost due to conjuring Jinx, then stretched out to push open the door of Demon Slayer.
Arrived in the world of Demon Slayer.
In the hour of the Hare, several sparrows perched on the eaves chirped...
The fresh air of early spring blew in through a corner of a paper window...
Roy opened his eyes again, and what he saw... was a circle of people with "dark circles" surrounding him!
"Eiichiro Oda, you finally woke up!"
"Your sword grew legs and flew away last night, did you know that?"