Toes gripping the ground,
Zeno pretended not to hear the old man's sarcastic comments...
As always, he came up behind Maha, began massaging the old man's shoulders, "Grandfather, Father is still alive, right?"
"What do you want to say? If you've got something, spill it; if not, get lost." Maha didn't even lift an eyelid, rocking his chair casually.
"It was that kid Roy who reminded me." Zeno didn't get angry even after being scolded, skillfully running his hand down Maha's shoulder blades and back, a smooth routine, he said:
"Didn't tell you everything over the phone, that kid's "Curse" on the back of his hand appeared under quite peculiar circumstances..."
His white hair waved, the "one kill a day" tag on his chest fluttering in the wind, the former Patriarch of the Zoldyck family expression deepened, pausing, his voice heavy: "You know, both Silva and I deeply explored Father's memories, and yet... nothing ever came of it."
"But as soon as Roy entered the [game], he was targeted immediately. I've been thinking these past few days... perhaps Father... has taken a liking to that kid..."
Maha closed his eyes, remaining silent.
Zeno continued massaging up the old man's neck, choosing his words carefully: "You've seen it too, that "Curse" is quite extraordinary, besides "Telekinesis," there's also something else...."
Maha suddenly opened his eyes, cutting him off: "Stop beating around the bush, just say it's "Faith"!"
The old man snorted impatiently: "This is the Zoldyck Family, not the Dark Continent, no matter how far those "folks" reach, they still can't touch us!"
"Grandfather, your correction is noted." Zeno immediately crouched down, lowering his forehead as if ready to take the hit...
Maha raised his hand but put it down again, a moment later, he waved lacklusterly: "Alright, I know... [Book] is in the right drawer, take it to him..."
"Yes."
At that moment, the night retreated, and a faint light tore through the darkness, announcing to the world that dawn was about to break.
The dim little room sank into prolonged silence...
Having left the ancient castle, Roy made his way down, through dense forests, past the butler's villa, and encountered a "Boar Head" at the mountain pass... the "Boar Head" heard the commotion, bowed, and greeted him: "Good morning, young master."
A twitch tugged at the corner of his mouth, straining the injuries on his face, grimacing in pain... it was clear, he had been harshly beaten yesterday!
"Hmm." Roy glanced at Haseki Dorou, brushing past his shoulder and running down, returning along the original path, back to his own room, taking a quick shower, Wutong as usual, on the first day back home, dutifully pushing the food cart to deliver meals to Roy.
"What's with your face?"
The young butler's face was speckled with bruises, a cut at the corner of his eye, though he tried his best to use makeup to cover these marks, Roy saw through it at a glance.
"I just taught a monkey a lesson, no big deal." Wutong did not mention the battle he had with Haseki Dorou yesterday.
Since he didn't want to say more, Roy didn't press further, quietly sitting at the table, eating breakfast, listening to his report on Kurajing's arrangements.
"As per the young master's instructions, I've arranged people to begin her "physical" training; once she's adapted to the rhythm, I'll proceed to start her on Nen."
"No rush." Roy took a bite of bacon sandwich, thinking of Kurapika... with the "Scarlet Eyes" enhancing the Kurta Race's potential, worth focusing on developing her, he said: "Wait until she can push open two Gate of Trial doors, then start her on it."
"Understood."
Wutong skillfully handed over a napkin... Roy took it, looking at him: "And you?"
The young butler adjusted the glasses on his nose: "The Sword is ready, just waiting for you, young master."
Having enhanced the body's constitution and explosively increased combat power through "Breathing," Wutong had heard Roy mention it briefly on the airship, assuming once learned... he wouldn't be as embarrassed as yesterday, even though...
The ultimate victor was him.
"5 PM, wait for me at the pond's edge."
Slowly wiping his mouth, the young man pushed the chair away, stood up, reached out, and listened to "swish... swish...."
"Yubashiri" and "Staff Blade" flew towards him one after the other, he grabbed them firmly with both hands.
Just then the sun sprang out, pouring out the dawn light, shining through the bright glass window onto the young man's body, draping him in a garment of light.
Wutong bowed slightly, respectfully saying: "Young master... good luck..."
Roy replied without looking back: "I appreciate your kind words."
Suddenly the ground below turned into a Swamp, sinking underground under the butler's astonished gaze... when he reappeared, he was already outside the door...
"Whoosh~" a gust of mountain wind blew by, Wutong's gaze somewhat dazed,
He instinctively peeked outside again, Roy disappearing and reappearing like a specter, completely unpredictable... where he might show up next.
Indeed, it could only be said... "It has to be the young master!"
Having witnessed too many "strange things" happening to Roy, the young butler quickly adjusted his mindset, tidied up the dishes, pushed the food cart out the door, headed towards the warehouse... since the young master said he'd wait by the pond in the depths of the mountain forest that evening, he wouldn't fail to keep his promise, he would certainly... return safely.
Before that, all he needed to do... was have the Sword ready, wait quietly...
"Step... step..." Master and servant parted ways...
At the corner of the wall, Roy emerged once more, already outside the dim little room, seeing two old men who had finished breakfast, standing with hands behind their backs leaning on the window ledge, basking in the sun... not rushing and calmly approaching, he called them individually: "Grandfather... Great-Grandfather..."
Zeno accompanied Maha, the former nodded to him slightly, the latter watched the red sun turn white and fully rise, lazily saying: "Go."