"Cough, cough... You!!"
Kalluto Zoldyck covered his forehead, standing up with red eyes. He looked at Ryker with a resentfu) gaze.
Ryker had to admit...
Cross-dressing boys were really pretty!
Kalluto looked like a beautiful little girl. Big eyes, pouting lips, cute nose. With that shoulder-length bob and kimono... it was a crime.
Why does a boy dress like this?
Well, the whole family is weird, so whatever.
Kalluto rubbed the huge bump on his forehead. He would rather be seriously injured than have this humiliating cartoon lump.
"Kalluto!! Stop!!"
Just as Kalluto was about to provoke Ryker again, Kikyo rushed over. Her elegant dress was tattered, and she looked a mess.
But she showed no hostility toward Ryker. Instead, she blocked Kalluto.
"I'm sorry! I'm so sorry! It was my fault. Kalluto! Apologize to Mr. Ryker immediately!! If he hadn't held back, we would be dead!"
"I am genuinely happy that Killua has friends like you. But please understand... as a mother, I only want the best for my child."
Kikyo started crying as she spoke. Tears streamed down her bandaged face.
Gon and the others were moved to tears.
Sure, she was a psycho who shot people, but her motherly love was... touching? Maybe?
Motherly love is always moving, right?
"Seems like a misunderstanding."
Ryker retracted his hand, smiling.
This trip was pure profit. And Kikyo being reasonable saved him trouble.
"Yes! A misunderstanding! Kalluto! Why are you standing there? Apologize!"
Kikyo was terrified.
Before having kids, she would never surrender. But now, her maternal instincts overrode her pride. Ryker had spared her and her son. She knew when to bow.
The pretty cross-dressing boy glared at Ryker one last time before lowering his head reluctantly.
"I apologize. It was my fault. Please forgive me."
The words were squeezed out through grit teeth. Kalluto had never been humiliated like this.
"Hehe. Forget it. Since it's a misunderstanding, let's move on. Can you take us to see Killua now?" Ryker asked.
"Of course!" Kikyo agreed quickly.
She turned to lead the way when her earpiece buzzed.
"Huh?! Yes. Understood. I'll be there immediately!"
She hung up and bowed apologetically to the group.
"I am so sorry. My father-in-law and husband summoned me for an emergency. Kalluto, take Killua's friends to the guest house."
"Don't sulk, Kalluto! They are VIPs! I'll inform the family!"
With that, Kikyo dashed off.
"Killua's mom has a weird temper, but she seems like a good person," Gon commented, watching her go.
"Hmph... Follow me."
Kalluto, covering his bump, led them up the mountain, shooting daggers at Ryker with his eyes.
He was salty. He thought Ryker only won because of a surprise attack. In a fair fight, he believed he could win.
Ryker didn't care. He had already farmed Kalluto's best traits.
Mid-Mountain Villa.
"Welcome! Master Kalluto? What... happened to your head?"
A group of butlers in sharp suits stood at the entrance.
The leader was Gotoh.
Ryker scanned him.
Name: Gotoh (Head Butler)
Traits: [Emission Nen Talent] (Purple), [Dexterity] (Purple), [Absolute Calm] (Purple), [Meticulous] (Purple), [Coin Bullet Storm] (Purple), [Leadership] (Blue)...
Emission Nen!
Nice!
And a stack of solid Purple traits. No wonder he ran the household. Even Canary had great potential. The Zoldyck HR department was top-tier.
"Nothing! They're here for Killua! Hmph... I'm leaving. You deal with them!"
Kalluto glared at Ryker again and stormed off.
"Hehe. Please sit, honored guests. Sorry for the rudeness earlier. Tea for everyone."
Gotoh bowed politely.
Servants brought tea and snacks.
"Aren't we seeing Killua? Where are we?" Gon asked.
Kurapika and Leorio were confused too.
"Please relax. You will see Master Killua soon. But waiting is boring. Why don't we play a game to pass the time?"
Gotoh smiled at them, his gaze landing on Ryker.
He knew Ryker was the leader.
To persuade them, Gotoh performed a trick.
He flipped a coin. His hands moved in a blur.
Which hand is it in?
Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio were stunned. They couldn't track it at all. They hadn't learned Gyo(focused eye aura) yet.
"Guess which hand?"
Gotoh's expression turned cold.
He was sad Killua was leaving. And the Master ordered him to "test" them.
Politeness first, soldiers later.
"Guess carefully. If you guess wrong... one of you dies."
Gotoh smiled.
Instantly, servants behind Ryker, Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio drew knives and held them to their necks.
They had been careless.
"Brother Ryker!" Gon paled.
"These guys... playing dirty!" Leorio gritted his teeth.
"They are assassins. We let our guard down," Kurapika sighed, looking at Ryker.
"Guessing coins? Isn't that a bit childish? How about a more exciting game?"
Ryker suddenly smiled.
Snap.
Ryker grabbed the knife at his throat with two fingers.
Ping!
The alloy blade shattered like a biscuit.
He flicked his fingers.
Cling! Cling! Cling!
The knives at Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio's throats were shattered by invisible force.
The servants turned pale. They were trained killers, but this speed was invisible.
"Uh!?"
Gotoh froze. He waved the servants away.
He had planned to test their resolve under pressure. He didn't mean to kill them.
But Ryker broke the threat instantly, leaving him no room to explain.
[DING! You have entered combat with Butler Gotoh.]
Excellent.
Ryker smirked internally. He wouldn't let Gotoh explain. If they made up, how could he farm the traits?
"You guys leave. Sir, how do you want to play?"
Gotoh recovered his composure and dismissed the servants.
"Simple. You like coins? Let's have a coin shoot-out."
Ryker smiled.
Gotoh paused.
Coins were his specialty. He had never met anyone better.
And he was an Emission user.
Ryker was young. Even if he was a genius, how could he match a lifetime of practice?
"Fine! Coins it is. We'll stop before it gets messy. We were just testing you, we didn't mean harm."
Gotoh tried to de-escalate one last time.
Sigh. It's hard to kill people in the Zoldyck dungeon.
Ryker actually liked Gotoh. He was a loyal dog. A tragic character who died protecting Killua from Hisoka later.
"Okay. I agree." Ryker nodded.
The others cleared the room. The two stood ten meters apart.
"Only ten meters? That's dangerous for you," Gotoh warned kindly.
"It's enough. Dangerous for you too," Ryker replied.
"Start?"
"Start."
SWISH! SWISH! SWISH!
Gotoh's hands blurred.
Coin Bullet Storm (Purple)!
A barrage of coins, dense as rain, shot toward Ryker.
Gotoh held back. He varied the speed to give Ryker a chance to dodge. He reduced the power.
What a kind, loyal dog, Ryker thought.
"You can't do that."
Ryker smiled and flicked one coin.
"What?! Brother Ryker... one coin? Against all that?"
"It's over!"
"What kind of tactic is this?"
Gon and the others were dumbfounded. Gotoh was surprised too.
But surprise turned to shock.
In mid-air, Ryker's single coin split.
One became two. Two became four. Four became eight.
In an instant, it multiplied into a swarm of coins!
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