"Killua, why does this matter so much to you?"
"How could it not matter?" Killua replied. "I spent two years in Heaven's Arena, always seeing Cousin Ron as my goal. When I qualified for the 200th floor, I wanted to challenge him—but you stopped me, Father. Over these years, I thought I'd grown a lot. But during the Hunter Exam, I asked Cousin Ron for a match and lost so completely that I couldn't even fight back.
"Afterward, I talked with Cousin Ron quite a bit. Back then, I assumed he belonged to another assassin family. I envied him for having friends and companions—something I can't have. Then, in the final stage of the Hunter Exam, I learned that Ron is actually my cousin. And Big Brother Illumi already knew.
Father, can people in our Zoldyck family really have friends and companions?"
Silva fell silent for a moment. Finally, he spoke. "Friends and companions are complicated concepts, Killua. Before I answer, let me ask you something."
"What is it?"
"Do you consider friends and companions to be above your own family?"
"Huh?" Killua froze. "Father…what do you mean?"
"Imagine one day your friends and your family end up on opposite sides. For example, say the friends you made end up in a fight to the death with Illumi.
Who would you help?"
Killua lowered his head. A long moment passed.
"I wouldn't let that happen."
"How can you be sure?"
"I'd make them stop. If they consider me a friend—or family—then they'd listen to me. If they refused, it would mean they never really thought of me as a friend or as family."
"So you'd put the problem in their hands," Silva noted, nodding. "That's not a bad approach. In that case, here's my answer: a Zoldyck can indeed have friends, but they must be genuine friends—like you said, people who would respect your request to stop.
All right, enough about that.
Tell me about your experiences. Where did you go? Who did you meet? What did you think about? You know, Killua, we've never really had this kind of talk before. Don't hold back—say whatever's on your mind."
Killua nodded. "Yes, Father."
—
Outside, Gon and his two companions finally managed to push open the Testing Gate. Once they were through, Mike heard the commotion and rushed over, only to withdraw after confirming they had legitimately opened the gate.
"That thing still creeps me out," Leorio muttered, glancing in Mike's direction. "No matter how many times I see it, it's always the same—it doesn't seem like a normal creature at all. Even the beasts in the Milsy Wetlands can't compare."
Kurapika nodded. "True. But as long as we came through the Testing Gate, it won't attack us. Still, that was tough. We finally managed to open it."
"I wonder how Killua did it," Leorio said. "He could push the third door by himself. And Ron could open up to the seventh door! Ron's friend must be incredible too. Compared to them, we're pretty far behind."
They'd passed the Hunter Exam and felt they had decent strength and potential. Sure, people like Ron, Hisoka, Illumi, and Hanzo had seemed overwhelmingly powerful, but they were older—or so Kurapika believed.
He had no idea Ron was actually around his own age. He assumed from Ron's height and aura that Ron was older. In any case, Gon and his friends figured they could grow stronger with enough effort. But listening to Zebro's accounts of Ron's feats a few years back, they realized just how big the gap was.
They proceeded along the path leading up the mountain.
Zebro stopped at one point, turning to them. "I'm sorry. This is as far as I can guide you. I don't have clearance to go any higher."
A figure appeared on the road ahead, blocking Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika. It was a dark-skinned girl with puffy, curly hair—Canary. She came from Meteor City originally and had lived at the Zoldyck Estate for several years. The family's plan was for her to become Killua's personal butler someday, much like Zebro or Gotoh. Canary had also learned some of the family's assassination arts. She was talented and quite capable.
"You can't go any farther," she declared, standing firmly in their way.
—
Meanwhile, Ron was finishing a video call with Gogus. Ponzu wasn't around during the discussion; once the call ended, she walked over.
"Captain," Ponzu said.
"Hmm?" Ron glanced at her.
"Tuck is here."
"All right." Ron stood up, putting away his gear and storing everything in Sumas. He found Tuck waiting outside.
"Tuck, thanks for coming," Ron said, gesturing to a bench. Tuck sat.
"So, Tuck, what are your plans now?" Ron asked. He already had a good grasp of the Saheerta Federation's situation, but Tuck used to hold hope for that country. Ron, as his friend, hadn't wanted to shatter those hopes prematurely—though he'd seen this outcome coming.
Tuck hesitated a moment. "I'm going to join Nightfall. I never imagined the nobles were this rotten. I used to think it was just some of them, that if I worked hard enough, I could make changes…that the big shot above me would back me up. But now I see it isn't so simple.
They're rotten to the core.
"Karu was that official's nephew. There's no way they didn't know what he was doing. I misunderstood Nightfall. They've only ever killed those who deserve it. There hasn't been a single innocent victim. Their purpose in doing so is to make the nobles wary and buy time for the Revolutionary Army. Because, behind Nightfall, supporting them, is the Revolution.
That's the true hope for this country.
"But the nobles are too powerful right now, and the Revolutionary Army isn't strong enough to take them on. They need time to build up their forces. I want to join Nightfall and fight for that hope."
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