Loki closes his eyes, slightly amused. He looks at Mike, a faint smile on his lips.
"Too small."
Mike recoils, fear finally flickering in its cold eyes. Gon is stunned.
'How…' A terrifying creature is showing fear.
"Scram!"
Loki's voice, neither loud nor soft, explodes in their minds.
Woof woof!
Mike flees into the forest, whimpering in terror. A single sentence and a glance scared it away.
Zebro, who had rushed in, stands there dumbfounded. He expected Mike to attack Gon and the others, but instead, he witnessed this. Since becoming the gatekeeper, he's never seen Mike show any emotion towards anyone except the masters. A kid scared it away with a single sentence and a glance.
'What kind of terrifying kid is this?'
Zebro decides to report this to the butler. If this person is just a friend, it's fine. But if not, even the masters might struggle to deal with him.
After Mike's retreat, Kurapika and Leorio help Gon up.
"Are you okay, Gon?"
Gon shakes his head.
They look at Loki, even more surprised than by his opening the Trial Gate. Scaring away a terrifying monster is more shocking. Loki shows no reaction, his expression normal.
"You're in. Let's go."
Gon nods. As they walk up the mountain, they replay the scene in their minds. The group remains silent. This is natural. Friends or enemies only exist when power levels are similar. They realize the immense power difference between them and Loki. This imbalance prevents them from interacting freely with Loki. Even Gon feels pressure. The pressure would be greater if they were friends.
They reach two stone pillars connected by a wire fence. A girl in a tailcoat stands calmly between them, eyes closed, holding a cane. This is Canary, the Zoldyck's apprentice butler.
Two figures rush down the mountain.
"Troublesome things keep happening. I finally got Killua home," a woman says. She's bandaged, wearing an electronic eye, and dressed like a European industrial-era noblewoman. She's Killua's mother, Kikyo, followed by her son, Kalluto.
"Father, what's going on? Guests? Are Killua's friends considered guests? What was Father thinking?"
"Mother, the butler said someone opened the fourth Testing Gate!" Kalluto says.
Kikyo's electronic eye glows red. "That damned person made Father bring them here. He wants to take Killua away. I won't allow it."
Loki and the others see Canary. Gon asks about Killua, but Canary asks them to leave.
"Father, why let Killua's friends in?"
In the Zoldyck family's residential area, numerous buildings are visible, the central castle being the most prominent. Other buildings range from ancient to modern styles.
In the castle, Killua's father, Silva Zoldyck, questions Zeno Zoldyck. Silva knew about Gon and the others' arrival from the butler's report, but he's still deciding what to do. This concerns Killua's future. He's deciding whether to keep Killua in the Zoldyck family, training him as a perfect assassin, or letting him experience the outside world, ultimately accepting his destiny as a Zoldyck.
Before Silva decides, Zeno orders people to bring them in. Silva doesn't understand. Zeno usually doesn't interfere with Silva's children. This is unusual.
Zeno sits on a golden dragon-emblazoned chair, holding a golden cup. He squints at Silva.
"Killua's friends? What are you talking about, Silva?"
"Didn't you order them to be brought in?"
"Killua's friends?" Zeno frowns. "I ordered guests to be brought in, not Killua's friends. You handle Killua. I won't interfere."
"But the butler said you ordered them brought here."
Silva calmly looks at Zeno. "Kikyo heard and went down herself with Kalluto."
"I ordered guests, but not Killua's friends."
"Then who?"
Zeno puts down his cup. "Someone opened the fourth Trial Gate."
"I know. The gatekeeper informed the butler."
"My guest is the one who opened the fourth gate!"
"He's not Killua's friend?" Silva understands. Someone who opened the fourth gate isn't ordinary. If it was pure strength, it's even more significant.
"Friend?" Zeno thinks. "He probably knows Killua. Killua might have met him during the Hunter Exam. Whether they're friends is uncertain."
"Father wouldn't call him a guest just for opening the gate. Why?"
Zeno stands, hands behind his back, glancing at Silva.
"Netero's disciple. Is that reason enough?"
Silva is stunned. Even though Zeno interfered, Silva remained calm. But now, he's surprised.
"Father, are you serious?"
"Of course. Would I joke?"
Zeno explains Netero's importance and their past relationship. Even Zeno was held by Netero as a child. The Zoldycks know Netero better than the Hunter Association. He's a living legend. What kind of person would impress him?
Silva touches his chin. "Netero taking a student… I want to see who impressed him."
Silva smiles. "If Killua's friend is that person, it's acceptable."
Even in the Hunter Association, Netero taking a student is shocking. For Zeno and Silva, it means Netero is training his successor. The student must reach Netero's level. What kind of talent would make Netero so certain? It must be far beyond genius.
Seeing Silva's serious expression, Zeno continues.
__________________
for more advance chapters visit patreon.com/bars45.
For 10$- All advance chapters.