Kapitel 17: First Kill, Documented records
In another universe,
Zoldyck Castle,
"I'm here, Dad. "Did you call for me?"
The small and tired Hiruma entered a dimly lit room following a knock. He didn't just need a good rest; he needed an extended shower to relax his capable but strained bones.
Even though he possessed the Heal* skill, it was human nature to seek these fleeting pleasures whenever possible. Tiredness that could be gradually regenerated naturally was a positive mental stimulus.
"Yes. "Do you recall Tsubone?"
Silva inquired. They were in his dark lounge, where he welcomed visitors and spent most of his time.
He continued without waiting for an immediate response from his son, who was staring at the giant white dog sleeping in the corner.
There was also an old, muscular woman with incredible breasts... and a big ass.
It was the old woman Silva was referring to; she stood there, staring at Hiruma.
"You probably haven't since you were a child. Tsubone doesn't appear very often, but her abilities are superior to those of the other servants."
Silva stated.
"Tsubone... I have an image in my head."
Hiruma lied while nodding. Tsubone wasn't in the memories, but he was from another world.
The elderly lady gave him a gentle stare as soon as he did. But it was a strange stare. It was difficult to bear and, for some reason, eerie.
Hiruma became concerned when her monocle shone with unusual light.
She wasn't your average... or worldly... woman.
She had something extra, something risky, something grievous about her. She was a beast emerging from the mountain, her bull-necked body concealing secrets. Hiruma's first impression and early assessment—all of his instincts and perceptions warned him not to be a jerk around her.
Hiruma felt contemptuous after watching the 2011 version and seeing Killua get chills after meeting the old woman again, but he now had his own opinion.
"Tsubone is my elder; in a way, she raised me,"
Silva hummed, pleased with his son's overall response.
"For your own good, treat her with dignity..."
"Mhhmm??"
Hiruma understood the logic but needed clarification after the last words prompted him to deduce something.
Silva exchanged a rare smile with Tsubone before explaining,
"Starting today, you will not be required to attend your mother's Nen Class with your sister. Tsubone will be assigned as your personal butler and teacher."
"You can think of her as a coach, an undivided go-between with the house, similar to how Gotoh enjoys being with your brother Killu."
"... No, disregard what I just said; she'll be closer than that... Like an additional parent figure. Don't be afraid to solicit her full support."
Silva suddenly thought.
"Huh?"
Hiruma was taken aback. What occurred? Silva added, chuckling as he did not ask for his opinion,
"Huh, what? This arrangement has no time limit... This was not my original idea, but I asked for Tsubone's feelings."
"There's still some readying for the two of you to move into the cottage, but you can consider this done. It will be beneficial to your development."
"You can only rid yourself of her once I deem you strong enough not to necessitate her supervision. Only then will you have a choice?"
"..."
Hiruma didn't understand what was happening, but when he saw his father's cold expression, he closed his gaping mouth and frowned.
Silva was not joking.
The less human he appeared, the soberer he was. He was no longer displaying anything. It was a declaration, not a proposition...
Hiruma had only come to be informed.
He clearly recognized that there was an idea behind it. But, even though he was being planned, he couldn't say no.
Tsubone had an elderly grin on his face. She looked at Hiruma as if he were an uneven or unprocessed jar she needed to shape with her touch.
"..."
The door suddenly opened again, and someone barged in with hasty steps, grimacing, and a rabid atmosphere.
The individual was also perspiring on his pink shirt and face.
"Dad, come here."
Milluki was the one who walked in.
He walked too quickly for his flabby and doughy physique without saying hello.
He handed Silva a small stack of printed white documents.
"Did you collect everything?"
"This time, it's finished; there's even—"
"All right, all right. You are free to leave."
Milluki was not permitted to be chatty. He was chased out before he could say anything.
Silva didn't even thank him; instead, he motioned for him to leave, clearly frustrated with him.
The fat man nodded and quickly walked away, not looking back.
He appeared happy and relieved.
Hiruma knew his older brother was likely eager to resume his activities and hobbies. It didn't matter what kinds of hobbies they had...
There was a brief silence in the room before Silva abruptly said,
"Good timing. Hiruma..."
"Yes, Dad?"
The boy inquired, not hopeful. He knew his family well enough to see where things were heading.
"I've got a task for you, not too easy, not too difficult, just your level."
Silva stated.
"I'm listening, dad."
Hiruma sighed quietly inside. His days of safely learning Nen at home were over.
Tsubone would keep an eye on him when he returned.
Hiruma was overly optimistic this time, and things took a turn he should've considered if he hadn't been so tired. This morning, his stupid brain was playing tricks on him...
"Take these documents,"
Silva explained.
"After reading them, you can go out with Tsubone to do the job. If I still overestimate you, she'll watch you and finish the job."
Swearing inside, the boy asked carefully, not showing too much displeasure in his eyes or tone,
"Dad, is this a test?"
Silva replied with a shake of his head,
"No. Actually, this one is different. I understand your thinking, but you have complete control over this mission. If you cannot complete the objectives, you may seek assistance from Tsubone."
'Huh?'
This was a first for Hiruma.
As he suspected, something was clearly wrong. Had he been watched the previous night? Was that all there was to it?
It wasn't that important, but... He wasn't used to his father being so gentle with him. Something was being hidden here.
'This is, without a doubt, a test... but not the short-lived and average kind.'
Hiruma considered regaining some of his brain power.
It was also when Silva said, "Whatever happens, just make the client happy."
"Yes."
The scowling Hiruma gave a formal nod. He then walked out when he was finally excused.
He began scanning the target's data in the hall with his dog-tired eyes and red lower eyelids.
He was displeased.
...
Simultaneously, in the grim, dark room that seemed to welcome lighting from some vampire realm,
"How do you feel about him?"
Silva asked, staring, expecting an interesting response from the towering Tsubone.
Tsubone said unconcernedly, with an unhurried, somewhat world-weary air,
"I'm a little taken aback."
"He grew up to look a lot like you, master, especially in your facial features...How unexpected..."
"..."
Silva developed a scowl after recognizing the old woman.
It didn't stop her from continuing,
"Other than that, there's nothing outwardly strange. I'm a Conjurer, but I can't decide right now; I'll only be able to interpret if he makes an interesting move during his task."
Silva nodded, unsurprised and reassured by his experience. Tsubone was then told she could leave to prepare for the trip and subsequent bungalow relocation.
He didn't mind if she didn't catch up with his son if he tried to be smart and left first...
--
--
Hiruma did not sleep after his brief visit to his dungeon. Nonetheless, he had no regrets because the second one was now available.
The system unlocked it after he defeated the Merman. The boy needed to complete the previous ones at least once to access new dungeons.
Drowsy, the small Zoldyck read the mission's specifics. It had a point of convergence in another country.
The client, Enrich Pigmalian, a privileged, somewhat venal but openly charitable businessman, had learned of a heist on his gold-carrying trucks.
The robbers were skilled and had already caused him several losses with banking institutions.
Enrich became increasingly enraged as a result of this. The gentleman was so dissatisfied with the robbers that he went through his emeritus father, Stanislas Pigmalian—a retired tycoon even wealthier than him—to request the services of the infamous Zoldyck family.
Aside from money, clients had to demonstrate their sincerity. Enrich was more than a little bleak. He decided to use the big gun to take out the pests who had been eyeing his business for a few years since he took it over.
Hiruma understood his client after going through most of the information; in his previous life, he only trusted the police to a certain extent. On the contrary, Zoldycks rarely missed. Zeno frequently boasted that the family's success rate in paid assassinations was 99.9%; the 0.1% represented unique cases or government entreaties to ignore targets. Nonetheless, Zoldycks always returned home with their due respect and wages.
Of course, Enrich was wealthy; he could afford the Zoldycks, but what did that mean if not that he wasn't stupid?
He didn't appear to be particularly evil. At the very least, his record showed that he wasn't committing the atrocities Hiruma wouldn't want to read about.
There was no rape or pedophilia.
Hiruma had such a two-faced necessity for the men who would be his customers. His requirements were ambidextrous, but he regenerated as an assassin; he and the system were cheaters...
Hypocrisy? Hypocrisy was the most fundamental human quality, ensuring survival. Growing into a duplicitous man was fine now; he didn't need to think about anything deeper; he only needed his own bottom lines.
Hiruma had already accepted his fate as a mortal sinner before being born again. If telling a boring, white lie was a sin that could send him to hell, there was no point in considering murder to be worse. It was on par with adultery.
Fronts were required because the compass used to assess evil was broken. People only needed to be disgusted by what they disliked and feared.
Hiruma was leaving his particular but characteristic thoughts when he noticed a familiar face on the list of documents.
It was an orange-haired woman with small eyes. She was working as security for the client.
Wöchentlicher Energiestatus
-- Power-
Rangliste 
-- Power-
Stein