ตอน 29: Home At Last?

[Short Chap]

As Ash soared through the skies, his wings carrying him swiftly towards his destination, a peculiar sensation enveloped him.

Upon arriving at the Zoldyck estate, he stepped foot into the familiar halls, only to be greeted by an inexplicable shift in the atmosphere.

Time seemed to slow down, stretching each moment with an eerie stillness.

As he walked through the grand corridors, Ash felt a surge of emotions wash over him, like a tempest raging within.

Confusion gnawed at his core as he struggled to comprehend the source of these turbulent feelings.

It was then that he realized he was experiencing an extraordinary phenomenon; the ability to perceive the emotions of those around him.

The house itself seemed to reverberate with the echoes of someone or something's inner turmoil.

Ash found himself immersed in a sea of sensations. He could sense this person's frustration, his longing for freedom, and the weight of his family's expectations bearing down on him.

A surge of curiosity coursed through Ash's veins. He needed answers, and he knew just the person to provide them.

With purposeful strides, he made his way towards Milluki's room, where he often secluded himself.

Pushing open the door, Ash found Milluki hunched over a computer, his eyes fixed on the screen. The room was cluttered with gadgets, wires, and stacks of gaming magazines.

Milluki's sneering expression greeted Ash as he entered.

"Milluki." Ash spoke with an authoritative tone, "Where is everyone?"

Milluki looked up from his computer, his lips curling into a mocking smirk. "Well I can forsure tell you about Killua."

"That little rat ran away from home, can you believe it? And big-brother Illumi is chasing after him."

Ash's eyebrows furrowed, a mix of confusion etched across his face. He knew he had to find Killua, and unravel the reasons behind his strong emotions so heavy that even Ash began to feel them.

With a mind sharp as a blade, Ash delved into a relentless pursuit for information.

He scoured the Zoldyck estate interrogating, servants, and anyone who might have had a clue about Killua's whereabouts.

Days turned into nights, and Ash refused to rest, driven by an unwavering resolve.

He utilized his deduction skills honed over years of being an assassin, piecing together fragments of information and following every lead, no matter how small.

Finally, after countless approaches and relentless perseverance, a breakthrough emerged. Ash's deduction led him to a startling realization... he didn't know..

Not feeling down by his lack of information, he walked to the dining hall. Asking the head chef to fix him a meal, he happened upon a card.

This card, it showed a date and two singular words. "Hunter Exam."

Now conjuring a meaningful grin, Ash laughed to himself and said "Hohoho, so that's where little Killua is."

Then, he disappeared and reappeared outside the Zoldyck manor making it seem as though he were never there in the first place.

- 2 Days Later -

[Hunter Exam, 287th Exam]

It was a gathering ground for aspiring hunters, a place where Killua might obviously seek refuge or answers.

So, after flying all this way to the exam... Ash found himself standing amidst a sea of aspiring hunters, the atmosphere buzzing with anticipation.

His eyes closed, seemingly not even paying attention to those around him.

He smirked.

[Ash POV]

'So, he is here, not too surprising.'

This disguise should be good enough for these meager Nen practitioners, the exam holder shouldn't be able to see through my Body Alteration.

'Chronos'

"Yes Master?" Chronos replied.

'Take control of my body, act as if I were a normal contestant until you can break away from the group.'

'Also, have a compiled list of data regarding Killua's actions and behavior when I take over again.'

"Understood, commencing bodily functions takeover. 3.. 2.. 1.."

Then... Ash's posture, and the gaze in his eye changed. It seemed warmer and more jovial instead of the stark comparison from before behaving more like a robot than the actual AI itself.