"Master Zeno received a bounty from the National Police Agency. He's heading to the neighboring Minbo Republic to deal with a terrorist who calls himself 'Joker'."
"Tsubone is responsible for driving him to the airport and managing Master Zeno's daily affairs."
At 4:30 in the morning, Roy, having finished his shower, sat at the dining table. He chewed on a beef burger while listening to Gotoh report the day's itinerary. This ti, he had specifically requested it well-done.
"The chef who prepared the dium-rare burger has been dismissed, Young Master. Please rest assured," Gotoh continued his report. "I had soone book the tickets the day before yesterday. After we see Dr. Bennett at the Provincial General Hospital in the city today, we can imdiately take an airship to the Heavens Arena."
"Tell about this 'Joker'," Roy interrupted, suddenly thinking of soone. A certain man who was quite skilled at growing apples and also dressed like a clown, though his nose wasn't red.
"He killed an entire boatload of people!"
"What kind of boat?"
"A pirate ship ride at an amusent park..." Gotoh pushed up the gold-rimd glasses on his nose, his voice low. "According to the information provided by the Minbo Republic's National Police Agency, nearly two hundred people died because of him. The news was even on television. You can find it with a simple online search, Young Master."
If the deaths of that many people didn't make the news, Roy could only assu the higher-ups in the Minbo Republic were darker than crows.
"Anything else?"
"Besides us, the Hunter Association is also monitoring the situation."
"Not surprising," Roy said, washing down the last piece of his burger with a gulp of milk. He leisurely wiped his mouth with a napkin. "Terrorists should be dealt with by terrorists. If the police are willing to pay, they can naturally hire others."
The Hunter Association was also a notoriously violent organization, and the anti-terrorism group led by the three-star Terrorist Hunter, Pariston Hill, wasn't just for show. None of this had anything to do with them.
"Let's pack up and go." After finishing the last of his milk, Roy stood up.
All the necessities, including tickets and hotel reservations, had been handled by Gotoh, leaving him free of burdens. He picked up Snow-Walker from its stand and headed for the door.
"Young Master, airport regulations prohibit bladed articles," Gotoh reminded him in a tily manner, turning to hand Roy a wooden cane he had prepared in advance.
Roy looked at him suspiciously, took the cane, and gave the handle a tug, pulling out a concealed sword.
Gotoh quickly explained, "Please do not underestimate this cane, Young Master. It is made entirely of ironwood, with a hardness comparable to refined steel. Furthermore, it is not on the list of restricted items at the airport."
So this is what they call finding loopholes in the rules, huh?
Roy gave the cane sword a few swings. It was surprisingly a bit heavier than Snow-Walker. The blade was etched with a black fla pattern; it would do nicely in a pinch.
Shing—
The blade slid back into its sheath, once again becoming an ordinary-looking cane in Roy's hand.
With Gotoh carrying two suitcases, the boy walked through the quiet,幽寂的 long corridor and arrived at the main entrance of the old castle, where he paused upon seeing soone.
Luke stood with his hands clasped over his stomach, looking as if he had been waiting for a long ti. Seeing Roy, he bowed. "The Master said that training is not to be neglected, even when you are away. The sessions you miss in the coming days will have to be made up for upon your return."
"How?"
"Doubled."
"Oh."
Roy strode past Luke. Luke bowed even lower, a sliver of his gaze sneaking a peek at him. As the boy stepped out the main door, he turned his head and glanced back at the second floor.
In front of the massive floor-to-ceiling window of the second-floor bedroom, a tall, bare-chested man stood, his silver hair cascading down his back. He gently swirled a glass of red wine, his eyes quietly fixed on him.
From behind the man, a slender hand snaked out, tracing a path down his chest. The man's body visibly tensed, and the wine in his glass stopped swirling.
"Tch..."
Busy... everyone is busy... Being busy is good.
"Gotoh, let's go." Roy averted his gaze and turned away, leaving without a single backward glance.
Gotoh hurried to keep up. As they passed the garden, he saw a human head sleeping peacefully under a sun umbrella.
Suddenly, the head spoke.
"Two minutes and fifteen seconds. I've passed, too," Illumi said, opening his eyes.
"Congratulations." Roy didn't turn back, leaving Illumi with the sight of his not-so-imposing back as he walked on without breaking stride.
Gotoh, a suitcase in each hand, fell in behind, giving Illumi a slight nod. Master and servant, one after the other, soon disappeared into the forests of Kukuroo Mountain.
The entirety of Kukuroo Mountain was Zoldyck territory. Only the sun in the sky, and the sunlight blocked by the umbrella, did not belong to them.
Illumi watched Roy leave, seeing clearly that his aura was once again that "cold gray"—the kind that kept people at a distance, a mix of concern and indifference that always maintained a certain detached feeling.
"Next ti... when you co back, I definitely won't be knocked out by the electricity again..."
As Roy's figure vanished, Illumi simply closed his eyes again.
In a certain dimly lit room, separated by a wall, the old man was snoozing. "Guess I'll be eating crap for a few days..." he mumbled.
He rolled over and farted.
Old bones, weak bladders. It seed that with age, even one's sphincter control began to fail.
About ten minutes later, Zebro returned from a bathroom break to find Roy and Gotoh standing before the Testing Gate. He hurried forward, showing off his massive biceps.
"Don't worry, Young Master, I'll open the gate for you!"
"No need." Roy tossed the cane to Gotoh, rolled up his sleeves, took two steps forward, and placed his palms flat against the Testing Gate. With a powerful shove... one gate... two gates... three gates...
The Testing Gate swung wide open. He had pushed through the first three layers directly. The fourth gate trembled slightly but remained firmly shut.
Four gates required thirty-two tons of absolute strength, equivalent to seventy adult n. In terms of Physique, that was seventy points. A long road still lay ahead.
Roy wisely gave up.
He wasn't discouraged or dejected; he had expected as much. He let out a light breath, took the cane back from Gotoh, and walked straight out.
A black car was already waiting. A hundred ters from the mountain gate's guard post, a red tour bus was parked. A crowd of people had gathered in front of the bus, aiming professional caras with long lenses at the Testing Gate, snapping picture after picture.
When they suddenly saw the gate pushed open and a handso young boy walk out, followed by a tall butler carrying luggage, everyone froze!
Soone shouted—it was unclear who—"That's the eldest young master of the Zoldyck family!"
An explosion of cara flashes went off, so bright that Roy couldn't open his eyes.
"Gotoh, was this really the best ti to leave?"
"My apologies, Young Master." Gotoh quickly signaled the driver to open the car door, letting Roy get in. He then placed the luggage in the trunk and slid into the car himself.
"They are nothing but commoners, infatuated with your appearance, Young Master."
"If you are displeased, I will go and kill them all right now!"
"Enough with the talk of killing..." Roy leaned back against the soft seat, stretching his arms out lazily. "Forget it. It's not the first ti."
"Just find the ones who are selling my pictures online and teach them a proper lesson."
"Yes, sir." A cold glint flashed in Gotoh's eyes.
The Young Master was kind and wouldn't stoop to their level. But those despicable people dared to post his picture online and sell it for a paltry 10,000 Jenny... It was an insult to him, Gotoh. They had to be taught a proper lesson!
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