"I didn't know you before this, Ron."
"You're a competitor in Heaven's Arena, and I'm also a competitor there, but we never interacted. I've seen you, though you might've forgotten ."
"In that sense, we're basically strangers."
"Why did you accept my challenge?"
"This brings you no benefit."
"Especially after we had our match.
And you didn't even ask for anything in return. Under the sa circumstances, Gon wanted to challenge you, yet you turned him down."
"Logically speaking, you and Gon are closer, right? You t during the preliminaries."
"And traveled together for a while."
Ron gave Killua a calm look.
"You think I've shown you too much kindness?"
"That's right."
Killua nodded.
"When soone is kind to others, there must be a reason."
"Then what about your kindness toward Gon and the others?"
Ron fired back, "Your goodwill toward Gon and the rest goes beyond that of a typical applicant, too. When Johness wanted to kill Leorio, why did you intervene?"
Killua froze for a mont, then went silent.
"…Because I wanted to be their friend. I wanted to have a friend."
Killua said "them," but at first, the one he truly cared most about was only Gon.
He treated Leorio and Kurapika kindly simply because they were Gon's friends. Only after spending more ti together did he start regarding Leorio and Kurapika as his own friends.
"Didn't you have any friends before?"
"No."
"So do you think a killer needs friends?"
"I…"
Those words sounded all too familiar to Killua. He'd heard them many tis.
"As I suspected, you're also from an assassin family. And as I guessed, you must have so ties to our Zoldyck Family. Did they hire you to co here?"
"Of course not."
Ron shook his head.
"I'm here taking the Hunter Exam purely for myself."
Killua let out a slight breath of relief.
"Will you tell them about our conversation today?"
"If you don't want to, I won't."
Killua was silent for a mont.
"A killer doesn't need friends, but I don't want to be a killer. So I do want a friend. Ron, do you have friends?"
"Quite a few."
Ron thought for a mont. The mbers of his own group could be considered his friends. Aside from them, there were Molenna, Wendy, Gel's disciples, Mizaiston…
"You do? And not just a few?"
Killua was stunned.
"But aren't assassins supposed to have no need for friends? Does that an you don't want to be one either? You think like ? Are you still an assassin now?"
"Yes, I am."
Envy flickered in Killua's eyes.
"Your family sounds great."
Ron gave a small laugh. The Zoldyck Family really wasn't bad, one had a lot of freedom there.... as long as you weren't the heir.
Killua let out a long sigh.
"If only they could accept the path I want to take…"
"But I know that's impossible. They'll only insist I follow the road they've laid out for ."
"That's not what I want at all."
"Ron, besides , do you know any other mbers of the Zoldyck Family?"
"Yes."
Ron had t all the main Zoldyck mbers, except Alluka.
Maha Zoldyck had trained Ron since childhood. Zeno and Silva provided a lot of help during Ron's growth.
Ron worked with Milluki once.
He'd t Kikyo and Kalluto, and they'd even shared a al.
Ron had first seen Killua back at Heaven's Arena. He was only seeing Illumi for the first ti during this Hunter Exam.
Alluka was the only one he hadn't t.
"Please, don't tell them about our conversation today."
"No problem."
"Thank you. Sorry to trouble you."
Killua stood up. "If there's anything you need help with, feel free to let know. But given your strength is far above mine, I doubt you'll ever need ."
Ron watched Killua's retreating figure.
He was growing more curious about how Killua would react once he learned Ron's true identity. Having a little fun once in a while is always good.
Before long, after Killua left, a figure appeared beside Ron.
"Ron."
"Cousin Illumi."
Illumi was still disguised as Gittarackur.
"I have sothing I need to do. I'll create a double to stand in for . Could you keep an eye on it for a few days and also make sure Hisoka doesn't get a chance to do anything to Killua?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"A few days, not long."
"All right, no problem."
"Thanks, I'm counting on you."
At that mont, Illumi pulled the needle out of his body.
Like air leaking from a balloon, Gittarackur's form deflated.
Illumi's real appearance erged before he vanished in a flash.
Then, another figure stepped out from the shadows, looking a bit bewildered—this one wearing Gittarackur's face.
He had an aura extrely similar to Illumi's. Most people wouldn't notice the difference, but a Nen user would.
"It seems Illumi and the Hunter Association have made arrangents," Ron thought. "Otherwise the examiners would definitely notice."
With that, Ron summoned Natsu.
Ron supplied Natsu with a bit of aura to keep him materialized, though not enough for a full-power fight.
Afterward, Natsu was ordered to guard "Gittarackur."
anwhile, Ron himself focused more attention on Killua.
The next day, their airship landed.
They transferred to a large ship and sailed for half a day until they reached a small island. An elderly couple stood at the port to welco them.
"Hello, everyone."
"We run the only inn on this island."
"Welco."
"Many famous people have stayed with us, so we're sure you won't be disappointed. Also, the two of us were hired by the Hunter Association as examiners."
At these words, the examinee's expressions changed, all gazing at the couple.
The old lady smiled. "Congratulations on making it through the Third Exam. The next round will begin in three days."
"For these three days, feel free to rest and relax here."
"Now, please co with us to the inn."
The examinees froze, and then breathed a collective sigh of relief.
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