novelraw Chapter 316 317 : Ging's Invitation X Tsubone's Loyalty
Chapter 316 317 : Ging's Invitation X Tsubone's Loyalty
The greater the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.
Vice versa, the more expensive the fish, the greater the wind and waves behind it!
Chimera Ants devoured and evolved without an upper limit. First they ate fish, then humans, and then Nen users... The higher the level of the "food" captured... the greater the potential and strength of the offspring produced by the "Ant Queen."
In other words... compared to professional Gourmet Hunters of the Hunter Association like Menchi and Buhara, the ants were the true—
Gourmet Hunters!
"Rumble..." The dining cart rolled over the stone floor, emitting a series of pleasant, light sounds.
It was past noon. Tsubone had coaxed Amane and Canary to sleep, went around to the back kitchen, and brought lunch.
Sitting at the desk, Roy heavily circled the word "Ants" with his pen. After pondering for a long time, he casually conjured a cluster of flames and burned the paper to ashes.
"Young Master, the Master ordered half a steamed fish to be sent over."
"Leave it there."
The firelight dissipated... The young man pushed back his chair, stood up, paced over to the dining table, and began to eat.
The freshly steamed fish was the very same one Zeno had caught in the pool.
It hadn't been killed by the shockwaves from his clash with Silva at the time, but it ended up dead on the dining table anyway. He really didn't know if that counted as its fortune or misfortune... Roy took the chopsticks Tsubone handed him, peeled off a piece of fish meat, and put it in his mouth. He took a small bite. It was fresh and tender, lacking the peculiar fishy smell of ocean fish. Obviously, the kitchen had put thought into it. He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Reply to that Hunter named Kite. Just say... I already know."
"Once he makes any progress, he can notify me."
The young man quickly finished the fish, leaving only the tail bone lying alone on the plate. He said, "I don't mind going down the mountain to relax."
"Yes," Tsubone replied respectfully, making a mental note of "Kite." She thought to herself... *It seems the Young Master is paying close attention to this so-called biological control team.* As she scooped a bowl of rice and handed it to Roy, she said, "Young Master, besides this Kite, just now, that 'Ging' you mentioned last time also called."
"Speak."
Tsubone wore a strange expression. "He said that if you are free recently, he would like to invite you to try out a new game he recently developed..."
Roy raised an eyebrow. Calculating the time, Gon and Killua had been born one after another. It wasn't surprising that Greed Island was completed around this time... However, he didn't have the free time to play some game designed to pit a son against his father with Ging. If there was truly anything in Greed Island that could attract him, it would only be those bizarre [Cards]!
For example, [Accompany],
For example, [One-Tsubo Coastline],
For example, [Breath of Archangel],
For example, [Ruler's Blessing], etc. Openly or secretly, they could enhance his understanding of [Nen Abilities], which would be somewhat useful.
Roy took a bite of braised pork with his rice and, without a second thought, directly refused...
Tsubone raised her eyebrows, her expression turning even stranger. "Young Master, that Ging said he knew you would refuse, so he also asked if you have any travel plans recently."
"For what?"
The old butler, wearing her twin braids, spoke cautiously, "He said it's fine if you don't play the game, but for the sake of your past prison break together, he invites you to go somewhere with him."
"Where?" Roy paused his chopsticks, faintly sensing something, and cast a casual glance over.
He saw Tsubone's expression turn solemn as she slowly spat out three words... "The Dark Continent!"
"He wants to invite the Young Master to accompany him to find his wife!"
"You are not allowed to go..." A sudden, leisurely voice penetrated the thick walls and drifted in...
In that instant, it was as if one could once again see that sky-blotting fist pressing down suffocatingly on one's skull...
Roy spread his hands, casting a faint glance toward the dim little room out of the corner of his eye, and said gently, "You heard him."
Tsubone bowed deeply toward the east from afar, then straightened her back and said in a deep voice, "I will reject him right away."
Roy nodded noncommittally, recalling the aloof face he had once seen in Ging's heart. Sure enough... the only woman who could tie down a prodigal's heart was one who came from that place!
*Her name is Vivian...* The young man picked up his chopsticks again, silently picked up a piece of braised pork, and tossed it into his mouth. After a long while, he said quietly, "While you're at it, go prepare a pot of chrysanthemums. Grandpa's death anniversary is approaching, and I don't want the old man saying I'm insensible."
At the mention of Zigg, Tsubone was visibly dazed for a moment. Recalling the past, those eventful years were still vivid in her mind.
She silently lowered her head and said, "Yes."
"I will specifically instruct the gardener to note the Young Master's name."
"That won't be necessary." Roy waved his hand. "As long as Grandpa Zigg knows, it's fine. Whether it's me, Illumi, Milluki, or Killua... it makes no difference..."
"That's different," Tsubone placed her right hand over her chest and bowed solemnly. "The Young Master is the Young Master, and Young Master Illumi is Young Master Illumi. I will give the order to prepare a pot for them as well."
Roy put down his chopsticks and turned his head to glance at the old butler. Tsubone, tall as a gorilla, was not inferior to Silva in terms of physique, and she was even on par with Biscuit in her true form.
The only difference lay in talent... Roy substituted Nen threads for swords, quietly separating a wisp of aura to tap the old butler lightly on her left and right shoulders. He raised his hand in a lifting motion, and then... conjured a "whirlwind" to gently help her up...
"You are very thoughtful." The young man's beautiful silver hair draped behind his head, the ends flowing with a glazed golden light. He looked gently at this legendary figure in the Zoldyck butler world and smiled warmly. "I think when Grandpa Zigg returns and sees you healthy and still active in the family, he will definitely be very happy."
Tsubone sniffled, faint tears swirling in her old eyes, which she quickly concealed by adjusting her glasses.
Taking advantage of lowering her head, she pulled out a tissue and handed it to Roy. "Young Master, wipe your mouth."
Roy gave a noncommittal hum, slowly took the tissue, and quietly watched her clean up the messy dining table. As she pushed the dining cart toward the door, he suddenly called out to her, "Tsubone, you've seen Gotoh's current state as well."
The old butler's tall frame suddenly paused. With her back to Roy, she nodded silently.
Immediately after, the young man broke into a smile at her, waving his hand. "If he can do it, naturally, you can too."
Tsubone's body trembled, and she said in a muffled voice, "Please rest assured, Young Master. Although I am old, I am not dead yet. I can still move!"
Regardless of seniority, just in terms of strength, the old butler believed she was not necessarily inferior to the former Gotoh... She turned around, solemnly dropped to one knee to bow to Roy again, and then pushed the dining cart away, disappearing from Roy's sight with surging ambition...
At that moment, a light chuckle drifted leisurely from the dim little room, sounding like sleep talk...
"Hehe, Maha, the kid's skill at winning people's hearts is not necessarily inferior to yours back in the day..."
Amidst the steaming aura, Betty Zoldyck's slender waist was grasped by Maha and pulled into his embrace...
The old man rocked his rocking chair on his own and chuckled, "Don't you see whose seed he is?"
Suddenly, this drew an eye roll from Betty...
"Hehehe..." Maha didn't care at all, reaching out to pat Betty Zoldyck's bottom.
A coquettish and cheerful atmosphere subsequently permeated the small room...
"Dong—" One o'clock in the afternoon. "Dong—" Two o'clock in the afternoon... On this pleasant afternoon, accompanied by the continuous striking of the wooden clock in the corner... About half a day passed. After Roy ate lunch and dinner in succession, the aura in his body, which had been depleted after the battle with Silva, was quickly replenished and perfected...
He then went to the window, using the moonlight to watch the willow tree in the garden stretch its branches, swaying in the wind and rustling.
Turning around, he paced to the side of the bed and summoned the Three-legged Golden Crow...
"This time, don't sleep so dead," the young man grabbed the glowing golden ahoge on top of the Three-legged Golden Crow's head and rubbed it vigorously... This earned him an eye roll from Xiao Jin, who argued back, "I didn't, don't slander me!"
Roy was taken aback and looked at it in surprise. "You can talk?"
Xiao Jin shook its head to shake off Roy's large hand, proudly puffing out its chest. "Is it that strange? Who doesn't know how to talk? It was just a matter of taking a nap."
Was it... really that easy?
Why didn't he know that other people's Nen Beasts could talk?
For example, Biscuit's "Cookie-chan"... Razor's "14 Devils," or even Ging's "Feichuo's Parrot," were far from reaching Xiao Jin's level of intelligence, even though... a [Nen Beast] itself was also a product conjured by a Nen user based on [Mental Reflection]...
Roy glared at Xiao Jin in amusement and quietly called up its status panel—
[Racial Talent: Sun Chasing (Inactive)... Control Sunfire: LV4 (70,000/100,000) -> LV4 (78,000/100,000)... Drive Chariot: LV1 (37/100) -> LV1 (88/100) (Note: Activated)]
Roy focused on the [Language] column and gradually understood... It wasn't that the Three-legged Golden Crow couldn't speak; it was restricted by its "growth"... The young man raised his hand and gently patted Xiao Jin's head, saying warmly, "Sorry about that... I've wronged you..."
"Gah!" Xiao Jin tilted its head up, rubbing its beak against Roy's palm, and said, "I'm not wronged, Xiao Jin is not wronged."
"Master, you go to sleep. I'll keep watch for you..."
With that, it flapped its wings and flew to Roy's pillow, retracting its claws and settling into a serious hen-like squat.
Seeing this, Roy chuckled lightly and said, "You don't have to be so serious."
With Maha at home, Roy didn't believe anyone could harm him, but...
"That stinky old man and that stinky little brother, do we really not need to watch out for them?" Xiao Jin tilted its head, staring at Roy.
With a thought, he immediately projected the faces of Netero and Illumi through the [Soul Corridor]...
Roy's face darkened, and he said seriously, "You're right. We absolutely cannot let those two in."
Xiao Jin nodded solemnly, spread its right wing, and gave Roy a stiff salute. "Leave it to me."
Roy nodded, walked into the shower, took a quick rinse, and came out. Using [Scorching True Intent], he evaporated the residual water on his skin, then lay on the bed, hands folded over his lower abdomen, and slowly closed his eyes.
At night, the mountain breeze blew gently, dispelling a trace of the midsummer heat.
Soon, a faint "snoring" sound emerged...
The young man emptied his mind, his consciousness sinking deeper and deeper. Just like in the past, he passed through the [Gate of Cognition] and arrived at his cognitive world. The first thing he saw was the familiar dream corridor.
The colorful dream corridor revealed a glimmer of light. From the other side of the light, the sound of the tide rising and falling, of waves crashing against the beach, could be faintly heard. That was the Sea of Cognition calling to him...
With his silver hair draped behind his head, Roy didn't rush in. Instead, he stopped at the entrance of the corridor and looked at the two swirling vortexes on the left and right. His deep gaze penetrated them... seeing Vanessa and Old Kohler respectively.
"Sorry for the wait. Tomorrow morning at four o'clock, right before dawn, we will hold a meeting on time..."
His will wrapped in aura, following Roy's thought, drifted lightly into the vortexes.
Then, the vortexes trembled. To the naked eye, it could be seen... inside the vortexes, the snake-woman and the dog-headed man suddenly shifted their gazes, excitedly placing their hands over their chests in a salute, chanting, "Praise the Sun."
Slowly, two streams of Faith Power separated from the two of them and gently landed on Roy.
"It increased?"
6 points of Faith Power pocketed.
Roy was slightly taken aback. He looked down at the two threads of karma he had established with Vanessa and Old Kohler. As his gaze shifted, he understood clearly... It was almost the same principle as with Xiao Jin.
As the bond between himself and his believers deepened, the Faith Power they could provide him increased. Of course... the responsibilities he invisibly had to shoulder also grew greater...
Risks and rewards coexisted; the law of equivalent exchange truly didn't deceive anyone...
His thoughts fluttering, Roy slowly withdrew his gaze from the vortexes, took a step forward, and plunged into the dream corridor. With another glance, he chased the light to the Sea of Cognition. Without hesitation, he bypassed the [Demon Slayer Gate], stopped briefly in front of the [Dark Continent Gate] branded with complex patterns,
Turned around, pushed open the [Naruto Gate] behind him, and stepped inside...
"Nii... Nii..."
"Wake up, Shisui is here..."
A faint, indistinct call echoed in his ears.
The door opened, and a familiar sensation of falling struck him...
When Roy temporarily detached from the real world and opened his eyes once again, he was already in his home in Konoha, his head cradled in the arms of a small Itachi...