It turns out Hisoka had always been frustrated about not finding a chance to fight Chrollo one-on-one. When he decided to try a different approach, Illumi suddenly got in touch.
He said that, unless something unexpected happened, he was set to officially join the Phantom Troupe. He hoped Hisoka would stop bothering their leader.
Before Hisoka could share his views on free fighting, Illumi added that if Hisoka was willing to trick Chrollo onto the ship heading to the Dark Continent and get Chrollo to accept the Zoldyck family's targeted trials, then Illumi would help create a space with just Chrollo and Hisoka in it, so the two could fight to their hearts' content.
Hisoka already knew Alluka had some amazing abilities, so he wasn't worried about whether Illumi could keep his promise.
Saiki Kusuo: Isn't this really betraying the leader, big brother!
Oh man, what is going on here?
Saiki Kusuo, who heard Hisoka's thoughts, gradually fell silent. Why was Illumi so sure he could make that promise? Was it really that simple? Chrollo wasn't easy to trick, right? This made him think of Illumi from the Succession Contest arc. Could it be...
In the elevator, Chrollo already knew that this female companion's view of him was no longer favorable to his plans, but he didn't just let her go. Instead, on the second floor, he invited her out of the elevator. The moment the doors closed, Chrollo knocked her out with one hand.
Chrollo: [At least for the next two days, she shouldn't spread negative news about me. Her phone is fingerprint unlocked, so I can borrow it to contact some more valuable people...]
Saiki Kusuo: This is one heck of a jerk.
When the elevator reached the first floor, Saiki Kusuo vanished on the spot and returned to the Zoldyck home first.
He had only been in the Dark Continent for a few days, and in that short time, the Zoldyck home hadn't changed much.
Whoa! You scared me, Kusuo! Don't just pop up like that.
Oh, that voice belongs to Milluki.
When Saiki Kusuo turned around, he saw a one-meter-eighty tall young man with big eyes. He was a bit stocky, but not fat.
[Who is this...?]
Big brother, what are you surprised about? Is it because I was a bit chubby when you saw me a few days ago? Ah, I don't really know, but it feels like I lost a little weight just from going to the bathroom.
Milluki said loudly, with pride written all over his face. [Heh heh, surprised you, huh! I exercised all night without sleep and almost got liposuction, but I stuck with it. If big brother came back any later, I'd be back to my old weight.]
You know exactly what's going on. It wouldn't matter if you were the same weight as before; you've grown taller.
Brother...!
Oh, that's Kalluto's voice! Saiki Kusuo turned around.
He saw the very familiar outfit, a kimono.
Kalluto has gone back to normal too.
Saiki Kusuo greeted them: [I'm back. I have some things to look into. Milluki, tell me about... ] Killua and Alluka's location.
He wanted to say that, but suddenly a scream pierced through, almost loud enough to burst an ordinary person's eardrums.
Ah—!
To be honest, it had been a while since he'd heard a sound like that, and it felt a bit nostalgic.
Milluki's girlfriend!!
No!
Huh?! Milluki's girlfriend!? This guy is only fourteen!
That was the voice of a cool, familiar little boy.
Fourteen is already puberty! So what if he has a girlfriend?
Milluki shot back.
You guys are so grown up already.
Saiki Kusuo looked up toward the source of the voices.
White-haired Killua was sitting cross-legged on the roof. Please, Kusuo doesn't even have a girlfriend.
Human feelings aren't necessary.
Idiot! This girl is Kusuo! I recognized him the first time we met.
Milluki said.
I remember you mistaking me for my girlfriend the first time we met.
The two kids were as lively as ever. After arguing for a bit, everyone finally accepted that Saiki Kusuo had turned into a girl.
The Dark Continent really has everything... Kikyo covered her mouth with her fan, her electronic eyes flickering with surprise. [Baby, why didn't you dress up a bit! No way, I absolutely won't allow a Zoldyck girl to go without proper clothes!]
Why call a girl "baby"? I am wearing clothes, so don't make it sound like I'm running around naked.
Kusuo, come with Mom.
Kikyo lifted the hem of her skirt and headed inside.
Wait, I still have questions.
Come on! Kusuo! Are you not going to listen to Mom now? You used to be such an obedient child...
Ugh, pulling the mom card is so sneaky. I have no interest in dress-up play.
Shizuku, hurry and prepare some snacks! Especially that coffee jelly thing; you've already made it, right?
Saiki Kusuo quickly followed.
Thinking about it, taking a little break now and then to enjoy some coffee jelly is necessary.
Even though he knew he was about to face the terrifying trial of trying on countless outfits.
Changing clothes would take a whole day. Kikyo had wanted a girl in the family for a long time. Even though they had six boys, there were all kinds of women's clothes, from small sizes to adult ones, from modern to vintage, everything imaginable.
To change clothes smoothly, Saiki Kusuo even turned up the intensity of his ability suppressor. That was the convenience of the new version.
But the side effect of increasing the suppressor's intensity was getting tired easily. By night, Saiki Kusuo had no energy to ask anyone anything. Wearing the cute killer bear pajamas Kikyo prepared, he went back to his room and crashed.
Next door, the real Gotoh was writing a letter.
: Master Illumi, Master Kusuo has returned to the Zoldyck home in a female body. From what I can see of his abilities, it's definitely the real Master Kusuo...
Gotoh was writing furiously to tip off Illumi.
Illumi should be in the Dark Continent now, and there's no internet there. How would this message get through?
Gotoh burned the paper, and just like that, the information was sent far away.
It seems the Dark Continent, like Greed Island, has developed many magical items.
Well, that's to be expected.
Saiki Kusuo watched it all, then went back to sleep.
...
The next day, Saiki Kusuo finally had time to gather his siblings and ask them some questions.
About Illumi's activities after he left.
He comes home sometimes, but mostly he's out.
That's normal; Illumi has always been like that.
Before boarding the ship, for nearly a year, he took on 50% fewer assassin jobs than usual.
Wasn't he always the most hardworking? What changed?
But he didn't earn any less money. He got hit with two big payments that year, each one a huge sum.
Sounds like he definitely joined the Phantom Troupe. And after joining, they split the loot!
For each of Saiki Kusuo's questions, Milluki would open a file, find it, and quickly close it again.
[Opening and closing like that must be annoying, right?]
Big brother, we've never snooped on big brother's stuff!
[This is a proper investigation.]
But this is big brother's income details!!
I get it; you're scared of Illumi.
Brother, are you suspecting big brother Illumi of something...
Alluka hugged her teddy bear nearby. No way! Big brother Illumi is great! He even sends us pocket money on time!
Is that how he knows where you are?
Looking at big brother's files makes me nervous. Can we check something else? Oh, right, big brother, your company has made a ton of money these days!
Those are just material things; don't tell me how much exactly.
But big brother invested it all in new businesses.
Why?
We were wondering too why big brother would touch your money, but it was after he talked to Dad and Dad agreed.
Saiki Kusuo thought it over.
Illumi still respects his property, so this is a breakthrough. Why would he use it?
[Is there a more detailed record? It's all in the file room, right?] Saiki Kusuo took off his thin gloves.
Touching those file records would let his mind-reading tell him the answers.
Oh, it's all on the computer now. It's the tech age, big brother.
Saiki Kusuo silently put his gloves back on.
[What happened? I was only gone for a few months.]
Milluki: A few months is plenty of time for things to happen!
Alluka: Yeah, brother and Gon both...
Killua suddenly covered Alluka's mouth.
[Right, what about Gon? Why isn't he with you two?]
Without the Chimera Ant arc, Killua should still be traveling with Gon. No matter how much changed, it was just adding Alluka.
Gon shouldn't be in danger anymore, right?
Well, that... Gon isn't around right now, but...
Killua stammered. [Gon went to find his dad. I thought about Alluka coming home. Alluka is a Zoldyck kid like us. Why should she always be stuck at home?]
If big brother really wants to know...
[Oh, if you don't want to say, it's fine.] I've already figured it out. As long as Gon is alive, that's good.
Huh? You don't need anyone to explain now!?
Then say it if you want to.
Well, anyway! I realized Alluka was always locked up at home. For so many years, I've felt guilty for not being a good brother, just going off to play on my own without taking Alluka. Over the months, I didn't take her out to eat good food or see festivals... All those fun things!
Killua listed his wrongs one by one, his eyes glaring at Milluki, who was their triplet.
Hey, kid, why are you always glaring at me while listing? You're criticizing me, right! My relationship with Alluka is great. The only one who ran away and never came back is you. I play with Alluka every day!!
Milluki pointed at Killua and yelled.
Ha? Who believes that? You only know how to chat online with those female net friends! You don't even know how much money you've been scammed out of. We don't have a guy in the family as easy to fool as you!
Killua made faces at Milluki.
The two kids were lively as ever.
Saiki Kusuo rarely got to eat coffee jelly again. After finishing his two portions, his eyes glanced at Milluki's share.
Let me taste it for you, Milluki. A kid on a diet shouldn't eat sweets.
Alluka noticed Saiki Kusuo's craving for the coffee jelly and quietly passed her share to him from the side.
Good kid, this child has always been one who loves to share.
[Thanks, Alluka. You don't want yours?]
Alluka shook her head: I've had coffee jelly lots of times. I can have it anytime I want, as long as I stay home.
Alluka paused for a moment, then changed the subject: Brother... are you going to stay after this?
[Well, about that.] Saiki Kusuo took a spoonful of coffee jelly and chewed it slowly. Twice. Mm... The Zoldyck's professional dessert maker isn't kidding. It even added a bit extra on top... yeah, just a bit.
From behind, Shizuku's thoughts appeared: [I specially added a little poison to Master Alluka's share. Did Master Saiki Kusuo notice?]
Don't get creative in a place like this.
Brother? You're not answering me? Alluka tugged at Saiki Kusuo's clothes, her worry clear.
Ah... Alluka, we talked about this, right? Killua noticed the situation. Just like I had to go out, Kusuo has his reasons too. Don't stop him!
No, I'm not some rebellious type like you.
I know! But brother Kusuo's leaving is different; it's dangerous, and... [It feels like he'll never come back.]
Hey, the outside world is dangerous, sure, but we have to trust Kusuo's strength, right? Killua hugged Alluka and patted her head like a proper big brother.
Surprising, Killua can be thoughtful now.
[You're right, Alluka. I do have to go back to the Dark Continent, but I'll come back.] Saiki Kusuo said.
Mm? Alluka peeked out from Killua's arms, her two big blue eyes fixed on Saiki Kusuo.
[No matter how many times I leave after this, I'll use teleportation or some other ability to return to this home.]
Alluka's eyes lit up.
—"Then!"
...
Saiki Kusuo stood on the soil of the Dark Continent, a rope in his hand.
The rope was long, tied to a line of Zoldyck kids, butlers, and a pet.
Well, no choice. Alluka's requests are always hard to refuse.
After agreeing with Alluka, Killua, who now really wanted to protect his sister, of course came along.
With Killua and Alluka here, Milluki, being their triplet, couldn't stay behind no matter how stubborn he acted. He complained a lot, but Saiki Kusuo just pulled him into the group.
With the three kids here, there was no reason to leave home-loving Kalluto behind.
Now almost all the Zoldyck kids were in the Dark Continent, so it made sense to bring some butlers for protection, adding two more.
With butlers, bringing a small five-story-tall pet dog Mike isn't too much...
No, it is too much, right? The first parts were okay, but what's with this last dog? It's not just helping clear obstacles; its sheer size is a huge obstacle! So big and obvious—put a massive creature like that in the Dark Continent and it'll be treated like a wild monster to hunt!
Woof mm! [So happy, so excited! Out playing with one, two, three, four, five little humans.] Mike's tail wagged like a fan.
It even knows there are five... Whatever, it's already here.
[The little human who always takes care of me and feeds me sometimes!] (To Mike, all humans are "little.")
Who are you calling little human? I'll send you right back. Saiki Kusuo reached out.
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