Failure... In the Zoldyck Family, known as the "world's top assassin family," this is a nearly impossible word to hear.
Either eliminate the assassination target, or turn around and eliminate the employer. In any case... the mission cannot fail.
But... is this really a mission, young master?
Tsubone was slightly stunned, somewhat in disbelief. At least to the old butler, Roy at this age is definitely not weak, perhaps even stronger than Master Zeno and Master Silva at the same age.
The old butler adjusted his glasses perched on the bridge of his nose, pink pigtails swaying at the back, as she watched the silent father and son, each absorbed in their thoughts... she sensed that things weren't simple...
"I've killed them, but it doesn't feel real." Roy lay in the rocking chair, watching the sun dip towards the mountain peak, recalling the battle just now... Guzman, and two other men and women at the scene all turned into puppets, making him suspect if the person pulling the strings was the one from the original story... who once joined the Phantom Troupe, later killed by Sisko—the
[Divine Puppeteer] and "Eye Collector"—Mian Ying!
Famous for "puppets" as well, able to seize others' Nenryoku for his own, the difference is... he's not that strong!
[Eye of Truth] can pierce through illusions... [Heart's Insect] can eavesdrop on others' inner voices... Roy was very clear, the person he fought was indeed [Psychic Morphine] Guzman, but just as he was about to end him with one strike... he, along with the two men, got swapped out!
"Do you want me to handle it?" After a moment, Silva spoke quietly.
He turned to look at Roy, the young man stood up, seemingly taller than before, almost reaching his nose, and added, "No charge."
Roy laughed, a genuinely happy laugh. He didn't speak, just took a step forward, spreading his not-so-wide arms to hug Silva... just as he had in dreams embraced him, "pat pat~" he tapped his back, saying: "I can handle it."
"If it's really too much, I'll tell father then."
Silva's tall stature stiffened noticeably, hands in pockets, just as he was about to take them out, a gust of wind blew through... raising his eyes again... the young man stepped out with the wind and disappeared in an instant...
Silva: "...."
Feeling suddenly sense of loss.
"Bang~" The door to the study was gently closed.
The man turned his back, arms crossed over his chest, standing before the window and suddenly said: "Investigate, thoroughly!"
"I want to see who is targeting my son!"
Tsubone bowed slightly, "Yes!"
The old eyes behind glasses flashed a cold gleam.
"Tap... tap..." Footsteps echoed in the mottled hallway of the Zoldyck estate...
Leaving his father's study, Roy strolled alone under the sunset, after a few steps, he saw a figure around the corner not far from the study.
Illumi leaned against the wall, mimicking Silva with arms crossed, seeing him approach, he said faintly, "Let me do it."
"I'll help you kill him!"
"Kill who?"
"That Guzman."
"Can you find his true form?"
"I'll find him, eventually." Illumi replied stubbornly: "You don't trust me?"
Roy said nothing, just looked at him lightly,
Illumi let one hand drop to his waist, reaching into a pocket to touch [Divine Spear Wooden Nail], defiantly said: "I have the wooden nail you gave me."
"And then?"
"Has [En] been learned?"
"Has [Ken] been learned?"
"Have you mastered [Breathing Technique]?"
"No..." Illumi said weakly.
Roy flicked a finger on his forehead, "Then what are you waiting for, go and train?"
Illumi bowed his head, voice like a mosquito, "Yes....."
Then took steps, silently heading towards the training room.
The wind blew through the young man's straight, long black hair, the ends fluttering.... Roy paused, watching him leave, thoughts stirred as he watched the sun set, gently breathing out.
This vast world, full of wonders, the realm of Nenryoku, bizarre and strange, it indeed taught him a lesson.
Though his father said nothing, not truly killing Guzman is a fact, one that deserves his vigilance!
The young man watched Illumi leave in silence, until he vanished around the corner, before saying, "Grandfather, tired of lurking all the time?"
Where the sunlight couldn't reach, the shadows shifted to reveal white hair swaying,
With "One Kill a Day, Active Career" emblazoned on his chest, Zeno walked over and stood side by side with the boy, watching the sunset outside, he said in a muffled voice: "Your great-grandfather says he wants you to cook dinner tonight."
"I didn't prepare ingredients."
"He's prepared everything for you."
Roy: "...."
"You're not willing?"
"How could this happen...."
"Hmm." Zeno reached out and pulled the young man forward, comparing their heights with toes touching, and patted Roy's shoulder with a sense of longing, saying, "You've grown up, and there are some things you need to let go of. Failing once is nothing; you'll fail many more times in the future."
"Huh?"
"Strange, isn't it?" Zeno glanced at him, calmly raised four fingers, and said, "Your grandfather also failed four times in his day."
Roy was dumbfounded,
Zeno pretended not to see his vacant expression, looking out the window wistfully, "Don't doubt it. Your father also failed three times back then."
The old man hunched his back, speaking meaningfully, "So, Roy... don't be discouraged. Failure is just failure. When you beat the little ones, the old ones come... If you can't do it, your father and I will back you up."
"If we can't do it,"
"Then let me." A hoarse voice softly floated from the dim yellow room.
Maha, listening to cartoons, rocking back and forth in his chair, seemed content and appeared right before their eyes.
Roy refocused, feeling warmth in his heart, rolled up his sleeves, and said, "I understand, we're having a feast tonight."
Zeno's old eyes were full of satisfaction, and he smiled, "That's the way it should be."
"Hohohoho...." The grandfather and grandson exchanged a look and shared a smile.
They passed each other by, one to the kitchen, the other to the training room, each going their way... After having a sumptuous feast that evening, Roy shook off his weariness from the day out and returned to his bedroom, plunging into the bathroom to begin enhancing.
While rescuing Razor at sea with Ging, he had also unlocked the second "Gate of Cognition"—the Hokage Gate. Roy opened his panel and saw a continuous stream of [Followers] and [Pending Followers] providing him with "Power of Faith"....
Notes,
[Power of Faith: 45 points]
[Life Energy: 70 points]
He turned on the shower, letting the water cascade down....
As always, with a few seconds of mental preparation, he braced for the pain... allocating all "Life Energy" to "Constitution."
[Note: "Life Energy" has been depleted]
[Constitution: 877.5→944.5 (Note: Ordinary human is 1)]
[Manifested Nen Amount: C(40517/100000)→C+（1420/100000）（Note: Rating is benchmarked against ants）]
[Potential Qi Amount: C+（27157/100000）→C+（37841/100000）]
[Evaluation: C+ (Note: Peak Ant Master General level)]
The familiar pain arrived right on time,
Cells divided faster, bone density increased, muscle fibers tore and reformed, thickening and strengthening... finally accompanied by a dull "thump" of the heart....
Roy staggered, his forefinger clawed against the wall, leaving ten deep marks right there.
"Hoo~" One second, two seconds, ten seconds, a minute... about a minute and a half later, the pain subsided....
The young man exhaled a breath of impure air, looked again at [Power of Faith], and without hesitation, allocated it all to the "Nenryoku Property Change" category.....
[Note: "Power of Faith" has been depleted]
["Nenryoku Properties" +45]
[Nenryoku Property Change: Yang: lv4(42416/100000)→lv4（43515/100000）
Yin: lv2(743/1000)→lv3 （142/10000）
Fire: lv3（3451/10000）→lv3(6471/10000)
Water: lv3（1450/10000）→lv3（2474/10000）
Wind: lv1（94/100）→lv2（547/1000）
Earth: lv2(457/1000)→lv2(987/1000)
Note: [Power of Faith] amount is determined by the importance of "Followers".
The stronger the "Follower", the more points they provide.
The more critical the "cause and effect" involving the "Follower", the more points provided.
The reverse is also true.
The panel's notification sounded, and Roy, while washing away the grime under the shower, focused on "cause and effect", contemplating those individuals pivotal enough to change world affairs.
Demon Slayer in relation to "Ubuyashiki" and the "Nine Hashira",
Hunter in relation to "Zoldyck", "Ging", "Netero", "Beyond", "Pariston".....
As for Hokage... the Third Hokage, the Sannin, Danzo, the major bloodline families, and the Uchiha!
Among the Uchiha, of course, Shisui, Itachi, and... Uchiha Obito!
"Nissan... wake up... Obito is here to see you....."