[Recently, multiple robbery-homicides have occurred in our city]
[Reminding all citizens to be aware]
[Stay away from dangerous areas. If you notice anything unusual, report it to the police immediately. Do not act rashly]
[Photos of the culprits are provided below as a warning]
In recent years, the old man had grown tired of H-manga and novels. The last time he went down the mountain, he was secretly ridiculed by his "sisters" for his 'lousy performance'. Heartbroken and determined to change, he moved the TV into Sean's bedroom after returning home. When he had nothing to do, he'd listen to the TV and sleep in his rocking chair.
Fortunately, the Zoldyck family's old castle was grand enough, and Sean's room was large enough. Occasionally glancing at the news while eating was also a decent way to pass the time.
Sean and Maha were having lunch, attended by Gotoh. They casually glanced at the culprit photos—Uvogin, Nobunaga... they were all familiar faces.
The only one the old man didn't recognize was Shizuku. But this didn't stop Maha from shooting Sean a look and mocking, "You brat, this counts as aiding the wicked, doesn't it? If you hadn't gone to Meteor City back then and dealt with those human traffickers, this bunch of brats wouldn't have lived to this day."
"Can't even eating shut your mouth, Jiji?" Sean put a spoonful of scrambled eggs with tomato into his mouth and said expressionlessly, "You know better than I do what kids from Meteor City are like. A dog can't change its nature of eating shit. Since they're willing to eat shit, what does that have to do with me?"
"Hmm... that makes sense." Maha picked up some shredded potatoes with his chopsticks and stuffed them into his mouth. Changing the subject, he suddenly said, "That bunch of brats from Meteor City has nothing to do with you, but using the opportunity to go down the mountain and participate in the Hunter Exam—that does have something to do with you, right?"
The old man's throat moved as he swallowed the potatoes. He said irritably, "Don't play dumb with me. That Netero kid calls every other day. Does he really think I, Maha, am deaf?"
"Bullshit Hunter Exam! You're not allowed to go!"
'This is outrageous! Does he really think of my, Maha's, grandson as a reserve member for his Hunter Association?'
'It's only because it's Netero. If anyone else had called, the old man would guarantee they wouldn't see tomorrow's sun.'
However... "Killua can go. Illumi can go. But I can't?" Sean ignored the old man's verbal warning, slowly rinsed his mouth with fresh chicken soup, and spat ("Pah!") into the trash can Gotoh handed him. He said in a low voice, "Don't worry, Jiji."
"I'm not interested in being a Hunter. Even if I go, it's just for fun."
"First, I already promised Netero. Second, it's to broaden my horizons and gain some experience. That's all."
"Really?" Maha shot him a look.
Sean: "Truer than Mako."
"Mako? What's that?"
"No idea."
Sean burst into mischievous laughter. He took the napkin Gotoh handed him, wiped his mouth, pushed back his chair, and called for Gotoh to pack the fishing gear. With a step, he trod on the air and flew into the sky.
"Moon Step?" The old man's eyes flashed. He laughed and cursed, "Smug brat. To think you've even mastered the 'Six Powers'."
"I'm afraid it's not just the 'Six Powers'." With a head of flaunted white hair, Zeno appeared leisurely with his hands behind his back after Gotoh left with Sean. Ten years... the old dog's back looked even more hunched. He skillfully served himself a bowl of rice and started eating the leftovers on the table.
"I'm telling you, Grandpa, that kid Sean mastered the [Wind] attribute ten years ago. It's nothing strange for him to pull off a 'Moon Step', no need to make a fuss."
'If you know how to eat, then shut up!' With a backhand, Maha nearly slapped Zeno's old face right into the rice bowl. He cursed him out, exasperated, "Where do you get the nerve to talk about me?!"
"You old dog, it's been ten years, and you haven't been willing to see Sean even once. What's wrong?"
"I gave you ten years, and you're still not ready?"
"Ahem." Zeno wretchedly pulled his face out of the bowl, grains of rice sticking all over it. It was sticky and incredibly uncomfortable. He immediately cried foul, "Grandpa, you're being unreasonable! Is it that I'm unwilling to see him?"
"That brat mastered the Wind attribute, and now, relying on 'Pirate King', he's also mastered the Three-Color Haki. I'm afraid he discovered me long ago."
"If you don't believe me, just call out a couple of times. I guarantee he's eavesdropping right now!"
"I'll call your grandma's leg!" Maha slapped Zeno again. "You think I'm a dog, barking 'woof woof'?"
Zeno: "..."
He covered his face aggrievedly and muttered, "I didn't say you were a dog, old man."
As soon as he finished, a "Pfft" of soft laughter abruptly cut in.
Maha, Zeno: "..."
They both looked out the window simultaneously. A wisp of clear breeze carried a sentence, floating in lightly: "Don't look at me. I didn't hear anything."
By a small lake deep in the mountain forest, Sean held a fishing rod and smiled faintly. Gotoh, who was crouching nearby preparing bait, heard the sound and looked over in surprise.
The young master, nearly three meters tall, sat cross-legged like a small mountain, fishing. He turned his head, winked at him, and said, "It's nothing. Just saw two old dogs biting each other."
Gotoh: "?"
He looked around and asked, puzzled, "There are no old dogs... Did you see wrong, Young Master?"
Sean smiled without speaking. His Observation Haki spread out with the breeze in an instant, forming a giant, transparent dome that inverted itself over the entire Kukuroo Mountain. This included the Zoldyck family's old castle at the summit, the butler's manor halfway up the mountain, Canary—who had grown into a young woman—waiting by the mountain path, and Jierongbu, the old security guard at the gatehouse who had retired from the butler's manor years ago. Every single one of them was seen by Sean.
Naturally, Zeno couldn't escape Sean's notice either.
But some things are better left unsaid, even when seen. The young man flicked his arm, and the fishing rod sent the ink-black Nen line, imbued with "Armament Haki", flying into the water, chasing after the swimming fish.
The Sage's prompt echoed in Sean's mind—
[Capture the ripples, listen to the heart of [Water], feel the rhythm of [Water]... Attribute [Water] exploration in progress]
[Admiral "Aokiji" template beginning to unlock.]
[Current unlock progress: 57%.]
'Young Master is really getting more and more ridiculous.'
Hearing the "shoo" sound of something cutting the air and noticing the ink-black Armament Haki Nen line at the end of the fishing rod, Gotoh pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on his nose. He looked down at the bait in his hands, and then at the fishing line he had dutifully prepared... it was all completely pointless.
Fortunately, the fish basket was still somewhat useful. In the evening, after filling the basket with fresh fish, Gotoh shouldered the basket and followed Sean, walking back to the old castle bathed in the sunset.
Servant behind, master in front. Just then, the Sage reminded Sean:
[You have experienced an afternoon of fishing and exploration, further deepening your understanding of the [Water] attribute]
[Admiral "Aokiji" template loading progress advancing...]
[Current unlock progress: 57%→58%]
'It really is just a little bit every day, huh.' The corner of Sean's mouth pulled up in a slight smile. Stepping on the afterglow of the sunset, his figure flickered and instantly disappeared deep into the mountain forest.
But just before disappearing, he seemingly inadvertently glanced at the southwest corner.
A large tree in the southwest corner rustled in the wind. After witnessing Sean completely disappear, a human-shaped piece of paper peeked out from behind the tree and silently followed.