In HxH with Doraemon Pocket

"After all, they're thieves, not assassins. It's not their area of expertise, so it's understandable."

Sitting across from Silva Zoldyck was the previous family head and Silva's father, Zeno Zoldyck.

Sporting the wise appearance of an elder, his sharp eyes occasionally gleamed with a hidden brilliance. Zeno twirled his long, drooping mustache with one hand, his legs crossed.

On his chest were the family's signature mottos:

"Active Service" and "One Kill a Day."

"The Kud Pirates might currently be a renowned thieving syndicate, but they're outdated—unable to keep up with modern times," Zeno remarked, tapping his temple for emphasis.

When Zeno said "outdated," he wasn't referring to their age or how long they'd been around but to their antiquated ways of thinking and methods.

"Thievery is ultimately unsustainable. If it were, our ancestors might have chosen to be thieves instead of founding an assassin lineage."

Zeno chuckled lightly. "It's obvious: assassination is a profession that can stand the test of time."

"Following the rules of survival in this world and earning the quickest money—what other profession compares to being an assassin?"

"Our ancestors had a far clearer vision than we do." Zeno sighed wistfully.

Zeno was known for being chatty, growing even more so with age. Compared to his grandfather Maha Zoldyck, who rarely left his room and spent his time in a rocking chair watching cartoons, Zeno was remarkably active.

"True," Silva acknowledged, nodding. "When I handed my business card to the Kud Pirates, they were already on the decline. I suppose I knew this day would come eventually."

Silva's voice was steady. "But I didn't expect it to come so soon."

"Well, isn't that good news for us? At least it means another lucrative job," Zeno replied with a sly grin, glancing at Canary, who stood respectfully to the side.

"The target is someone named Washi Torō, a renowned Floor Master at Heaven's Arena, currently well-regarded in the martial arts world," Canary informed them, her diligence as a butler evident.

When she accepted a job, she thoroughly investigated the target's identity and presented it to Zeno and Silva.

"They're offering this much?"

Even Zeno raised an eyebrow at the sum. "That must be most of their collective savings from all these years."

"What exactly did this Washi Torō do to make Kud so desperate for revenge?"

Canary remained silent. Digging into irrelevant details wasn't part of her duty.

"What do you think, Dad?" Silva turned to Zeno, his expression contemplative. "If they're offering this much, the target must be extremely challenging to deal with."

"Or," Zeno added, "the grudge is so deep that Kud won't rest until he's carved up into a thousand pieces."

Zeno smirked. "Still, a job's a job. We're assassins, after all."

Rising from his seat, Zeno clasped his hands behind his back. "This time, I'll join you on the mission."

"With this much money at stake, it's only right to give it our all."

Zeno's decision to accompany Silva underscored the significance of the job—not just due to the difficulty but out of respect for the payment.

"Two of us will also ensure the client doesn't get killed before we complete the job." Zeno reminded.

Otherwise, they'd lose out on payment entirely—a risk Zeno couldn't tolerate.

"I understand, Dad." Silva nodded.

"Oh, by the way," Zeno added, "this Washi Torō is a Floor Master at Heaven's Arena, right?"

"Shouldn't we consider sending little Killua there for training soon?"

"Not yet," Silva replied casually. "He's still undergoing electric resistance and poison training. This is the foundational stage."

"Besides, Kikyo is closely monitoring his progress. So far, the results look promising."

"When he turns six, we'll think about Heaven's Arena," Silva concluded.

"Six years old, huh? That works."

Zeno had no objections. "Killua is the most talented in our family's history. If he trains properly, his accomplishments might surpass those of my father and grandfather. Maybe even beyond that."

Zeno's father, Zigg Zoldyck, had earned recognition from Netero himself, forming a three-person team to venture into the Dark Continent.

And Zeno's grandfather, Maha Zoldyck, said Netero was the only one who fought him and survived.

Zeno's high expectations for Killua reflected just how much potential he saw in him.

"That's why I'm not in a rush to open his aura nodes," Silva said firmly, outlining his meticulous plan for Killua.

"By letting him solidify his foundations and master his body, he'll advance faster when he eventually learns Nen."

"Even after Killua reaches the 200th floor, I'll pull him back for more training. I won't let him immerse himself in the world of Nen too early."

"That's wise," Zeno agreed, before shaking his head with a wry smile. "But it's a shame about Illumi."

Zeno's tone grew reflective.

"Truthfully, Illumi's skill and talent make him more than capable of being the next head of the Zoldyck family."

"But he lacks the family's hallmark silver hair, and then there's his twisted personality…"

For an assassin, nothing was more crucial than a calm and composed mindset. Illumi, however, had a fatal flaw in that regard.

"Things were fine before, but ever since Killua was born, Illumi's behavior has become even more extreme."

Zeno sighed.

Silva, recalling Illumi's unsettling gaze whenever he looked at Killua, couldn't help but feel a twinge of unease.

The two men continued chatting idly as they walked outside.

"Still, Illumi learned Nen early and progressed quickly. He'll no doubt carry the Zoldyck banner in the future."

"As for Milluki…"

Zeno's expression shifted. "Aside from his tendency to be scatterbrained, his inventions are… amusing, at best."

"That's about the extent of it," Silva said, sounding resigned.

"Hasn't it been a while since he left his room?"

"Yeah, since his last mission, he hasn't stepped outside…"

Silva's voice trailed off.

Even opening Milluki's aura nodes was impossible—he was too reclusive to even meet face-to-face.

The Zoldycks prided themselves on raising each child to unlock their potential. Illumi and Killua had followed this path, and so would Kalluto in the future.

But Milluki?

He had turned the Zoldycks' legacy on its head with his habits.

"Imagine that—the world's greatest assassin family, home to a certified shut-in," Zeno muttered, exasperated.

"And the worst part? He's… surprisingly normal compared to the rest of us."

It was as if a sheep had accidentally wandered into a den of wolves.

The dynamic interactions within the family are intricate and layered, showcasing a blend of unusual relationships, emerging talents, and distinct personalities.

Despite the stark contrast in style, Milluki's existence and his interactions with Killua and others felt surprisingly natural.

"How's Kalluto doing recently?"

Zeno shifted the conversation to the youngest child in the family.

"Better than I expected."

Silva provided an objective assessment.

"From what I can see, he's more suited to being an assassin than Illumi."

"Even at just two years old, he exhibits a maturity well beyond his age. His thoughts are meticulous, and he maintains exceptional emotional control."

It was rare for Silva to offer such praise.

"He has a rare natural disposition for the profession."

"Not bad," Zeno agreed, his long mustache twitching slightly.

"What about his talent?"

"It's comparable to Illumi's but still far from Killua's. He's currently under Kikyo's guidance."

At this point, Silva paused.

Due to Kalluto's young age and sharp mind, Kikyo always kept him close, personally instructing him. However, Kikyo's excessive expectations for Killua inadvertently influenced Kalluto during his formative years.

This caused Kalluto's perspective to skew slightly, similar to Illumi's peculiar fixation.

Occasionally, Silva would notice Kalluto looking at Killua with a gaze that nearly matched Illumi's intensity.

Moreover, for reasons known only to Kikyo, she had taken to dressing Kalluto in feminine attire, even treating him like a daughter.

Silva sometimes wondered if entrusting Kalluto's upbringing to Kikyo was a mistake, especially when he saw Kalluto's extraordinarily delicate, doll-like features.

However, seeing that Kalluto seemed to be thriving, showed no objections to his lifestyle or appearance, and excelled in honing his skills and training, Silva refrained from intervening—for now.

Still, Illumi suspected Kalluto's compliance with such attire stemmed from Kikyo planting ideas like, "Your brother Killua will love you more if you dress like this."

This fueled Illumi's frustrations, as he believed Kikyo's actions were redirecting attention toward Killua, undermining his own position in Killua's eyes—even if, in truth, he held no position to begin with.

As Silva and Zeno continued their journey, they reviewed the status of the younger generation, except for one member notably absent from their discussion.

"What about that... creature from the darkness?"

Finally, Zeno couldn't help but bring up the family's fourth child, Alluka.

Alluka Zoldyck, the family's fourth child, was born like any other Zoldyck descendant.

Initially, he seemed no different from the other children. In fact, compared to the aloof and intimidating presences of Illumi and Kalluto, the small and innocent Alluka was endearing and approachable.

With his sparkling, wide eyes reminiscent of Killua's, Alluka easily won the affection of the household staff.

But this bliss was short-lived.

As Alluka grew older, profound changes began to surface.

When the other entity within Alluka awakened, it brought with it an extraordinary ability.

Initially, this ability was mitigated by Killua's hugs, unwittingly neutralizing its effects.

But over time, everything began to change...

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