Fifteen minutes later, Killua had changed into a fresh long-sleeved shirt, making sure it covered all his injuries. Then, he and Kalluto set off for the reception hall.
The moment he stepped inside, he was met with the sound of laughter. Looking over, he saw his father engaged in a lively conversation with Gon and Leorio.
Silva turned to Killua with a faint smile.
"Killua, your friends are quite interesting. They told me all about how you passed the Hunter Exam together. Why didn't you ever mention it to me?"
Hearing those words, Killua's heart skipped a beat before settling back into its normal rhythm.
"Father... actually, I was planning to talk about this later..."
Killua hesitated, his words stumbling a bit.
Silva smiled faintly, not minding it.
"I see. Well, come on, take good care of your friends. They've been waiting for you for a long time."
Killua instinctively obeyed and walked over, but his heart grew heavier with each step.
Seeing Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio did make him happy—after all, they were some of the few real friends he had.
But at the same time, he couldn't help but worry. How were they supposed to leave the Zoldyck estate safely?
His father and grandfather might be reasonable, and he could probably handle his mother and Milluki... but Illumi—
Illumi was a completely different problem.
He couldn't defeat Illumi. He couldn't outtalk him either.
What was he supposed to do?
If Illumi really wanted to force him back into being an assassin, he wouldn't hesitate to kill Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio.
How could he stop him?
Should he act spoiled and beg his father and grandfather to help get them out safely?
But even if they left, Illumi could still go after them outside the estate.
That was exactly the kind of thing Illumi would do, and their father wouldn't even blame him for it.
The more Killua thought about it, the more his head hurt. He couldn't even muster the energy to greet Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio properly as they walked up to him.
Then, in the middle of the conversation, his eyes accidentally landed on someone sitting nearby—Germain.
Killua's heart skipped a beat.
Germain? That's Germain, right?
Why is he here?!
Kalluto only mentioned Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio. He didn't say a single word about Germain, so Killua was completely caught off guard.
Then, all of a sudden, a bold idea popped into his head.
I remember about a year ago, Germain, Illumi, and that guy named "Hisoka" were known as the three strongest.
In other words, Germain and Illumi's abilities should be about the same.
Even if Illumi is stronger than Germain, Germain could definitely hold him off!
I can tell Germain seems to be quite nice to me. If I manage to ask him, maybe he'll be willing to help Gon and the others get out of here!
But with so many people around, how can I subtly ask him for help without raising suspicion?
Killua forced a smile while talking to Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio, his mind racing.
Then, the next moment, he noticed the look on his father's face—a smile that wasn't really a smile.
Ah... Why is my father looking at me like that?
Could it be that he's already guessed what I'm planning?
Silva did speak up, but he asked Killua something else.
"Killua, do you want to travel outside with your friends?"
Killua was stunned in surprise. He never thought that his strict father would ask him such a question.
Is this something he can actually allow?
After a long pause, he finally nodded.
"I... I want to go..."
Silva smiled lightly.
"There's no need to be so nervous, Killua. I don't mind you traveling with your friends. After all, this is your life. I won't interfere."
Killua was completely stunned, unable to respond. This was not the kind of attitude he expected from his father.
"No! Absolutely not!"
Kikyo could no longer hold herself back. She stood up and faced Silva, her skirt floating like a jellyfish before it fell.
"Killua is destined to be an assassin. He also has the qualifications to be the future heir of the Zoldyck family! How could he go out and play at such a critical time?!"
Seeing his mother and hearing that same old argument, Killua couldn't help but frown and speak out in protest.
"I wasn't playing outside! I was doing something important. Didn't I pass the Hunter Exam?"
"That doesn't mean anything!"
Kikyo lifted her skirt with both hands, quickly walking toward Killua, and looking down at her most precious son.
"You're out there, but you're definitely not learning anything! You're supposed to be the number one assassin of the Zoldyck family. You have the talent, you shouldn't waste it…"
"I'm not wasting my talent! I've been keeping up with the training I need to do! And I've learned a lot from Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio."
"What could you possibly learn from these kids?!"
Kikyo, frustrated by her son's series of rebuttals, felt her mechanical eye's red dot trembling rapidly again.
"Enough!"
Silva's voice cut through, stopping the argument between mother and son. Killua and Kikyo reluctantly stopped, glaring at each other. Silva then turned his attention to the rest of the family.
"What do you all think?"
Illumi, who had been eerily silent until now, finally spoke coldly.
"I still oppose it. Father, you know how dangerous the outside world is. Killua is too weak. Playing house with these kids, he'll definitely suffer in the long run."
Leorio had been annoyed by Kikyo's words earlier but held his tongue, knowing she was Killua's mother.
Now, hearing Illumi's comment, he couldn't hold back.
"What do you mean, 'playing house'? Whether it's Killua or us, we all went into the Hunter Exam fully aware that we might die there! Doesn't that prove our determination?!"
Leorio pointed at Illumi, shouting loudly. If it weren't for Kurapika holding him back, he probably would have rushed over to challenge Illumi directly.
Kurapika knew even more clearly that if Germain was not there, Illumi might have already attacked Gon, Leorio, and the others.
Silva and Zeno seemed to be on Gon and Leorio's side, but in reality, if Illumi decided to kill, they wouldn't necessarily step in to save Gon and Leorio. Instead, they might just let things unfold as they would.
At this moment, Gon spoke seriously.
"Please trust us. We're friends with Killua. Friends should take care of each other, share both good and bad times. We would never betray a friend."
Kikyo scoffed, and Illumi didn't even look at Gon and Leorio.
At that moment, Silva looked at the last person who hadn't spoken up yet.
"Kalluto, what do you think?"
Kikyo opened her small fan and quickly waved it to cool herself down.
"Kalluto, you better think carefully before you speak!"
Kalluto, with his lips tightly pressed together, revealed his beauty mark even more clearly. He hesitated.
Looking at the situation in front of him, it seemed like the votes were evenly split. His father and grandfather supported Killua traveling outside, while his mother and Illumi were against it.
With Milluki absent and Alluka not having a vote, Kalluto realized his vote was the deciding one.
Although he believed that no matter how he voted, it wouldn't change the outcome, he still gave it careful thought.
Kalluto had to admit that his mother and Illumi's arguments were more reasonable.
Killua had the talent and ability to inherit the Zoldyck family, and he shouldn't waste time in the outside world, especially since the outside was so dangerous.
Even Illumi couldn't guarantee things wouldn't go wrong.
Was it really too irresponsible to send Killua out there?
"Kalluto?"
At this moment, Silva urged him on.
Kalluto felt he had thought things through and slowly began to speak.
"I… I think Killua should go outside and see the world. Maybe it'll help him grow faster…"
Huh? What am I saying? Why would I say something like this?
Kalluto realized that he had just said something unbelievable, almost as if his mouth was acting on its own.
He couldn't help but lower his head.
Kikyo stared at him in surprise.
"Kalluto, even you…"
Silva, on the other hand, smiled faintly.
"I understand all of your thoughts... We should respect Killua's will and not keep restricting his freedom."
"However, your concerns are valid. Leaving Killua to roam outside like this, I'm honestly worried too."
It was then that Silva, with a knowing look, turned his gaze toward Germain, who had remained silent throughout the entire conversation, without influencing the situation.
"Germain, if I ask you to look after Killua, would you be willing?"
********
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