Chapter 129: HHES: Chapter 129
"Should we ask him, Killua?"
Chrollo, having purchased Greed Island for the exorbitant price of 6.4 billion Jenny, was now the center of attention, attracting numerous wary gazes.
He finally understood why Baise had entrusted him with this task. While not inherently dangerous, the high-profile nature of the purchase made him a prominent target.
Baise patted Chrollo on the shoulder. "I'll wait for you outside." She then departed from the auction hall.
Gon and Killua followed her. They intercepted Baise in the corridor outside the auction hall.
"Miss, wait a moment," Gon called out.
Baise halted her steps upon hearing their voices. Gon and Killua confronted her. "You're Loki's subordinate, right?"
Baise frowned at them. "It's best not to mention that name casually right now."
Gon scratched his head. "Um, why?"
Gon and Killua, being relatively unfamiliar with the Twelve Zodiacs, were quite surprised by Baise's warning.
Hunters with a deeper understanding of the Zodiacs' power and influence were even more astonished.
Upon receiving news of the impending meeting, members of the Hunter Association anticipated significant internal upheaval.
One of the Hunter Association's fundamental tenets stipulated that a Hunter's license, regardless of the circumstances, could never be revoked, nor could new licenses be issued.
This meant that even though Loki had been personally declared a wanted fugitive by Chairman Netero, he technically remained a member of the Hunter Association.
Throughout the Association's history, there had never been an instance where a Hunter's actions necessitated the convening of the Twelve Zodiacs by the Chairman.
Loki was the unprecedented first. While numerous Hunters had engaged in criminal activities, none had ever created such a widespread sensation.
Loki's S-Class wanted status had generated considerable discussion within the Association, but the summoning of the Twelve Zodiacs represented an event of unprecedented magnitude.
The news of the impending meeting, scheduled for three days hence, captivated the attention of virtually every Hunter who received word of it.
At the Zoldyck Family's residence, Zeno Zoldyck observed Kikyo, Killua's mother, who was visibly agitated.
"Killua almost got killed," Zeno stated calmly. "Silva shouldn't have let him leave. The outside world isn't ready for Killua."
Zeno closed his eyes, a headache forming behind his temples. Silva entered the room. "He's my son, and I'll handle this matter as I see fit," Silva declared coldly. "You would be better served by focusing your attention on Kalluto's well-being."
Silva's cold demeanor caused Kikyo to retreat.
"If Killua is harmed, I won't forgive you," Kikyo threatened.
"Leave," Silva commanded.
Kikyo departed in a huff. Silva sighed.
"Danger is inevitable," Zeno remarked quietly after Kikyo's departure. "Does she intend to keep Killua confined to our estate indefinitely?"
Silva responded, "I will not permit her to do so."
"Good," Zeno replied simply. "Just ensure you understand the implications."
"Father, what's your assessment of Netero's decision to convene the Twelve Zodiacs?" Silva inquired, approaching Zeno.
"That kid... is the Hunter Association truly intent on eliminating him?" Silva pressed further.
Zeno suddenly chuckled. "No, that monster of a kid—Netero wouldn't be willing to simply eliminate him."
"Then why convene the Twelve Zodiacs?" Silva questioned, perplexed by Netero's actions. "If Netero isn't genuinely intending to deal with Loki, then what is the purpose of this gathering?"
Zeno's gaze darkened. "That, my son, remains a mystery to even myself," he admitted. "However," he continued, his tone shifting, "it seems a significant storm is brewing on the horizon."
Upon hearing Zeno's cryptic statement, Silva sensed that his father possessed a degree of insight into the situation, but even Zeno himself seemed uncertain, hence his reluctance to divulge any further details.
However, Silva's primary concern at present centered on Loki's alarming rate of development. From their previous encounter, Silva had foreseen that Loki would inevitably evolve into a formidable Nen user.
Nevertheless, the sheer velocity of Loki's ascent had surpassed even Silva's expectations. In a remarkably short span of time, Loki had attained a level of power that inspired considerable apprehension within Silva.
Gazing intently at Loki's photograph, Silva observed the young man, his body enveloped in flames, his expression exhibiting an unnerving tranquility.
"What are you scrutinizing so intently, Silva?" Zeno inquired, interrupting Silva's contemplation.
Startled by his father's voice, Silva quickly recovered his composure. "Nothing of particular consequence, Father. I merely found the young man's gaze in the photograph to be somewhat peculiar," Silva explained.
"Allow me to examine it," Zeno requested.
Silva promptly handed the photograph to Zeno, who casually glanced at it before becoming completely engrossed in its contents.
Zeno's eyes widened significantly as he fixated his gaze upon Loki's image. The flames enshrouding Loki's form and his unnervingly placid expression, akin to a stagnant pool of water devoid of any ripples, held Zeno's attention captive.
It was not the immense aura of Nen that emanated from Loki that captivated Zeno's attention but rather the unsettling stillness of his gaze.
"Father, what has aroused your interest?" Silva inquired, stepping closer to his father.
Zeno lifted his gaze to meet Silva's, his expression a mixture of awe and apprehension. "It is quite extraordinary," Zeno began, his voice laced with a hint of wonder. "That gaze... it is truly terrifying," he concluded, his tone imbued with a sense of unease.
Silva, taken aback by his father's assessment, responded, "Terrifying? I must admit, Father, that I found the young man's expression to be excessively placid, but to describe it as 'terrifying' seems somewhat excessive."
"Silva," Zeno interjected sternly, his gaze unwavering. "I have encountered that same unsettling gaze in only one other individual."
"And who might that be, Father?" Silva pressed, his curiosity piqued.
Zeno lowered Loki's photograph, appearing to be lost in contemplation, his mind seemingly transported back to a distant past. After a protracted period of silence, he finally uttered a single name. "Netero," he stated.
It was Netero, Zeno recalled, during the period when he had just reached adulthood, mastered Nen, and was experiencing a period of rapid growth in his abilities.
Netero, at that time, possessed the ability to effortlessly subdue Zeno. It was from Netero that Zeno had first observed this unnerving gaze—a gaze as tranquil and unyielding as still water.
Such a gaze, Zeno reflected, was indicative of an individual whose spirit had attained an almost vegetative state of profound composure.
Zeno was acutely aware of the terrifying combat prowess that Netero had exhibited at his peak. And yet, here was Loki, a mere fledgling Nen user, who had, in an astonishingly brief period, achieved a level of mastery that mirrored Netero's peak.
"Netero possessed that very same gaze at the zenith of his power," Zeno remarked, his voice trembling slightly. "However, Netero had already reached his pinnacle of strength at that time, whereas Loki, that young man, his aura continues to evolve and ascend," Zeno added, his voice laced with a mixture of awe and apprehension.
Silva, upon hearing Zeno's assessment of Netero's peak abilities, was profoundly shaken. The attainment of such a level of mastery by a mere youth was truly astonishing.
"Genius, prodigy, monster!" Zeno exclaimed, his voice filled with a mixture of admiration and unease. "That young man is, without a doubt, a genuine monster," he concluded, his tone imbued with a sense of profound respect tinged with apprehension.
The fact that Zeno, his own father, had employed the term "monster" to describe Loki was completely unexpected by Silva. Prior to hearing Zeno's assessment, Silva had categorized Loki as a prodigious talent, a remarkable individual who transcended the boundaries of typical genius.
Loki's demonstrated power, in Silva's estimation, remained within the realm of his comprehension. The possession of such formidable Nen abilities at such a tender age was indeed exceptional, but Silva had merely concluded that Loki had attained a level of proficiency comparable to his own.
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