He was observing them with genuine focus, so Netero's eyes widened to their fullest. Less than a second later, they returned to their normal size.
'If it were these two kids...'
Netero's face remained as calm as still water, but inwardly, his interest was piqued.
Compared to a game between evenly matched opponents, bullying the weak would be far less interesting. But there were many ways to play; he could always find a suitable method to pass the time.
"Netero-san, did you see anyone come from over there?" Gon pointed towards the corridor where the aura had emanated and asked Netero.
Killua instinctively glanced at Gon, knowing that Gon still hadn't realized the person who released the aura was the old man right in front of them.
"No," Netero replied calmly.
Answering solely based on Gon's question, he wasn't lying because he truly hadn't seen anyone else walk over from there.
Killua looked at Netero, his eyelids lifting slightly, "For your age, you're quite nimble."
As he said this, Killua couldn't help but think of his grandfather and great-grandfather back home.
"Hmm? I was just taking a stroll," Netero said seriously.
'That speed was a stroll? This old man!'
A vein suddenly throbbed on Killua's forehead, while Netero remained completely unruffled.
As the two stared at each other, the air seemed to crackle with invisible electricity.
Gon looked between the two, his expression full of confusion.
Killua let out a light sigh and said coolly, "Do you need something from us? It's free time right now, isn't it?"
"Don't be tense. I'm just bored and want someone to play with me. So, are you interested?" Netero's lips curled into a slight smile.
Gon grinned and said, "Sure! What are we playing?"
"Not interested. Gon, let's go. Don't waste time here," Killua, however, put his arm around Gon's shoulder and started leading him away.
Watching the two leave, Netero stroked his beard and played his trump card, smiling, "Play a game with me. If you win, I'll give you the Hunter Licenses."
"!"
Gon and Killua spun around instantly.
"Really?"
Five minutes later, Netero brought the two to an empty room about 300 square meters in size. It seemed to be a volleyball court Netero had specially set up.
Netero balanced the spinning volleyball on his index finger and smiled at the two, "Before this ship reaches the next destination, if you can take this ball from me, you win."
"Of course, you can attack freely. I won't fight back."
Gon blinked, feeling it seemed pretty straightforward.
Killua, however, felt looked down upon. His eyes darkened slightly as he said coolly, "If we get that ball, you'll give us the licenses?"
"Correct," Netero narrowed his eyes.
Outside the room, leaning against the wall next to the door, Law recalled the scene when he had asked Netero for the Hunter License that day.
Back then, Netero had looked solemn and refused righteously. Now, to lure two kids into entertaining him, wasn't he just casually using the Hunter License as a bargaining chip?
'Let's see what you'll do if the ball really gets taken later,' Law thought with a mischievous smile.
Inside the room, Killua thought taking the ball would be simple. Without intending to cooperate with Gon, he took the initiative first.
He used Rhythm Echo, a high-level technique from the assassination arts. While walking at a seemingly steady pace, he created multiple afterimages to confuse the target, continuously circling Netero.
Seeing Killua use Rhythm Echo, Netero's eyes lit up.
'Using Rhythm Echo at this age? Should I credit the Zoldyck Family's teaching, or is this child exceptionally talented? Probably the latter.'
Killua's afterimages multiplied. While moving, he carefully observed Netero's shifting eyeballs.
He didn't act rashly but proceeded patiently and steadily, displaying the perfect mindset of a hunter.
"So many Killuas!" Gon's eyes showed surprise.
Netero's gaze followed the afterimages. When his eyeballs shifted to the right, Killua suddenly moved, attacking from the left.
He had been waiting for the moment Netero's gaze shifted to the other side, which was now. With a sprinting leap, he reached out for the ball.
Netero, however, without shifting his eyeballs back, took a step back, easily dodging Killua's confident strike.
'He dodged it?!'
Killua was shocked. Pressing one hand against the floor, he used the recoil to push himself right in front of Netero, his target still the volleyball.
After his patiently planned strike failed, he intended to use a continuous onslaught to force Netero to reveal an opening.
However, no matter how tricky the angle he chose, no matter how fast he became, he couldn't even touch the ball once. And this old guy...
After failing to land a hit for a long time, Killua stopped moving, frowning at Netero.
"What?" Netero balanced the ball on his forehead casually.
Killua just remained silent and took off his shirt. At that moment, Gon joined in.
After several rounds of entanglement, like a cat playing with mice, Gon, just like Killua, was led around by Netero.
Only then did the two realize that taking the ball wasn't as easy as they thought. So they teamed up, attacking Netero from the left and right.
"It seems I'll be bored until morning."
Netero easily avoided wave after wave of their attempts to grab the ball.
Time passed. Killua and Gon were sweating profusely, while Netero wasn't even out of breath.
"I quit."
Killua gave up first, picking up the clothes he had thrown on the floor.
"Why? We still have plenty of time," Gon asked, puzzled.
Netero held the ball in the crook of his arm, quietly watching the two kids.
Killua looked at Gon speechlessly and sighed, "Haven't you realized yet? This old guy hasn't used his right hand or left foot from the very beginning. Don't talk about having time… even if you gave us a year, we wouldn't be able to take the ball from him."
Hearing this, Gon was shocked.
"I thought I hid it quite well," Netero chuckled twice, thinking that Killua was indeed superior in various aspects.
Killua snorted coldly and said, "Let's go, Gon."
Gon, however, wasn't discouraged at all. He smiled and said, "I want to try again."
Killua was taken aback, then said mercilessly, "Don't waste your effort. No matter how hard you try, you won't be able to take that ball."
"It's okay if I can't take it. I want to see if I can make Netero-san use his right hand and left foot!" Gon said seriously.
"Hah?" Killua gritted his teeth slightly, turned around, and said, "Suit yourself. I'm going to sleep."
With that, he left the room.
When he reached the corridor, Killua didn't notice Law's presence at all. At that moment, his eyes slowly darkened, and a killing intent began brewing in his chest.
If he stayed any longer, he was afraid he wouldn't be able to stop himself from killing Netero.
Watching Killua gradually walk away, Law frowned and thought, 'Illumi, that guy...'
Inside the room, Gon, with a very earnest attitude, asked Netero about the Rhythm Echo.
"It's a technique that requires immense effort and rigorous training to master," Netero replied casually, tossing the ball while answering Gon's questions.
Gon pretended to look away, then suddenly turned back and lunged with both hands towards the ball Netero had tossed into the air.
"Naive."
Netero grinned slyly, about to retrieve the ball. Just then, an unconcealed Nen Fluctuation came from the direction of the door.
"Hmm?"
Netero was slightly startled. He saw the volleyball move towards Gon's hands. Caught off guard, he was interfered with by a resistance that came out of thin air.
'It's Law! Throwing a wrench in my plans!'
In that split second, Netero wanted to chop at Gon's hands, but a shockwave erupted from under his feet, disrupting his balance.
Then, Gon caught the volleyball.
The air suddenly froze.
And the instigator had already fled the scene.