Chapter 93: Unto Others X Roy VS The Rat
Nothing new under the sun. All schemes crumble before absolute power. If Netero had been younger, or just a little stronger, even without the Poor Man's Rose, he would have killed the Ant King, and without sacrificing his own life.
Roy watched Pariston with an amused smile. Their gazes clashed, sparks seeming to fly in the air between them. Behind them, Gotoh stood with his hands in his pockets, clutching several coins. The thin bodyguard silently prayed, clutching the cross hanging on his chest.
Whirr... Whirr... An old woman drove a floor-cleaning machine past, sweeping the ground.
Pariston glanced at her, then clapped his hands, breaking the stalemate first. "What a pity. Congratulations, Roy Zoldyck. You win."
"This game is called 'YES' or 'NO'. The side that chooses 'NO' wins."
"Since you refused my proposal," the blonde boy bowed deeply and gestured towards the gate, "Please, proceed."
Roy watched him with interest. The boy calculated every step, his wit exceptionally sharp. He already showed the makings of the future Vice-Chairman. Roy stood up and walked towards the boarding gate. One step, two... He passed the old woman driving the cleaning machine again. He even had the leisure to joke, "Grandma, isn't it a bit early to be washing the floor?"
"Can't be helped, dearie. Us folks on fixed wages get docked if the boss sees us slacking."
Putt... putt... putt... She slowly drove the machine past.
Roy nodded, smiled, and waved. "Take care, now." He took a few more steps, brushed past Pariston's shoulder, and stopped at the ticket checkpoint. Pariston kept his word, maintaining his deep bow. Behind him, the fat and thin bodyguards tensed slightly, their eyes locked onto Roy, not relaxing for a second.
Just then, Gotoh caught up, carrying the small bag. "Young Master, you forgot your cane."
Roy acted as if he'd just remembered. "Oh, right." He reached back. The cane sword, held in Gotoh's hand, shot out of its sheath with a sching! It pierced the air with a sharp whistle, streaked forward like lightning, and then a cold gleam flashed, grazing Pariston's handsome face, leaving a thin line of blood. Finally, Roy caught it firmly in his hand!
"Little Hill! / Pariston! You bastard..."
"Don't move!" A sharp command froze his own companions. Pariston straightened up, took a folded handkerchief from his breast pocket, and calmly wiped the blood from his face, looking at Roy. "Why?" I clearly declared you the winner. Why would you still do this? The blonde boy's voice was heavy. "Roy Zoldyck, you don't play by the rules."
"Because, from start to finish, my Young Master never even saw you as part of the game." Gotoh stepped forward, sheath in hand. He kept several coins ready in his right hand, prepared to strike at any moment. He stopped before Roy and bowed slightly. "Young Master, please forgive my presumption."
"You did well." Roy gave the sword a flourish, pointed the tip down, and stabbed it into the floor. He leaned on it with both hands crossed, quietly observing Pariston and his guards. "Introductions are unnecessary; you already know who I am. Since that's the case..."
"Would the three of you do me a favor?"
Pariston frowned.
The boy smiled brightly. "Would the three of you please withdraw from this year's Hunter Exam to ensure my advancement?"
Whoosh— A cold wind blew through the hall, silencing all noise. The boomerang he had just thrown seemed to fly right back. The waiting hall fell utterly silent!
The thin bodyguard's face fell instantly. Beside him, the fat bodyguard let out a strange "Yohohoho" laugh. They flanked Pariston. The blonde boy looked seriously at Roy, then covered his face and started to chuckle... Heh heh heh... At first, the laughter was soft, then it grew louder, finally erupting into wild peals, before abruptly cutting off!
His face darkened as he glared at Roy, squeezing out a few ice-cold words. "And if... I say no?"
No?
Roy smiled.
Fwoosh~ Twin suns ignited in his pupils. The boy's black hair stirred without wind. He casually swept his gaze over them. Both the fat and thin bodyguards behind Pariston took an involuntary step back, alarms instantly blaring in their minds. It was as if... they had been stripped naked and thrown onto the street, exposed completely by a single glance!
Hatsu: "Eye of Revelation"—See through falsehood!
"I'm not an unreasonable person either." Roy gripped his cane sword and drew a thin, straight line on the floor with its tip, starting from his own feet.
"This next flight is mine. Anyone who dares cross this line..."
"Reach out a hand, I cut off the hand. Take a step, I cut off the foot." At the end of the line, the cane sword swung around and rested lightly on Pariston's shoulder. Roy asked with a beaming smile, "What do you think?"
Pariston: "..." He could clearly feel the sharpness of the blade. Instinct told him that if he dared to utter a single word of refusal... the next second, the blade would slice open his neck.
The blonde boy took several deep breaths. Experiencing defeat for the first time in his life, his expression shifted rapidly before he finally raised both hands. "Whoa... whoa... it's all a misunderstanding... a misunderstanding. Clark, Golem, what are you standing there for? Let's go..." Pariston carefully backed away until he could see the tip of the cane sword, then let out a sigh of relief. He gave Roy one last deep look, turned, and left. Behind him, the fat and thin bodyguards followed, slinking away like defeated dogs, their earlier arrogance gone.
"Young Master, they've suppressed their aura," Gotoh noted, handing over the sheath. Roy smoothly sheathed the blade with a flick of his wrist, gave a noncommittal hum, turned, and proceeded through the checkpoint to board. The young butler pushed up his glasses, cast one last glance at the trio, picked up the bag, and followed.
The thin straight line remained on the floor, three feet from the checkpoint. For a long time, no one dared to cross it.
Vroom... The engines spun the propellers, churning the air. Ten minutes later, the airship took off.
Outside the terminal, Pariston leaned against the railing, watching the airship climb higher and higher until it became a red dot in the night sky and vanished. The boy spread his arms wide, letting the cold wind whip through his bangs. He closed his eyes involuntarily, the corners of his mouth pulling up into a strange, unsettling smile.
"Ah... so this is what failure feels like... Roy Zoldyck, you are simply magnificent! I really... really... want to play you to death..."
"Heh heh heh... Hahaha..." His laughter pierced the clouds. Pariston's shoulders shook, startling a flock of birds into flight.
A passing passenger glanced over and muttered under their breath, "Psycho!" The fat and thin bodyguards glared, and the passenger scurried away.
After a moment, the blonde boy gradually calmed down. The fat bodyguard asked cheerfully, "Little Hill, are we still taking the exam?"
"Of course!" he declared emphatically. "From now on, wherever Roy Zoldyck is, I will be there too!"
"What about the others?" The thin bodyguard glanced at the candidates who had changed their tickets and were now re-gathering in the waiting hall—the man in bandages, the snake charmer, the boy with the bow, the bald ninja. "If you want to play, we can play again..." His face was expressionless. "After all, that guy is gone now."
"No." Pariston's expression turned weary. He was bored.
"They're all trash, not even worthy of carrying Roy Zoldyck's shoes. No need to waste time on them."
So said the boy.
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