There is nothing new under the sun; all calculations are insignificant in the face of absolute power.
If Netero were young enough or just slightly stronger, even without using the "Poor Man's Rose," he would still have killed the Ant King, and it wouldn't have cost him his life.
Roy just watched Pariston with a smile. As their eyes met, an invisible electricity seemed to crackle in the air.
Behind them, Wutong had both hands in his pockets, clutching a few coins... The slender bodyguard silently recited the Bible, squeezing the cross hanging on his chest.
"Beep beep... beep beep..." An old lady drove a floor-cleaning machine across, sweeping the ground...
Pariston glanced at her, clapped his hands, and was the first to break the stalemate: "What a pity~ Congratulations, Roy Zoldyck, you've won."
"This game is called 'YES' or 'NO'. The one who chooses 'NO' wins."
"Since you've rejected my proposal." The blond youth bowed to him, gesturing with a hand: "Please."
Roy watched him with interest... The boy was calculating at every step, his quick wit exceptional, already showing the makings of a vice-president...
He stood up and began walking towards the boarding gate, encountering the old lady on the floor-cleaning machine once more, teasing her with a smile: "Ma'am, you don't need to wash the floor this early, do you?"
"Can't do that... we earn a dead salary, and the boss will dock our pay if he sees us."
"Rumble... rumble..." She continued to drive the floor-cleaning machine slowly away...
Roy nodded, waved at her with a smile: "Take it easy."
He took a few more steps and, brushing past Pariston's shoulder, arrived at the ticket inspection point and stood firm. Pariston kept his promise, remaining in a bow, and the two bodyguards behind him, one fat and one thin, tensed up slightly, their gaze fixed intensely on Roy, not relaxing even a bit...
At this moment, Wutong followed with a small bag, saying: "Young master, you forgot your staff."
Roy "suddenly remembered": "Oh, right."
He reached behind, and from Wutong's palm, the Staff Blade flashed out with a "clang" sound!
It pierced through the air, emitting a sharp sword sound, shooting towards Pariston, a cold gleam brushing past his handsome face, leaving a bloody mark, and finally, Roy gripped it firmly in his hand!
"Damn you Pariston...!"
"Don't move!"
A sharp shout... stunning his companions... Pariston straightened, pulled a folded pocket square from the pocket of his suit's chest, wiped the blood off his face, and calmly looked at Roy: "Why?"
You've obviously already won the game, why go this far?
The blond youth spoke deeply: "Roy Zoldyck, you don't play by the rules."
"Because my young master never once had you in his eyes." Wutong, holding the sword's sheath, approached, his right hand gripping a few coins, ready to be unleashed. He approached Roy and said respectfully: "Young master, please forgive my presumption."
"You've done well," Roy twirled the sword dexterously, the tip pointing to the ground, and he planted it in the floor, crossing his arms and resting on the Staff Blade, calmly addressing the three: "No need for introductions; you already know, so..."
"I ask the three of you for a favor."
Pariston frowned,
The youth said with a smile: "I ask the three of you to withdraw from this round of the Hunter Exam, ensuring my advancement."
"Whoosh——" A cold wind swept in, taking away all the clamor, the boomerang that just flew out seemed to have returned, and the waiting hall suddenly fell silent!
The slender bodyguard's face dropped instantly, while beside him, the pudgy bodyguard gave a monstrous "hohohoho~" laugh. The two flanked Pariston, and the blond youth seriously looked at Roy, fiddling his face, then laughed warmly...
At first, the laughter was mild, then it grew louder until it erupted into full-fledged laughter, only to suddenly stop once again!
With a grimace, he stared at Roy, squeezing out a few icy words: "What if... I say no?"
No?
Roy smiled.....
"Hahaha~" Two solar flares leapt from his pupils, as his dark hair fluttered without wind. He glanced over and the two bodyguards behind Pariston both stepped back in unison, alarm bells ringing in their hearts as if... their clothes had been stripped off and they were thrown on the street, seen thoroughly by the public!
[Hatsu]: "Eye of Truth," penetrating falsehood!
"I'm not an unreasonable person."
Roy grabbed the Staff Blade, drew a straight, fine line on the ground with his toe...
"Only I will board the next flight; anyone who dares to cross this line...."
"Will lose a hand if extended or lose a foot if raised." At the end of the fine line, the Staff Blade whirled and rested on Pariston's shoulder.
Roy asked with a cheerful smile: "What do you think?"
Pariston: "..."
He could distinctly feel the sharpness of the Staff Blade and instinctively knew that if he dared to say the word "no"... the next second, the blade would slice open his neck!
The blond youth took a few deep breaths, experiencing failure for the first time in his life. His expression fluctuated like clouds before finally raising his hands: "Well... well... it's all a misunderstanding... misunderstanding... Clark, Gol, what are you standing around for? Let's go...."
With that, Pariston cautiously retreated until the tip of the Staff Blade was out of sight. Only then did he relax, giving Roy a deep look before turning to leave... Behind him, the two bodyguards followed... dejected like beaten dogs, their former arrogance gone.
"Young master, they've withdrawn their Sense." Wutong handed over the sword's sheath; Roy effortlessly drew the blade, sheathed it, and indifferently hummed in acknowledgment before turning to board the flight.
The young steward adjusted the glasses on his nose, glanced at the three remaining individuals, and followed with a bag in hand.
The fine, straight line lay just three feet by the ticket inspection point, long un-crossed by anyone....
"Buzz..."
The engine drove the propeller to slice through the air...
Ten minutes later, the airship took off.
Outside the terminal, Pariston leaned against the fence, looking up. The airship flew higher and higher, turning into a red dot in the night sky, and vanished in an instant... He spread out his arms, letting the cold wind blow his hair, and involuntarily closed his eyes, pulling his lips into a sinister smile.
"Ah... so this is what failure feels like... Roy Zoldyck, you're simply astonishing! I truly... truly... want to play you to death..."
"Hehehe... hahaha...."
The laughter pierced the clouds as Pariston's shoulders shook, scattering a flock of birds...
Passing passengers sneaked a glance, muttering, "Psycho!"
In result, they were glared at by the four eyes of the two bodyguards and quickly scurried away....
Moments later, the blond youth gradually calmed down, and the pudgy bodyguard asked with a giggle: "Little Cyril, are we still taking the exam?"
"Of course!" He replied firmly: "From now on, wherever Roy Zoldyck is, there I shall be!"
"What about the others?" The slender bodyguard glanced at the candidates gathering back in the lounge after re-checking their tickets. There were the Bandage Man, the Snake Handler, the Sakamato Days, and the Bald Ninja, expressionless, said: "If you want to play, we can play once more..."
"After all, that guy has already left..."
"Never mind." Pariston seemed wearied, bored....
"They're all trash unworthy of tying Roy Zoldyck's shoes, no need to waste time..."
The youth so declared....