"Hoho... the old master is here."
Netero wasn't the least bit angry that his own son was being cursed. He just smiled at the old codger Maha, who was practically spitting on his head, and watched him coldly as he said, "Brat, stop trying to fool me."
"This old man is old, not deaf! What, just because I haven't eaten pork, I can't stand to see a pig run?"
"Old master, calm your anger, I didn't mean to question you." You can't hit a smiling face. Netero specialized in overcoming hardness with softness. He personally poured Maha a cup of tea, saying, "I was just shocked, that's all. That someone could instantly learn 'Water Divination'."
"Forgive me for living so many years, but this is the first time I've ever seen it."
"It's not just you. It's the first time for Father and me as well." Zigg pulled Maha to sit down.
Maha snorted coldly. He took the tea Netero had pushed over, had a sip, and only then did his anger subside a little. "I'm telling you, kid, this is just me giving my son face. Otherwise... you think you could have walked into Kukuroo Mountain unharmed?"
"Hohoho You are a man of great magnanimity." Netero chuckled. Zigg seized the opportunity to put in a few good words for him.
Once the old man's anger faded, he didn't sit properly but plopped down onto the rocking chair. He skillfully pulled an H-manga from his clothes—"Onii-chan, Be Gentle"—and began reading with great interest.
Netero and Zigg exchanged a glance. The latter gave an awkward smile and explained, "This is what you call 'following one's heart's desires without overstepping the bounds'."
Netero gave a dry laugh. "I understand"
But the corner of his mouth twitched subtly. He knew that at this moment, saying nothing was the best solution. He simply pretended he hadn't seen anything and calmly picked up the "surveillance glasses" to put them on.
The time was now 7:30 PM, half an hour before the appointed time with a certain little Spider.
Sean shouted from inside the room, signaling for Tsubone to open the door. A faint electronic arc flashed and disappeared.
The "surveillance glasses" reconnected. Netero once again saw Sean, this time through Tsubone's perspective.
"Young Master, are you planning to meet that child?" The meeting place was the clock tower. Tsubone had clearly also noticed the small note Chrollo had slipped to Sean.
Sean pursed his lips. "Is this a matter of me being able to just say no?"
"This is their territory, after all. If he can't find me at the clock tower, I can't just let him climb in through the window, can I."
The old butler clearly didn't realize just what kind of extreme and stubborn bunch of 'brats' she was talking about.
In the original story, Chrollo led the Troupe to hunt Sarasa's murderer for so many years. You could figure out just by thinking with your ass... every last one of them is the type who won't stop until they achieve their goal.
"You could also not see him." Tsubone adjusted the glasses on her nose and said flatly, "If you just kill them all, you won't have to see them."
"Hiss—" Sean's eyelid twitched. He hadn't realized Tsubone had such a cold-blooded side. 'As expected, from top to bottom, the Zoldyck family is only gentle with their own people.'
Unfortunately... "There's no need for that." Sean waved his hand, his back to Tsubone. He squinted at the bright moon leaping into the window frame and said faintly, "There are plenty of extreme and stubborn people in the world. He's not the only one."
Besides... "He's stubborn, so I can't be stubborn? He's extreme, so I can't be extreme?"
The corner of the boy's mouth hooked up. He turned his head, giving Tsubone a big smile. "Relax I have experience dealing with perverts. You just have to be more of a pervert than they are."
'More of a pervert?' Tsubone suddenly thought of Illumi, and smiled. 'That's true... the Young Master is indeed very experienced in this area.'
But... 'More of a pervert than a pervert... Isn't this Sean kid's hostility a bit too strong?' Netero, hearing their conversation, frowned, which caught Zigg's attention.
"Did the feed reconnect?"
"Mm." Netero glanced at Maha, wanting to speak but hesitating.
Maha, admiring his 'art', didn't even lift his head. "If you have something to say, spit it out. This old man is broad-minded. I'm not going to lose my composure over a few farts from you."
"Hoho... even the old master knows the term 'lose composure,' you're really living younger and younger" Buttering him up first, just in case. Netero gave himself a "first layer of insurance," chuckling. "A young man's blood runs hot; he must guard against anger. An old man is habitually scheming; he must guard against cunning."
"Old master, I don't mean anything else. I just feel... shouldn't a child like Sean be a bit more restrained at this age? We can't let him overindulge his desires, especially his desire for slaughter."
'This brat is making insinuations, he's full of crap.' Maha peeked out from behind his H-manga, shot him a glance, and sneered, "Are you worried Sean will grow up twisted? Or are you mocking the Zoldyck family's upbringing?"
"What 'restraint'?" Maha slapped the H-manga shut, sat up, and mocked Netero without holding back. "Take a look at yourself first, kid!"
"The Hunter Association has been running amok on the continent for so many years. I don't need to remind you of all the bullshit things it's done behind the scenes, do I?"
"Of course, if you really can't remember, why don't you start by telling me how that Jed kid died?"
Maha tutted. "Tsk... the 'Dark Side' president of the Hunter Association, the V5's dirty glove, didn't die at the hands of his enemies, but at the hands of his own best friend. How ironic"
Netero: "..."
'Always bringing up the sorest subject, aren't you. You old bastard, when it comes to that Sean kid, you really won't let anyone say a single bad word.'
The Chairman's face darkened. He silently averted his gaze.
Seeing this, Maha chuckled. He hooked a finger at Zigg, motioning for him to pass the surveillance glasses. He put them on, and 'what do you know... the brat's been gone for two days, and I actually miss him.'
"Bzzzt" A faint arc of electricity flashed. In the old man's vision, Sean's handsome, slightly baby-fatted face was reflected.
The boy gave Tsubone a reassuring smile, then walked to the window. He leaned against the frame, listlessly admiring the moonlight.
His peripheral vision caught sight of a mosquito in the corner, which suddenly flew into a spider's web. The corner of Sean's mouth twitched. With his back to Tsubone, he chuckled softly, "Tsubone, it looks like... our 'guest' has arrived."
In the dim, yellow light of the wall lamps in the church hallway, the old butler narrowed her eyes, looking into the distance.
A small, solitary figure approached with slow steps. His eyes were calm—so calm that every glance gave one an inexplicable, heart-pounding sensation.
"Tap, tap..." The small, flat leather boots he wore made a soft sound on the floor, exceptionally clear in the quiet night.
Finally, Chrollo stopped in front of the door and looked up at Tsubone. The pink-haired silverback gorilla was five or six times his size. She moved out of the way, her expression blank. "The Young Master is waiting for you inside."
The young Spider leader nodded. Without saying a word, he passed through the heavy wooden door and stepped inside. His bangs swayed, and for a fleeting moment, it was as if he had stepped into a new world.
"Sean, sorry to keep you waiting."