'Who knows?'
The evening breeze vividly described Illumi's embarrassing situation to Sean.
Sean smiled wickedly, and with a joyful spring in his step, he headed for the dining hall, getting there before Silva, Illumi, and Killua.
The dim wall lamps were already lit. In the stone corridor of the old castle, a "fat pig" was waddling his enormous backside. When he saw Sean coming, he quickly scrambled to stand up straight and respectfully called out, "Big Brother!"
"It's Milluki." Two years had passed, and the little fatty had become a big fatty. The flesh on his face was so overgrown that his eyes were completely squeezed shut.
It was strange. This guy had started training two years earlier than Killua, and he hadn't missed out on any of the usual whippings, electrocutions, or water tortures. Yet, his weight just wouldn't go down, let alone develop any muscle.
Sean glanced at Milluki, instantly seeing through his stats. His three major stats—"Strength," "Speed," and "Aura"—were less than 100, just a little stronger than a normal person. It was really hard to live up to his Zoldyck surname.
But a dragon has nine sons, and each is different. Being familiar with the original work, Sean knew very well that Milluki's specialty was not combat. All his talent was instead focused on hacking technology. In the original work, he was able to find two clues about "Greed Island" just from the copy of the memory card Killua gave him. He even tried to replicate the game. Although it ended in failure, it was still enough for him to be proud of!
After all, "Greed Island" wasn't some virtual online game, but a Nen user's game jointly developed by Ging, Razor, List, Elena, Eeta, and Dwun. Even in his previous life, it would have been an explosive existence. It was perfectly understandable that Milluki, a weakling in terms of Nen, couldn't replicate it.
'It's just... what's with the dark circles under your eyes, little brother?'
"Have you been blowing too many 'balloons' at night?"
Sean hooked an arm around Milluki's neck with a wicked grin. Milluki's pig-like face instantly flushed, and he lost his composure on the spot. "Big Brother! I'm begging you... don't mention the balloons!"
"Back then... I didn't know that thing was for... *that*..."
"For *what*?" Sean winked at Milluki. Milluki's pig-head looked like it was about to steam.
Sean laughed, patted his shoulder, and stopped teasing him. "My foolish little brother, you should 'spill your glue' less. Your big brother is counting on you to live a few more years."
"I... I'm not 'spilling glue'," Milluki muttered quietly. "I bought a Fiji cup..."
"Soka. A pinhole-sized Fiji cup, right? I get it, I get it." From a distance, Sean waved back at Milluki. He took a step, and in the next second, he was out of Milluki's sight and had arrived in the dining hall.
In the huge dining hall, Kikyo, with her large, pregnant belly, was already dining, attended by Tsubone.
That's right. Thanks to Silva's unremitting efforts, Kikyo was pregnant again. Noticing her high, round belly, Alluka would probably be born in about two months!
As the most broken-tier existence in the Zoldyck family, the "Wish-Granting Machine" was well-deserving of the name. Three consecutive "Demands" in exchange for one "Request" (wish) opportunity. In Sean's view, this was no different from a miracle. It was even a concrete manifestation of a world rule!
It was like the operating rules of the world were torn open for you to see! Letting you know it was broken, yet not daring to truly touch it, or even look directly at it!
This was also why, in the original work, the Zoldyck family sacrificed so many butlers and was forced to lock her in the basement!
But... rules can't be locked up. "How has Mother's health been these past few days?" Sean skillfully cut a slice of sausage and put it in his mouth. Paired with fresh cream of borscht and freshly baked bread rolls, he ate with relish, his appetite looking far better than Kikyo's.
"You've broken your limit again?" Kikyo's answer was off-topic. Sean gave her a surprised glance, then looked at Tsubone. The old butler placed her right hand on her chest and bowed to him. "The Master said... the Young Master would break through in the next two days."
"The moment you came in just now, I didn't sense you at all... So..."
"So, you deduced that I've already broken my limit, right." Sean finished the bread in his hand with a spoonful of borscht and wiped his mouth in satisfaction. "That's right. In order not to be beaten to death by Duo Sang, I worked a little harder. That's not too much to ask, is it?"
"That's not what you said just now." At this moment, Silva walked in, leading Killua, followed by Milluki and Illumi.
When Sean saw Illumi, he let out a whistle. The stone-faced little brother expressionlessly pulled out a chair and sat down, burying his head in his food, acting as if Sean didn't exist. But from the veins that occasionally bulged on his smooth forehead, it was clear he was not as calm as he appeared.
'Well, whatever.' 'Big brother' was full. "Enjoy your meal." Pushing back his chair, Sean stood up, deciding not to be an eyesore to a certain someone. He had barely taken two steps out of the dining room when Silva suddenly said, "Sean, you can't kill me with just your physical body."
"Get your Nen ability to break its limit as soon as possible."
"I'm very much looking forward to what kind of effect a mastered nature characteristic will unleash."
"Ohohoho. Did you hear that? If you can't master it within a year, you're... finished!" Kikyo chimed in, covering her mouth and snickering. 'This is father and son trying to kill each other. Mother, don't forget to charge admission when you're watching the show!'
Sean shrugged indifferently. He took a step and vanished from everyone's sight. What he didn't say was, 'A year is too long. We seize the day, seize the hour!'
Under the stars, draped in moonlight, the young man walked down the stone corridor. He glanced at the night sky through the window and paused. "Looks like tomorrow will be a windy day."
"A good day to meet that old bastard!"
"Pah, pah! Who are you calling an old bastard?" Maha poked his head out of the window. "What are you spacing out for, brat? Get in here!"
The old man had his hands behind his back. He wasn't in his rocking chair, nor was he touching his H-manga or novels. Strangely, he hadn't gone down the mountain to find a "mamasan" today. He just watched Sean admiring the moon from the window. 'This is so abnormal, he must be up to no good.'
Sure enough, as Sean gathered his thoughts and his front foot had just crossed into the room, his back foot was followed by the old man, who fawningly offered a "massage" technique he had secretly learned from the Kabukicho. He took the initiative to massage Sean's shoulders. "Hehe. Good grandson, breaking through must have been agonizing."
"Let Grandpa massage you. I guarantee that in one week, you'll be alive and kicking, all pain gone."
"In one month, you'll be full of vigor, walking like the wind."
"In one year, your Wind characteristic will be mastered, and you'll be beating your dad..."
"Stop. Stop. Stop. Stop." Sean had been lying comfortably in Maha's rocking chair, but hearing this, he flipped over and sat up. No more massage!
'Damn it. Has this old bastard been scammed by some snake oil salesman?'
"According to you, I have to wait another year to master the Wind characteristic?"
"You've got to be kidding! Grandpa, I... am breaking the limit tomorrow!"
"Shoo, shoo, shoo." Sean pushed Maha aside and dove into the shower to wash up.
The old man, with his nearly bald head, stood frozen in place. After a long moment, he cried out strangely, "Tomorrow?!"
'Grandma's leg! Do you think breaking a limit is buying cabbage? A different one every day?!'