It was the raped and murdered girl and several Nen users that Harrison had brutally tortured to death.
Roy understood. Grandfather Zeno once said that because they died innocent and unjustly, their resentment ran deep. Looking now, the girl clearly wasn't a Nen user, yet her figure was the most solid among them.
'This is the power of hatred.' Roy raised his right foot and stomped Harrison's head into pulp. Without Nen reinforcement, even his iron skull turned to mush.
The graceful figure and the Nen users bowed in salute to him. Straightening up, they cast one last longing look at the world before transforming into firefly-like lights that merged into Roy's body.
"What is that?" Wing asked, turning to Biscuit in confusion.
Biscuit said nothing, just kept glancing at Roy, lost in thought.
[Reminder: Life Energy +10]
A status panel notification appeared. It was a little less than Roy expected. Maybe that was the difference between fugitives and terrorists; terrorists caused much more harm.
Roy felt it was insufficient and was dissatisfied. He leaned on his cane sword, foot planted on Harrison, coldly scanning the audience.
"Divine Spear" and "Ninja" simultaneously lowered their heads, pretending to see nothing.
"Trash." Gotoh sneered.
"You!" Guy and Kikuta Tadashi angrily rose, their seats suddenly feeling too hot to bear, fleeing the scene in shame.
"Wing, ninety days seems insufficient." Biscuit said, chin resting on her hand.
Wing pushed up his glasses. "Then add another ninety days." The young man smiled slightly, his mentality solid. "Discretion is the better part of valor. Whatever time Master says to fight, that's when we fight."
"Good." Biscuit patted Wing's head, playfully winking. "I won't send you up just to get beaten."
"Ilo... Ilo..." The crowd chanting Roy's name finally grew louder as the bitter bettors left. The young man watched Guy and Kikuta Tadashi leave, casually glancing at the wall corner.
Two young men stood in the dark corners—one calm, one gritting his teeth. Seeing him look over, both turned away, disappearing into the crowd.
Time to leave. Roy withdrew his gaze, bathed in lights and countless stares, descending the arena.
Wing sat in his seat. Seeing him approach, he stood up early. "Congratulations."
Roy stopped, calmly watching him. No time like the present. "You can challenge me now."
Wing coughed, but Biscuit seized the conversation. "Hey, Roy, want to join our Shingen-ryu? You know our master is humanity's strongest!"
"No thanks," Roy recalled that dream under the willow tree. Back then, Netero had run away because of what happened with Grandfather Zigg. If he switched sides now, who knew if the old man would kill him in a rage? Roy wasn't willing to risk it.
"That's too bad. Who knows when we'll meet again after this...?" Biscuit "sadly" squeezed out two tears, opening her small hands as she pounced.
Midway, Roy pressed down on her head, letting her flail around, grasping at air. He wasn't in the mood to mess around with this old woman who liked to act like a child. He simply told Gotoh, "Let's go."
With that, he released Biscuit and left the audience seats, heading straight to his room.
By killing Harrison, Roy earned the right to move up to the 200th floor. He couldn't stay in Room 1991 anymore, so he waited for the officials to assign him a new room before moving out.
Master and servant walked through the corridor, one after another. They approached and stopped, seeing an unexpected yet somehow expected figure.
"Please take me as your disciple!" Kastro dropped to his knees at Gotoh's feet with a thud, head bowed to the ground, movements extremely fluid and clearly rehearsed countless times in his mind.
Gotoh visibly stiffened, turning to Roy. "Young master, should I just kill him?"
Roy said nothing, giving him full authority to handle it. The young butler glanced at him tentatively, frowning as he raised his right foot, using his toe to hook Kastro's chin, asking disdainfully, "Can you transform?"
'The young master wanted someone at least as skilled as Tsubone, with the ability to fly, run, jump, and swim.'
Kastro looked up, completely confused.
After a long while, he stammered, "How do people transform? Like... that Rubber Man Morris?"
Kastro glanced carefully at Roy, nodding vigorously. "Yes! As long as you're willing to teach, I'll learn to transform!"
'Best to transform into a tank and blow you away!' Kastro thought.
"Young master, what do you think?"
"You decide."
Could Enhancer Kastro ultimately not escape the fate of training in the wrong system? Roy stepped past the young man, finding it interesting. At least one thing was certain—once you entered the Zoldyck family, dying wasn't easy.
The door clicked open. Roy entered first. Seeing this, Gotoh withdrew his foot, followed behind, and tossed out, "Start as an intern butler."
"Yes!" Kastro clenched his fists, getting up from the ground, exhaling deeply, and followed into the room.
The corridor lights cast slanted shadows across the floor. At the end of the corridor, a pale face emerged, watching Kastro enter Roy's room, its dead eyes narrowing.
After Illumi disappeared, a piece of wall plaster was peeled off, revealing the cement beneath.
"Dance... Clear Blue Sky... Raging Sun... Flame Dance..."
Evening arrived. Only Roy remained in the room. Gotoh had originally planned tickets for just the master and servant. Now with an extra person, worried about leaving Kastro alone with Roy, he simply took Kastro along to buy additional tickets while purchasing dinner.
Perfect timing for Roy's daily training. Having completed one set of Sun Breathing practice, the young man exhaled lightly and began undressing.
His eyes suddenly sharpened as he turned toward the window. The cane sword in his hand thrust straight out, stopping before Illumi hanging upside down outside the window.
The nose tip and blade tip were separated by only a glass pane. With the sunset casting its glow, Illumi could clearly feel Roy's murderous intent!
He silently watched Roy. After a long while, he spoke, his voice hoarse. "Who is he?"
"Who?"
"The person you brought into your room today."
Roy sheathed his cane sword, saying flatly, "Oh, you mean him. Kastro."
"Kill him!"
"Give me a reason."
"No reason."
"Then mind your own business!"
With a swift motion, Roy pulled the curtain, blocking Illumi outside.
In the setting sun's afterglow, Illumi hung in midair like a spider, swaying in the wind, his eyes vacant and hollow.