Saiyu believed his "Ruyi Stick," reinforced with "Hard," was unbreakable.
Yet, under his stunned gaze, a soft shhk sound rang out.
The Ruyi Stick was sliced cleanly in two by Number Two, the cut smooth as a mirror, as if slicing through tofu.
Even more terrifying was that the Kusanagi Sword, wrapped in Conqueror's Haki, no longer resembled a sword but a Grim Reaper's scythe enchanted by death itself—coming fast and leaving faster!
It grazed past Saiyu's chest, knocking the monkey to the ground instantly.
Sizzle—flesh curled, blood burst forth, and pain followed immediately after.
The monkey screamed, hugging himself and rolling on the ground. The ferocious wound on his chest looked like a terrifying centipede, shocking to behold.
'One cut... he only used one cut.'
Or rather, 'From the very beginning, he was just toying with Saiyu.'
Vice Chairman's Office.
Pariston noticed the thunder-fire burning on the Kusanagi Sword in Number Two's hand. The smile that seemed permanently etched onto his face faded for the first time. He didn't know what it was, but that "thunder-fire" was too bizarre... it actually gave him a rare sensation of heart-pounding fear.
The feeling grew stronger, making him wonder: if he were Saiyu, could he handle Number Two's strike?
Hard to say. Pariston frowned, unsure.
Perhaps he would only know the trick after Saiyu returned and he could ask the victim.
However, some people were probably being too optimistic.
Chairman's Office, one floor away.
"Could you please retract your killing intent?"
The screen reflected the scene of Saiyu being cut down by Number Two. Netero glanced at Maha. 'Old man, are you satisfied now?'
Maha grunted. He threw himself back into the sofa, lifted his shirt, and resumed his old trade, patting his belly pa pa pa.
"Heh heh~ Kid, I told you long ago that your bullshit 'Zodiacs' aren't up to snuff, but you just wouldn't believe me."
"Now you see it? Just a pile of dog shit."
'What? Not planning to blood-wash my Hunter Association anymore?'
Netero snorted coldly. "Even this old man isn't that kid's match; it's excusable that Saiyu lost."
The Kusanagi Sword wrapped in Conqueror's Haki... This was the second time Netero had seen it. The first time traced back to when the kid charged into the dark clouds to fight the lightning. At that time, the boy was wrapped in gold and red flames, like a demon god crawling out of magma, forcibly scattering the sky full of dark clouds.
At that time, Netero realized he wasn't simple. Sure enough, it was as he expected. Even if Saiyu was the weakest of the Zodiacs, he wasn't someone who could be cut down in one strike. Even Netero himself, without using "Zero Hand," couldn't guarantee slapping him down in one go.
Yet Number Two did it. It made one sigh—even a clone of that brat was so abnormal; it was truly astonishing!
Maha laughed slyly. "As I said... once a killer's trump card is exposed, it's no longer a trump card."
"Therefore, such secrets involving our Zoldyck family's heirloom techniques naturally cannot be revealed to the outside world."
"You guys..." "Zoldyck family heirloom technique?"
'Who are you fooling, you damn old man!' Netero gave Maha a fake smile. "Oh? I've been friends with Zigg for decades and never heard him mention this?"
'Do you take me for an idiot?'
'Clearly, that kid Sean drew it out himself; what does it have to do with you?'
Netero adopted a humble attitude, staring intently at Maha. "Come, come, since it's a family technique and I didn't see that kid Sean's strike clearly, could you trouble yourself to show a little bit of it, Old Man, so I can broaden my horizons?"
'Broaden my horizons? Which eye? The one on your butt?'
Maha yawned. "Oh, people~ when they get old, they get sleepy easily. Look... I~ fell asleep again. Snore~ Ha~ Snore~ Ha."
The little old man rolled his eyes back and simply turned his back to Netero in refusal.
Netero: "..."
Even if he crushed his old teeth, there was really nothing he could do about this old geezer who pretended to be confused while knowing everything. He decided not to make himself suffer. With a cold snort, he silently went to cool off his anger.
"Luckily, a fight didn't break out this time." Beans, standing in the corner like a stone statue, quietly reached out a hand to wipe the cold sweat from his forehead. He almost thought he was going to suffer an "undeserved calamity" again. But seeing Maha and Netero ignoring each other, each with their own thoughts, he quietly let out a sigh of relief.
'If anyone is to blame~ it's Sean Zoldyck. Why does this guy always do things people can't imagine?'
Beans looked at the TV speechlessly. In the image, Number Two looked both dashing and terrifying as he cut down Saiyu. It immediately startled Lippo and the others too!
"See? I told you, Lord Saiyu is no match for that Sean Zoldyck." Standing behind Lippo, "Hum" glared provocatively at "Ha" beside him and reached out to flick the other's forehead.
"Ha" was furious but could only hold it in; who asked him to be in the wrong?
"Ouch~ easy."
"Don't blame Lord Saiyu for being weak, okay? Who could have thought this guy Sean Zoldyck would be so strong?!"
"Couldn't even take one hit. And he's a Zodiac!"
"In my opinion, he might as well give up the 'Monkey' seat for the Boss to sit in!"
"Ha" cried out in pain, cursing in exasperation.
'Don't get me in trouble.' Lippo ate his daifuku absentmindedly, watching Saiyu rolling on the ground. For some reason, he felt a little secret pleasure in his heart. 'Damn, that monkey occupied the magpie's nest and bullied people too much—he even dared to say the daifuku tasted bad? He deserves this calamity today~'
However, Lippo had self-awareness: "If I sat there, I wouldn't be able to withstand Sean Zoldyck's slash just now either."
After all, Saiyu was a Double-Limit breaker Zodiac, much stronger than Lippo, who had just become a Double-Limit breaker.
Looking at it this way... "Don't talk about me, Lippo; even if a few more Zodiacs came, they couldn't stop this guy Sean Zoldyck."
"After all, that guy is a pervert who can even defeat the Chairman!"
Crack~ Biting the daifuku in half, the coquettish rooster-haired examiner pushed up the glasses on the bridge of his nose and narrowed his eyes at the arena.
A large foot appeared on the monitor screen, stomping onto Saiyu's chest.
The young man looked down from above as the monkey let out a miserable scream. Expressionless, he dispersed the Conqueror's Haki and patted Saiyu's face with the blade.
The monkey lost his previous arrogance, looking at Number Two in terror. The opponent's figure towered infinitely high, directly obscuring the light overhead.
"You... you won. Sean Zoldyck, move your foot, I'm dying of pain..." Gritting teeth and baring gums wasn't enough to describe this guy's ugliness.
'When you tried to beat me to death with a stick to the head earlier... you didn't say that.'
Number Two smiled coldly. Whether intentionally or not, his body leaned, shifting his entire weight onto the foot stepping on Saiyu's chest. Saiyu felt as if he had been hit head-on by a small mountain. He rolled his eyes back in pain, nearly fainting.
"Hic~ Heh heh~ Who said you won? Look at you, not mentioning a word about reparations—does this look like a defeat?"
"But... Uncle / Teacher Ben An... it seems like you are the one beating people up..."
Gon, Leorio, Kurapika: "..."
They looked at each other, exchanging glances. Indeed, this was very "Uncle/Teacher Ben An."
"I didn't want to fight you in the first place, okay?!" 'You're the one who beat me up without a word!' Saiyu wanted to vomit blood in depression. Not only was he slashed, but the guy insisted on stepping on him. 'I shouldn't have taken this job.'
Number Two flashed a smile at Saiyu. Two rows of white teeth shone in the light. Reflected in Saiyu's triangular eyes, it made his heart skip a beat.
"You... Sean Zoldyck, what do you want to do?" The terrified monkey scream resounded in all directions of the arena.
The young man lifted the Kusanagi Sword. The straight blade and sharp tip aimed at Saiyu's unrestrained big mouth. He smiled and said:
"Saiyu (Journey to the West)... If you don't go West (die), how can it be a journey?"
"Be good... open your mouth... it won't hurt for long..."
'Fuck your mother.' "Sean Zoldyck, you dare kill me?"
"I am..."
Shhk~
The blade fell. Before Saiyu could finish speaking, his eyes suddenly widened—
Watching the Kusanagi Sword insert into his mouth, then with a squelch, it penetrated the back of his head and sank into the ground!
Then, as Sean said, pain left Saiyu. Accompanied by his life.
Time seemed to freeze briefly with the fall of Number Two's sword.
The monitoring room at the bottom of Trick Tower. The Hunter Association Chairman and Vice Chairman's offices. All fell into a strange, deathly silence.
Killing an examiner? Or rather, a Zodiac?
"Eh heh heh heh... He really... has such guts..."
Pariston forgot to drink the breathing red wine. Watching Number Two expressionlessly pull out the Kusanagi Sword with a squelch, ripples appeared in his pupils, shining brightly. "That's it... it should be like this. It wouldn't be interesting otherwise."
The Rat pulled at his tie. After the daze, he was trembling with excitement. He hadn't seen such a "fierce" toy in a long time. The corners of his mouth hooked up, he grabbed the goblet and downed the wine in one gulp.
"Ah~ Subarashii... The Chairman should be satisfied with this result too, right?"
'Thank you~ Whether this old man is satisfied or not isn't important.' "Old man, you should be satisfied now, right?"
Chairman's Office. Netero looked expressionlessly at Maha's old face, his white hair and beard making it impossible to see his mood.
"Heh~ Laugh if you want, kid." Maha opened his eyes and rolled them at Netero. "My grandson got rid of a spy for you. Isn't this exactly the result you wanted?"
'That being said...'
"But Saiyu was one of the Twelve Zodiacs after all." Netero twirled his beard. "Now that he's dead, someone has to fill the spot."
???! Maha was startled. 'Why do I smell poaching?'
'What...' "Crazy about being a grandfather? You have your eyes on my Sean?"
"Anyway, he's not welcome in your house."
'Bullshit!' "I'm telling you, impossible!" Maha glared at Netero.
Netero smiled coldly, noncommittal. "Stop pretending, Old Man. You can't make decisions for Sean."
"Besides, my Hunter Association lacks everything except money. I gave you the sixty billion you asked for, what more do you want?"
Maha: "..."
'Son of a bitch, just because you're backed by the V5, you think you're amazing?'