Chapter 98: Recovery × Revenge
"Are you a big shot in the mafia? How strong are you?"
"When did you meet my big brother?"
"Are you rich?"
Soon, Haze and Killua headed for the basement.
As for Silva, Illumi, and the other members of the family, it was obvious they were in the monitoring room, preparing for a thorough observation…
Killua held a stuffed toy a gift from Haze, wrapped for Alluka.
A thoughtful gesture…
Perhaps because of that, Killua became more talkative, chatting with Haze and constantly asking curious questions.
Their conversation was being transmitted to the rest of the family through the surveillance system.
Haze patiently answered each of Killua's questions, one by one… without hiding anything.
Killua seemed completely relaxed no sense of urgency or awareness of how serious the situation really was.
Haze wasn't nervous either… because Alluka didn't know his name.
If she didn't know his name, she wouldn't target him.
Besides, there were things Haze hadn't mentioned.
Alluka's ability could be extremely destructive, but it could also heal. The rules and therefore the costs were different for each.
Judging from Silva and Zeno's reactions, they didn't see Alluka as family at all… rather, as a threat.
To them, she was nothing more than a danger.
If they didn't consider her family, she wasn't protected by the Zoldyck clan… which meant they could kill her.
This was one of the main reasons Killua had almost severed ties with his family.
From a young age, Alluka had never made a "cutesy request" to anyone in the family only to outsiders.
With Killua, she simply played.
After passing through several heavy doors, Killua led Haze, familiar with the route, into a sealed underground chamber.
Alluka, dressed like a girl, sat obediently among a pile of stuffed animals. Though smiling, her expression carried deep loneliness.
"Brother!"
Upon seeing Killua, Alluka jumped joyfully into his arms.
Killua smiled warmly in return, basking in the warmth of their bond.
Regarding Alluka's gender, people speculated some said male, others female. Some even claimed that biologically male, Alluka's mind was female.
But Haze understood the moment he saw her…
Due to her unique traits, he preferred to think of Alluka as "spiritually bisexual."
This became more obvious later, when Killua took her outside, introducing her under different names depending on the situation.
Of course, her body was male but the entity within, Nanika, was unmistakably female.
"Hm… Brother, long time no see," Alluka said cheerfully, snuggling into Killua's chest.
As for Haze, standing behind, Alluka ignored him completely probably mistaking him for a servant.
After all, though sealed underground, maids and attendants brought her food and toys daily.
Haze quietly stepped aside, not interrupting the siblings' conversation.
Killua played with Alluka; it was obvious how close they were.
Alluka clung to him, utterly dependent.
They started to play games Alluka teasingly asked Killua for one of his eyes, or an ear, and so on. It sounded terrifying, but she always called him "Brother" before saying it never by name.
Killua, of course, used a few tricks to dodge these requests.
Then, he gave Alluka the gift Haze had brought.
When their time was nearly up, Killua suddenly leaned down and whispered something in his sister's ear.
Silva hadn't given them much time and that sudden whisper made the observers in the monitoring room shift their expressions.
Because… they couldn't hear what Killua said.
He'd done it on purpose.
Illumi's eyes immediately locked on the screen showing Haze's calm face.
He turned to his father. "Hmm… must be Haze's doing. He manipulated Killua somehow… meaning the rules he described earlier weren't complete. Both he and Killua are hiding something."
"The hidden part is the key."
"Why help him at all?" muttered Miji, the chubby boy sitting in front of the monitor, frowning.
He glared at Haze's calm expression, annoyed, stuffing chips into his mouth impatiently.
This wasn't just about money he couldn't understand his father and grandfather's reasoning.
Silva, however, continued watching silently, arms crossed.
Explaining would be pointless Miji wouldn't understand.
…
Meanwhile, in the basement, after Killua whispered something, Alluka giggled softly.
It was as if her brother had told her a joke.
Then, after a minute or two, without warning… the atmosphere in the room and on the camera feed changed drastically.
The "black and white" entity of the Zoldyck family appeared again.
Black was Nanika.
White was Alluka.
Alluka's aura darkened; her pale face turned expressionless, eyes dilating unnaturally no longer human.
A being from the Dark Continent.
Lifeforms from that place surpassed human understanding entirely.
They operated under their own logic.
Compared to the catastrophes Haze knew of, Nanika though terrifying still retained a spark of emotion, the only "kindness" of the Dark Continent.
Killua whispered one last word into Alluka's ear.
Then the child stood up, walked toward Haze, and stretched out her tiny hand.
Though prepared, Haze still felt a chill crawl down his spine as goosebumps rose on his arms.
Still, he extended his hand calmly, letting Nanika touch him.
A blinding light erupted between them, filling the entire room with white brilliance.
In the monitoring room, Silva and the others couldn't see anything clearly
but their faces changed as they felt an overwhelming, unknown energy flooding from the depths of the mansion.
Something vast something they had never sensed before.
The Zoldycks analyzed in silence.
This was the difference between Nanika's destructive and healing rules.
Haze felt pure, gentle energy washing over him like soft rain similar to his own healing Nen abilities, but hundreds, perhaps thousands of times stronger.
An inhuman power defying all logic!
The weakness in his body was torn away; his limp muscles revived; strength and fullness surged through him once more.
Wonderful… indescribably wonderful!
"Hahahahaha!" Haze laughed.
Success!
The light faded, Nanika vanished, and the basement returned to normal.
Only one thing had changed
Haze no longer needed the crutches that had supported him.
His face glowed, his figure restored muscles reshaped beneath tightened robes.
In the monitoring room, Illumi's expression twisted oddly. His lips quivered, eyes wide, his face warping with tension and excitement.
If Silva hadn't been there, he would've rushed straight to the basement.
Miji's chips spilled across the floor.
It was the first time the family had witnessed Nanika's healing ability
and on such an irreversible wound!
It was… unbelievable.
Meanwhile, Alluka stumbled, pale and exhausted, before collapsing into Killua's arms.
She was completely drained.
Haze gazed at his rejuvenated hand, smiling.
"Seventy percent restored… I'll need training to recover fully. My Nen's structure was self-damaged I'll need to rebuild it."
There was no rejection the energy blended seamlessly into him, allowing instant self-assessment.
Then, a thought crossed his mind.
"That's enough. She needs rest."
Killua glanced at the man who had "succeeded" and suddenly felt a pang of pity for his sister perhaps agreeing to this had been a mistake.
He was beginning to regret it… but it was too late.
Haze said nothing, leaving the room first.
Before entering, he had made a subtle gesture to Killua "order."
Killua understood instantly and kept quiet.
At least now, her imprisonment had revealed to Killua how his family truly saw Alluka.
Had this entire act been under Killua's control, Nanika's reaction could have exposed everything and the Zoldycks would have found out instantly.
That's why her appearance, voice, and communication had to stay secret.
It would raise suspicion but as long as Killua remained silent, all would be fine.
The Zoldycks had their own rules.
Let them guess. Time was what they needed.
Killua was sharp but after this, the silver-haired boy developed a faint dislike for Haze.
He sensed something off about Nanika's state.
As they left the basement, Killua walked with hands in his pockets, face hard.
"Thanks," Haze smiled.
"Hmph…" Killua snorted, turning away.
The earlier gift had worked.
"Protect her," Haze traced the words lightly on Killua's back.
Though 70% healed, Killua didn't react visibly but when he understood the message, his eyes softened.
At the end of the corridor, Illumi leaned against a shadowed wall, watching the two approach his gaze locked on Haze.
For the first time, murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
"Congratulations. You're cured," Illumi said stiffly.
"How could I be? I still need time to recover…" Haze chuckled, seemingly unaware of the killing aura around him.
"So you were plotting against me too, huh?"
In a blink, Illumi appeared before him, blocking his path.
"What are you talking about? I don't understand…" Haze scratched his head with a grin.
"What, you planning to kill me? Is that how the Zoldyck family treats guests?"
Killua swallowed hard, backing away like a frightened kitten his pupils constricting as he looked between his brother and Haze.
The tension in the air was suffocating.
He could feel it his brother was truly angry.
"Hey, hey, don't scare the kid," Haze said suddenly after a pause.
"Shouldn't you be thanking me? I helped you heal."
Illumi withdrew his Nen and replied in a calm tone, "I've told you everything I know. As for what you're looking for… you'll have to find that out yourself. It's not my problem."
Haze arched an eyebrow as he passed him.
"You're taking revenge on me, huh?"
Ignoring Killua, Illumi followed Haze.
"Something like that. I just don't like your tone… and I don't meddle in other people's family matters," Haze said indifferently.
"I see," Illumi nodded, his gaze narrowing.
"Just don't do it again. I almost stepped in back there."
"Oh? Still not going to tell me?"
"You took my money, so I expect results… got it? Still, thanks but don't expect me to spill the truth. Seeing you lose out makes me happy."
Haze stopped, patted Illumi on the shoulder, and grinned.
"Hisoka's judgment of you was right. You two will get along just fine."
With that, Haze waved casually and walked away.
(End of Chapter)