Author Note:
Something has come up I have too much on my plate I have work, school, a private project, YouTube channel, and this. Because I am not making any money with this I am planning on shortening this to 2 chapters a week, minimum for a while while I focus more on my YouTube channel, I am sorry for the people that look forward to a new chapter everyday I hope to quickly stabilize my channel to earn some money so I can continue doing this fanfic and more.
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Nearly a week passed.
Serik and Illumi trained every day under Jons' watchful eye. Their results were impressive—though in very different ways.
Serik spent most of his time reinforcing the basics. Morning after morning, he repeated the white emperor style until he could use it with aura perfectly. Sometimes he experimented with Gyo and Ken; other times, he slipped into his room and practiced Shu with whatever random object he could find. A spoon. A broom handle. Once, a book that nearly snapped in half.
He was making immense strides, but he was not the only one.
Of the advanced techniques, Gyo, Ken, Shu, and even Ryu had become decent. Not expert grade. But proficient.
Illumi, on the other hand, was something else entirely.
His Ten was perfectly stable—unnervingly so. His Zetsu was flawless from the moment he learned the word. His Ren grew day by day until he could hold it for more than five minutes without strain. He trained in silence, in stillness, with a dedication that felt less like discipline and more like instinct.
But none of that compared to the real surprise.
They had a visitor.
And not an assassin.
But a butler.
Jons had asked Illumi to contact his family and inform them of his situation the same day Illumi accepted Jons deal. Illumi complied instantly, delivering the information in his usual flat, precise manner. After a few sentences, Jons took over the call himself.
"Greetings. This is Jons speaking."
"Ah… Jons," an aged voice replied calmly. "I hope you are well."
"I am splendid," Jons said. "Your grandson was very respectful. My young master has taken a liking to him and has asked that he remain here for a while. What is your opinion?"
A short pause.
"You are still as arrogant as your teacher," Zeno said.
"That is kind of you to say."
"…What are you planning to do with my grandson?"
"I intend to make him strong enough to fight my young master."
Another pause.
"So," Zeno muttered, "he really left a descendant behind. How unlike him."
"No," Jons replied calmly. "Very like him. You know how fond he was of Silva."
"Hmph. I suppose you are right. Will you be his instructor?"
"Yes."
"Then I have no objection. Let him stay."
Zeno's tone shifted slightly.
"One of ours will go there. Someone to accompany him for when he returns."
"That is acceptable," Jons said.
After the call ended, Jons allowed himself a small smile.
"I wonder who they will send," he murmured. "I hope it is her."
Two hours later, a person arrived.
She stepped through the doorway like a blade disguised as an old woman—tall, stiff-backed, her gray hair pulled tight. Her eyes were sharp enough to cut through the silence. She carried no visible weapons.
"Greetings"
"My name is Tsubone," she said with a bow. "Butler of the Zoldyck family."
Jons opened the door fully.
"Tsubone," he greeted. "It has been a long time."
She raised an eyebrow as she examined him.
"So you really are alive," she said. "We thought you had left alongside your teacher."
"No," Jons replied as he led her toward the garden. "I had a far more important task."
"What could be more important than your teacher?" she asked.
They reached the garden before he could answer.
Jons opened his mouth to say His—, but Tsubone stopped short the moment she noticed Serik.
"I see," she said quietly. "This is more important."
Serik and Illumi were seated in meditation, deep in training. Illumi did not react to Tsubone's arrival—he recognized her aura instantly and continued his Ren without interruption.
Serik, still inexperienced, broke concentration immediately.
Tsubone studied him with the practiced eye of someone who had evaluated strength her entire life.
"Is this the result of your training?" she asked.
"Yes," Jons answered.
She hummed softly.
"He seems well-rounded," she said. "But nothing stands out."
Her gaze sharpened."For how long has he been training?"
"About a year physically," Jons replied. "Nen for less than three months."
Tsubone's expression shifted—subtle, but genuine.
"Master Zeno was right," she said. "You inherited your teacher's ability to cultivate strength quickly. To make someone this competent in so little time is not easy."
She glanced at Jons.
"But it is not impressive enough to make Zeno pleased. What is it, then? Why would he entrust young master Illumi to you?"
Jons kept his eyes forward.
"Who knows," he said lightly, and chuckled.
To his surprise, Tsubone laughed as well.
"Do you remember your first visit to Kukuroo Mountain?" she asked. "I had just been taken in. Before the Zoldyck family… I was nothing. Just an orphan taken in by the family."
"Same," Jons replied. "Before my teacher saved me, I took dangerous jobs hoping one would end me. And yes—I remember that visit."
He smiled faintly.
"I was quite smitten with you."
Tsubone snorted.
"Too bad you declined becoming a family butler."
"How could I?" Jons said. "My teacher was already eager to challenge your family. I didn't want to give him an excuse."
"Is that why you poisoned his water?" Tsubone asked dryly."So he would have bigger problems to worry about?"
"No," Jons said flatly. "That was revenge. The look on his face when he thought Zeno did it amused me for years."
Tsubone covered her mouth as she laughed.
Across the garden, Serik finally stood and approached, unable to contain his curiosity.
"Excuse me," he said politely. "May I ask who you are?"
Tsubone's expression softened.
"I am Tsubone," she said warmly. "A butler of the Zoldyck family."
She produced a small wrapped candy and handed it to him.
Serik blinked, surprised.
"Why are you here?" he asked.
"I serve the family to which young Illumi belongs," she replied."And I am here to accompany him when the time comes."
"Oh," Serik said. "That's cool."
He returned to training immediately, not caring about the new visitor.
Tsubone watched him go, amused.
Jons gestured toward the house.
"Would you care for some tea?"
"I would," she said.
Inside, as Jons poured the tea, Tsubone gazed toward the garden.
"You know," she began slowly, "he has that same—"
"I know," Jons said, smiling softly before she could finish."That is what makes me both happy and terrified."