Vollar's Hope

The dimly lit prison cell.

Young Ian raised his hand, and a wisp of icy blue ghostly flame ignited between his fingers. He stared at the flame with deep, calm eyes.

In the previous battles.

He became very interested in the flame and even used a [Cutting Knife and Fork] to preserve a portion of it intact.

Unexpectedly...

The flames from the other side were actually materialized.

That is precisely why.

Only then can the conditions for "transferring" the subject be met through [Contract and Restriction].

Behind Ian, Uvogin, Chrollo, and the others watched the scene with some surprise.

They were quite surprised; they hadn't expected that thought could be used in this way.

As for Aimina and Eluna...

Although this situation was rare, it wasn't something the two of them hadn't seen before.

Furthermore... most of the Nen Ability Treasures left behind by the Gandor Dynasty were created by Conjuration users.

Yuliya, bound to the ground by Chains, stared in astonishment at the scene before her.

She hadn't expected Siming to give in like this...

Furthermore, they successfully gained the other party's trust.

Beside her, an elderly man codenamed Siming, whose real name was Vollar, lay prostrate on the ground, his face streaked with tears of emotion.

Vollar was born into a noble family in V5.

He came from a well-off family and his parents had a harmonious relationship when he was young. His only regret was that his father fell seriously ill when he was seven years old. After that, his mother would often take him to various religious sites to worship and pray for his father.

For four whole years, what he did most often was accompany his mother to recite prayers from various religions.

Fortunately.

Even though his father was seriously ill, he still endured the torment of the illness, lovingly caring for him and teaching him.

Despite the immense hardship of caring for her father daily, the mother never complained and always presented a gentle demeanor. She told Vollar that as long as he believed in God and earnestly God, his father's illness would surely improve...

That was an incredibly happy time for young Vollar, deeply etched in his memory.

That is precisely why.

Even though Vollar didn't have much of a concept of Gods when he was young, and even... often changed religious worship with his mother, he always believed in them with great expectation.

He hoped... that some great God would hear his sincere prayer...

I am willing to bestow divine grace and heal my father's illness...

Unfortunately.

When he was eleven years old, his father, after enduring four years of illness, finally succumbed to his ailments and passed away...

At the funeral, I watched as my father's emaciated, silent body was slowly lifted into the coffin and buried in the cemetery.

With a sorrowful expression and a vacant look in his eyes, Vollar asked his mother, who was also grieving, a question.

"Mom, why... why didn't God answer our requests...?"

"Does God... really exist?"

It's hard to say... whether his last question awakened some rationality and reflection in his grieving mother, or whether it was just self-deception.

Vollar could never forget that moment, the look of shock and despair in her once gentle mother's eyes.

"Vollar... forgive Mom..."

"At least retain a sliver of faith, God... He loves all people..."

Vollar couldn't remember whether it was a hallucination or a real memory; at that moment, his mother seemed to have answered him in that way.

Does God... really exist?

If there is no God, then what have they, mother and son, done all these years...?

In conclusion

After the funeral.

Vollar's mother also fell seriously ill due to excessive grief, and soon passed away while Vollar numbly pleaded and prayed to various religious mystical records.

He inherited the title of nobility, as well as a fortune that, even after using most of it, would still be enough for the rest of his life.

But they no longer believe in the existence of God.

At the same time, I vaguely understood why my mother had apologized...

Because, even with the wealth and honor of nobility, in those powerless times, they could do nothing but hope for a sliver of hope from the Gods...

Humans are such small and fragile creatures.

When all else fails, one can only place all hope in external things in order to obtain inner peace.

And the Gods...

It doesn't exist...

They showed no mercy to the world...

Since then, Vollar has been exposed to the Occultism, and in the V5 country where Nen Abilities are strictly controlled, he learned about Nen and awakened his own Nen Ability.

He had thought he had long forgotten his childhood memories.

But even today, fifty years later...

After meeting Ian and facing death, he remembered how helpless his father and mother had been in the face of that fear of death.

Believing in the existence of God is also a form of compassionate love given to us by our mothers.

Always keep a glimmer of hope for the future, at any time...

Fortunately, he met...

Even death could free him from the human... no, the other party was his master, and also a living God.

Vollar wanted to share this with his mother at this moment, to tell her... that he had finally seen what the Gods looked like.

The other person did indeed look very handsome, except that he was a bit too young and too approachable. His abilities and methods were almost identical to those of the "god" that he had carefully discussed with his mother when he was young.

On the field at this moment.

Ian was unaware of the complex thoughts and emotions in Vollar's mind.

They saw the other party respectfully prostrating themselves.

He simply stepped forward, bent slightly, and gently placed his fair hand on the other person's somewhat disheveled head, speaking calmly.

"Vollar, is that it? I can accept your submission, but as for serving me, there's no need. I'm not so weak that I need an old man to take care of me."

"The only thing you need to remember is that from now on you must treat the people under my command with a compassionate heart."

"How to judge this kind of compassion? You will naturally understand as you spend more time with her."

After speaking, Ian slowly straightened up, his voice slightly indifferent.

"Whether your submission is feigned or you're planning to betray me, I don't care. But... remember, I'll only give you one chance. If you get caught, the game will be over. So... until then, keep your thoughts hidden and don't let me find out..."

Upon hearing Ian's warning, Vollar trembled slightly and quickly looked up, indicating that he absolutely dared not.

Ian shook his head and said calmly.

"Whether you can do it or not isn't just a matter of what you say; time will tell. Now... get up. You don't need to be so subservient to me."

Upon hearing Ian's words, Vollar wanted to remain prostrate.

He was stopped by a single look from Ian, and stood up somewhat flusteredly, standing there respectfully with his hands clasped, looking uneasy.

Ian glanced at Eluna behind him and coughed lightly.

He didn't know if his "soft-hearted" behavior seemed too childish to the two real kings behind him, but he still spoke up.

"Let's untie this guy, Eluna."

"Understood, Ian, my lord."

Upon hearing Ian's order, Eluna, ignoring Aimina's glare, teased her softly before snapping her fingers with a knowing look.

Not only Vollar, but also the Chains binding Yuliya were broken.

In Eluna's opinion

With them around...

If they dare to resist, then just execute them...

Seeing this scene...

Ian didn't seem to care. He glanced at Vollar and asked.

"Tell me about your origins first. I already know your organization is the Scythe of Judgment, but... why are you here targeting me? Who is directing you?"

Upon hearing the inquiry.

At this point, Vollar, who already regarded Ian as God, would no longer hide anything. He spilled the beans, revealing all the Nen user mobile units he knew of that were hidden within the V5 ranks.