The Strongest Human's Surprise × Kurapika's First Visit to the Zoldyck Family

Her small hands were tucked into her sleeves, silently clenched into fists. Now that things had come to this, she had no choice but to bite the bullet and get off the bus.

"Clang..." Passengers were already gathered near the bus door, some holding up their phones, others carrying large cameras, snapping photos of the "Gate of Hades." For ordinary people...

"The mysterious Zoldyck..." Coupled with the immense title of "the world's number one assassin family," it undoubtedly possesses a strong appeal. For many, a visit here would give them something to brag about in their lives.

Kurapika, easily appeased by Netero's few words, got off the train with a tense expression... This trip was actually quite good; he didn't encounter any arrogant thugs trying to Zoldyck from the Zoldyck family. However... in the Sun-Earring Boy's eyes, the despicable old man who followed him off the train and that strange, Freak with beady green eyes were even more terrifying than the thugs...

But, having come this far, Kurapika roused himself, stood on tiptoe, and looked up at the Testing Gate. The tall, imposing, and weathered gate, like a barrier blocking the outside world, resembled a monstrous beast, looming before him, its imposing presence creating an immense sense of oppression. Kurapika stopped in his tracks, his breathing becoming increasingly labored.

The doors of the red bus creaked shut, and Netero, with Beans in tow, was the last to disembark. He swept his sleeve, strolled over to Kurapika, glanced at him, and this time refrained from further teasing. He simply chuckled and said, "Sun-Earring Boy, this old man is off now."

With just a few words, the term "Sun-Earring Boy" subtly exposed Kurapika's lie.

Kurapika lowered his eyes in embarrassment, and then he heard the old man's words Youyou in his mind again. "It's good that Sun-Earring Boy knows how to protect himself, and his quick wit is commendable, but learning to lie is ultimately a bad quality..."

Kurapika's face flushed. He glanced around and realized he was the only one who had heard him. Everyone else, like the ticket seller and the tourists with their cameras, were busy taking photos and swiping their cards, ignoring him.

Kurapika bit his lower lip, took a small step forward, and followed Netero's footsteps with his head down.

"I'm not lying, my family is there."

The Sun-Earring Boy persisted, and then... with a long, mischievous laugh from Netero, he angrily arrived before the towering "Testing Gate."

The three people's actions finally attracted the attention of the ticket seller and a group of passengers.

Hey~ What are you guys doing? Come back here, you can't go that way!

"Oh dear... how reckless! And there's a little kid too! Where are his parents? How are they watching the child? Are they out of their minds?!"

The ticket seller and several kind tourists called out anxiously from behind...

Netero kept walking.

Kurapika bit his lower lip, not turning his head.

Fifty meters... thirty meters... twenty meters... An old man and a young boy, carrying the Beans, ignored the calls and steadily approached the Testing Gate. At one moment, Netero, his beard and hair fluttering, glanced suspiciously at Kurapika out of the corner of his eye, a hint of surprise appearing on his face for the first time... This kid is cunning; he's definitely not stupid.

They're still forcing themselves to keep up, even now... could it be... there really is family inside?

Amidst the ebb and flow of thoughts, the mountain gate appeared before me, the fifty meters passing in a flash. The Testing Gate had arrived!

Netero stopped in his tracks, glanced at Kurapika, and said in a deep voice, "Sun-Earring Boy, do you know where you are?"

Kurapika lowered his eyes, silently facing the Testing Gate, took a deep breath, and said, "I know. The Zoldyck Family, the world's number one assassin family..."

"I know, aren't you afraid?" Netero raised an eyebrow.

Kurapika clenched his fist. "I told you, my family is inside."

Just then, footsteps sounded from the guard post in front of the gate. Jie Rongbu, who spent his days in the guard post, either drinking tea or reading newspapers, his hair increasingly receding into a Mediterranean pattern, until there were hardly any hairs left Zee his head, heard the sound, put down his newspaper, pushed open the small door of the guard post, and stepped out...

The first thing I saw was Netero standing with the Beans, his hands behind his back, in front of the door.

Zee's expression changed instantly, his memory flashing back to his childhood. He had seen the two of them here, in this very spot, at this very time. In that instant, he recognized Netero and, out of courtesy, removed his hat to greet Netero, saying, "Zee greets the Chairman."

"They know each other?" Kurapika's expression froze.

The middle-aged man who removed his hat was still wearing a security guard uniform, clearly the gatekeeper. However, he bowed to the obnoxious old man beside him... Kurapika's eyes widened, and he looked up at Netero, only to be greeted by...

Netero winked, a half-smile playing on his lips.

"Huo Yao stammered... Decades have passed in the blink of an eye. The little brat who used to follow Jager around has grown up so much..." "President has a good memory," Zee said, putting his hat back on and straightening his back with neither servility nor arrogance. "I wonder if you informed the Master before you came, or should I make a call in advance to ask?"

Zee had seen NEET three times in his life. Excluding this time, the first time he walked in standing up, but the second time wasn't so pleasant; he was kicked out with a thud. Therefore,

Zee knew very well that this "Strongest Human" in front of him, the "chairman" who held both the honor and real power of the Hunter Association, was by no means a distinguished guest to the Zoldyck, let alone someone they were "close to"!

Netero did not answer.

The old man glanced at Kurapika with a smile, curious about the Sun-Earring Boy's expression and actions.

Before Netero could figure anything out, Zee followed his gaze. His attention was momentarily drawn to Netero's arrival, but he failed to notice the child standing beside him, dressed in almost identical traditional clothing to that worn by Kurajing when they entered the mountains... Zee's eyes lit up, and he immediately adopted a kind and gentle smile, taking a few quick steps...

Brushing past Netero's shoulder, he came to Kurapika's side and grabbed his small hand. "Why are you so late, child? The Young Master instructed that you should go see him as soon as you arrived."

Netero: "."

Beans:."

They were all startled, then, regaining their senses, they exchanged glances, looking at each other blankly...

Beside him, Kurapika's small hand was suddenly grasped by Zee's warm, strong hand. He stiffened for a moment, clearly flustered, but when he looked up and met Zee's gentle, kind smile, the Sun-Earring Boy glanced at Netero, bewildered as Zee led him.

Following his steps, Zee personally pushed open the Testing Gate for him, and he silently followed the old gatekeeper inside.

With a deafening roar, the towering Testing Gate rose and fell, causing the ticket seller and the crowd of passengers, who could only watch from fifty meters away, to widen their eyes in astonishment. Someone exclaimed, "That kid... could he be some Young Master from the Zoldyck?"

As soon as he finished speaking,

It was like a huge rock thrown into a calm lake, causing a sudden uproar!

Someone slapped their thigh in frustration, saying, "Oh dear, if I'd known it was him, I should have asked for his autograph... The autograph of a direct descendant of the world's number one assassin family, even if sold, it could fetch at least some money..."

"Hmm, I think it should be around tens of thousands of Jeni... The key is, didn't we miss out?"

"Yeah... who would have thought that a kid from such a big family would ride in the same car as us?"

Regret... pity... disappointment... the talk of it is everywhere...

Testing Gate, only Netero and Beans remained, standing there alone like two clubs. Then, Beans seemed to finally pull himself out of his reverie of what he had just witnessed, and cautiously glanced at Netero, saying, "Guild Master, what do we do?"

Netero remained silent for a long while, truly not expecting to encounter this kid halfway through, who actually had a significant connection with the Zoldyck. Looking up, he saw the Sevenfold Testing Gate blocking his path, separating him from the Zoldyck into two different worlds. Finally, the old man said softly, "Give Zeno a call."

The Beans visibly breathed a sigh of relief and hurriedly pulled out his phone, seemingly afraid that Netero might change his mind at any moment and choose to force his way in... Although, as long as they could push open the Testing Gate, everyone could enter the mountain and wouldn't be eaten by that beast named Mike (also known as Mike), but... the problem was Mike? It was the one standing behind Mike, behind all the Zoldyck!

The Beans, recalling the scene of witnessing Netero being kicked and ripped all the way to the foot of the mountain, kicked out of the Zoldyck, suddenly shuddered, swallowed hard, and dialed Zeno's number.

A few minutes passed Youyou.

After seeing Kurapika off, Zee opened the Testing Gate from the inside, clearly having received instructions. He glanced at Netero and said indifferently, "Guild Master, the Master invites you in."

Netero swept his sleeve and said, "Beans, let's go."

Then, with one step and another glance, he once again caused a stir among the ticket seller and the other travelers, just like Kurapika when he entered the mountain. As the Testing Gate slammed shut, he entered the mountain and stood beside Zee.

"President, this way." There was only one narrow path leading up the mountain, Zee gestured with one hand.

Netero strolled up the steps, his back to the mountain gate, until he reached the mountain pass and stopped.

He vaguely remembered that there should have been a steward guarding the mountain back then, a Scarface boy who, like Zee, liked to follow Jager around. Now, times have changed, and everything is different...

There was no news of Jager, and the mountain guardian seemed to be gone too... Netero sighed deeply, glancing at Zee, "Is there no one left to guard the mountain now?"

The Testing Gate are arduous, but the world is full of extraordinary individuals, and ultimately, some will be able to open them.

At this point, it's time for the mountain guardians to handle it.

"Yes," Zee said with a smile, "Xiao Jing's younger brother is here, and the Young Master specifically instructed that she be given a week's leave to take Kurapika and have a good time in the mountains."

Xiao Jing's... younger brother?

Netero paused, then exclaimed, "Who is that child?"

"He's Xiaojing's younger brother. Xiaojing is the Young Master's housekeeper, serving Young Master alongside Gotoh. Now... she's responsible for guarding the mountain." So that's how it is...

The fog lifted, the mystery was solved, and Netero, without a word, stroked his long, white beard and said, "It seems this little Jing is quite valued by your Young Master."

Zee chuckled and said, "Of course, Young Master... he always treats his own people like family. Xiao Jing is like that, and that boy Gotoh has had incredible luck."

Netero nodded, briefly searching his memory, and finally found a portrait in an inconspicuous little corner.

He was a young butler with a slight beard under his chin, always looking somewhat melancholy, and wearing gold-rimmed glasses year-round... During the Hunter Exam, he always stood by Roy's side, constantly vigilant, ready to shield him from any danger or swords that might be aimed at Roy. It was clear...

He is a qualified, loyal, and good housekeeper...

The old man calmly raised his foot again, casually chatting with Zee, and asked curiously, "What about the Great Fortune?"

Mentioning this... Zee said with no small amount of envy, "I'm not entirely sure either, but I know that once he wakes up, this kid will probably soar to great heights. From now on, things will be different..."

Zee wasn't present at the time and ultimately didn't witness Gotoh receiving the [Embrace] and falling into a deep sleep.

He only caught a glimpse of it occasionally when he passed by the Butler Villa after his night shift, and every time he saw it... Tsubone would always stare blankly at the Blood Cocoon enveloping him.

And yet, the top housekeeper, who had been with Jager since childhood, was silently watching...

Zee was a clever and shrewd person; otherwise, he wouldn't have become the "helper" and "guide" of Gon, Leorio, and Kurapika in the original work, and he was the first to realize that something was not so simple.

"Footsteps... footsteps..." Footsteps echoed in the silent Kukuroo Mountain...

We chatted idly as we climbed the steps until we reached the halfway point. There, nestled deep in the woods beside a shaded path, the Butler Villa, no less impressive than any ordinary villa outside, came into view.

Netero suddenly said, "Ask Roy, just say, 'May I go and take a look?'"

Who he was looking at... It was obvious from the direction of Netero's gaze alone.

Zee was somewhat troubled. "Chairman, the master is still waiting for you in the study."

"He knows I'm here." Netero's white beard twitched as he walked up the long staircase, gazing at the ancient castle atop the mountain at the top of the stairs, a Ancient Castle steeped in the weight of time, and said softly.

Before Zee could react, his phone rang immediately. After answering, Roy's familiar voice came through. "If the chairman wants to go see it, let him go see it. It's not something shameful."

After saying that, the phone was abruptly disconnected with a "click."

Zee, holding his phone, bowed and replied, "Yes."

He straightened up again, gestured with one hand towards Netero, and pointed to the Butler Villa: "Chairman, please."

Netero nodded towards the mountain peak, then turned and led the Beans, following in the footsteps of Zee, traversing through layers of mountains and forests until they arrived at the Butler Villa.

It's getting closer.

The distance of several hundred meters takes only two or three minutes.

Netero had barely arrived at the villa's entrance when he turned his gaze to the second floor.

The northernmost bedroom, the one facing the sun.

His brows furrowed instantly!