"Give up, kids. You'll never be able to push this gate open."
The old man looked at the four people before him, his gaze lingering on A Luo for a moment before he addressed Gon's trio.
Gon stared at him with golden-brown eyes, refusing to give up.
"We have to see Killua."
Left with no choice, the old man explained the Zoldyck Family's rules to them, placing particular emphasis on Mike, the giant dog living in the forest beyond the gate.
"The master of the Mansion on the mountaintop ordered Mike to eat anyone who enters the Zoldyck Family's grounds without going through the Testing Gate."
The old man sighed helplessly and formally introduced himself to them.
"I haven't told you my name yet. I'm Zebro. I'm not a Zoldyck Family butler as you might imagine, nor am I a gatekeeper."
With a Testing Gate like this, and a giant beast like Mike beyond it, there was no need for one.
The Zoldyck Family's gate didn't need anyone to guard it.
Zebro lowered his head and smiled sheepishly.
"Actually, you could say I'm the janitor responsible for looking after Mike."
The three protagonists all widened their eyes.
"A janitor?"
The old man nodded.
Just then, some fools happened to arrive, seeking revenge against the Zoldyck Family.
After they grabbed Zebro and subjected him to threats and bribes, the old man calmly obliged them by opening the small door beside the Testing Gate.
They had barely stepped inside when several human screams rang out.
Before long, a gigantic paw reached out through the small door, clutching several human skeletons.
Zebro shouted.
"Mike, didn't I tell you not to eat random things anymore? Why won't you listen?"
Still grumbling, Zebro fetched a trash can and cleared away the human bones the giant