Chapter 316: Ging's Invitation X Tsubone's Allegiance
The greater the wind and waves, the more expensive the fish.
Conversely, the more expensive the fish, the greater the wind and waves behind it!
Chimera Ants devour and evolve without an upper limit. First eating fish, then humans, then Nen users... the higher the level of the food they capture, the greater the potential and strength of the offspring produced by the Ant Queen.
In other words... compared to professional Gourmet Hunters in the Hunter Association like Menchi and Buhara, the Ants are the true Gourmet Hunters!
Rumble... The dining cart rolled over the stone floor, emitting bursts of pleasant, soft sounds.
Noon had passed. Tsubone coaxed Amane and Canary to sleep, went around the kitchen, and brought lunch. Ryo sat at his desk, holding a pen and heavily circling the word "Ants". After pondering for a long while, he casually summoned a cluster of flames, burning the paper to ashes.
"Young Master, the Master ordered half a steamed fish to be delivered."
"Leave it there."
The firelight dissipated. The boy pushed back his chair, stood up, and paced to the dining table to begin his meal.
The freshly cooked steamed fish was precisely the one Zeno had caught in the pool. It had survived the shockwave from the clash between him and Silva, but ended up dead on the dining table. It was hard to say whether that was its fortune or misfortune... Ryo took the chopsticks Tsubone handed him, peeled off a piece of fish meat, and put it in his mouth. Taking a small taste, it was fresh and tender without the distinct fishy smell of sea fish. Clearly, the kitchen had put thought into it. Satisfied, he nodded and said, "Send a reply to that Hunter named Kite. Tell him... I already know."
"Once he makes progress, he should notify me immediately."
The boy quickly finished the fish, leaving only the fish's tail bone lying isolated on the plate. He said, "I do not mind going down the mountain to relax."
"Yes," Tsubone replied respectfully. She made a mental note regarding Kite, thinking to herself that it seemed the Young Master was paying close attention to this biological control group. While scooping a bowl of rice and handing it to Ryo, she said, "Young Master, besides this Kite, just now, that Ging you mentioned last time also called."
"Speak."
Tsubone had an odd expression. "He said, if you have free time recently, he would like to invite you to playtest a new game he just developed..."
Ryo raised an eyebrow. Calculating the time, with Gon and Killua having been born one after another, it was not surprising that Greed Island was completed around this time. However, he did not have the leisure time to play some scam game with Ging. If there was truly anything in Greed Island that could attract him, it would only be those bizarre Cards!
For example, Accompany, One Tsubo of Coastline, Breath of Archangel, or Ruler's Blessing. Openly or covertly, they could enhance his understanding of Nen abilities, so they were somewhat useful.
Ryo ate a piece of braised pork with a mouthful of rice. Without a second thought, he directly refused.
Tsubone raised her eyebrows, saying with an even odder expression: "Young Master, that Ging said he knew you would refuse, so he also asked if you had any travel plans recently."
"Why?"
The old butler, her two pigtails draped behind her, said cautiously: "He said it is fine if you do not play the game. For the sake of having broken out of prison together, he wants to invite you to go somewhere with him."
"Where?" Ryo paused his chopsticks, faintly sensing something. With a casual glance, he saw Tsubone's expression turn solemn as she slowly spat out four words... "The Dark Continent!"
"He wants to invite the Young Master to accompany him to find his wife!"
"Not allowed to go..." A sudden, leisurely voice penetrated the thick walls.
In that instant, it was as if one could see that fist that blotted out the sky and sun pressing down on one's skull with a suffocating weight.
Ryo spread his hands. Sparing a glance out of the corner of his eye toward the dim little room, he said warmly: "You heard it."
Tsubone bowed deeply toward the east. Straightening her back, she said in a deep voice, "I will reject him right now."
Ryo nodded. Recalling the cold face he had seen in Ging's heart, sure enough... the only woman who could tie down a prodigal's heart was a woman from that place!
Was her name Vivian? The young man picked up his chopsticks again and silently tossed a piece of braised pork into his mouth. After a long while, he said leisurely, "While you are at it, prepare a pot of chrysanthemums. Grandfather Zzigg's death anniversary is approaching, and I do not want the old man saying I am thoughtless."
At the mention of Zzigg, Tsubone was visibly dazed for a moment. Recalling the past, those eventful years seemed to be right before her eyes. Lowering her head silently, she responded, "Yes."
"I will specifically instruct the gardener to label it with the Young Master's name."
"There is no need for that." Ryo waved his hand. "As long as Grandfather Zzigg knows, it is fine. Whether it is me, Illumi, Milluki, or Killua... it makes no difference."
"That is different," Tsubone placed her right hand over her chest, offering a solemn bow. "The Young Master is the Young Master, and Young Master Illumi is Young Master Illumi. I will pass down the order to prepare a pot for them as well."
[Prompt: Faith Power +7... Detected Pending Believer Tsubone has completely given her allegiance and is awaiting formal induction...]
Ryo put down his chopsticks and turned to look at the old butler. Tsubone, tall like a gorilla, was not inferior to Silva in stature, and could rival even Biscuit in her true form. The only thing she lacked was talent. Using Nen threads instead of a sword, Ryo discreetly separated a wisp of Nen aura, tapping the old butler's left and right shoulders respectively. He raised his hand in the air, summoning a whirlwind to gently lift her up.
"You are thoughtful," the youth, his beautiful silver hair cascading down his back with the tips glowing in a glazed golden light, looked gently at this legendary figure in the Zoldyck butler world. He smiled warmly, "I imagine that when Grandfather Zzigg returns and sees you healthy and still active in the family, he will be very happy."
Tsubone sniffled. Glistening tears faintly swirled in her old eyes, but they were quickly concealed as she adjusted her glasses. Taking advantage of lowering her head, she pulled out a tissue and handed it to Ryo, saying, "Young Master, wipe your mouth."
Ryo gave a noncommittal hum, taking the tissue methodically. He watched her clean up the messy dining table and push the cart toward the door. Suddenly, he called out to her, "Tsubone, you have seen Gotoh's current condition."
The old butler's tall frame abruptly paused. With her back to Ryo, she nodded silently.
Then, she saw the boy beam a smile at her, waving his hand, "If he can do it, naturally you can too."
Tsubone's body trembled. She said in a muffled voice, "Please rest assured, Young Master. Although I am old, I am not dead yet. I can still move!"
Setting aside seniority, in terms of strength, the old butler believed she was not necessarily inferior to Gotoh of the past. Turning around, she dropped to one knee, offering a solemn bow to Ryo. Then, pushing the dining cart with renewed ambition, she disappeared from Ryo's sight.
Right on time, a light chuckle drifted leisurely from the dim little room, sounding like sleep-talking.
"Heh heh, Maha, the boy's skill in winning people's hearts is not necessarily inferior to yours back in the day."
Amidst the misty, rising Nen aura, Betty Zoldyck's slender waist was gently grasped by Maha and pulled into his embrace.
The old man rocked the chair to himself, grinning mischievously, "Why do you not see whose seed he is?"
Suddenly, this earned an eye-roll from Betty.
"Heh heh heh..." Maha did not care in the slightest. Reaching out, he patted Betty Zoldyck's bottom. A charmingly reproachful and joyful atmosphere subsequently filled the small room.
Dong... One o'clock in the afternoon. Dong... Two o'clock in the afternoon.
On this pleasant afternoon, the wooden grandfather clock in the corner continuously struck its chimes. About half a day passed. After Ryo successively ate lunch and dinner, the Nen aura in his body, which had been depleted after the battle with Silva, was rapidly replenished and perfected.
He went to the window, watching the moonlight illuminate the willow tree in the garden, its branches swaying and rustling in the wind. Turning around, he paced to the bedside and summoned the Three-legged Golden Crow.
"This time, do not sleep so deeply." The young man grabbed the glowing golden ahoge on top of the Three-legged Golden Crow's head and rubbed it vigorously. This immediately earned him an eye-roll from Jin-kun, who argued defensively, "I did not, do not slander me."
Ryo froze, looking at it in astonishment. "You can talk?"
Jin-kun shook its head, shaking off Ryo's large hand. Pumping out its chest proudly, it said, "Is it strange? Who does not know how to talk? It was just a matter of taking a nap."
Is that so... Is it truly that easy?
Why did he not know that other people's Nen beasts could talk?
For instance, Biscuit's Miss Cookie, Razor's Fourteen Devils, or even Ging's Feicha Parrot, fell far short of Jin-kun's level of intelligence, even though a Nen Beast itself is a materialized product based on the Mental Reflection of a Nen user.
Ryo glared at Jin-kun in amusement, discreetly pulling up its panel.
[Nen Beast: Three-legged Golden Crow]
[Status: Juvenile (10,000/1,000,000) to (20,000/1 Million)]
[Tier: S+]
[Manifested Aura Volume: B- (40,000/1 Million) to B- (70,000/1 Million)]
[Potential Aura Volume: ?]
[Racial Talents: Chasing the Sun (Pending Activation)... Controlling Sunfire: lv4 (70,000/100,000) to LV4 (78,000/100,000)... Chariot Driving: lv1: (37/100) to LV1 (88/100) (Note: Activated)]
[Language: Continental Language Activated (Current Proficiency: Fluent)]
[Evaluation: Growth-type Nen Beast, infinite potential]
[Four Major Principles]: Ten, Zetsu, Ren, Hatsu have all achieved Fluent alongside the host.
[Advanced Application Techniques]: Shu, Ken, Ko, Ryu, En are all Initiated.
[Rating: B-]
[Note: Using Ants as a reference, your Nen beast Three-legged Golden Crow has reached the level of an elite Ant Squadron Leader.]
Ryo focused on the Language section, gradually understanding... It was not that the Three-legged Golden Crow could not speak; it was limited by its growth. The boy raised his hand and gently patted Jin-kun's head, saying warmly, "Sorry about that... I wronged you."
"Caw~" Jin-kun tilted its head up, rubbing its beak against Ryo's palm, and said, "Not wronged, Jin-kun is not wronged."
"Master, go to sleep. I will keep watch for you."
With that, it flapped its wings and flew to the pillow beside Ryo. Tucking its claws, it began to nest seriously like a hen. Seeing this, Ryo chuckled and said, "You do not have to be so serious."
With Maha at home, Ryo did not believe anyone could harm him. However, "Do we really not need to keep an eye on that stinky old man and the stinky little brother?" Jin-kun tilted its head, staring at Ryo.
With a thought, the faces of Netero and Illumi instantly appeared through the Soul Corridor.
Ryo's face darkened, and he said seriously, "You are right. We absolutely cannot let those two in."
Jin-kun nodded solemnly. Extending its right wing, it gave Ryo a rigid salute: "Leave it to me."
Ryo nodded. He stepped into the shower room, took a quick shower, and dried the remaining water on his body using the Scorching Intent. Then, he lay on the bed, his hands crossed over his lower abdomen, and slowly closed his eyes.
At night, the mountain breeze swept by, blowing away a trace of the midsummer heat. Soon, a faint snoring sound emerged.
The boy emptied his mind, his consciousness immersing deeper and deeper. Just like in the past, he passed through the Gate of Cognition and arrived at his Cognitive World. Upon entering, he saw the familiar dream corridor again.
The colorful dream corridor revealed a glimmer of light. From the other side of the light, one could faintly hear the ebb and flow of the tide, the sound of waves crashing against the beach. The Sea of Cognition was calling to him.
Ryo, with his silver hair draped over his back, was not in a hurry to walk in. Instead, he stopped at the entrance of the corridor, looking at the two spinning whirlpools on the left and right. With a profound gaze, he pierced through them... Seeing Vanessa and Old Kohler respectively, he transmitted: "Sorry to keep you waiting. Tomorrow morning at four o'clock, right before dawn breaks, the meeting will start on time."
His will carrying Nen aura, guided by Ryo's thought, floated lightly into the whirlpool. Then, the whirlpool trembled, and visibly... within the whirlpool, the eyes of the Snake Woman and the Kobold abruptly shifted. They bowed excitedly with their hands on their chests, chanting: "Praise the Sun."
Slowly, two streams of Faith Power separated from them and drifted onto Ryo's body.
[Prompt: Your believers received your response. In their excitement, their devotion has surged. Faith Power +3 +3]
"It increased?"
With 6 points of Faith Power in the bag, Ryo froze slightly. He looked down at the two lines of karma he had established with Vanessa and Old Kohler. As his gaze flowed, he understood clearly. It was much the same logic as with Jin-kun. As the bond between him and his believers gradually deepened, the amount of Faith Power they could provide him would increase. Of course... the responsibilities he invisibly needed to bear would also become greater.
Profits and risks coexist. The law of equivalent exchange truly does not deceive.
His thoughts fluttering, Ryo slowly withdrew his gaze from the whirlpool. He took a step forward, diving into the dream corridor. In the next glance, chasing the light, he arrived at the Sea of Cognition. Without hesitation, he swept past the Gate of Demon Slayer, paused for a moment in front of the Gate of the Dark Continent branded with complex patterns, then turned and pushed open the Gate of Naruto behind him, stepping inside.
"Nii-san... Nii-san..."
"Wake up, Shisui-kun is here."
A hazy, faint call echoed in his ears. The door opened, and the familiar sensation of falling struck him.
When Ryo temporarily detached from the real world and opened his eyes again, he was already at home in Konoha. His head was held in the arms of Itachi-kun.
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