The current Silva only had two sons worth considering Illumi and Milluki.
Milluki was already showing signs of becoming a disappointment in terms of combat potential. He preferred indulgence over discipline, avoided hardship whenever possible, and only trained when forced into it through punishment. His talents leaned more toward technology and information networks rather than assassination. In the eyes of the Zoldyck family, that alone did not make him useless but it certainly meant he could not inherit the mantle of a frontline killer.
That left only Illumi.
The perfect assassin seed.
Cold, obedient, precise, and terrifyingly rational even at a young age. From the moment he could walk, Illumi had been shaped into a weapon. Compared to Milluki, he embodied everything the Zoldycks valued.
No matter what Illumi could not die here.
And although the Zoldyck family always appeared indifferent, even cruel, toward one another, their concept of family ran deeper than most clans in the world. Their affection was real it was simply twisted into something outsiders could not understand. Control, training, pain, obedience… these were all expressions of what they considered love.
Of course, that love had conditions.
Only those acknowledged as "family" received it.
Just like Nanika.
In Silva's eyes, Nanika was something else entirely something beyond even the Zoldyck definition of kin. Not human, not bound by logic, and far too dangerous to treat with ordinary familial attachment.
At this moment, however, Silva had no time to think about such distant matters.
Because right now his son was in someone else's hand.
Downstairs, the situation had already tilted completely.
Adam and Bart were fighting together, supported by scattered Nosla family members, but they were clearly losing ground. Bart had only recently awakened Nen, and his abilities leaned toward support and perception rather than direct combat. Adam was even worse in this regard his Nen was almost entirely auxiliary, meant for coordination, strategy, and control.
Illumi, on the other hand, was a different beast entirely.
Even before learning Nen, he had already pushed open multiple Testing Gates at the Zoldyck estate each requiring monstrous physical strength. Combined with the assassination techniques drilled into him since childhood body manipulation, silent movement, joint dislocation, and snake-like flexibility his combat style was lethal even without aura.
The only reason Adam and Bart had lasted this long was because of coordination and interference.
Gunfire.
Numbers.
Distraction.
Even so, they were reaching their limit.
Then
Whoosh!
A strange, three-pronged kunai shot down from above.
Illumi's eyes flickered.
A hidden weapon?
Before he could fully process it, a flash of white light erupted
And Rimo appeared.
No warning.
No transition.
One moment empty space, the next moment presence.
" !"
Illumi didn't even have time to react before Rimo's hand clamped around his throat.
The force was overwhelming.
His breathing halted instantly, and the pressure crushed his windpipe just enough to trigger instinct but not enough to kill.
Illumi's expression twisted slightly for the first time.
But instead of panicking, his body moved with trained precision.
He suppressed the urge to claw at Rimo's hand.
Instead, both arms extended outward, joints loosening unnaturally
Then snapped inward like coiling snakes.
Snake Awakening Technique.
Using torsion, flexibility, and explosive recoil, Illumi aimed to sever Rimo's arm at the joint.
"Good reaction."
Rimo's tone carried a hint of genuine approval.
Then
"Too slow."
Om !
The Unlimited Technique activated.
Illumi's arms froze mid-motion, locked in place by an invisible force.
Completely immobilized.
" Rimo-sama!"
Bart and Adam both shouted in relief as they retreated slightly.
The surrounding Nosla members immediately lowered their weapons and bowed deeply.
" Rimo-sama!"
Rimo ignored them.
His gaze shifted.
To the empty space nearby.
"…Come out."
Silva stood there.
At some point, he had already arrived silent, restrained, and absolutely still.
But he did not move forward.
He couldn't.
Because Illumi was in Rimo's hand.
One squeeze and it would be over.
"Your target was me," Rimo said calmly. "This has nothing to do with him."
Silva remained silent.
Then
" Ghk!"
Illumi's body jerked.
Rimo's grip tightened slightly.
His face began to turn pale, veins surfacing subtly under the skin.
Silva's fists clenched.
"…Stop."
His voice was low, controlled but carrying a suppressed edge.
Rimo loosened his grip just enough for Illumi to breathe.
"Silva Zoldyck," Rimo said lightly. "That's your name, right?"
"…Yes."
"Good. Then we can talk."
Rimo tilted his head slightly, a faint smile forming.
"Do you know what I am?"
Silva didn't answer.
"A thief," Rimo said for himself. "I take whatever I want. I kill whoever I feel like. That's my rule."
His fingers tightened again.
Illumi's breathing hitched.
"So tell me… why should I let him go?"
Silva's killing intent surged for a brief instant
Then disappeared just as quickly.
Because he understood.
He couldn't win.
Not now.
Not like this.
"…If you haven't killed him," Silva said slowly, "then you want something."
Rimo smiled.
"Exactly."
The pressure eased slightly.
Illumi gasped quietly, regaining a thin stream of air.
"Not now," Rimo continued. "But someday I'll need your help."
Silva's eyes narrowed.
"…As long as it doesn't harm the Zoldyck family."
Rimo nodded.
"Fair."
A brief silence followed.
Then
"Second question," Rimo said. "You don't abandon missions. So what now?"
Silva exhaled slowly.
"…Then we remove the client."
Rimo grinned.
"Good answer."
Silva pulled out his phone and dialed.
After a few rings
"Silva."
Zeno's voice came through.
"There's a complication," Silva said. "I need you to eliminate the client behind the Antoine Trust."
A pause.
"…Understood."
The line went dead.
Rimo watched with interest.
Efficient.
Decisive.
Exactly how the Zoldycks operated.
After ending the call, Silva looked back at Rimo.
"It's done. Release him."
Rimo didn't move immediately.
Instead, he asked:
"You're not even going to confirm the kill?"
Silva's expression remained steady.
"There won't be a mistake."
Rimo chuckled softly.
Then
He let go.
Illumi dropped to the ground, coughing lightly but otherwise composed.
No panic.
No fear.
Only observation.
As expected of a Zoldyck.
Rimo stepped back, hands in his pockets.
"Pleasure doing business."
Silva didn't respond.
But his eyes lingered for a moment longer.
On Rimo.
On the invisible pressure surrounding him.
On the abilities he still couldn't fully understand.
Then he turned.
"Let's go."
Illumi stood up silently and followed.
The night returned to stillness.
But this encounter
Would not be forgotten.
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