Facing Rimo's question, Silva Zoldyck remained silent for a long moment before finally speaking in a calm, restrained tone:
"My father will take action. There will be no accidents."
Rimo sneered inwardly.
That confidence… it sounded almost identical to the assurance the Zoldycks showed during the Yorknew City Arc. Back then, Silva and Zeno Zoldyck had no hesitation confronting Chrollo Lucilfer, even treating the mission like a competition of skill rather than a life-and-death gamble.
But now?
Now the situation was completely reversed.
Rimo was the stronger one.
And Illumi was in his hands.
The balance of power had shifted so thoroughly that Silva no longer had the luxury of confidence or pride. Everything he said now was measured, calculated, and restrained.
In the end… it was still about strength.
Rimo understood that clearly.
And he wasn't innocent either.
He was just as capable of double standards.
"…Fine," Rimo said casually.
Then his gaze shifted downward, landing on Illumi Zoldyck's hollow, needle-like eyes.
"But before that… I don't like the way your son looks at me."
Illumi's eyes were strange.
Empty yet filled with something unsettling.
Not hatred.
Not fear.
Just a void-like calm that seemed to swallow everything.
Whether it was natural or the result of Zoldyck conditioning, Rimo didn't care.
Right now
He simply found it irritating.
Puff !
Blood burst from Illumi's eye sockets.
" !"
Illumi's body trembled violently, but he did not scream.
He bit down hard, forcing himself to endure the pain through sheer discipline. His Nen instinctively tried to stabilize his condition, but the damage had already been done.
Rimo had crushed his vision.
Just like that.
Because he felt like it.
Because he didn't like what he saw.
That was all.
Silva's remaining hand clenched tightly.
Veins bulged.
Blood seeped from his palm where his nails dug in
But he didn't move.
Didn't speak.
Didn't retaliate.
Because he understood something clearly in that moment:
If he reacted
Illumi would die.
"…Much better," Rimo said with a satisfied nod, as if admiring a piece of work.
Then, without warning, he tossed Illumi forward.
Silva caught him instantly.
Illumi's body went limp, his consciousness finally giving way after enduring the shock and pain.
"…Can we leave now?" Silva asked, his voice low.
Not demanding.
Requesting.
Because Rimo's behavior was unpredictable.
One moment calm, the next moment brutal.
Even Silva head of the Zoldyck family couldn't confidently predict his actions.
And against someone with spatial abilities like Rimo's, escape without permission was nearly impossible.
Rimo waved his hand lazily.
"Go ahead. This farce is over."
Then he added, almost as an afterthought:
"Oh and pay for the house."
He pointed at the destroyed section of Villa No. 21, blasted apart earlier by Silva's aura spheres.
Silva's jaw tightened.
"…Of course."
Without another word, he turned and vanished carrying Illumi with him, not even bothering to retrieve his severed arm.
Staying longer would only increase the risk.
And pride?
Pride had no value here.
In the world of Nen, survival came first.
Besides, injuries like this were not irreversible.
Within the Hunter world, abilities capable of regeneration existed rare, but real. Whether through Nen healers or special artifacts comparable to those found in places like Greed Island, the Zoldycks had the means to recover.
That was why Silva endured.
Why he left.
Why he didn't retaliate.
Once Silva disappeared, the tension in the air finally broke.
Adam, Bart, and the surrounding Nosla members all exhaled heavily.
They weren't doubting Rimo's strength.
That had never been the issue.
The problem was proximity.
If that battle had continued even a slight shockwave could have wiped them out completely.
Adam, in particular, looked at Rimo with blazing admiration.
I chose correctly…
A man who could force the Zoldyck family into retreat
Who could cripple Illumi right in front of Silva without consequence
This was not just strength.
This was absolute dominance.
" Rimo-sama!"
A small figure ran forward.
Neon Nostrade threw herself into Rimo's arms, eyes still slightly red from earlier fear.
"Yo, Nion," Rimo said, catching her easily.
"Were you scared?"
She nodded, then shook her head quickly.
"At first… yes. But later, I was more worried about Master."
Rimo paused slightly, then laughed.
"Good girl. The bad guys are gone now."
"They were no match for Master!" she said confidently, waving her arms as if she had fought them herself.
At that moment, Light Nostrade approached cautiously.
" Rimo… do you know who they were?"
Rimo glanced at him.
"The Zoldyck family. Assassins hired through the Fanobi revenge fund."
Light's expression changed instantly.
The Zoldycks…
So the rumors were true.
Without hesitation, he dropped to one knee.
"This subordinate was negligent. I never expected such a hidden threat. I disturbed your rest, Rimo-sama!"
Rimo waved it off.
"You didn't know. It's fine."
The result mattered more than the process.
And the result
Was favorable.
Light stood up, sneaking a glance at Rimo.
There was faint blood at his collar.
Dust on his clothes.
But no real injuries.
He couldn't help but feel awe.
Even against the Zoldycks… he remained unscathed?
His head lowered further.
I made the right choice.
"Rest well," Rimo said, almost to himself, touching his neck lightly.
If not for his abilities…
He might have died earlier.
That thought lingered.
Maybe… he had grown too careless.
Too arrogant.
" Rimo?" Light called.
"Nothing," Rimo replied. "Everyone go rest."
"Master, I want to sleep with you tonight," Nion said softly.
Rimo sighed lightly.
"…Alright."
He picked her up and left the ruined villa, moving into a nearby empty one.
Soon, silence returned.
The next morning
Rimo felt something brushing his nose.
He opened his eyes.
Nion was leaning over him, using her hair to tickle him.
"…You've got guts," he muttered.
Then he grabbed her and started tickling.
"Trying to mess with your master?"
"Hahaha! It's your fault! You're a lazy pig!" she laughed, squirming.
"Oh? Rebellion now?"
After a brief struggle, Rimo let her go.
"Go get ready. We're heading out later."
Nion's eyes lit up.
"Really?! A trip?!"
"Yeah. East."
He remembered her prophecy.
Sometimes… it was worth following.
"Yay!"
She jumped off the bed and ran to prepare.
Rimo watched her go, a faint smile forming.
"…Guess it's time to move."
The farce was over.
Something new was about to begin.
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