Note: Don't Forget to join my Pãtreon/flokixy to get access to +40 Advance Chapters or unlock the full story from the shop support so I can bring more Chapters for you
Time: July 16th, 10:30 AM.
Illumi rested in the hotel for four hours. As for King Bradley, he was essentially a Nen beast and didn't require sleep.
King Bradley was still in his usual white short-sleeved shirt, suit pants, and leather shoes, currently standing by the window, gazing at the city scenery outside.
"My strength is still too weak."
Illumi recalled the battle with Maynard Morris in the early morning. Although Nen beasts counted as part of one's strength, it ultimately wasn't his own inherent power.
"Let's go."
Illumi got up, called King Bradley from the window, and the two left the room together.
News of Felicia Fitzgerald's death had already spread this morning, but the cause of death was still kept secret.
However, the incident of numerous viper attacks in the St. Laurent Bay Villa District made headlines, becoming a hot topic of discussion.
"Last night, more than ten people were bitten to death by vipers in the St. Laurent Bay Villa District, and over a hundred were seriously injured."
"As for the reason for the snake swarm's appearance, it has not yet been clearly investigated."
In the restaurant on the second floor of the hotel, Illumi listened to everyone's conversations. After Maynard's death, the snake swarm went out of control, creating big news.
"Buzz..."
His phone suddenly vibrated. Illumi, who was dining, reached out and took out his phone. Caller ID.
"Zeno Zoldyck."
Looking at the name on his phone, Illumi felt slightly surprised. His grandfather normally spent his time out assassinating people and would rarely contact him.
"Illumi, come find me after you get home."
Illumi answered the call. Zeno Zoldyck's steady voice came from the phone; he hung up after saying this sentence.
"Strange."
Illumi frowned slightly, wondering what his grandfather wanted with him. He put the phone back in his pocket, stood up, and left the restaurant with King Bradley.
They took a taxi to the airport and boarded an airship at two in the afternoon, returning to the Dentora region.
Kukuroo Mountain, outside the Testing Gate.
Illumi and King Bradley arrived in a black sedan, which stopped at the gate. Before boarding the airship, Illumi had already contacted Zeno-sama to arrange for a car to pick them up.
Illumi and King Bradley opened their car doors, one on the right and one on the left. Zebro, who had been dozing in the security room, quickly got up and came to the car to greet him.
"Young Master Illumi."
"Mm."
Illumi nodded lightly at him, looked towards the Testing Gate, and said to Bradley.
"Bradley, go try it out. See how many gates you can open."
King Bradley strode towards the Testing Gate, reached out with both hands, and pressed smack against the two large doors.
"Rumble..."
With a resounding tremor, the stone gates slowly opened. Under Zebro's astonished gaze, the first gate opened, the second gate opened, the third gate opened.
"His strength is slightly greater than mine."
Illumi watched Bradley struggle to push open the third gate. He himself couldn't completely push open the third gate yet; his strength was around 24 tons.
"Go in."
King Bradley turned sideways, letting Illumi enter first, then followed behind.
On the way to the Zoldyck family estate, Mike, the Zoldyck family's dedicated guard beast, approached. King Bradley had no aura, but seeing Illumi, Mike obediently moved away.
"Young Master Illumi, welcome home."
The butlers Zeno-sama and Gotoh were already waiting outside. They bowed slightly to him, then looked towards King Bradley beside him.
"This is..."
"My Nen beast."
Illumi said directly, making Zeno-sama and Gotoh's eyes narrow simultaneously; neither of them had noticed. King Bradley's demeanor was no different from a human's.
But if one looked carefully using Gyo, one could see extremely fine, almost invisible, white translucent threads connecting him and Illumi.
What puzzled Zeno-sama and Gotoh even more was, since it was a Nen beast, why didn't he retract it?
Illumi naturally saw the question in their eyes, but he had no intention of explaining, directly walking past them and entering the main gate.
"Illumi!"
Just as Illumi entered the main hall, his mother, Kikyo, dressed in a kimono, appeared before him, looking at him gently.
"Grandfather is waiting for you in the courtyard. Go quickly."
"Mm, I know."
Illumi nodded lightly and led King Bradley towards the interior of the estate. They passed through dim corridors and finally arrived at the courtyard where Zeno Zoldyck was.
"Rustle..."
A gentle breeze swept through. Branches trembled, and numerous leaves fluttered down. Sunlight, filtering through the gaps in the leaves, dappled the courtyard like starlight.
The first thing that caught the eye were small streams flowing from the distant woods, converging into a small river that traversed the courtyard.
Over the small river was a black stone bridge. Illumi and King Bradley stepped onto it, admiring the courtyard scenery as they walked.
After crossing the stone bridge, one could see various fish like dace, red crucian carp, koi, and goldfish swimming in the small river.
Descending from the black stone bridge onto bluestone paving, the path ahead was laid with the same bluestone tiles, extending to a distant pavilion.
The ground on both sides of the path was covered with lawns, meticulously trimmed bushes, trees, and flowers everywhere.
"Tap... tap..."
Crisp footsteps echoed in the courtyard. Illumi, accompanied by King Bradley, walked towards the pavilion where Zeno Zoldyck was sitting and drinking tea.
"Grandfather."
Illumi arrived at the pavilion and greeted him.
"Sit."
Zeno Zoldyck glanced at King Bradley standing behind him but said nothing.
"Show me your aura."
Zeno put down his teacup, looked at Illumi, and said calmly.
"Alright."
Illumi was puzzled but still released his aura. A layer of white, translucent aura emanated from his entire body.
"The amount of aura is not small. It can be seen that your total aura capacity must be very large."
Zeno Zoldyck looked at the aura gushing from Illumi's entire body and commented. Just from a normal release, he could infer a person's total aura amount.
"Illumi, have you ever tried to truly release your aura?"
Illumi looked momentarily stunned, then understood Zeno Zoldyck meant emitting aura externally.
"Once, but that was to release a Nen beast."
Illumi nodded. Zeno Zoldyck stroked the long, thin whiskers on both sides of his face, frowned slightly, and said in a deep voice.
"Then try to emit your aura now. Not too much, and no need to send it too far."
"Just release it, separate it from your body."
Illumi nodded lightly again, extended his right hand, palm open and facing upwards. A stream of white, translucent aura flowed into his palm, gathering into a sphere.
"Place it on this plate."
Zeno Zoldyck placed an exquisite, clean ceramic plate in front of Illumi, motioning for him to place it there.