Chapter 14: Who’s Talking About Me Behind My Back?
"I see. Let's head down."
A shadowy figure dropped in front of Kaizen.
It was a dangerous cat-like beast—not just a regular wild animal, but a magical creature.
Compared to Mike, however, this one was weaker.
Even so, without Kaizen using aura, it was still hard to defeat. Zebro's worried expression confirmed that much.
Given that Zebro had enough strength to push open the Testing Gates, everyone knew to fear this creature.
No—it wasn't just fear. Against this beast, there was no hope of victory at all.
Kaizen looked down at the lifeless creature lying at his feet, his gaze steady. Then, he spoke.
"That's enough for today. Zebro, lead the way."
"Yes, Master Kaizen."
Zebro walked ahead, with Kaizen in the middle and Gotoh bringing up the rear.
The three of them emerged from the jungle, eventually arriving at a large wooden house—the servants' dormitory.
Zebro wasn't the only one living here, many other servants called this place home. Zebro managed the main gate and cleaned up after Mike's meals. Thin Kuan, another servant, was responsible for patrolling the surrounding forest.
In terms of strength, Kuan was slightly superior.
Interestingly, Kuan hadn't originally come from the Zoldyck estate nor was he recruited directly by the family. Like many others who met their end here, Kuan had once been a challenger.
But unlike the unlucky dozen who failed, Kuan made the right choice in the end—settling at the manor and becoming a loyal servant.
Kaizen sat down as Zebro got to work preparing food.
Today's ingredients? The dangerous beasts Kaizen had slain.
The fireplace crackled as flames roared to life, sending waves of warmth throughout the room.
Kaizen's gaze drifted to the crystal ball before him. The energy it had absorbed was about halfway complete, right on schedule.
"It's progressing just as I expected," Kaizen mused aloud. "If things go as planned, the crystal ball will fully absorb the aura of Zoldyck Manor within a month."
But something still felt off.
"It's been over a month and a half now… yet the absorption rate is slowing again." He narrowed his eyes.
"This means I'll need to change locations. Staying outside the manor won't do anymore."
His attention shifted to Gotoh.
"Gotoh, starting tomorrow, we'll explore the inner parts of the estate. The creatures in the jungle are becoming useless to me. It's time I checked out other places."
"Yes, Master Kaizen." Gotoh gave a curt nod.
The next day, once Kaizen and Gotoh disappeared into the distance, Zebro and Kuan exchanged glances.
"Master Kaizen... he's not Lord Silva's child, is he?" Kuan muttered.
"No, but Lord Silva's orders are clear: we're to treat him the same as Master Illumi or Master Killua."
"Didn't expect the Zoldyck family to have another branch…" Kuan trailed off, lighting a cigarette. He took a long drag, exhaling smoke in the shape of rings.
"But that's not our business to question."
"We're just servants," Zebro added. "We need to focus on doing our jobs."
Kuan gave a casual shrug. "Exactly."
Still, something lingered in the back of Zebro's mind.
Whether it was Illumi, Killua, or this new Kaizen, their talent and strength were terrifying. But… what about Milluki?
Kuan caught the look in Zebro's eyes and warned him. "Don't say it out loud."
Zebro gave a quick nod, dropping the subject.
Even though they wouldn't speak it aloud, the servants couldn't ignore their thoughts.
For all its ruthlessness, the Zoldyck family treated its servants well. Housekeepers and butlers weren't just employees—they developed a deep sense of belonging. Over time, they came to see themselves as part of the family.
Many would willingly lay down their lives for any member of the Zoldyck household.
For Silva and Zeno, the servants felt nothing but respect and awe.
For Illumi, that respect had grown over time—though it began as mere expectation.
Illumi was already an extraordinary talent, and over the years, he had only grown stronger.
But Milluki was… different.
Of Silva's children, Milluki was the second oldest—six years younger than Illumi and six years older than Killua.
With Killua now five years old, that made Milluki eleven. Illumi was already seventeen.
And Kaizen? He was only nine.
At that age, Kaizen was far ahead of where Illumi had been—his mastery over aura already exceptional. If Milluki had followed the same path, he should have learned Nen by now.
But instead, Milluki spent his time indulging in technology and gadgets. Zeno and Silva didn't seem to mind, allowing him the freedom to pursue whatever he pleased.
The servants still respected Milluki, but they couldn't shake the feeling that he had drifted too far from what was expected of him.
Now, Kaizen's rapid progress was stirring up memories—reminding the servants of Illumi's potential when he was younger.
In fact, Kaizen seemed even more talented than Illumi had been at that age.
Zoldyck estate was divided into four distinct areas.
The first was the outer zone, which consisted of the main gate, high walls, and dense jungle.
This was where servants like Zebro and Kuan patrolled. It was also where Mike, the man-eating beast, lived.
Most intruders never made it past this area—those without mastery of Nen were little more than Mike's next meal.
The second area was the butlers' zone, located further up the mountain.
This was where the butlers trained, lived, and worked. Only a select few were permitted to appear before the Zoldyck family directly.
The third area was the hilltop estate, where the Zoldyck family members resided.
Finally, beyond the estate lay the back mountain—a massive training ground hidden from the outside world.
Kaizen's sharp gaze swept over the landscape as he arrived at the base of the back mountain. A sprawling training ground stretched before him, ready for whatever came next.
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