37 Chapter 34: Silence
On these six days, Killua stuck close to Raymond.
Why?
Because Raymond's cooking was always top-notch, Killua couldn't resist the delicious meals he cooked up.
Killua had no idea that the man in front of him had recently defeated his older brother, leaving him injured and unable to use both arms.
Even if he knew about it, Killua would even be cheering for Raymond since he hated his brother.
And more importantly, Killua couldn't help but admire Raymond's resourcefulness.
With just a kitchen knife, Raymond managed to build a simple shelter from the nearby wood.
Inspired by Raymond's example, Killua decided to build his own shelter under his guidance, eager to learn from his skills.
During those six days, Killua gradually dropped his guard around Raymond.
He found himself strangely drawn to him and even looking up to him a bit, a feeling he hadn't experienced with his siblings before.
At the same time, Hanzo stumbled upon their camp, intrigued by the shelters and the tantalizing scent of food drifting through the forest.
His eyes sparkled as he recognized Raymond, recalling the delicious meals he had cooked during their previous encounters.
As Hanzo laid eyes on Killua, the memory of being outwitted by the boy surged back, casting a dark shadow over his face.
Sensing Hanzo's annoyance, Killua hide behind Raymond with a smug grin on his face, only adding fuel to Hanzo's ire.
Nevertheless, Hanzo managed to secure his target number after days of relentless searching.
Setting aside his grievances, Hanzo decided to join them, eager for another taste of Raymond's culinary creations.
And so, the three of them settled into a relaxed daily routine.
Raymond would often keep to himself in his shelter, which puzzled both Killua and Hanzo, who found his behavior a bit odd.
Yet, they then brushed it off as just another quirk of such an individual.
Meanwhile, Hisoka managed to collect both of his arms and legs by the third day.
Still, to pass the exam, he needed to find six targets to meet his quota.
Or four if he could find his target number.
However, unbeknownst to him, Illumi had already taken his target number and disappeared along with it, making it impossible for Hisoka to only get targeting four participants.
However, even if he had known, Hisoka wouldn't have been bothered.
With plenty of other participants still in the game, he had no shortage of potential victims to pursue.
With that goal in mind, Hisoka ventured deeper into the forest.
He eliminated any living creature that crossed his path to secure the six numbers required for his exam pass.
Meanwhile, Illumi maintained his caution, laying low until the exam's conclusion drew near.
As for Gon and his group, they find themselves unexpectedly trapped in a cave.
This was similar with the events of the original storyline as they try to get Leorio's target number from Ponzu.
"The fourth phase has come to an end! Please make your way back to the starting points where our ship is docked. You have one hour to return..."
The announcement echoed through the area.
In addition, it was emphasized that exchanging badge numbers during this time was strictly forbidden, with disqualification as the consequence.
"Yay! It's finally time for the next phase!"
Killua's voice bubbled with excitement as he turned to Raymond, grabbing his hand eagerly like an enthusiastic younger brother, "Come on, Raymond, let's go!"
"..."
Raymond was left speechless by this development as it completely him off guard.
With a nod, he tucked his spices away and started making his way back.
Hanzo silently followed suit, and soon the trio reached the starting point.
"Congratulations on making it through," Khara greeted them as they arrived.
"Please wait here for the others to join you."
Killua couldn't hide his disappointment upon hearing they had to wait, "Seriously? We still have to wait? That's so annoying..."
After some time, Hisoka's figure was seen as he immediately looked at Raymond before chuckling as he sat down on the side of the tree.
Killua, feeling bored, noticed that time was running out and only the four of them remained. He turned to Raymond with a question.
"Hey Raymond, do you think Gon and the others will make it?"
"Hmm, hard to say, but they should," Raymond replied.
"Yeah, I think so too. Leorio might struggle, but Kurapika and Gon are pretty strong," Killua said, his face lighting up.
"Watch your mouth, you brat!"
Suddenly, a loud voice interrupted them from the forest.
It was Leorio, clearly annoyed by Killua's words, while Gon waved happily.
Kurapika shook his head at the commotion and gave Raymond a nod in greeting.
Ignoring Leorio's anger, Killua eagerly approached Gon, and the two friends began excitedly recounting their latest adventure to each other.
Leorio's face flushed even redder with frustration as he watched them.
Meanwhile, Hanzo and Hisoka observed the scene with interest.
"Hmm?"
Suddenly, Hisoka's attention shifted to the forest as he sensed someone rapidly approaching.
Raymond also noticed this and turned to see Illumi arriving, his arms flailing uselessly by his side.
"Wha!"
Killua's face went pale at the sight of Illumi's torn appearance.
He instinctively jumped back, seeking safety behind Raymond.
"How ironic," Hisoka chuckled lightly, observing Killua seeking shelter behind the very person who had harmed his own brother.
Gon glanced at Killua, clearly puzzled. While Kurapika and Leorio's expressions turned serious at the sight of Illumi.
Peeking out from behind Raymond, Killua shouted, "What are you doing here?"
"..."
Ignoring Killua's question, Illumi fixed his gaze on Raymond before turning to Killua, who sought refuge behind Raymond.
A strong sense of hostility radiated from Illumi, causing everyone to tense up at the sight.
"How dare you lay a hand on my brother," Illumi's voice rang out.
It was filled with anger, completely different than his usual tone devoid of emotions.
His love for Killua was undeniable, despite his twisted way of showing it.
It was evident that he would do whatever it took to keep Killua safe in his own way, especially from someone as dangerous as Raymond.
"..."
The whole area went into silence as everyone turned to look at Raymond in silence.
"...Could you please don't say things like that? I might get arrested for those," Raymond felt slightly speechless at these words.
The intense situation came to an abrupt halt as hunters from the association emerged from the shadows, led by Captain Yu.
They encircled Illumi, putting a stop to the confrontation.
"This is a warning. Please refrain from any further actions," Captain Yu's deep voice echoed, causing a ripple of unease among those present.
Illumi clicked his tongue in annoyance but complied, returning to his usual demeanor.
"Fine," he spoke, his tone went back to his usual one.
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