Chapter 13

Ron took a seat.

"It really has been a long time," Silva observed thoughtfully, giving Ron a closer look.

"The last time I saw you, you were just three or four years old. And now, here you are, all grown up."

After a brief pause, Silva asked, "Ron, what are your plans going forward? Will you stay in the mansion, or do you want to go out and explore?"

Ron didn't hide his intentions. "I'm planning to check out the Heaven's Arena. I've read a lot about it online and am quite interested in what it has to offer."

"And after that?"

"I haven't decided yet," Ron replied, shaking his head. "My great-grandfather asked me to come back in about a year."

"Understood," Silva nodded. He stood up and looked directly at Ron. "How about a sparring match?"

Ron raised an eyebrow, hesitating for a moment, then nodded. "Alright."

"Have you decided on your abilities yet?" Silva asked.

"Not yet."

"Alright. In that case, I won't use my full abilities either. Let's head to the nearby training ground."

"Sure," Ron agreed.

The two walked over to the training area, with Tsubone and Keen following behind. Soon, they arrived at the training grounds and took their positions, facing each other.

Ron focused his gaze on Silva across the field.

"Gyo!" he muttered, activating his Nen.

"The intensity of his aura!" Ron thought, feeling a wave of powerful energy.

Ron's pupils contracted slightly, though he wasn't surprised. He knew Silva's strength well. As a skilled Nen user, Silva was undoubtedly among the elite.

Ron recalled that even the Phantom Troupe would not dare retaliate against Silva after one of their members was killed by him. During the Yorknew City incident, Silva and Zeno had managed to suppress Chrollo. And later, in the Chimera Ant arc, Silva's powerful punch had killed a squadron leader-level Chimera Ant in a single blow. Even though the Chimera Ant was a speed-based fighter, its physical strength was far superior to that of an average human.

Silva, standing opposite Ron, also seemed impressed by the aura emanating from him.

"To have reached this level after less than a month of learning Nen?" Silva thought to himself. "This is the potential that Great-Grandfather has nurtured?"

He nodded, acknowledging Ron's inherent talent. "Still, Ron's innate potential isn't bad either. After all, he carries Zoldyck blood."

Killua's white hair was a symbol of being a Zoldyck heir. However, Silva mused, black-haired members of the Zoldyck family were often just as formidable. For example, Illumi, who was widely acknowledged by Silva for his skill. Then there was Zeno's brother, Ron's grandfather, and Ron's father—all of them possessed remarkable strength.

There was even another member, a few years younger than Silva, who was part of a Zoldyck branch. Silva suspected that this person's strength might rival his own. This individual had left the Zoldyck estate and concealed his surname while living outside the family. Many members of the Zoldyck branches made similar choices—cutting ties with the main family to gain more freedom. They might seek assistance from the Zoldycks only in dire situations or, conversely, might return to support the family in times of existential crisis. Despite leaving, the bond of blood was not something that could easily be severed.

"Ron, attack me," Silva instructed.

"Yes, sir," Ron replied, his expression serious as he gathered his focus.

"Ren!" he called, using temporary Ren to produce more aura.

And then…

"Ten!"

Ron gathered his aura and wrapped it around his entire body, reinforcing himself. This aura became an armor that didn't restrict his agility and increased his attack power.

As for Zetsu (Suppress), Ron didn't think he'd get a chance to use it against Silva. In this situation, Silva was ahead of Ron in every aspect—strength, speed, Nen ability, martial skill, and experience.

This was a completely different scenario from facing Sanges. Even without Nen, Silva was far stronger than Sanges. This sparring match was more like Silva giving Ron guidance than an actual fight.

Ron charged toward Silva.

"Bang!"

Their arms collided, and a loud shockwave echoed across the room. In the next instant, Ron retreated, quickly repositioning himself at Silva's side before charging at him again.

"Serpent's Bite!"

Ron used the Zoldyck family's assassination technique. With his arms enveloped in Ten (Enhancement), the attack's destructive power was astounding, capable of slicing through steel.

But Silva's response was simple; he deflected Ron's strike with a single powerful palm, sending him back without giving Ron any room to maneuver.

"Silent Step!"

Ron concealed himself behind a barrier. However, the moment he sprang out, Silva pinpointed his position. In that brief instant, it was more than enough for Silva to prepare a counter.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Again and again, Ron charged at Silva and launched his attacks. Silva didn't retaliate; he remained on the defensive. Occasionally, he put pressure on Ron, trying to push him to his limits. This was Silva's way of testing Ron's full potential to reach their training's goal.

Tsubone and Keen stood by the edge of the training ground, watching silently. Finally, Silva spoke.

"That's enough. Let's stop here. Ron, you've almost reached your limit, haven't you?"

Ron nodded. He was indeed nearing his limit, though he could still go a bit further. Silva gestured toward Tsubone.

Tsubone handed Ron a prepared drink. This wasn't an ordinary beverage but a specially crafted supplement rich in energy and nutrients, made exclusively by the Zoldyck family. The ingredients weren't cheap—one bottle alone would cost hundreds of thousands of Jenny on the open market. The saying "wealth nurtures strength" applied perfectly here.

"Ron, come sit down."

"Alright," Ron said, taking a seat beside Silva. Silva looked out across the field.

"When Illumi was about to undertake his first mission, I brought him here as well," Silva recalled. "Now, as the head of the Zoldyck family, it's my duty to talk to you before you leave the estate. As your uncle and as the family head, I need to pass on certain things."

"These are the principles our family has accumulated over generations."

"In the Zoldyck family's history spanning hundreds of years, we've developed two essential rules for conduct."

"First, assessing the strength of your opponent is even more important than your own strength. Before taking on any mission or engaging in a fight, you must gather sufficient information about the target, understand their abilities, and accurately gauge their power."

"This is crucial."

"Second, never engage in a battle unless you are certain of the outcome."