Chapter 7: The Zoldyck Family
Su Xiao locked eyes with Zeno. After a few seconds, Zeno waved his hand, and the butlers dispersed, leaving only the head butler, Goto. Zeno had determined that Su Xiao bore no hostile intent.
"Although I don't sense any hostility from you, someone like you wouldn't come here just for sightseeing, would you? You're not here about that incident with my grandson, are you?"
Su Xiao had once fought with Illumi, so it was understandable that Zeno harbored such suspicions.
Despite suspecting that Su Xiao had some ulterior motive, Zeno still invited him into the Zoldyck family's stronghold.
"That wasn't exactly a personal grudge, but if the opportunity arises, I wouldn't mind killing him."
Su Xiao made no attempt to hide his killing intent toward Illumi, as there was simply no need.
"I knew it would come to this. But if you kill him, our Zoldyck family will retaliate."
"That's a matter for later."
"Well said. That is a matter for later."
The conversation between Su Xiao and Zeno seemed strange, but for an assassin family, it was perfectly normal.
The Zoldyck family was a pure assassin clan, with ten direct members. If they received opposing missions, it wasn't impossible for them to be pitted against each other. Assassin missions came first; a mission was a mission, nothing more.
Back in Yorknew City, Illumi had accepted a mission to assassinate the Ten Dons, while Zeno and Silva had been hired by the Ten Dons' side. The two parties were clearly in opposition. That was the Zoldyck family.
Following Zeno, Su Xiao arrived before an ancient castle. Its exterior was somewhat worn, but it represented the history of the Zoldyck clan.
"The main reason I came here is to see someone."
Su Xiao looked at the castle ahead and spoke in a calm tone.
"Who?"
"Maha Zoldyck."
"..."
Zeno fell silent.
"I can't think of a reason why you'd want to see my grandfather."
The grandfather of the old man Zeno—one could imagine how old Maha Zoldyck was.
"If it were just a simple visit, you'd be welcome. But seeing my grandfather is unlikely. He only shows himself when he's on a mission."
Zeno walked forward, gesturing for Su Xiao to follow.
"You've come all the way from Yorknew, and you have no hostile intent. It would be inexcusable not to offer you some hospitality."
Zeno invited Su Xiao into the castle. The interior was somewhat dim, and after winding through corridors, he led Su Xiao to a living room.
The room was brightly lit, with a large dining table at the center, covered in all kinds of food.
"Have a seat."
Zeno sat in the second seat, and Su Xiao chose a spot at random. The head seat was clearly reserved for Maha Zoldyck; even if Maha didn't come to dine, the seat was always left empty.
Before long, members of the Zoldyck family began filing into the living room.
The Zoldyck family consisted of ten people: the oldest generation, Maha Zoldyck; two generations below him, Zeno Zoldyck; the next generation, Silva Zoldyck and his wife Kikyo; and the youngest generation, the five brothers, Silva and Kikyo's children.
The eldest brother, Illumi Zoldyck; the second son, Milluki Zoldyck (a fat computer expert); the third son, Killua Zoldyck; the fourth son, Alluka Zoldyck (an unknown existence, very terrifying); and the fifth son, Kalluto Zoldyck (a cross-dresser).
These five brothers were all quite unique. The fourth and fifth sons looked like girls but were actually boys. The eldest, Illumi, had a severe brother complex, fixated on his third brother, Killua. If Uchiha Itachi's love for his brother was about care, Illumi's was more straightforward—pure obsession.
As for the second son, Milluki Zoldyck, he appeared to be a fat, lazy shut-in, but he was actually the one who contributed the most to the Zoldyck family among the five brothers. He managed the family's intelligence network, finances, and secure channels for accepting missions. His family described him as having a brilliant mind but being a bit "off-track."
Soon, except for Maha Zoldyck, Zeno's wife, the third son Killua, and the fourth son Alluka Zoldyck, everyone else in the Zoldyck family had arrived—six people in total.
Illumi stood at the door, squinting as he looked at his grandfather, Zeno.
"Don't just stand there like an idiot. He's not here to kill you."
"Is that so? Then I'm relieved."
Illumi couldn't quite figure out why Su Xiao had grown so much stronger.
Counting Bubu Wang, there were seven people and one dog seated around the table. Amu stood to the side; if he sat down, not only the food but even the utensils might not survive.
The second son, Milluki Zoldyck, curiously sized up Su Xiao, seemingly recognizing him. As for the cross-dresser, Kalluto Zoldyck, he was busy eating with his head down.
The Zoldyck family might seem numerous, but if Su Xiao suddenly attacked, with Amu and Bubu Wang's help, these family members wouldn't stand a chance. The best outcome would be Zeno + Silva + Illumi holding Su Xiao off while Kikyo fled with her two younger sons.
But if Maha Zoldyck were present, Su Xiao would be the one to die. However, with Su Xiao's Dragon Shadow Flash ability, the second son and the cross-dresser would die first.
"Can I really not meet Maha Zoldyck?"
Su Xiao toyed with a silver fork in his hand, not eating the food on the table. His relationship with the Zoldyck family was at most a slight acquaintance, and only with Zeno himself.
Thus, it wasn't impossible for the Zoldycks to have poisoned the food. This was an assassin family; one slip-up could cost you your life here.
"Not very likely."
Zeno set down his utensils. He had invited Su Xiao to dine not out of hospitality, but because he had to. If they fought directly, even if they could kill Su Xiao, it would result in casualties among the Zoldyck family.
"Then..."
Su Xiao's silver fork clattered onto the table. With a clang, the cross-dresser, the fifth son Kalluto Zoldyck, imagined a line: "Then... what if I kill you all?"
Thinking this, the cross-dresser secretly pulled out a folding fan, ready to fight.
"Then... what about hiring you?"
"Huh?"
Kalluto Zoldyck was stunned. The fat otaku Milluki Zoldyck showed an "I knew it" expression. He stabbed a piece of steak on the table, put it in his mouth, and chewed, sauce smearing his lips.
"Of course, that's no problem. For a mission of this level, our Zoldyck family wouldn't refuse. What's the job? Killing you?"
Zeno knew the issue was mostly resolved. He had actually been waiting for Su Xiao to say this.
"Let me calculate the fee."
Milluki Zoldyck pulled out a small computer. After about ten seconds, the fat man handed Su Xiao a list.
The prices on the list were staggering; at least Su Xiao didn't have enough cash on hand to pay.
"I don't have that much cash."
"No problem. Jewelry, mines, real estate, even rare antiques are acceptable. As for slaves, this region doesn't support slavery."
Milluki Zoldyck's attitude was very enthusiastic. This was his area of expertise.
"The job is simple: have Maha Zoldyck teach me some of the Zoldyck family's assassination techniques. I'm interested in that area."
Su Xiao certainly wasn't going to spend money for nothing. As long as he could meet Maha Zoldyck, there would definitely be a chance to fight, so he might as well get some benefits out of it.
"The price triples."
Clearly, some of the Zoldyck family's assassination techniques weren't kept secret; what they truly kept hidden were advanced knowledge about Nen abilities.
"Deal."
Su Xiao didn't have that many Nen rings, but he had a large number of auction items from the Yorknew auction. After the auction started, the Ten Dons had all fled, so Su Xiao naturally took possession of those items. He hadn't expected that a killer family like the Zoldycks would be willing to accept auction goods.