Seeing her serious declaration actually made Noah chuckle, and even though Evana, who prided herself on having thick skin, couldn't help but blush a bit. Nevertheless, she insisted, "No laughing, I'm not joking; I'm serious."
"I know you're serious, but I still want to ask, why do you want to become a butler, for the money?" Noah couldn't help but reach out and ruffle Evana's hair as he asked.
Brushing Noah's hand away, Evana looked at him somewhat displeased and said, "It's not for the money."
"Then why? Being a butler for an assassin family isn't an easy job."
"I just want to prove that, whether it's Aunt Ruixi, Shizuku, or those uncles, I won't be inferior to anyone." She said, clenching her fists, displaying a determination beyond her years on her face.
"I just want to get some affirmation," she said seriously as if she was telling Noah but also encouraging herself.
After Noah rushed into the shack, Ashu and the others stayed where they were, and not long after, they saw Noah leading Evana toward them.
"It's that kid again. Why did Noah bring her here?" Seeing this, Wood couldn't help but wonder.
Ashu walked up and, after glancing at Evana, asked, "Noah, are you sure about this? We already have enough people." With Shizuku as a precedent, Ashu thought that Evana might be the second person Noah had taken a liking to.
However, why are all the people you pick young girls? If I didn't know you better, I'd think you had a strange interest.
Shaking his head, Noah said, "You guys can go and recruit someone else. Evana and Shizuku won't be coming back to the Zoldyck Family with us."
"What?" Ashu was puzzled. "Why?" He really couldn't figure out Noah's thinking now.
Shizuku, who was nearby, also heard this and blinked, looking at Noah with curiosity but didn't ask why.
Noah's idea had just changed. Evana, with her talent that was beyond doubt, and Shizuku, who was going to be a member of the future Phantom Troupe, would both excel with a little training. In any place, individual strength is limited, especially in this world of Hunters. Having a powerful team is quite crucial.
Noah wanted to leave the Zoldyck Family, and the chances of achieving that goal on his own were slim. Therefore, he needed the help of companions.
So, Evana and Shizuku were already chosen by Noah as members of his future team.
Since they were future team members, Noah couldn't let Evana and Shizuku enter the Zoldyck Family.
Leaving them outside to grow on their own was clearly a better choice.
Moreover, apart from leaving the Zoldyck Family, Noah currently had a second task, which was to inquire about his identity from the Elder of Meteor City.
While outside, the two of them could also help gather information about the Elder's Council, giving him an advantage when dealing with them in the future.
"I've thought it over, and Shizuku is too young to be a butler. Gatoh and the Zoldyck Family won't agree to it," Noah explained in response to Ashu's question.
"So, I'll ask you to go and recruit someone, anyone will do. I have something to discuss with these two." After saying this, Noah took Shizuku's hand and walked towards the stone house with the two of them.
Rubbing his forehead, Ashu looked at Noah's back with some annoyance and said, "I've just realized that you can be quite stubborn."
Not facing Ashu, Noah sheepishly stuck out his tongue and brought the two of them into the stone house.
Leading Shizuku and Evana in front of him, Noah squatted down and first said to Shizuku, "I have no intention of reneging on our agreement. Evana's arrival has given me new ideas."
Shizuku looked at him, quietly waiting for him to continue.
"I want both of you to become my assistants."
"Becoming a butler for the Zoldyck Family means losing your freedom. I want to leave the Zoldyck Family and not be constrained by them anymore, but I can't do it alone. I need help, and the two of you are the helpers I've found now. But if you become butlers too, it means you will also lose your freedom. I don't want to take you back to the Zoldyck Family for that reason."
"What? Becoming a butler means losing your freedom? You didn't mention that before," Evana said with her mouth agape.
Noah glanced at her and said, "I'm saying it now."
Then he continued, "Of course, I will teach you both a way to become stronger. At your current age, it's not suitable to be exposed to Nen abilities. Learning Nen at this stage would only hinder your growth. So, I will teach you a breathing method called 'Qi Refining.' This method can enhance your physical fitness, coordination, and control abilities. At the same time, if you continue to practice it, it can gradually open your pores and awaken Nen abilities."
Although Noah was not familiar with the systematic method of awakening Nen abilities in the traditional sense, with his current level of mastery, he had already realized that the Qi Refining he had learned could also gradually open pores and awaken Nen abilities.
Moreover, due to the nature of Qi Refinement, its effects might be even better than the traditional methods of awakening Nen abilities.
Therefore, in this stone house, Noah painstakingly taught the two youngsters the method of Qi Refining, step by step, in great detail.