"Kaizen, choose one of these three."
Silva's voice was calm but carried a weight of expectation.
Kaizen gave a small nod and surveyed the three candidates standing before him. One of them looked eerily similar to Nobunaga from the Phantom Troupe.
That made Kaizen's decision easy. To him, all three were equally capable. The fact that they were chosen by Silva himself spoke volumes about their talent and reliability. Their presence here confirmed they could be trusted.
"That one." Kaizen pointed at the boy who resembled Nobunaga.
"Good." Silva's expression didn't change as he turned toward the boy.
"Follow me." He then glanced back. "Kaizen, you too."
The group of three—Silva, Kaizen, and the chosen candidate—climbed the winding path up the mountain. When they reached a secluded area, hidden from prying eyes, Silva came to a halt.
Reaching into his coat, Silva pulled out a rolled parchment. Unfurling it, he handed it to the boy.
"Sign your name here, Shinji."
Without hesitation, Shinji bit his finger and pressed it against the scroll, signing with his own blood.
Silva turned to Kaizen, offering him the parchment.
"From today on, Shinji is your personal butler. His loyalty is bound to you, and he will obey your every order."
"Yes, sir," Shinji said, taking two steps back to stand respectfully by Kaizen's side.
Kaizen studied the parchment in his hands.
"Uncle Silva, is this... a Nen artifact?"
"Correct." Silva gave a curt nod.
A Nen artifact—ordinary objects infused with aura, often possessing strange and powerful properties. Some of these tools were infamous.
"The most notorious among them is the Sonata of Darkness," Silva continued. "Anyone who plays or hears it falls into madness—some die instantly, while others lose their sanity bit by bit. Even those who survive are permanently changed."
(T/N: The Sonata of Darkness is a piece of music said to be composed by Satan himself. It is said that whoever performs or listens to it will be horribly cursed.)
Kaizen's thoughts drifted to a piece of Hunter x Hunter lore: Kurapika's ally, Melody.
She had been a beautiful young woman until the day she heard the Sonata of Darkness. Though she escaped with her life, her appearance was transformed into something rodent-like, resembling a groundhog.
"By signing this scroll, Shinji has pledged his eternal loyalty to you," Silva said.
Kaizen nodded.
"Thank you, Uncle Silva."
Silva dismissed the gratitude with a slight shrug. "This is simply the Zoldyck way."
He continued, "I've had a separate yard prepared for you in the manor's backyard. Shinji will manage it in your absence."
"I have other matters to attend to, so I'll leave you to it." With that, Silva turned and began descending the mountain path.
Kaizen watched him disappear before turning to Shinji.
"Let's go."
"Yes, Master Kaizen," Shinji replied, bowing slightly.
As they walked toward the new courtyard, Kaizen asked,
"Shinji, where were you before you came to the Zoldyck estate? Do you have any family?"
Shinji kept his gaze forward. "I come from Meteor City, Master Kaizen. I have no family."
Kaizen's brow furrowed slightly.
"Meteor City?"
It wasn't a surprise—many of the Zoldyck servants were recruited from Meteor City, a lawless place beyond governmental control.
"Yes, sir," Shinji confirmed.
"Tell me about it," Kaizen said, his curiosity piqued.
"With all due respect, Master Kaizen, it's not a pleasant story. Meteor City is a wasteland—piles of trash everywhere, the air thick with the stench of rot. People fight and kill for the tiniest scraps, sometimes even for spoiled bread. I was lucky to escape and come here. I owe my life to this estate—and to you, Master Kaizen. I will always serve you faithfully."
"I want to know more. Tell me everything," Kaizen insisted.
Shinji hesitated for a moment, but then continued. His description was grim: endless heaps of garbage, the constant threat of violence, and unimaginable acts born of desperation. Yet despite the depravity, Kaizen sensed something deeper—an unspoken connection Shinji still felt toward his former home.
Meteor City was a place of contradictions. While it bred chaos and cruelty, it also forged an intense bond among its people. Outsiders who mistreated its residents could expect merciless retribution.
Soon, the pair reached Kaizen's new courtyard.
The spacious yard was pristine, freshly built and filled with potential. It was a stark contrast to the time Kaizen had spent living in Maha Zoldyck's quarters.
"Shinji, this is your new home," Kaizen said. "From now on, you'll manage this courtyard."
"Yes, Master Kaizen," Shinji replied, though he seemed momentarily overwhelmed by the size of the place.
Kaizen stepped inside. The furniture was all in place, but the space still felt lifeless. It needed something—a touch of warmth, a sign of life.
"I think I'll bring Malrik over," Kaizen mused aloud.
Malrik, another Zoldyck servant, had once looked down on Kaizen. But after losing to Kaizen in two consecutive fights, his attitude shifted. He had grown respectful, even grateful, for the chance to serve under Kaizen's leadership.
"Malrik has his quirks," Kaizen thought aloud. "But he's useful. He could help take care of the garden—and lighten the atmosphere around here."
Shinji glanced at Kaizen. "Do you want me to fetch Malrik, Master Kaizen?"
"No need. I'll speak with Gotoh."
Kaizen found Gotoh, the Zoldyck family's head butler, and relayed his plan.
"Understood, Master Kaizen. I'll have Malrik sent over immediately," Gotoh replied.
With that matter settled, Kaizen returned to his room—the largest bedroom on the second floor, offering the best view of the mountains beyond. He stood by the window for a moment, taking in the quiet serenity of the scene.
"Killer Queen."
A soft shimmer filled the room as a pink figure materialized—Killer Queen, Kaizen's Nen ability, stood before him.
Kaizen held out the parchment scroll.
"Keep this safe."
Without a word, Killer Queen took the scroll, cradling it in her elegant hands.
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