January 1, 1999.
On the first day of the new year, Zoldyck family's designated important heir, Killua Zoldyck, ran away from home.
This was the result of Mersyl's deliberate instigation.
The current situation where "Kalluto Zoldyck" was deleted made Mersyl dare not be careless. She took a vacation in the last month of 1998 to keep an eye on Killua's movements. Seeing Killua diligently undergoing family training every day, with no signs of running away, she couldn't help but take action. If Killua left too late, not only might his candidate number not be No. 99 as in the original work, but he might also miss the Hunter Exam on January 7th.
Since the "plot" that was artificially induced was already deliberate, it was impossible to perfectly adhere to the original plot. Therefore, Killua did not stab Kikyo's face or Milluki's abdomen as in the original work, and successfully ran away from home under Mersyl's cover.
To guide Killua's activities after running away from home, Mersyl threw out a bait, telling him that it was easier to make friends in the Hunter Exam.
"...Friends? Why would I make friends?" Killua raised his eyebrows disdainfully. "Are you joking, Sis?"
She had tried to befriend the probationary butler a few years ago, and now she was acting completely uninterested in, and even disdainful of, "friends." It was no use. When Illumi taught Killua, the principle he imparted was that "assassins don't need friends." Killua didn't dare to openly defy Illumi at the moment.
"Even if you don't make friends, the Hunter Exam is worth a try," Mersyl said. "It's a high-difficulty test with fewer than ten people passing each year. If you can pass the test and become a professional hunter..."
Mersyl did not finish her sentence.
"What will happen?" Killua pressed.
"Little Kill," Mersyl ruffled his hair. "It's boring to be an assassin, isn't it? Following your father's and brother's orders every day, like a robot. You can see your entire future, which will be similar to your father's life: killing, training, killing, marrying, having children, training your offspring to be assassins, and then repeating the cycle."
"A life without end, constantly repeating – that is hell."
"Living is hell."
If any other Zoldyck encouraged Killua to try a path other than being an assassin, it might have been with ulterior motives, such as "to make Killua personally realize that he has no choice but to inherit the family business as an assassin." However, coming from Mersyl's mouth, it felt completely different. Killua knew that her way of thinking was different from other Zoldycks, and her treatment was the most special within the Zoldyck family.
Still, was it a bit too much to describe it as "hell"?! And her extreme statement "Living is hell" – what would their father think if he heard it?
"..." Killua couldn't help but say, "It's not that exaggerated, is it?"
He was indeed a child and didn't yet understand the true cruelty of life.
"I can only help you this much," Mersyl shook her head. "You'll understand later. Time will prove everything."
Mersyl crossed her arms and lowered her head in thought, like an incommunicable NPC. No matter what Killua said, she wouldn't respond.
Although Killua didn't understand what was going on, was this what the entire Zoldyck family recognized as "mentally unstable"?!
For a moment, he didn't know whether to believe what she said.
"..."
It felt foolish to believe her.
"..."
Killua inexplicably remembered Mersyl once seriously saying, "A believing heart is your magic," and that she also had a pile of magic wands (bought with money).
"..."
Never mind. Milluki also said, don't overthink it; if you take it seriously, you lose.
In short, the Hunter Exam was real, and the rumors of its difficulty were also true. Although he didn't expect Mersyl to actually help, Killua was genuinely moved.
Once something piqued his interest, a young boy's impulse couldn't be contained.
Father and eldest brother were both out on missions. What a great opportunity, if not now, then when? kuAiδugg
There was no luggage to pack, only his favorite skateboard. Killua embarked on his impromptu trip.
Until Mount Kukuroo became a distant view, the overly smooth escape from home left Killua with a considerable lack of reality – it seemed Mersyl had indeed helped.
"...What's this?" Killua's mood was complicated. "Is it really true?"
Never mind, don't overthink it; if you take it seriously, you lose.
In any case, don't waste the opportunity.
Putting down his skateboard, Killua stepped onto it with one foot and pushed off the ground with the other. The increasingly fast glide, carried by the wind, blew his mood into the distance, towards the future he yearned for.
By dinnertime, Kikyo realized Killua was gone.
Kikyo initially thought Killua had deliberately hidden in a surveillance blind spot again. Mount Kukuroo had many surveillance blind spots, as other Zoldycks also needed privacy and couldn't have their every move monitored according to Kikyo's personal preferences. Kikyo had to tolerate this.
The patrolling butlers searched the entire Mount Kukuroo but found no sign of Killua, which meant Killua was no longer within the boundaries of Mount Kukuroo.
Did Killua leave on his own? Or... was he taken by an intruder?!
No... no, it couldn't be! Neither of them could be true!!!!
Was it the butlers' negligence? Or a flaw in the surveillance? Although Mount Kukuroo had many surveillance blind spots, key areas were exceptions! The current Killua couldn't have left Mount Kukuroo without alerting anyone!
So was it more likely to be the work of an intruder?!
No... no... If she lost Killua forever... Kikyo dared not dwell on such a scenario, she would completely break down!
The butlers who reported back stood in a line with their heads bowed. In the face of Kikyo's imminent rampage, a deathly silence prevailed.
Without some bloodshed, the situation might not be resolved.
"...Mom," Milluki appeared after finishing dinner alone in the dining room, saving the situation.
Almost the entire Zoldyck family was searching for Killua. No one else had the appetite for dinner at this moment.
He slowly said, "No need to look. Killua ran away from home on his own."
"?!" Kikyo's electronic eyes blinked red, and her voice became sharp. "Milluki! What did you say?!"
Why would Milluki know?! Because... did he help Killua run away from home?! Yes! Milluki possessed the technology to secretly alter surveillance footage! No wonder the surveillance showed no trace of Killua leaving home!
Locked onto by Kikyo's anger and killing intent, Milluki's forehead beaded with sweat.
"Mersyl told me to do it!" Milluki immediately raised his hands and revealed the truth. "She said she would kill me if I didn't help!"
"Mersyl?" Kikyo's anger slightly subsided, but she still found it hard to believe. "Why?"
"How should I know!" Milluki said with a wry smile. "Isn't she at home?! Mom, you can ask her yourself!"
"..."
If Mersyl did it, everything made sense. Moreover, Mersyl didn't leave with Killua and chose to stay at home, so Mersyl was just helping, and Killua left of his own accord?
Since it was Mersyl... so it was Mersyl...
Oh, then it's nothing.
Kikyo's anger instantly vanished, and she even felt gratified that Mersyl favored Killua. Mersyl, the most unstable among the Zoldycks, liking Killua and helping him was a very good thing! Killua was an important heir for the family's future, and any help was welcome.
With this realization, Kikyo beamed, and the atmosphere in the room instantly became cheerful.
January 2, 1999.
Mersyl received a call from Illumi. "..."
"Sis. Mom told me Killua went to take the Hunter Exam, and I need to bring him home," Illumi said on the phone. "I'll also be participating in the exam. Having a Hunter License will make future missions more convenient."
"..." Mersyl did not respond, only the sound of her breathing against the receiver indicated she was listening.
"So I need to disguise myself. This is the main point of Illumi's call," Mersyl thought. "Will you be coming to the venue? If you don't come, I'll disguise myself according to my personal taste."
"..."
What kind of disguise would fit Illumi's personal taste? In the original work, it was that wretched, perverted man with a mohawk named "Gittarackur."
Just the early styling of "Gittarackur" made Mersyl instantly lose all worldly desires and delete Illumi from her mind. (Chapter 113)
Illumi's early notification this time indicated that he was likely planning to use the "Gittarackur" persona.
If he doesn't dress up as "Gittarackur," does Illumi feel uncomfortable?! As expected, a leopard cannot change its spots.
Illumi likes to dress up as a wretched man, Hisoka likes to dress up as a circus clown, and Chrollo likes to wear his hair slicked back and wear a fur-collared leather coat – these "three beauties'" personal tastes are truly difficult to compliment.
Never mind, Illumi dressing up as "Gittarackur" for the Hunter Exam was a plot point consistent with the original work, which was a good thing.
Not wanting to say anything to Illumi, Mersyl hung up the phone and then sent a text message: I'm not going to the venue.
Illumi replied instantly: Okay.
January 7, 1999.
Kurapika, along with Leorio and Gon, whom he met during the preliminary selection, arrived at the Hunter Exam venue, being the last three candidates just before the deadline.
After going through various tests, they finally reached the exam area located beneath the restaurant, only to find it already crowded with hundreds of people.
The competition was fiercer than expected.
It's okay. Kurapika clutched the No. 404 badge pinned to his chest, silently encouraging himself.
He had failed to reach the exam venue in the previous few years, so being able to stand here this year was significant progress.
The Hunter Exam was notoriously difficult. It was said that millions of people registered each year, and only a handful could pass the exam.
It didn't matter how many times he failed. He had to become a Hunter to avenge his massacred clan and reclaim his lost Scarlet Eyes.
The Hunter Exam was indeed notoriously difficult, but Kurapika didn't know that his failure to reach the venue in the previous years was not entirely due to his lack of ability. The main reason was that Mersyl had quietly interfered and created additional obstacles.
Both Kurapika and Killua participating in the Hunter Exam this year were strongly encouraged by Mersyl. Half of the original protagonist's quartet was forcefully steered back onto the original plot track by Mersyl; she had truly worked hard for it.
The Hunter Exam was considered a beginner-level dungeon, and Killua could handle it completely, so Mersyl wouldn't personally come to disrupt the situation.
Although Hisoka was a major threat in the Hunter Exam, Hisoka showed special care to unripe fruit, which, when rounded off, made him a "kind father figure," not a threat.
Therefore, the day Mersyl learned that Killua was participating in the Hunter Exam, she confidently went out to work.
A few years ago, after causing extensive damage at the Zoldyck mansion, Mersyl incurred a debt of approximately 89 billion jenny (Chapter 143). Compared to the high salaries of the Zoldycks, this sum was not an insurmountable amount that couldn't be paid off in a lifetime. The Zoldycks had even restricted her repayment speed. For every Zoldyck mission she completed, she could only draw 100 million jenny from the mission reward for repayment.
[Plot Task]
[Task Name: Employee's Gratitude]
[Task Content: Complete Zoldyck missions alone (630/999)]
Alas, with 369 missions remaining, even doing one mission a day, she couldn't complete the goal within this year.
It's okay.
Isn't this normal?
Isn't failure your norm?
Mersyl washed her face in front of the mirror. Streaks of blood occasionally mixed with the clear water, as if stained red by her scarlet eyes.
Finally, she dried her face with a towel, and the bloodstains were all washed away.
Mersyl admired herself in the mirror for a while, then extended her finger, pressed it against her mouth in the reflection, and drew an upward curve.
What beautiful Scarlet Eyes, complementing her good looks, truly worthy of being one of the "Seven Beauties."
Mersyl's lips curved slightly upwards along with the drawn arc.
She was increasingly looking forward to meeting Kurapika again.