"Here's your meal."
"And this lollipop is for you too."
Killua dumped everything on the dining table, said this to Kalluto, then put his hands behind his head, turned, and walked away, not even sparing Kalluto another glance.
Kalluto didn't react much, just stared blankly at the lollipop in front of him.
Then, after Killua had walked a bit further, he softly said, "Thank you."
However, that level of volume was enough to reach Killua's ears.
Killua, without turning his head, said aloud:
"Don't overthink it. Hiro made me do it. It has nothing to do with me."
What a stinky younger brother. He was asked to be nicer, but he wouldn't cooperate at all.
After deducting one large shrimp from Killua, Hiro brought him his meal.
The latter instantly transformed from a cool boy into a foodie, devouring his food wildly, completely unaware that his meal had shrunk today.
"Ah, little Killua's appetite is still so good today!"
His mother, Kikyo, walked in through the doorway and immediately spotted Killua, excitedly running over, about to sit down.
"Go away, don't bother me while I'm eating."
Killua turned his head, his eyes coldly fixed on Kikyo.
"Ah, ah, ah! That look is amazing~"
As expected, Kikyo wasn't angry at all; instead, she walked over to Kalluto's side, looking back at Killua every two steps, and sat down, watching Killua eat with a look of gratification.
Thwack!
"Ow, ow, ow."
Hiro, who was next to him, directly gave Killua a chop to the head.
"How many times have I told you, be polite to your mother. Your punishment is one large shrimp."
Before Killua could react, a pair of chopsticks suddenly appeared in Hiro's hand, and the chopsticks were already holding a large, plump shrimp covered in fragrant sauce.
"No~!"
Killua was stunned and was about to pounce like a hungry cat, but Hiro's benevolent gaze sent him back to his original state.
Killua was too familiar with that look from Hiro; if he made a fuss again, he would definitely lose another large, plump shrimp!
On the other side, Milluki saw Killua being deflated and laughed gleefully, then Killua looked at Milluki and also laughed.
The hungry cat's pounce finally appeared, its target precisely the last remaining large, plump shrimp on Milluki's plate.
Ignoring the squabble between the two brothers, Killua and Milluki, Hiro retrieved Kikyo's portion of the meal from the kitchen and brought it over.
Among them was a brightly colored drink, more than what others had.
"Mom, this is a healthy beauty fruit and vegetable juice I specially made for you; you'll definitely like the taste."
"Oh, Hiro, thank you."
With a sip from her small cherry mouth, Kikyo's electronic eye signal pulsed intensely.
"It's delicious!"
"Hiro, you really make Mom so conflicted. I want you to focus more on being an assassin, but every day I also look forward to the delicious food you make."
When facing Hiro, Kikyo was not as hysterical as when she faced Killua; she had always been very rational with Hiro.
In fact, Kikyo was quite normal when facing everyone else; she only became easily agitated when it involved Killua.
This was also an important reason why Killua found her so annoying.
"Mom, there's nothing to be conflicted about. Whether it's being an assassin or anything else, as long as I want to do it, what have I not done well?"
Hiro knew that when communicating with Kikyo, he shouldn't be too modest; occasionally showing a bit of arrogance made her happier.
"As expected of the Zoldyck Family's eldest son, Mom is proud of you."
Kikyo was clearly very satisfied with Hiro's answer, and her electronic eye pulsed again.
Hiro and his mother's conversation didn't last too long because Ma Ha and Zeno arrived, clamoring for the food to be served quickly as soon as they entered.
After attending to the two old masters, Hiro packed the meal in a lunchbox and left the restaurant.
This was to deliver food to Silva.
In fact, as long as Hiro was home, Silva would never eat at the restaurant.
And if Silva was ever seen at the restaurant, then Hiro was definitely not at home.
Everyone else in the family had initially assumed that Silva didn't like Hiro but in truth, whenever they were alone together, their conversations were always pleasant, and the two were often seen enjoying rare father-and-son harmony.
However, neither Hiro nor Silva had ever actively explained this arrangement. The other family members may have been curious, but no one dared to ask.
Compared to their rigorous training and endless missions, this kind of trivial matter simply didn't warrant discussion.
And so, over time, it became the norm.
…
Passing through a long corridor, Hiro arrived at Silva's bedroom door.
"Dad, I'm here," he called.
"Come in," came Silva's calm voice from within.
Receiving his reply, Hiro pushed the door open.
Silva was leaning against a massive, plush pillow, absently stroking the huge guard dog sleeping next to him.
The moment Hiro stepped in, the dog's eyes shot open, and it wagged its tail excitedly clearly delighted by Hiro's arrival.
"Dad, eat it while it's still hot," Hiro said.
He moved a table in front of Silva, set down the lunchbox, then gave the dog's head an affectionate pat before sitting down himself on a chair shaped like a giant claw.
Silva didn't bother with pleasantries, picking up his chopsticks and starting to eat right away. As he chewed, he spoke:
"Hiro, the payment for today's mission has already been deposited into your account."
"Thank you, Dad."
"Mmm… today's braised prawns are as good as ever," Silva went on, nodding in approval. "Your cooking skills are just as astonishing as your assassination talent. Both are world-class."
The dog next to him stared at the bowl hungrily, saliva dripping onto the floor.
Whenever Silva tossed a shrimp shell into the dog's dish, it lunged at it, gnawing ferociously.
Hiro didn't reply he knew Silva wasn't finished yet.
Sure enough, Silva paused, then asked:
"Have you found a way yet to convince me to release Alluka?"
"I've been looking forward to that day," he added softly.
If anyone else had overheard that, they would have been completely baffled. After all, wasn't it Silva who had ordered Alluka's confinement in the first place?
And yet here he was sounding almost eager for Hiro to "convince" him to let her go.
"Dad," Hiro said at last, his tone unusually serious. "You don't have to keep reminding me. I will absolutely never give up on Alluka."
When he spoke Alluka's name, Hiro's expression hardened, his warm smile giving way to quiet determination.
"I believe… very soon, I'll find a proper solution."
Silva nodded faintly, picking up another large shrimp.
"Good. I believe you will succeed in convincing me."
He gave his son a small, rare smile and added:
"Alright go on. You don't need to stay here with me. Hurry and bring dinner to Alluka."
"Then I'll go first, Dad. Take your time eating."
Hiro stood, bowed lightly, and left the room.
The moment the door clicked shut, the calm and stoic Silva the legendary head of the Zoldyck Family suddenly threw back his head and laughed, his deep voice booming through the room.
"To have a son like him…" Silva chuckled to himself, "…I, Silva Zoldyck, am worthy of every one of my ancestors!"
"The Zoldyck Family in Hiro's hands will only grow stronger!" he declared to the empty room, his eyes blazing.
"Stronger… and one day… the greatest family in the world!"
He threw his head back and roared with laughter.
In Silva's eyes, there was not a shred of doubt:
This son of his Hiro possessed a talent and willpower that utterly eclipsed that of his peers.
Silva had witnessed it clearly, time and time again.
Even his fourth son, Killua whose natural gifts were already extraordinary in the history of the Zoldycks could not compare to Hiro.
And so, he allowed Hiro to open a restaurant.
He allowed Hiro to paint, to play with his younger siblings, to forge friendships with butlers and servants all "unprofessional" actions that seemed to fly in the face of the Zoldyck Family's centuries-old methods.
Because Silva trusted him. Completely.
Because he believed:
Hiro's way was the right way.
In Silva's eyes, Hiro was not only unmatched in talent he also possessed an extraordinary capacity for self-learning and a shockingly mature mind, even from a young age.
He always knew exactly what he was doing.
He would never squander his own gifts.
Sometimes, Silva would briefly question himself:Am I wrong to trust him so blindly? Could my indulgence hurt him someday?
But each time, that thought would pass in an instant replaced by unshakable certainty.
No. I've done nothing wrong.
Whatever my son Hiro decides to do, there's always a reason behind it and he will succeed, no matter what!
Because his son, Hiro, was a god-level genius one in a billion.
From childhood to now… when had Hiro ever failed at anything?
Whatever he chose to do, he pursued it to the utmost pinnacle.
And his assassination talent? It was on a level the Zoldyck Family had never before seen in its long history.
Even in ordinary, "frivolous" pursuits like cooking and painting… he could still achieve mastery, effortlessly standing at the top of the field.
And you're telling me he won't become the greatest assassin in history?
What utter nonsense.
He is my son.
And if anyone knows what he's capable of… it's me!