With a small backpack on his shoulders, Gon hurriedly ran toward Germain after failing to get more information about his father, Ging Freecss, from Kurapika.
"Mr. Germain! Mr. Germain! Please wait!"
He ran up to Germain's side, gripping the straps of his backpack like an excited middle schooler going on a field trip.
Given his age and the fishing rod he carried, the resemblance was even stronger.
"Kurapika told me that you know Ging Freecss! Is that true?"
Germain turned around and saw Kurapika giving him an apologetic look.
It wasn't surprising that Kurapika knew about Ging.
They had met in the Kakin Empire and on Greed Island. After all this time, he had more than enough opportunity to figure out who Ging really was.
"I do know Ging," Germain said, looking down at Gon. And sure enough, he could see traces of Ging in the boy's face. "I also know that you're his son, Gon."
"Yes! I'm Ging's son!" Gon admitted enthusiastically, his eyes wide with excitement. "I'm looking for him! Do you know where he is?"
"I do," Germain nodded. "But I can't tell you just yet. He's working with me on a secret mission, and I can't say too much."
Hearing this, Gon's expression fell. He had come so far, only for the trail to go cold again.
Ever since he could remember, he had been left behind on Whale Island and raised by Ging's sister, Mito.
The reason he left Whale Island and set out on his journey to take the Hunter Exam was because he had heard that Ging was a professional Hunter.
If he became a Hunter himself, wouldn't that bring him one step closer to Ging?
But reality was different. Even after earning his Hunter License, he had only learned bits and pieces about Ging's past from the "examiners"—and nothing else.
He had to put his search on hold to reunite with Killua.
Now, just when he least expected it, he had run into someone who knew Ging.
Shizuku finally reacted, leaning slightly from the other side of Germain and curiously studying Gon.
"So he's Ging's son… Hmm… His eyes do look a little similar…"
At first, Gon was excited, but now he had calmed down a bit. He asked, "Mr. Germain, did Ging… did he ever mention me?"
"Now that you mention it…" Germain thought for a moment before answering, "He did bring you up a few times. He even left me a message for you."
"What is it?" Gon's hope reignited.
"He said, 'Gon, if you really want to see your incompetent father, come find me at that place.'"
This was something Ging had told Germain when he first explored the "Ancient Labyrinth City." However, the original words "Dark Continent" were deliberately replaced with "that place."
As expected, Gon's curiosity was piqued. "'That place'?"
Germain suddenly felt like one of those mentor characters in manga, guiding the protagonist toward their next journey.
Like Roger, Rayleigh, or Shanks in One Piece, he was playing that kind of role now.
Only revealing part of the truth, mixing in some vague hints, just enough to fuel the young man's motivation to chase his goal.
"If you want to know where 'that place' is, you first need to learn Nen, and then find a way to reach a place called Greed Island."
"Greed Island?" Gon was surprised. He had never heard of such a place before. "Where is it?"
"You'll have to find that out yourself. Ging should have left you plenty of clues."
Gon looked like a kid forced to go to bed before finishing a story—disappointed. But he quickly regained his energy.
"Then… can you teach me… teach me and Leorio… teach me, Leorio, and Killua Nen?"
Feeling guilty, Gon kept adding names. He couldn't forget about his friends—they didn't know Nen either.
Germain shook his head. "Teaching you would take at least a few months. I don't have that kind of time right now."
Gon, along with Leorio, who had been eavesdropping nearby, felt their hopes crumble once again.
Germain turned around and glanced at Leorio.
Leorio let out an awkward laugh, scratching the back of his head as his gaze drifted into the distance.
"But there are other 'teachers' out there who are more suited for you. Once you leave the Zoldyck family, you'll meet them."
"Or rather, they will come looking for you."
Gon and Leorio exchanged glances, nodding in partial understanding.
Before long, they reached the end of a stone-paved path, where a ruined garden came into view.
At the entrance, two cracked stone pillars, covered in climbing ivy, stood tall, their age evident from their worn-down appearance.
A large group of men and women, all dressed in black tailcoats, had been waiting there for quite some time. As soon as they saw Germain and the others, they bowed in perfect unison.
Leading them was Gotoh, whom they had met once before. He wore thin-rimmed glasses and maintained a stern, meticulous demeanor as he carried out his duties.
Among the many butlers was Canary, the so-called "Guide" as referred to by Zebro and Seaquant. She wore her signature dreadlocks and held a round-topped cane.
As an apprentice butler, her role was originally to guard this place, preventing uninvited guests from breaking through the "Testing Gate"—just as Seaquant and his companions had attempted in the past.
However, since Gotoh had brought orders from the estate, Canary had become part of the welcoming party.
She silently gazed at Germain, not moving forward or saying anything unnecessary in this situation.
The last time Germain had interacted with Master Killua, Killua had fled the Zoldyck family after injuring Madam Kikyo, disappearing without a trace.
Although she had been punished severely due to this incident, she held no resentment toward Master Killua or Mr. Germain.
On the contrary, the fact that Mr. Germain had helped Master Killua make up his mind to leave the Zoldyck family… deep down, she was actually happy about it.
Deep down, she had always hoped that Master Killua could be free—to live happily, without restraints. She was even willing to give her life for that wish.
But in the end, Master Illumi still forced Master Killua to return.
She could never forget the look of loneliness on his face that day… or the way he quietly said to her, "I made a friend." It shattered Canary's heart.
This time, Master Killua would likely be grounded for a long time.
But even after that, would he still have the courage to break free from Master Illumi and the others' control?
Canary felt powerless. She wished someone—anyone—could do something.
Yet, in the vast Zoldyck family, who could possibly convince the masters of the house?
No one.
Not even Tsubone or Gotoh had the power to change their minds. They didn't even have the right to try.
All they could do was watch in silence.
At that moment, Mister Germain appeared once again.
Last time, he had briefly altered Master Killua's fate. Would he do something again?
Canary truly hoped so.
As they walked toward the Zoldyck estate atop Kukuroo Mountain, fewer and fewer butlers followed behind.
In the end, only Gotoh remained to lead the way.
The others had their duties to attend to. Without new orders, they couldn't step foot inside the Zoldyck estate.
Canary, still just an apprentice butler, was the same. She couldn't witness what happened next.
Swallowing her regret, she turned and left.
Gotoh, with his thick beard, adjusted the center of his glasses with his middle finger. He had been walking silently ahead, but now, he suddenly spoke.
"You're only here to see Lord Silva, correct?"
Germain glanced at the cold-faced man and replied, "No."
"Is that so?"
Gotoh didn't ask any further questions. He remained silent the entire way as he led the group to the front gate of the Zoldyck estate. Then, keeping a stern face, he stepped aside.
At the entrance stood Maha, Zeno, Silva, Kikyo, Illumi, and Kalluto.
Even for Gotoh, who had served the Zoldyck family for decades, such a grand welcome made his eyelids twitch uncontrollably.
But he said nothing. He simply kept his gaze lowered, his thoughts steady. After all, he had already learned everything he needed to know from Mr. Germain.
That was enough. Now, all that remained was to quietly observe how things would unfold.
********
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