"The second matter is that I sensed a dark aura on you," Mahā said casually.
"Darkness?! On me?!!!"
Roy was clearly stunned. When Mahā mentioned darkness, could he be referring to the Dark Continent?
But how could he possibly have an aura related to the Dark Continent?
Roy carefully retraced everything he had experienced since arriving in the Hunter world. First, he awakened Nen through drawing manga, then grew stronger through the explosive popularity of Dragon Ball, followed by participating in the Hunter Exam, and finally arriving at Kukuroo Mountain.
Everything seemed completely normal.
After thinking it over and still finding nothing unusual, Roy asked again, "You said I have a dark aura on me. Is that true?"
"Yes. From the moment you passed through the Gate of the Underworld and stepped into Kukuroo Mountain, I sensed that dark aura on you. When you entered this room and I saw you in person, I became even more certain."
Hearing Mahā's answer, Roy frowned deeply and fell into thought.
He had never come into contact with anything related to the Dark Continent. So if it wasn't something from himself, then it must be external!
Something that could wrap a person in a dark aura…
Could it be the Dark Sonata?!
But if it were the Dark Sonata, who would have used it on him?
Could it be Pariston? Had he learned about Roy's battle with Isaac Netero and his involvement with the Zodiacs, and decided to retaliate?
If it were Pariston, it wouldn't be impossible for him to possess something like the Dark Sonata. But given his personality, that kind of retaliation didn't quite fit. So who could it be…?
"Oh, I forgot to mention," Mahā added lazily. "The dark aura on you comes from yourself. You produced it. There's no external influence."
Roy: "..."
???
Where's my sword?!
"Also, the darkness I'm referring to is not related to the Dark Continent."
"It's not?" Roy was startled.
"That's right. This dark aura originates entirely from your own heart~"
"From… my… heart?" Roy muttered.
"Yes. Here, I have something useful. Take it, and think back on everything that's happened. You should be able to understand it yourself."
As he spoke, Mahā rummaged inside his gray jacket and pulled out something about the size of an egg—pure white like jade, perfectly round, resembling a pearl.
"My youngest grandson found this for me to calm the mind and focus the spirit. At my age, I've already let go of most things. You can use it for now~"
Mahā handed the pearl-like object to Roy.
"Thank you very much!"
Roy expressed his gratitude sincerely. At a glance, this was clearly a valuable treasure.
For Mahā to lend it to him, he truly felt thankful.
"Well, I never said it was free. The usage fee is 300 million Jenny."
Roy: "..."
"After all, I'm a Zoldyck. This is also a business. I need to earn some retirement money too. Heh heh heh."
…What a waste of my gratitude.
Although Roy complained inwardly, he was genuinely grateful to Mahā.
Holding the pearl-like treasure in his hands, Roy rubbed it thoughtfully and soon entered a meditative state.
…
Mahā specially arranged a room next to his own for Roy.
From the moment Roy began meditating with the pearl, he became like an old monk in deep meditation, sitting in his room without moving—for seven entire days.
Next door, after finishing watching an animation, Mahā picked up another volume of Dragon Ball that he had casually taken from Milluki and began flipping through it.
"Seven days already? This young man still hasn't found the answer? Well, the longer he stays, the more money I make—another 100 million Jenny per day~~~… Hmm? This issue of Dragon Ball is quite interesting! I didn't expect Kami to look exactly like Piccolo. And who would've thought Piccolo is actually Kami's dark side? So Kami expelled the darkness within his heart to become a god, and that darkness became Piccolo? This kid really has quite the imagination."
Mahā clicked his tongue in admiration as he read.
Suddenly, his hand holding the manga paused.
He lifted his head and looked toward Roy's room next door, narrowing his eyes.
"…Has he realized it? Did he resolve it, or was he consumed? This power… the dark aura has grown even stronger, Roy."
For the first time, Mahā spoke Roy's full name. Clearly, something had just erupted from Roy's room—something powerful enough to cross through the walls instantly.
Just a moment ago, an extremely terrifying aura burst out from Roy's room, sweeping across Kukuroo Mountain and engulfing the entire Zoldyck family estate.
"Ah?!!!"
Anyone on Kukuroo Mountain who had mastered Nen sensed it immediately.
This aura was dark, ominous, and terrifying!
"What is this?!"
Zeno, who had been discussing work with Silva, suddenly shrank his pupils and turned his gaze toward the direction of the disturbance.
At the same time, Silva's silver hair began to flutter, and his muscles tensed as he instantly prepared for battle.
In another room—
"What is going on?! How could such an aura exist?!"
Kikyo screamed, while beside her, Kalluto broke out in cold sweat.
"That's… the direction of great-grandfather's residence. What exactly happened?"
Even in a certain underground interrogation chamber—
Milluki was whipping Killua with a lash dipped in salt water and chili sauce.
"How dare you stab me! How dare you stab Mom!"
Milluki's face was full of resentment, but Killua showed no reaction at all—he even yawned.
However, in the next moment, both of them shivered simultaneously.
"What… is this?"
In a hidden chamber within the Zoldyck estate, someone who had been happily playing with toys paused briefly, then continued as if nothing had happened.
As for the other butlers, including Gotoh, there was no need to mention them—they all stared toward that direction in horror.
…
(End of Chapter)
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