"I didn't know you before this, Ron."
"You're a competitor in Heaven's Arena, and I'm also a competitor there, but we never interacted. I've seen you, though you might've forgotten me."
"In that sense, we're basically strangers."
"Why did you accept my challenge?"
"This brings you no benefit."
"Especially after we had our match.
And you didn't even ask for anything in return. Under the same circumstances, Gon wanted to challenge you, yet you turned him down."
"Logically speaking, you and Gon are closer, right? You met during the preliminaries."
"And traveled together for a while."
Ron gave Killua a calm look.
"You think I've shown you too much kindness?"
"When someone is kind to others, there must be a reason."
"Then what about your kindness toward Gon and the others?"
Ron fired back, "Your goodwill toward Gon and the rest goes beyond that of a typical applicant, too. When Johness wanted to kill Leorio, why did you intervene?"
Killua froze for a moment, then went silent.
"…Because I wanted to be their friend. I wanted to have a friend."
Killua said "them," but at first, the one he truly cared most about was only Gon.
He treated Leorio and Kurapika kindly simply because they were Gon's friends. Only after spending more time together did he start regarding Leorio and Kurapika as his own friends.
"Didn't you have any friends before?"
"So do you think a killer needs friends?"
Those words sounded all too familiar to Killua. He'd heard them many times.
"As I suspected, you're also from an assassin family. And as I guessed, you must have some ties to our Zoldyck Family. Did they hire you to come here?"
"I'm here taking the Hunter Exam purely for myself."
Killua let out a slight breath of relief.
"Will you tell them about our conversation today?"
"If you don't want me to, I won't."
Killua was silent for a moment.
"A killer doesn't need friends, but I don't want to be a killer. So I do want a friend. Ron, do you have friends?"
Ron thought for a moment. The members of his own group could be considered his friends. Aside from them, there were Molenna, Wendy, Gel's disciples, Mizaiston…
"You do? And not just a few?"
"But aren't assassins supposed to have no need for friends? Does that mean you don't want to be one either? You think like me? Are you still an assassin now?"
Envy flickered in Killua's eyes.
"Your family sounds great."
Ron gave a small laugh. The Zoldyck Family really wasn't bad, one had a lot of freedom there.... as long as you weren't the heir.
Killua let out a long sigh.
"If only they could accept the path I want to take…"
"But I know that's impossible. They'll only insist I follow the road they've laid out for me."
"That's not what I want at all."
"Ron, besides me, do you know any other members of the Zoldyck Family?"
Ron had met all the main Zoldyck members, except Alluka.
Maha Zoldyck had trained Ron since childhood. Zeno and Silva provided a lot of help during Ron's growth.
Ron worked with Milluki once.
He'd met Kikyo and Kalluto, and they'd even shared a meal.
Ron had first seen Killua back at Heaven's Arena. He was only seeing Illumi for the first time during this Hunter Exam.
Alluka was the only one he hadn't met.
"Please, don't tell them about our conversation today."
"Thank you. Sorry to trouble you."
Killua stood up. "If there's anything you need help with, feel free to let me know. But given your strength is far above mine, I doubt you'll ever need me."
Ron watched Killua's retreating figure.
He was growing more curious about how Killua would react once he learned Ron's true identity. Having a little fun once in a while is always good.
Before long, after Killua left, a figure appeared beside Ron.
Illumi was still disguised as Gittarackur.
"I have something I need to do. I'll create a double to stand in for me. Could you keep an eye on it for a few days and also make sure Hisoka doesn't get a chance to do anything to Killua?"
"How long will you be gone?"
"A few days, not long."
"All right, no problem."
"Thanks, I'm counting on you."
At that moment, Illumi pulled the needle out of his body.
Like air leaking from a balloon, Gittarackur's form deflated.
Illumi's real appearance emerged before he vanished in a flash.
Then, another figure stepped out from the shadows, looking a bit bewildered—this one wearing Gittarackur's face.
He had an aura extremely similar to Illumi's. Most people wouldn't notice the difference, but a Nen user would.
"It seems Illumi and the Hunter Association have made arrangements," Ron thought. "Otherwise the examiners would definitely notice."
With that, Ron summoned Natsu.
Ron supplied Natsu with a bit of aura to keep him materialized, though not enough for a full-power fight.
Afterward, Natsu was ordered to guard "Gittarackur."
Meanwhile, Ron himself focused more attention on Killua.
The next day, their airship landed.
They transferred to a large ship and sailed for half a day until they reached a small island. An elderly couple stood at the port to welcome them.
"We run the only inn on this island."
"Many famous people have stayed with us, so we're sure you won't be disappointed. Also, the two of us were hired by the Hunter Association as examiners."
At these words, the examinee's expressions changed, all gazing at the couple.
The old lady smiled. "Congratulations on making it through the Third Exam. The next round will begin in three days."
"For these three days, feel free to rest and relax here."
"Now, please come with us to the inn."
The examinees froze, and then breathed a collective sigh of relief.
----------------------
You can read up to 120 Advanced chapters!