The Zoldyck Estate

__________ POV Ashton __________

Not many words were exchanged after that.

Both of us being lost in our own worlds, to the point where we had spent one hour sipping on empty cups...

But I don't feel like I've wasted any time here. A goodbye should at least take this long. Like it took drinking with Netero.

Linne was still lost in her own world when I came back to my senses. But I won't blame her, sometimes a world of your own imagination is much more pleasing than grim reality.

And her imaginary world is most likely just like mine, a place created by memories and dreams. A place so serene it can't possibly be real. The palace of our own minds.

That time is long past. But I don't think I will die yet... Maybe one day I will manage to make friends as I did back then. Relationships to last lifetimes.

I am stronger mentally than others, I will somehow handle the loss... Well, I did use certain coping mechanisms, I tried my best to distance myself from them.

But Netero was having none of that, he didn't want me to become some hollow shell, a sad excuse of a man that can only run away from his problems.

He was what kept the promise alive, he took our oath more seriously than anyone else... Now that he's gone, I plan to leave again.

But this time I have a reason, not a thinly veiled excuse that I can use to close myself up in a laboratory and waste my time away.

Now... At least I'm going back home. A place I avoided thinking about for quite some time. Now, I need to go back.

Linne also came to reality. I could sense her disappointment, it's easy to lose yourself in a seemingly perfect world...

"Linne... I will go for now." I slowly got up. "I will come back to meet you when I return from the Continent..." So please, stay alive.

The last part was left unsaid, but she's intelligent enough to understand what I wanted to say. She slowly nodded. "Good luck." Was the last thing that she said.

The servants didn't bother me as I left her mansion. When reaching the courtyard I just blasted myself into the sky.

The day hasn't ended yet. Next destination, the Zoldyck family. It's not really a difficult flight. But the mountain range they live in is quite far away.

If I speed up it will just take an hour though. After all, if Killua can trek that distance on the ground I certainly can in the air.

In the distance, I could see their gates. Large, just like Zigg described them. Honestly, this entrance test was the only thing Zigg was ever willing to talk about.

Saying that it would be fun for all 4 of us to check how strong we are on them. But I'm pretty sure both Netero and I can open them fully.

I could see the gate guard. A somewhat aged man with quite a big belly. He looked at me with a bit of surprise as I landed in front of the gate.

After all, I also want to test Zigg's fabled 'ultimate test of strength'.

"What are your intentions sir?!" Asked the guard in a panicked manner. Usually, I wouldn't bother responding to him, but I don't feel like overcomplicating this manner.

"I am named Ashton. I'm just paying Maha and Zeno a visit. You don't have to worry much, I can open the gate myself." He stared at me for a while, probably trying to judge if I was being truthful.

He eventually walked back to his booth and left me alone.

I stared at the giant gates in front of me. It would've been easy to just jump above them, but letting the Zoldyck's know of my presence is better than coming in uninvited.

The gate was quite the simple design, they were in varying degrees of difficulty. The guard can likely open the bottom one, but opening the whole gate would be hard to do without using any Nen.

It consists of 7 parts, the stronger you are the most you have to open. At least that's what I remember Zigg babbling on about.

I slowly put my arms on the gate. I used quite a bit of Nen to enhance my muscles. All seven parts of the gate dragged themselves open slowly. 256 tons of stone, quite a lot if you ask me.

But I think I wouldn't be able to open the 7th part without using any Nen. My human body does have its limitations.

I started walking up the mountain, I wasn't stopped by anyone in my way. Eventually, I could see a small villa in the distance. I think this should be the servant's quarters, I'm not even halfway up the mountain.

Still, the Zoldyck family does treat its servants well... For the most part, I guess, Zigg said the training requirements for them are quite strict.

Oh well, I won't bother entering their quarters, that would be quite rude of me.

Eventually, I met a huge purple hound. It looked to be curious, but it's not all that threatening. I just ripped open space and took out a beast carcass for it to enjoy.

It was kept fresh by my void space. So this guard dog will have quite a bit of fresh meat to eat.

Although, it was likely trained not to accept food from strangers. The Zoldycks already know of my arrival, they would inform their servants of it as well. That includes their hound.

Eventually, I reached the biggest mansion on the mountain. The place where the main family lives. I walked there with confidence.

They didn't really have much of an alarm, so I just entered their front door without worrying too much.

Upon entering, I met a woman wearing a purple classic style dress, her face covered in bandages and her eyes covered by a visor with only one red dot on its screen.

She bowed a bit. "Please, come this way, sir..." I wasn't expecting such a polite greeting. Might as well follow her.

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