Chapter 149: Chapter 149
Ron approached the middle-aged woman.
"The killer is dead. Ten million Jenny—how will you pay?"
"I'll get the money from my house," she replied.
Soon, she returned with a backpack.
"This has cash and some jewellery," the woman said.
Ron nodded, taking the payment.
He then walked toward the towering building in the courtyard. Though the man was already dead—his skull crushed—the house was still shrouded in an aura of death. It would take time for the lingering aura to dissipate.
Entering the building, Ron moved with the precision of an assassin. Looting the dead was a natural extension of his work. Anything valuable was fair game.
The middle-aged woman, seemingly realizing something, also rushed into the house and began searching frantically.
Her thoughts were focused on a singular task: if her daughter was still alive, she would most likely be hidden somewhere in this house. The woman clung to the hope that her daughter hadn't been killed.
The man had likely intended to keep her daughter alive for the sole purpose of reproduction.
But reproduction took time—it couldn't happen overnight.
At worst, her daughter had been violated. While horrifying, it was better than death.
Still, the woman couldn't shake her fears. What if her daughter ended up carrying a child born from that monster?
The horrifying image of the man's body, with countless skulls fused to his back, flashed in her mind, sending shivers down her spine.
Suddenly, a weak cry for help echoed.
The woman followed the sound to a basement door. She flung it open and saw her daughter, Juna, huddled inside.
"Juna!"
"Mother, I'm scared!"
Juna leapt into her mother's arms, and the two embraced tightly.
"It's okay now. Everything's okay," the woman whispered. "Let's get out of here and go home. We'll talk there."
When the woman and Juna exited the house, the young man lay dead on the ground, beaten to death by the townsfolk.
The townspeople stormed into the house, scavenging for anything valuable.
Ron, however, had long since left.
---
### The Journey to the Zoldyck Estate
After taking an airship and a two-hour car ride, Ron arrived at Kukuroo Mountain. He stepped off at a small town at the base of the mountain.
A bus pulled into the station, and a young, pretty tour guide called out to the crowd.
"Anyone heading to the Zoldyck Estate? Board now!"
Ron hesitated briefly before stepping onto the bus.
The seats quickly filled, and with a roar of its engine, the bus began its shaky ascent up the mountain road.
Ron closed his eyes, appearing to rest.
---
### Back in the Town
Meanwhile, the young man's house in the small town was completely destroyed.
Ron had killed the man. The townsfolk had beaten the young man to death.
The house had been looted repeatedly, with every valuable item taken. Finally, the remaining structure was set ablaze, reducing it to ashes.
Juna returned home with her mother, but the experience had deeply scarred her. She was no longer the same cheerful girl she had been before.
The woman was worried but thankful.
"If it weren't for Ron," she thought, "my daughter would've become nothing more than that monster's breeding tool. Once she was no longer useful, he would've killed her."
---
### A New Threat
Far away, in another region of the human continent, an old man gazed out a window, a book in his hands. The events of the small town were detailed on the pages.
"Who disrupted my plan?" the old man muttered, his brows furrowing.
---
The bus arrived at the gates of the Zoldyck Estate.
"Is this the Zoldyck Estate?"
"It's so grand!"
"There's not a single guard?"
"Can we really go inside?"
"That gate is massive. How are we supposed to open it?"
Ron disembarked quietly, slipping off to the side unnoticed.
He entered the nearby gatehouse, where Zebro immediately rose to greet him.
"Young Master Ron."
"Zebro, it's been a while."
"It's been a year. You've grown so much—I almost didn't recognize you." Zebro sounded wistful.
One year had passed in the blink of an eye. To Zebro, it felt like he had done nothing but watch time slip away.
But Ron had changed significantly.
He had grown taller, losing the childlike look he once had. Now, he exuded the aura of a young man.
The most striking change, however, was in his demeanour.
Ron carried himself with a confidence and presence that made it impossible to dismiss him as a mere child.
"Has anything happened at home?" Ron asked.
"No, everything's the same as always."
"That's good," Ron said, nodding. "I'll head inside. Great-grandfather is expecting me."
"Of course, Young Master. Take care."
Zebro watched Ron's retreating figure for a long time before turning his gaze away.
Among the younger generation of the Zoldyck family, Zebro had his own opinions.
Killua was seen as the most promising by the household staff, akin to a crown prince destined for greatness.
Illumi, on the other hand, inspired more fear than admiration.
Milluki, once seen as misguided, had begun to command more respect since learning Nen.
Kalluto was still too young to be considered.
Alluka remained shrouded in mystery.
Then there was Ron, whose sudden arrival a year ago had taken everyone by surprise.
The family's servants had been shocked by Ron's immense talent and strength.
Now, many regarded Ron as Killua's equal in potential.
Killua was the family's natural heir, while Ron had earned Maha Zoldyck's favour and personal guidance—a significant mark of distinction.
---
### The Missing Boy
Outside the gate, the tour guide noticed Ron's absence.
"Where did that boy go?"
"Everyone, could you help me look for him?"
"A child is missing!"
Despite searching, no one could find any trace of Ron.
"He's completely disappeared!"
"Could he have gone into the Zoldyck Estate?"
"Maybe he's here to challenge them?"
Deep within the estate, a massive figure appeared before Ron.