I'm in HxH, Survive for Five Years!

Alex's expression remained calm. He didn't flinch at the sight of Silva, Zeno, and Katherine. On the contrary, he smiled and picked up his pace as he approached them.

"Pardon me—I didn't expect to be greeted by Mr. Silva, Ms. Katherine, and Mr. Zeno in person. If I had known, I would've hurried over sooner," Alex said with an easy smile as he came to a stop.

"You're too kind. This is simply our way of showing proper hospitality," Silva replied, giving a slight nod.

As the current head of the Zoldyck family, Silva naturally took center position, with his father Zeno and wife Katherine standing to either side.

While Alex and Silva exchanged pleasantries, Zeno and Katherine subtly studied Alex, the two women accompanying him, and especially the creature perched on his shoulder—Dilumon.

The experienced assassins quickly sensed that Dilumon was no ordinary creature. In fact, their attention lingered on it more than on Shiba and Mia.

"Ahem… Let me explain," Elijah, standing nearby, stepped in quickly when he noticed the tension in the air. "The Trial Gate our family uses is both a test and a sign of acknowledgment. If someone passes through it without malicious intent, they are treated as honored guests. And, the more doors opened, the greater the honor given."

Though Alex maintained his smile, he didn't relax completely. Shiba, Mia, and Dilumon also remained on alert.

"I see," Alex nodded toward Elijah, his smile widening as he loosened his posture slightly. "Looks like I was a bit too cautious."

Of course, he was still quietly vigilant. The people before him were some of the most dangerous individuals in the world. If a fight broke out, it would demand his full strength to survive.

Still, thanks to Elijah's explanation, the tension noticeably lessened.

"Alex, why don't we head inside? The banquet is ready," Zeno offered with a faint smile as he turned toward the mansion. "After dinner, you and Elijah can talk privately."

His hands behind his back, Zeno glanced over his shoulder at Alex, then walked toward the house.

"What a terrifying young man," Zeno thought as he walked. "No wonder Meteor Street took such losses. But people like him... they often end up with a price on their heads. I should start calculating how much an assassination like that would cost."

"Please, this way," Silva said calmly, gesturing for Alex to follow.

Alex gave a slight nod and walked beside them, unbothered by the potential danger. Shiba and Mia remained close, matching his confident demeanor without losing their alertness.

The Zoldyck mansion was as grand as expected—opulent yet cold, like the family's business in assassination. Its dark elegance hinted at blood-stained history.

But none of it fazed Alex.

During the banquet, everything proceeded smoothly. Alex remained relaxed, even sharing brief exchanges with Silva and Zeno over the course of the meal.

Meanwhile, Katherine seemed to be making polite conversation with Shiba and Mia, drawing them in with carefully chosen words. It was subtle and possibly strategic.

When the banquet ended, the guests were led away.

"Let's talk somewhere more private," Elijah said to Alex.

"Sure," Alex agreed, standing up.

The group relocated to a small but lavishly decorated meeting room.

"Make yourselves comfortable—sit wherever you like," Elijah said with a casual tone.

With his androgynous appearance and quiet demeanor, Elijah gave off a strangely serene vibe—unless, of course, his family was involved.

Alex sat on the center sofa, with Shiba and Mia on either side of him. Dilumon hopped from Alex's shoulder into Mia's lap, curling up comfortably.

"How about a drink?" Elijah asked from the nearby bar, raising a bottle of aged liquor.

"Sure. I'll let you decide," Alex replied with a smile.

Elijah poured four glasses over ice and handed them out, then took a seat across from them.

Alex accepted his drink and subtly examined it before taking a small sip.

"Nice. You've got good taste," he said approvingly.

"Just a hobby," Elijah replied with a shrug. "There's not much else that excites me."

Shiba crossed her arms and glanced around the room. Mia sat elegantly, petting Dilumon, who looked for all the world like a lazy housecat. Yet all three remained quietly vigilant.

Elijah didn't seem to mind their wariness. He knew full well that Alex was the leader—and the one whose decision mattered.

"Let's get to the point," Elijah said, raising his glass slightly. "You didn't go into detail over the phone. Who do you want me to assassinate?"

Alex took another sip and smiled faintly.

"The Phantom Troupe."

Elijah's eyes narrowed.

"I plan to go after them soon. But just in case things get tricky, I want to hire you ahead of time. There's a chance I'll need your help to take out one or two of them."

"The Phantom Troupe…" Elijah muttered, frowning. "That group is tough. My father took an assassination contract on one of them once. He said it was one of the few jobs he regretted—it wasn't worth the payout."

Elijah didn't bother asking why Alex was targeting them. Professional assassins didn't ask about motives—they only evaluated the risk.

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