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250 HxH: The Strongest Assassin
🕑 Added 2025-01-18 06:00:11 +0000 UTCKaizen chose a cozy little restaurant for their meal.
Lilith, Haji, and Hassan hesitated by the entrance, their nerves showing. They weren't used to such places and felt out of place. But Kaizen reassured them with a kind smile, and they followed him in.
Though their clothes were old, their newly cleaned and neat appearance made them blend in well enough. The waitstaff barely gave them a second glance.
Kaizen led them to a table by the window and picked up the menu. The three siblings fidgeted nervously, unsure how to behave, but as the dishes arrived, their apprehension melted into anticipation.
"It smells amazing!"
"It looks so good!"
"Delicious!"
Lilith hesitated before speaking up. "Thank you... but this must be expensive, right?"
At her words, Haji and Hassan paused mid-bite, glancing at Kaizen with concern. They didn't want to burden him with a hefty bill.
Kaizen shook his head, smiling. "Don't worry about it. Eat your fill. I'll even order some to-go so Ralph can have a taste too."
"Then you should eat too!" Lilith insisted.
"Alright," Kaizen replied, digging in.
...
Half an hour later, the three siblings were slumped in their chairs, their stomachs full.
"I'm so stuffed," Haji groaned.
"That was amazing," Hassan said with a satisfied sigh.
"I've never had anything so delicious," Lilith added, beaming.
The four left the restaurant, their spirits high. Lilith clung to Kaizen's hand while Haji and Hassan carried the packed meals for Ralph. They attracted curious looks on their way back to the slums, but Kaizen ignored them.
This was likely the last time he'd see this place. He didn't know when—or if—he would return.
When they arrived back at the yard, footsteps sounded from outside. Kaizen turned to see Dominica, Wendy, and Ralph approaching.
"Dominica, Wendy, Ralph," Kaizen greeted them. "I brought some food back. Since it's our last day here, I took the kids out for a meal."
Dominica nodded approvingly. "That's fine. I was getting hungry myself."
Wendy looked at Kaizen with concern. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," Kaizen said, shaking his head. "Just... thinking about someone I used to know."
Dominica stepped closer, holding a slice of pizza.
"The nen of Taris, huh? Back in the day, the Kingdom of Fiora and the Hunter Association worked together to wipe them out. Their destruction was unmatched—not purposeful destruction, but senseless chaos.
"They were like a plague, killing indiscriminately. Tens of millions died in Fiora alone, including many skilled aura users. Even my own family wasn't spared. A good friend of mine lost their life to them."
Kaizen studied Dominica's expression.
"How's the pizza?"
"It's decent," she admitted. "Not quite on par with Fiora royal cuisine, but for a place like this, it's good enough."
For Dominica, it was passable, but for Ralph and the siblings, it was the finest food they'd ever had. Ralph hesitated but eventually took a bite. His eyes widened as he tasted it, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.
The night deepened, and Dominica approached Ralph with a serious expression.
"Ralph, the situation in Horun has been resolved. As per our agreement, you and your siblings will come with me to Fiora to start anew.
"You'll each have a place to live, along with a stable job and a sum of money to get started. When your siblings are older, they can choose to attend school or train in a dojo. It's a far better life than what you've endured here."
Ralph nodded solemnly. "Understood."
He turned to Lilith, Haji, and Hassan.
"Lilith, Haji, Hassan, I have good news. I've found a job—a good one that will make sure we never have to starve or freeze again. But it means we need to leave Horun City."
Haji shrugged. "Then let's go. This place isn't our home, and there's nothing holding us here. A job like that is rare—we shouldn't waste the chance."
Hassan agreed. "Haji's right, brother."
Lilith glanced between Ralph and Kaizen. "Are we working for big brother?"
Ralph hesitated. "In a way."
"Then it's fine. They are good people."
That evening, they packed their few belongings and left the slums behind. Outside, a van waited. Dominica took the driver's seat, with Wendy in the passenger seat. The others climbed into the back.
As the engine roared to life, Haji and Hassan chattered excitedly, Lilith looked back at the slums with a trace of sadness, and Ralph gripped the seat tightly, bracing for the unknown future.
Kaizen remained quiet, watching the city fade into the distance.
