Killua didn't know his sister's current condition. Ever since his father had rushed home to deal with his sister's affairs after receiving a call, Killua hadn't seen her.
It was impossible not to care, but there was also a strange sense of familiarity, an inkling that this isolation felt familiar, as if something similar had happened long ago.
What was it? His subconscious warned him not to think too deeply or investigate. It was like an animal's instinctual fear of danger, incredibly difficult to resist, so he stopped thinking.
His family only said that his sister's condition fluctuated, and she needed minimal external stimulation, requiring prolonged isolation and observation.
Looking at the two empty seats between his two older brothers across the dining table, Killua thought with a touch of relief that at least this abrupt absence proved his sister's existence. Otherwise, it would truly feel like she had completely vanished, a sensation that made him uncomfortable.
He couldn't discern much from the other family members, but the easiest to notice was his mother's state. His mother's nagging towards him had decreased, and she seemed preoccupied with other matters.
It must still be related to his sister's situation, Killua could only guess, as he received no direct answers.
Kikyo only tasted the food before her, still regretting her earlier outburst.
She had once been such a proud woman, confident in every decision, never regretting them. But a series of setbacks, failures without a clear cause, and a reality increasingly deviating from expectations had, time and again, battered her confidence, cracking even the strongest spirit.
The Nen user who could create illusions had indeed changed Millus's state, but the outcome was not optimistic. Millus had become a stranger to everyone, indifferent even to her pets, prone to periods of restlessness or prolonged daze.
No one knew what she was thinking. Her gaze never settled on anyone. Sometimes she looked at the floor, sometimes at the ceiling, sometimes at the walls, sometimes at her own toes. At times she complied with bathing, at others she attempted to attack, so her restraints could not be easily removed.
The restraints, besides being made of special materials, had patterns drawn with "Nen" on the inner side of the straps. These were a part of the special script successfully deciphered from ancient ruins, known as "divine script" or "Nen incantations."
Among them were characters that could amplify "Nen," and conversely, there were characters that suppressed "Nen." However, far fewer people knew the latter than the former; the Zoldycks were among that scarce few.
As long as the key straps of the restraints were fastened around Millus, she could not actively use her "Nen."
The straps of the restraints did not bind her knees and below. If Millus wished, she could walk within her room. Sometimes she simply paced, sometimes she shuffled under the bed, and sometimes she would suddenly bang her head against the wall – constant twenty-four-hour supervision was necessary.
Likely due to her limited activity, she ate little, often refusing food for days consecutively. She had lost weight, and to prevent the straps from loosening, they had to be tightened a notch. The most noticeable change was that her hair had lost its luster. Her once lustrous silver-white hair now resembled the faded white hair of an elderly person.
Watching the flower she had meticulously cultivated and painstakingly cared for slowly wither before her eyes felt as if a hole had been ripped into Kikyo's heart, bleeding and piercing her continuously, leaving her unable to sleep.
Today, overwhelmed by emotion, facing Millus who had refused food for three days, she unhinged Millus's jaw, scooped up "egg custard, which Millus had loved since childhood," and forcibly fed it down Millus's throat.
Millus struggled violently. During the struggle, the spoon cut her throat, and she coughed up the egg custard she had just been fed, mixed with streaks of blood.
Dropping the spoon, Kikyo embraced her with utmost apology, saying sorry, again and again.
She would never forget the look in Millus's eyes afterward.
It was undeniable hatred.
Kikyo felt as if half her heart had been gouged out.
Each to their own specialty. Silva made a decision; he had re-hired the doctor and then left for work.
Everything has two sides. Kikyo couldn't help but resent her husband in her heart, resenting his cold-bloodedness and indifference, qualities that, at other times, she found intoxicatingly cruel and composed.
…How ironic.
She loved Millus dearly, yet at this moment, a flicker of murderous intent arose. It was also a strong emotion, so perhaps it was also a part of her love, both agonizing and thrilling.
After attending to Millus, Kikyo went to the guest room where the doctor was staying. Four days had passed, and the doctor's so-called "observation and research" had yet to yield any conclusions, leaving Kikyo somewhat dissatisfied.
She was burning with impatience, while others remained unhurried. She found it difficult to remain calm.
She couldn't blame her family for this situation, so she could only direct her doubts towards the doctor.
Kikyo remembered the first time she met the doctor; Millus was just over a year old. Over a decade had passed, Millus had grown into an adult, and the doctor had long since married and had a ten-year-old daughter and a six-year-old son.
Yes, time truly flew by.
The Zoldyck family was an ancient and relatively closed one. The information provided to external doctors was limited, and there was no opportunity for private consultations with the patient. Moreover, the patient's condition was complex, making it difficult to make hasty judgments. Thus, the doctor's caution was not unfounded.
However, in the doctor's eyes, more troublesome than dealing with peculiar patients was managing the uniformly high expectations of their families. Families often did not know, or were unwilling to believe, that mental illnesses were incurable, and could only be managed by controlling symptoms.
The family's mention of violence towards the patient added to the doctor's headaches.
The source of this patient's illness was partly derived from her family, which was the most challenging situation.
"Madam, to be frank, due to my profession, I've seen many families who are heartbroken, despairing, or even weary of everything and want to give up. You are already quite proactive and strong," the doctor said reassuringly. "Your daughter's condition has been ongoing for a long time. I know you must have expended endless patience and love in this. This is truly rare and precious. She has merely lost her correct perception of the outside world temporarily. I believe that when she recovers, she will be able to feel your profound love for her again."
Kikyo knew the doctor's words contained an element of comfort, but at least it made her feel slightly better, which was better than nothing.
Not forgetting the purpose of her visit, she routinely inquired about the doctor's progress. The doctor stated that as agreed, he would report to them after Mr. Silva finished his work and returned.
Kikyo knew the doctor was adept at lying, but his lies were mostly for social niceties, and as long as he didn't lie about crucial matters, it was enough. Moreover, the doctor had, intentionally or unintentionally, hit upon her own thoughts, demonstrating some genuine skill.
Indeed, she had decided that if normal methods failed to restore Millus to normalcy, she would have Illumi use his Nen needles.
It would be a rather crude method, as Illumi's Nen needles could only impart simple suggestions or exert complete control, with no middle ground. The former would have minimal effect on the frenzied Millus, while the latter would be effective but would almost completely strip her of her individuality.
It was a last resort, only to be used when all other options were exhausted.
She had already lost one child (Alluka), she couldn't afford to lose another. She had to, she absolutely had to…
Thinking of this, Kikyo felt her hands tremble. She stopped walking, crossed her hands over her abdomen, and whispered, "...Millu."
Having Millus "reborn" wouldn't be bad either. This time, she would definitely learn from her mistakes and never repeat them.
It was fine, she could definitely do it.
She could once again have Millu rest affectionately on her lap, stroking Millu's beautiful hair.
She could once again have Millu nestle obediently in her arms, embracing Millu's warm body.
She could once again have Millu rest obediently in her palm, gently stroking Millu's fluffy crown.
And she could also… have Millu answer the question "Do you like Mom or Dad more?" by saying she liked Mom more.
Lost in her thoughts, Kikyo's heart began to race.
No matter how things developed, she would not lose her Millu.
An unspeakable excitement made her clench her fists, release them, and clench them again. After a long while, she finally calmed down.
Yes, she possessed the rare and precious endless patience and love. When Millus recovered, she would be able to feel that profound love once more.
No need to rush, no need to be anxious.
Kikyo regained her composure. She didn't know that Silva's mood had also been uneasy. This particular job wasn't one he absolutely had to take; he chose to go out to work to change his environment and relax.
Who among them hadn't been a free-spirited youth once? When Silva succumbed to reality and chose to inherit the family business, his father Zeno's look of relief gave him the illusion of being deceived.
As the head of the family, one had to consider the family first in all matters. The most troublesome part was sorting out the various external connections and entanglements with the family. It wasn't enough for the Zoldycks to brazenly and conspicuously open their lair to the world, turning it into a famous tourist attraction, solely through their immense strength. Besides being a crucial part of the economy of the Republic of Padocia, supported by taxes, other diplomatic means were also necessary. However, the essence remained unchanged; it was all about quid pro quo.
Unexpectedly, the most troublesome aspect turned out to be family matters, which tested both interests and emotions.
Silva had to admit that he had been biased in Millus's case in the past, primarily being too optimistic.
Recalling the past was enough. The key was to focus on the present and face the worst possible outcome, such as… No, before that, Kikyo would likely intervene. Based on his understanding of her, Silva could probably guess her approach.
If it came to that, perhaps it would be an option.
He realized he wasn't truly prepared, because he had been hurt.
Yes, no normal parents would want to lose their child.
Even if it meant using somewhat unusual methods.
This time, he was truly prepared.
The analysis report from the doctor was indeed not optimistic. The doctor then requested to examine the patient for further diagnosis. Silva granted the doctor's request, and the other attendees raised no objections—there truly was no better course of action at the moment.
"Illumi." As the meeting concluded, Silva singled out his eldest son by name. "Stay behind."
Kikyo, the last to leave, closed the door. As the residual warmth in the room dissipated and the air became so quiet that hardly any breathing could be heard,
Father and son, both assassins, equally silent.
"Is there something you wish to ask me, Father?" Illumi spoke first, his cool voice blending perfectly with the surrounding atmosphere.
"Do you know what I want to ask you?" Silva's voice was deep and resonant, as if imbued with weight, slowly descending, sinking into the carpet beneath their feet.
"No, that's why I'm asking," Illumi replied immediately. "It must be something important. And something inconvenient to state directly."
His swift and accurate judgment was indeed worthy of the son he had personally cultivated. Solely as a professional assassin, he was more than sufficiently excellent and would not disgrace the Zoldyck name.
Which was precisely why he felt regret.
"Before deciding on Millus's treatment plan, there is one matter I need to confirm with you," Silva said.
"Oh." Illumi recalled Kikyo asking him about his Nen needles. "Is it about Nen needles?"
"It's about Millus."
"Eh?" Illumi realized that he and Silva were not thinking about the same thing.
It was about Millus, but unrelated to Nen needles.
What could it be?
Without giving him time to ponder, Silva continued, "Illumi, what was the last thing you did to Millus."