Phantom Troupe's Web

Chapter 20.

The plane ride to the Dentora region, where Kukuroo Mountain and the Zoldyck family estate were located, went smoothly; giving Illuki the perfect opportunity to rest before her visit home. Striding off the aircraft, the dichromatic-haired woman takes a deep breath of fresh air, smiling to herself as she wanders the town. She hadn't exactly felt like going directing to her house after landing and thus choose to take a detour to a small cafe she found. Waltzing into the establishment, the former assassin orders herself a cup of tea and settled at a table by a large window, a perfect spot to see Kukuroo Mountain.

"This is nice," she sighed, sipping the tea as she gazed out the cafe window and at the mountain. Before being served her tea, she had been messaging her boss about the troupe's upcoming group mission, discussing the details and the role each member would play to accurately execute the mission. "Let's see how useful a hunter license really is," she muttered, fiddling with the card before placing it back into her pocket.

Illuki stood from her seat and walked out of the establishment, glowering at any of the workers that attempted to prevent her from leaving, her cold aura freezing them and bypassers that glanced her way. Rose-tinted lips curl into a smirk at the feeling, her figure strutting in the direction of Kukuroo Mountain.

The sun had set by the time the female arrives at the gates of her family estate, the heels of her boots clicking against the stone pavement as she makes her way up the final stairwell. She stops at the landing of the final step, noticing familiar figures attempting to push the gates open; it was Gon, Kurapika, Leorio and one of her family's loyal butlers Zebro. Curious she sneakily wanders over to them, her hands linking habitually behind her as she watched Zebro struggle to open the first set of gates.

"As you saw, the doors close automatically, so you'll want to run in the second it opens," the old butler disclosed to the trio, sweat dripping from his face. "You don't need to worry about Mike. He has orders to not attack any who enter through the Testing Gates," he offers a fatherly smile, wiping away the sweat from his face with a towel. "Still...This is getting tougher as I age. But they'll fire me if I can't open the gate, so I need to keep in shape," Zebro slightly pants.

"Which is why I suggested retirement," at the sound of her voice the trio of boys jolt back, swiftly turning to face the person with wide eyes. "But you chose to ignore me," Illuki finished, nodding to herself with closed eyes and an arm crossed under her chest, her chin held in between her thumb and pointer finger.

"I-iris-san!" Gon, Kurapika and Leorio cried out in surprise, eyeing her new appearance. Her attire consisted of a strapless black dress with gold detailing and matching flowy sleeves, a black and gold detailed chocker and a pair of heeled boots to complete the look. Her once short magenta hair had grown twice its length and lost its colour, becoming black and white that split down the middle of her head. When the woman glanced at them with one eye, they noticed the colour of her eyes was now a pretty blue instead of emerald.

[ a/n: her outfit :) ]

"Welcome home, Lady Illuki. Shall I inform your mother of your return?" Zebro warmly smiles at his employer, courteously standing in front of her with his hands behind his back as most butlers did.

Illuki shudders, groaning at the mere thought of her mother knowing about her visit. "That is the last thing I want during my visit. Anyways, each of gate 1's doors weighs 2 tons. They double as you go up the gates," she turns her attention to her brother's new friends, giving a warm smile and giggling at Leorio's petrified face.

"Incidentally, when young master Killua returned, he opened gates 1 through 3," Zebro piped in the extra information with a smile. Beside him, the eldest Zoldyck hums with approval, mentally praising her little brother and his strength.

"Gate 3? That's 12 tons..," Gon visibly sweats at the thought.

"16 tons, Gon," Kurapika corrected with crossed arms.

"Do you understand now? This is what's required just to get in the door. They live in a completely different world," Zebro expressed, looking up at the Testing Gates before hearing a loud annoyed groan from beside him. It had come from the only female there who facepalmed and deadpanned at the longtime butler.

"That's what Illumi said. Frankly, I don't think we're all that different," she commented, approaching the gates and glimpses back at Killua's small group of new friends. As much as she enjoyed witnessing their silly antics, she had grown tired from the long travel and wanted nothing more than to see her siblings and grandfather, as well as ensuring Killua was doing alright. "In your current state, you might as well give up. There's no way you'd be able to open the gate," she taunted with a smirk. She faces the gates, placing her hands on the 5th gates and pushing them open. "Good luck~," her voice rang out as she walked passed the heavy doors, her figure fading the further she wandered down the path, the gates swinging shut behind her.

'I wonder how long it'll take them' the woman thought, indulging in her thoughts as she walked the familiar dirt path that lead up to her family's mansion. She recalls old memories of her following the trail after every mission, covered in either dirt or someone's blood along with the lecture her mother would give her whenever she returned. As she reaches the estate, the front doors swung open for Illuki, as they usually did for the Zoldycks, welcoming the sight of a candlelit lobby.

"Welcome home, Lady Illuki," Gotoh greets with his head bowed, a hand held over his heart before standing to his full height and towering over his employer. The dichromatic-haired female said nothing to him, nodding her head slightly to acknowledge his presence.

'It's good to be back.'