THE ZOLDICK FAMILY 1

A massive close-up of Gon's face fills most of the page, his eyes wide and mouth slightly open as he stares forward with an intense expression. Behind him and much smaller in scale, Killua walks away from the viewer, carrying a suitcase in one hand and a bag in the other. The background shows a cracked wall and a simple floor line. At the bottom of the page the chapter title is displayed in bold letters.

At the massive stone entrance of the Zoldyck mansion, Gon stands with Killua and Leorio facing the heavy intruder door. A tall butler in a white coat blocks their path. Gon declares, "LEND ME THE KEY," and adds, "I'M GONNA ENTER THROUGH THE INTRUDERS DOOR." Leorio warns against it, saying one of the guard dogs is already bigger than Gon. Gon refuses to use the normal door, insisting on testing his friends. The old butler in a suit rubs his head and replies that madness awaits anyone forcing their way through, and they will surely get killed. Gon remains determined, refusing to back down.

Gon gestures confidently, suggesting they try opening the first door since they have time. Killua agrees. Leorio calls out "GON!" as the group approaches the gate. The bandaged-head butler Zebulo turns away, saying the boy is now deaf to them and useless. Inside, the old butler tells the group he cannot easily satisfy Killua's friends' appetite for the key. He apologizes and refuses to hand it over. On the phone, Zebulo confirms there are three friends of Killua and addresses the caller as "Zebulo, uh..." while the old butler stands firm.

An elderly Zoldyck intendant speaks into the phone with a weary expression. "I suspected it. They refused." "No..." A second panel shows him continuing the call. "No, I called Zoldyck's intendants." "You called the residence?" Nearby, a hooded figure bows repeatedly while clutching the receiver. "Yes, yes. I understand, yes, forgive me. Yes, I'm sorry! Yes!" "Thank you, good bye." A wide panel reveals a dark treeline silhouette. "It's rare to speak to the family." "All the calls to the residence have to pass through intendants." The phone rings loudly on a desk. "Toooot toooot." Gon answers the call with a serious face. "Yes, hello..." The intendant's voice replies on the line. "Zoldyck's intendant speaking." A suited man stands beside the intendant, who notes, "It won't give you a good impression..." "It doesn't bother me, but..." The suited man asks, "Would you mind calling again? This time, I'll talk." "Ok."

Gon speaks into the phone with a determined expression. "My name is Gon, I'm a friend of Killua's." "Is he here?" A large close-up shows a furious Zoldyck butler with wild hair and an open mouth. "That's enough!! Let Killua get out of here!!" "Who are you to know that kind of thing?!" The same butler continues shouting. "Killua-san has no friends." The phone emits sharp sounds. "Toooot toooot." Gon recoils from the receiver in shock. Several small panels show the butlers reacting with surprise and question marks. One butler states flatly, "Zoldyck's intendants speaking."

A bearded butler wearing a headset questions the caller. "HOW CAN YOU PROVE THAT IT'S REALLY YOU?" he demands. Another suited butler with glasses replies, "EVEN SUPPOSING KILLUA HAS A FRIEND NAMED GON... YOU SAID YOU'RE GON, DIDN'T YOU?" "YES," comes the answer. Gon, spiky-haired and intense, leans forward and insists, "IF YOU MEAN HE'LL RECOGNIZE YOUR VOICE, THAT WON'T WORK. MAKE KILLUA COME, AND HE'LL TELL YOU!!" A massive close-up captures Gon's wide-eyed determination as the same line echoes: "MAKE KILLUA COME, AND HE'LL TELL YOU!!" In the lower panels the butlers discuss countermeasures outside the grand Zoldyck mansion. One notes, "BUT, FOR THAT TOO, EVEN IF THE WAYS TO TAKE THE APPEARANCE OF SOMEONE ARE LIMITED..." while another adds, "THERE ARE NUMEROUS WAYS TO COUNTERFEIT THE VOICE. THERE, IT WAS A SIMPLE MAGNETIC RECORDING, BUT..." They conclude that the next time the caller says "WHEN HE SEES ME, HE'LL RECOGNIZE ME" they will use the one called Gon to reach their goal, though they still refuse to let Killua-san go out.

A stern Zoldyck butler with a facial scar speaks into a telephone. "PROTECTING OUR MASTERS FROM USELESS EXTERIOR ATTACKS, THAT'S OUR JOB," he states. "THE ZOLDYCKS PRACTICE ASSASSINATION; CONSEQUENTLY, THE NUMBER OF THEIR ENEMIES NATURALLY INCREASES." Outside the estate, Gon sprints across the grounds shouting "EH! GON!" while small "TAP TAP" and "PFF" effects mark his hurried steps. The butler on the line says, "I'M SORRY. MAYBE HE'LL CALL YOU BACK LATER." Suddenly Gon swings a long cord or whip with a loud "SLAT" and "VUM" as the suited butler yells "CALM DOWN, GON!!" Another panel shows the butler ordering "GO." In the final panel the same butler remarks, "HE'S OUT OF HIS MIND," while Gon stares ahead with fierce resolve and a small figure watches nearby.

Gon leaps forward at high speed amid heavy motion lines and a large cross-shaped object in the foreground, the sound effect 'Fuuuuu' filling the panel. In the next scene a suited man shouts from behind, 'GON! I'M TELLING YOU TO STOP!!!' while two sharp 'CLAC CLAC' sounds ring out. Gon, gripping a long rod, turns and answers firmly: 'YOU REALLY THINK I'LL LET YOU DO THAT? NO, YOU TWO WAIT HERE. I'M GOING ALONE. YOU TWO, START BY KEEPING YOUR COOL.' He then begins climbing a tall structure alone, the rod still in hand.

The bald man in a suit sighs with boredom, thinking 'NOTHING TO DO.' and uttering 'AAH…' while onomatopoeia 'BLA BLA' repeats beside him. He notes Gon’s stubbornness, then offers a solution: he will compensate the intruders’ door and hands Gon a set of keys, saying 'GON, I’M GIVING YOU THE KEYS.' Gon reacts with surprise, exclaiming 'WHAT?' In the final panel the bald man explains that accompanying Gon gives a small chance Mike will remember him and spare their lives.

The bald old man smiles warmly and declares, 'If you die, I'll die too.' He continues, 'Whatever, if some friends of Killua-kun were about to get killed in front of me, I could never hope to see his face again.' Gon stands in a dark panel with a serious expression. Outside, Gon walks ahead pulling a long cord and says, 'No, that way, it doesn't work. I don't want to cause any problems for you.' A voice replies, 'I'm coming too. Staying here would be the same.' The cord suddenly snaps with a sharp 'SLAT' as Gon yanks it back. The bald old man grins broadly while Kurapika and Leorio watch from behind. Gon bows slightly, holding the cord, and says, 'I didn't think of you, sir. I understand, please forgive me.' A narration box reads: 'He gets mad fast, is confident in his friends, and has this kindness that calms his eagerness that could injure someone... He's a good kid.'

The bald old man continues speaking in a large panel: 'If they saw Mike, they probably would not be afraid. They believe in their own strength, and three people like them with such confidence may be able to reach something.' Gon, Kurapika, and Leorio stand together. Gon asks, 'Yep, how did you know?' The old man replies, 'You spent all your time playing in the countryside, didn't you?' Kurapika adds, 'There was no doubting it.' Gon reacts with surprise, 'Huh? Yes...' Leorio asks, 'Gon, you like animals, don't you?' The bald old man states, 'This time, I'll look at Mike's face. Gon, I'll reopen the door of verification once more.' The massive double doors of the gate swing open with a deep rumbling 'Goooo' and black impact marks, revealing a small hooded figure standing in the doorway.

Under a bright full moon, a rugged mountain rises above dense forest foliage. On a stone ledge stand several figures gazing toward the darkness. Leorio, holding a phone to his ear, shouts urgently into the receiver. "MIKE COME HERE!" he yells, his face tense. "It's not necessary to call him for him to come, but..." A voice replies, "No, by the door of verification, there's no danger." Another adds, "Uh... don't we risk anything if we enter too...?" Suddenly, deep howls echo through the night: "WOUF WOUF". The sound grows louder. Gon's eyes widen in shock as he stares forward, while Killua stands beside him. Massive impact lines and motion effects fill the lower panels as something enormous approaches.

A colossal white-furred beast towers over the scene, its massive body filling the frame with shaggy fur, curved horns, and glowing eyes. The creature leans forward, jaws parted, one enormous paw raised near the ground. Directly beneath it stands Gon, gripping a fishing rod with both hands, staring upward at the monster. The beast's head alone dwarfs the boy. In the bottom panel, a close-up shows a single large eye with a dark pupil, reflecting tension and focus.

A massive wolf-like beast snarls and lunges forward with a loud Fuuuu sound effect, its fur bristling and claws extended. In the background, Gon stands holding a staff-like weapon while another figure watches nearby. Gon stares ahead with wide eyes and sweat drops flying from his face, looking tense and focused. The old man in a suit addresses him directly: "GON... DO YOU UNDERSTAND?" A close-up shows the beast's fierce face with a WOOF sound effect as Gon turns to look at it. The old man continues explaining, "THERE AREN'T ANY WILD ANIMALS LIKE THIS THAT YOU'VE MET IN THE COUNTRYSIDE. YOU SEE, IT'S A PERFECTLY TRAINED GUARD DOG." In a flashback panel, Gon approaches the creature from behind with his weapon raised. The old man concludes, "UNTIL I SAW HIS EYES, YES. YOU THOUGHT YOU COULD COMMUNICATE WITH IT, DIDN'T YOU?" while giving a thumbs-up gesture with a confident expression.

Extreme close-ups show the beast's intense eye and Gon's determined face. The old man explains the conditions: "IF THE CONDITIONS, EMITTED IN ORDER, ARE FULFILLED... HE'LL ATTACK EVEN SOMEONE LIKE ME WHO COMES TO SEE HIM EVERY DAY. IT'S LIKE A MACHINE. APART FROM THIS, HE HAS NO OTHER SENSATIONS." Gon stands facing the creature as the old man notes, "NOW, IT'S RECORDING THE SILHOUETTE AND THE SMELL OF A HUMAN HE'S SEEING FOR THE FIRST TIME." Gon sweats and says, "I DON'T WANT TO CONFRONT HIM AT ALL. NO WAY, IT'S TERRIFYING." The beast rears up with a Zzz Zzz sound effect. The old man asks, "YOU WANT TO FIGHT AGAINST IT?" Gon reacts with surprise, "HUH?" while a cloaked figure stands nearby. The old man observes, "WELL, THIS WAY, IF YOU WANT TO FOLLOW ME. WHAT A COOLNESS THIS KID HAS..."

Under the night sky, a wooden house sits on a forested hill. A voice announces it is time for rest. Another voice explains that their house is close by and invites the group to rest there for the night. At the entrance, Gon, Killua, and their companions stand before the building. Someone remarks that the house is not a palace but still offers hospitality. The mustached man notes that if Zebulo likes them, they must not be ordinary people and tells them to make themselves at home. The same man reacts with surprise at having guests, saying they are not frequent. Gon steps forward and places his hand on the heavy wooden door. The bald man in uniform explains that it is a door you have to push to enter and challenges Gon to try opening it. Gon pushes with effort, his eyes widening in shock at the resistance.

Gon is flung backward as the massive door swings open with a loud crash and grinding sound. The bald man reveals that each side of the door weighs 200 kg. He tells Gon to try entering again, explaining that one must be in shape to move it. Inside the house, the bald man offers tea, warning that the liquid in the cup weighs 20 kg. He notes that each slipper also weighs 20 kg and suggests they use them. The man observes that the three visitors came with tourist visas and will not stay more than a month. At the table, Gon, Killua, and the third companion sit while the bald man continues speaking. From behind, someone reacts with surprise as the bald man offers special training if they are tempted.

Leorio stands with his hands clasped behind his head while Gon and Killua watch him closely. A voice replies that accompanying them to the mountain is possible but questions whether that would truly satisfy them. The butler explains that attempting the gate together is not forbidden, so the three can try opening the first door as a group. Leorio turns to Gon and Killua, confirming they must pass this test. Gon looks determined while Killua admits he dislikes being tested against his will. The butler continues, noting that they will begin with fifty kilograms and gradually increase the weight as they grow accustomed to it, except while sleeping. Gon raises his fist and shouts that he accepts the challenge. Leorio gives a thumbs-up and declares he understands. The butler laughs heartily, telling them that in less than a month they will be opening the door alone and that they will become well-built from the effort.

Gon stands between the massive doors of the testing gate, arms outstretched and face strained as he forces them open. The heavy doors swing wide with loud creaking and impact sounds. The butler watches with closed eyes and remarks that Gon recovered in only ten days and is already jumping while wearing 50-kilogram clothes. Leorio cheers loudly, calling it incredible and praising Gon. The butler notes that with this progress they may be able to find the Zoldyck residence. Leorio, covered in sweat and breathing heavily, proudly declares that with this they can enter. Gon stands in the background raising his fist in triumph while the butler smiles confidently, certain of their success.