Illumi looks at the text, frowning. As nice as they were, and as good as he felt the past few days rereading them, he should probably delete them before anyone saw. And by anyone, he meant Milluki. Because if Milluki saw, then his mother would know, and if Kikyo knew…

Illumi shakes his head, trying not to go down that path. Things with Adella were already terribly fragile, he didn't need his own fears disrupting things further.

Still, Adella had been right. Not about the needle, he still felt his actions had been (mostly) right.

He needed to tell his family about them. Which was why he had finished his job rather quickly. Standing over the body of his target, Illumi closes his texts with Adella, making sure his father knows he is done. And that he was coming home.

The response is immediate; his father sends him instructions to clean up and make his way back to Kukuroo Mountain. Illumi is all too happy to do so.

By midnight, Illumi is on an airship headed to the Republic of Padokea. Though, while he was headed home, his mind was far away, headed towards Yorknew. What was Adella doing? Sleeping? She did have work tomorrow.

Closing his eyes, Illumi lets himself drift off, a light sleeper. If anyone tried to sneak up on him, he'd be awake before they entered his private apartment. But instead of the normal blackness that greets him, he watches himself as he was two years ago.

When he had first met her.

"The Zoldycks would never let us." Heyin tries to explain to his boss.

Netero shrugs, uncaring about what the assassins want. "We need that plant. You want that plant, don't you?"

"Well, yes." Heyin agrees. "But they will not listen. We have asked, offered compensation, multiple times. But," he turns from Netero to the young new hire, "Adella has an idea."

Netero chuckles. The woman was one he had hired nearly on the spot. She was young, this would be only her second job, but she came highly recommended. And her experience spoke for itself.

"Well?" Netero fixes his attention on her, smiling softly. He felt drawn to her, taking a rather fatherly role in her life. Even if she insisted it was a grandfatherly role.

Adella smiles, the same one she had given at her interview. It was one that seemed to set everyone at ease. "The Zoldycks haven't accepted your very generous offers of compensation for the use of the Kukuroo Death Trap plant because they are the Zoldycks. They don't need the money."

Netero leans back in his chair. He hadn't thought of that. How long had he known Zeno? Too long, if he was honest, yet he couldn't piece together what his new hire had in a few months? "What do you suggest then?"

Heyin interjects. "It's foolish. You should not agree to it. I only let her pitch the idea because…"

Netero clears his throat. Adella had deflated throughout her superior's disparagement, and Netero reminded himself that while Heyin got the job done, he didn't cultivate a good working environment. If Adella's idea worked, maybe a promotion was in order.

"Before we throw the idea away completely, I would like to hear it." He motions for her to continue, ignoring Heyin.

"Oh, uhm, it isn't the best idea, but…" Adella mumbles. "Well, if the Zoldycks don't need or want more money, why not give them something they do want?"

"And what would they want?"

Adella grins, confidence building again. "Something to help their business. They use poisons occasionally. Every batch of poison and antidote we make using Kukuroo Death Trap, we give them a portion. That can be negotiated, but at least it isn't money. Well, it is, but…"

Netero cuts her off, chuckling. "Interesting. We haven't tried anything like that before. I think it just may work." He rises, calling for Beans. "Since this was your idea, I am putting you in charge of correspondence, Adella."

She straightens in her seat, watching as Netero explains her idea to Beans. Once done, he motions for her to follow the little man, and she does so. "I won't let you down, sir!"

Netero chuckles, watching her leave, a spring in her step. "Keep an eye on that one. Something tells me she has quite the journey ahead of her."

Illumi followed the boxes of plants being wheeled inside the Association. A few months ago, his parents had received a proposal from the Hunter Association once again asking for access to their rare poisonous plant. The Kukuroo Death Trap could only be found on their mountain, and the Association wanted it.

The money they had offered hadn't tempted them at all, but the offer to donate some of the poison made using the plant was too good to pass up, it seemed. They may be very good assassins, but they were not scientists (to an extent).

Illumi had watch for months as the plants had been harvested and exported, wondering how the Hunter Association had finally found a compromise with his parents. Curious, he had decided to 'escort' this shipment, one of the last as the Association had begun growing their own private supply, to see how they were using their plant.

And maybe see who had figured out what would appeal to them.

The labs lining the wall to his left are abuzz with activity, but no one seems bus with the plant. Considering they are still in transit, he doubts any of them hold the person he's looking for.

"In here guys!" A voice rings out, pulling his attention forward. The man ushering them through looks slightly disgruntled, as if annoyed there are more boxes. Could this be him? If it was, he was not what Illumi had expected.

"Hi! Can I help you?"

This time the voice comes from behind him. Turning, Illumi is met with a woman, brown hair thrown up into a messy ponytail. Her lab glasses are slightly tilted on her face, a sign she has been busy. He's heard Hisoka, a new acquaintance, use the word 'cute' to describe someone before, and Illumi finally understands what he means. She's definitely 'cute,' in the way one might find a small kitten cute.

Straightening, Illumi stares down at her, trying to be the intimidating assassin he was raised to… She's blushing. Why was she blushing?

"My name is Illumi Zoldyck. I…"

Her eyes widen, smile stretching across her face. "Oh! Mr. Zoldyck! So good to meet you!" She extends a hand, one Illumi realizes he's supposed to take, but is hesitant to do so. "My name is Adella! Adella…"

He takes her hand, letting her ramble on. This is the woman who convinced his parents. This rather odd woman. An odd woman with an incredibly powerful aura. Illumi could feel it, even as he realized her nodes were not fully open, as if someone had nudged them open and some were still stuck. She was oozing power everywhere.

He lets himself tune her out just slightly, enough to let him think but so that he can still hear her. She was an interesting little thing; one he could use.

What he could do with her power under his control.

"Oh! I'm sorry; I've been rambling. I…"

He cuts her off. "I would like to take you to lunch to discuss the remaining business we have. And maybe get to understand you a bit more?"

She blushes, the desired effect. The easiest way to grow close to her would be to seduce her. Illumi had no qualms about initiating a relationship for a mission, and while this wasn't one he was being paid for, it was one that could be quite rewarding for his family if he was careful.

Besides, what was the worst that could happen?

And that, kids, is how I met your mother. -Illumi, probably

So yeah, our favorite Zoldyck started a relationship with Adella so he could use her. Pity he had to mess it up by falling in love.