Vastorie makes his move, Victor suffers the consequences.

The night was young, the bright moon illuminating the house grounds. With a spotlight moving along the grounds, guards circled the ground, moving along their assigned path. Given who they were protecting, they were paid well to keep the man alive.

Two of the guards stopped to make small talk, checking in with their route. It felt like it was going to be a long, tedious night. Small talk tended to make the night go quicker in their own opinion.

As the two talked, a dark figure dropped into the large garden, barely making a noise as he ducked into a nearby bush.

The two guards continued to talk, unaware of the trespasser.

One, of the guard's radio, beeped; the man picked it up after a deep sigh, "Yes?"

"You're paid to work, not gossip."

"We're not gossiping. We're doing our job… keeping each other updated about any suspicious activity. There has been none so far, from either side. Besides, someone would have to be really, stupid to attack a Senator in their home."

"That may be true, but it doesn't mean it won't happen. Continue making your rounds. Other guards will swap out with you two later, that will be in fifty-four minutes."

"Understood…" The man hung up, sighing once more "We'll talk later."

With a courteous nod, the two split up, once more moving along their designated route.

From out of the shadows, a head peaked from the bushes. Change is in fifty-four minutes. Perfect. He unrolled the blueprints of the land, fingers running over the layout of the walls. Eyeing every entry point, from his position he marked every spot a guard was posted, including those guiding the lights.

If he was going to do this correctly, he was going to need to take out the key, guard points, without raising any suspicion. To put it bluntly, it was easier said than done. Who was inside, was bound to make it impossible? Curling up the paper, he stuffed it into his back pocket before moving to the other side of the bush, checking to see how far the other guard had gotten.

They were just far enough from the other to perform a takedown of at least one of them, without arousing suspicion from the other walking away. If he was lucky, he could take the two of them down.

Then again, taking both down would be a waste of time, effort, and resources. Also, it was harder to hide two bodies, than it is one.

However, circumstances had perfectly set up his desired outcome. One of them was specifically moving just outside of the guiding light's path, meaning, he may hate having eyes on him. Especially given how the conversation went… at least from the intelligence he could gather from the conversation. Time to work…

Vastorie rolled from out of the bushes, barely making a noise as he rushed the figure. The person didn't know what hit them. He brought his hand down, smacking the guard across the back of the neck, knocking them out instantly.

However, Vastorie made sure to hold back so didn't outright kill them.

The man caught the guard as he slumped forward, making sure to grab the earpiece. He slid it into his ear, now smiling from the information he was about to gather from unsuspecting people. Vastorie could hear the others talk through brief messages, mostly checking in at individual locations.

He moved the body behind a tree before tying them up. Sorry, but you made my job easier… His eyes darted to the nearby wall, waiting for the light to cross his path. He darted across the grounds, barely the sound of crunching grass registering in the wind.

He pressed up against the wall, peeking around the corner. Two guards… not good… the others will register that as a problem if there's nobody posted there. Plus, getting through that door without them registering my presence will be an issue.

Gyo flowed through his eyes, taking note of the flow of aura. Nen users… weak ones at best. Even if I could get away with knocking them out cold, if someone strays from their route, it could become a problem.

Also, I need to remember there are only five notable Nen users I need to worry about, two of which are not on the grounds right now. The ones remaining are Zannig the Manipulator, Howard the Enhancer and Mikael the Conjurer. The Conjurer is the one I need to avoid the most… his Sightless Eye will become an issue if I'm seen by him…

Shifting his gaze once more, he thought about the possibility of where they'll be located.

Most likely near Senator Kevin Goldwin, but far enough to not bother him. From Vastorie's understanding, the Senator didn't like to be bothered, especially by his wife. It was a political marriage, one that he used for clout.

Pulling out his map, he marked three spots where he would most likely find the three men. He next eyed the corridors, carefully listening to the people checking in as he marked them down.

With a smile, he found his best route to the Senator, not because it was unguarded, because of where the guards were posted. Rolling up the blueprint once more, he moved towards a heavily guarded door. He flicked a rock in their direction, causing the two to react.

"Movement around the east entrance…" They pulled up their guns, moving ever so slightly in the direction. Vastorie darted from the corner, avoiding their gaze. He closed the door without a sound, waiting for the guards' remark to it being a false alarm.

The two guards eventually returned, "Must have been a squirrel."

A voice spoke over the headset, "Or an intruder…"

Vastorie grit his teeth. It was the voice of Mikael; he must have spooked the man.

"I want everyone to keep their eyes peeled just in case… Take no risks."

Another voice spoke, this time with a methodical tempo, "If there's someone in this building, I would've found them already. You may have the eye, but I'm the ears around here… I've felt no disturbances."

Vastorie smirked, your ears are disgustingly weak. I've felt your En ever since I stepped into this place. The only disturbance you'd feel is wind passing your ass cheeks. It's all a matter of perspective… Your perspective is the most basic form of En. Against my Zetsu, it looks like you don't realise I'm here…

"Even so, Zannig, I want people watching the doors…"

He drew down a mask, covering his face just in case he accidentally runs into Mikael. The last thing he needed, was to be recognised.

Vastorie continued to make his way through the corridor, moving constantly in the general direction of the Senator's office, where the man was most likely still working. He stopped, forcing himself up against the wall. Loud steps echoed through the hallway.

The man moved into the shadows, watching Howard pass by. Built like a brick house, it's almost impossible to take him down, at least without him making some noise in the process. The man waited until the steps were barely registered in his ears.

It's a good thing Howard was only great for one thing punching others. He barely registered his presence or looked in his direction. He was only focused on one thing, making sure if he ran into anyone, they were killed on sight.

The man once more moved forward…

Two figures were posted at the door.

With a smile, Vastorie crossed the hallway, smacking the man in the face. Before the other could call in what happened, the man smacked them in the side of the neck, dropping their body to the floor without a sound.

Zannig hadn't reacted. Maybe if he killed one of them, the man would've felt a disturbance. He would've cut down the amount of time he had to move.

He stood at the door, pressing a single finger against the wooden door handle.

Allowing the door to creak open loudly. The man from inside complained "Do not annoy me with petty updates. Or my wife demanding to see me…" He scribbled a few words down, only to hear no response. Instead, he heard the door lock.

When he looked up a tall figure with a demon mask stared down at him "Wh-"

By now, Zannig would've felt a disturbance. Right on point, the man reacted, "We have an intruder!"

Vastorie hushed the senator in his grip as the guards mobilised, heading towards his location. But, it was far too late. Eyes widened with a hand clasped around his mouth, constant shushing noises coming from behind him.

A hand moved from behind him, a single photo being placed on the table.

Eyes widened at the image, a tall figure in a crowd, white-hair with red fiery tip along the bottom talking to him.

"It's nothing personal…" Vastorie smiled wickedly behind the mask, nails sharpening, "It's only because of who you're connected with… You'll be their personal message." Fingers dug into Senator Kevin's neck, the man choking on blood and gasping for air. Vastorie wasted no time, ripping the head off.

Zannig responded to the change, "The Senator is DOWN, I repeat, Senator Kevin Goldwin."

"HOW?! You were supposed to know when someone entered this building!" Mikael yelled loudly from the change of situation.

"But I-"

"You know what. YOU'RE FIRED! Everyone, convey at the senator's office. I WANT THIS INTRUDER DEAD!"

Vastorie grabbed the earpiece, flicking it onto the Senator's desk.

Blood dripped from the now severed head, the man looking at the final expression of the man. Sorry, but I have places to be… So, I'll, unfortunately, be unable to give you a proper send-off. Loud banging came from the other side of the door, Vastorie snapping his head in the direction. Shit… Time to go.

A single hand opened the side door that led to the alcove that overlooked the garden. He stopped at the escape route when the door was kicked in, sent flying into the other side of the room.

Loud steps entered the room.

Vastorie turned his frame, still holding the head of the Senator in his ever-tightening grip.

"Who the fuck are you…?"

The man's eyes met Mikael's, choosing to remain silent on the matter. He won't give that man any indicators on who he was.

"Fuck it! Howard, kill him…"

Heavy steps moved towards the mysterious masked man, knuckles cracking as he moved closer. At the last second, he charged the masked figure, fist poised to strike the man's face.

Vastorie nimbly avoided the strike, aura flowing into his fist. He threw a punch, hitting Howard directly in the gut. The first wave of aura tested the man's physical prowess, ricocheting through their body.

Digging his fist deeper, he forced another burst of aura, flooding his insides. The shock wave knocked the man back, but not over like he intended.

Howard charged the man once more.

Vastorie tossed the head into the air, aura charging into his fist once more.

Howard intending to swing his fist into the masked figure's gut, aiming to close line the individual.

Vastorie ducked backwards, eyes widening when he saw Howard's hand switching targets. The idiot was reaching to grab the Senator's head. Vastorie moved back, fist slamming into the musclier man's arm, knocking it away.

Bringing his foot up, he tripled his aura flow. He didn't wait for a reaction, kicking the figure hard enough to knock them into the door frame. He had effectively blocked Mikael from sending anyone else in, not unless Howard got up.

Grabbing the head mid fall, he waved it a Mikael, still smiling sinisterly.

"Damn it… HOWARD MOVE!"

Vastorie stepped backwards onto the alcove. Stepping up onto the balcony, he disappeared into the night, listening to the sound of Mikael screaming curses at him.

It's time to give father his present… He wants to attack my friends without expecting me to find out or retaliate, it's time I give him a reality check…

He felt bad for the poor wife possibly witnessing seeing her husband's headless body lying limply in the chair. But with all things to be considered, she'll be happy to be a widow. He had heard many rumours, most of them being about the Senator being unfaithful. But there was another rumour, that the Senator was linked to Hinrick.

A rumour he could prove with Hinrick's little Blackbox, or rather the USB containing that information. However, the Senator had nothing to do with the child trafficking ring. At least, not directly.

He is just a stereotypical corrupt politician, paid off by the man to help keep his underground business under the radar.

"~"

Victor moved comfortably in his room, flicking on the television for some background noise.

At three o'clock in the morning, Senator Kevin Goldwin was found dead in his office, along with two seriously hurt guards. No evidence was found at the crime scene linked to the killer. Police are looking for any information or possible suspects linked to the Senator.

Victor moved back into the room, finding an image of the Senator. He frowned at the image being presented before him. Hmm… a possible target, with several linked enemies. I'll have to investigate who drove a stake into my operation… His eyes widened, when he was forced to look at the door, the doorbell unceasingly ringing. The man stopped dead in his tracks "Who is it…?"

"Delivery, for a mister… Victor Tempest."

The man moved to the door, finding someone looking down. They were holding up a box with a phone on top.

They nudged the box forward, eyes now looking up.

Victor was met with pure white eyes looking directly at him; they barely registered his presence. Whoever set this up, knew about his ability, including its weaknesses. They had to be the same ones who took out Senator Kevin.

He was being dared right now to make a mistake, a mistake he couldn't quite comprehend, yet…

Victor took the box, giving the man a small thanks before closing the door behind him. He barely managed to take two steps into the room before the phone started buzzing.

Putting the box down he picked up the phone, able to visualise the smile in the voice.

"Hello, father… like my presents?"

"No…" The man crossed an arm along his chest, "I do not like you infringing in my operations. I taught you better than that…"

"Good. This exchange is a two-way street. Let this be a lesson for you… hopefully, a harsh one at that." There was a loud huff that followed, a moment of silence lingers before Vastorie spoke once more "So, what about what's in the box?"

"I haven't opened it…"

"You should…" Vastorie spoke with an enticing intensity, "I purposely got it for you."

The man removed the tape, opening the box. In the box laid the head of the Senator, looking both terrified and shocked. The man's eyes gazed back to the phone, "He is just one man in my list of-"

"Kelly Cassidy… Sam Teschet… Christopher Mithais…" His father fell silent at the names being mentioned, "Just to name a few. I've been researching, double-checking for any possible contact with not only them… others, as well. You attack my friends… my allies… my…" The man's eyes narrowed, "My family… I'll bring you down one way or another. Let this be a warning… DO NOT… FUCKEN… TEMPT ME."

The phone hung up without giving him a second to argue. The man's fist shook with fury, the painful reminder of him being watched from afar lingering in the shadows. His fist tightened out of annoyance, drawing blood. However, upon loosening his grip, the wound had closed.

He needed to think of a better way to deal with those young boys; Daniel will have to wait. Looking towards the horizon, he thought about his problem out loud "I need to find a way to end this ability."

Closing the box, he grabbed his stuff before leaving through the window, dropping down into an alleyway. Covering his face, he stepped into the shadows moving further away from the crowd.

The Senator's head will be eventually found, but even with his handprints all over the evidence, he could erase it via his contacts, the very ones his son threatened to end. Until he deals with that side of things, he'll only be able to watch the kids move from afar, carefully tracking them without arousing his son's suspicion.

I'll need someone to remove this Nen ability before I make any more attempts. The fact he's showing signs of caring for an unnatural family means he's in far too deep, to realise… he's making a mistake.

I groomed my child into a skilled, dangerous weapon… not someone who should care about things… about people.

"~"

Nathaniel uncrossed his arms from the news, instead opting to cover his face. What are you doing…? He thought to himself, his frame now shaking not only from frustration, but the fact his husband has now sunken back into his old habits.

He used to be rational; he used to think about the consequences of his actions…

There was a time he broke down whenever he killed someone. Was that all a lie? Had he skilfully hidden every notable change in his life; obscured his view of kindness, with an intent to regress into his monstrous tendencies later in life?

No, he must have compartmentalized his reasoning, for his actions…

His husband must be making his move this way because he feels it's the only way to protect his child… his family.

Zaikaria walked into the room, crossing her arms after seeing one of her fathers, standing there, watching the news repeating about what happened to the Senator recently, "You think it's dad, that did that…?"

"Not think, know… it's mainly why they refuse to tell us what happened with the senator. Knowing your father, either beheading or mutilation…"

"I feel he's doing the right thing. I've read that journal…" The young woman's features grew darker, "They all need to die."

Nathaniel shifted his figure, eyes narrowing on his daughter, "Evil does not justify evil actions. I taught you better…"

"Yeah well, killing a serial killer is better than letting them live. Not everyone can change."

"Yeah, well… could you honestly say the same about Vastorie?"

"He's not a serial killer. He's a serial ender…"

The man crossed his arms, "He was a serial killer… long before I met him. He and Killua aren't so different. When you say everyone, I know you're talking about Killua. Your brother loves him…"

"Well, he's making a mistake!"

"Is he though…?" Nathaniel paused, watching his daughter's eyes radiate anger. Even after so long, she still refuses to accept the fact Daniel loves Killua no matter his flaws, "They're still together right now, are they not? Daniel cares a great deal about that boy for a reason. You're just blind to that reason…"

The man shifted his posture, reaching out to clasp a hand on Zaikaria's shoulder "Give him the benefit of the doubt, and stop giving leeway to Vastorie. HE is making a mistake."

"He isn't…" Zaikaria showed a hint of fragility. She couldn't be wrong about this; she had been a witness during that night. Even when the boy showed up during the Hunter's Exam, he oozed a tinge of bloodlust, the instinct of a killer.

He may have been good at hiding it, but he wasn't perfect. He wasn't like Hisoka or Illumi, who knew how to keep that need to kill under check. Well, Illumi is more than Hisoka… if she was going to be fair.

But that doesn't change the fact what she witnessed when Daniel ran away from the cabin. Killua was there, comforting her little brother. Even now, a part of her can't believe what she witnessed.

If she's going to change her opinion, she still needed something from that boy.

People can lie…

Eyes can be deceived…

But memories… falsifying those are harder to do when you're able to watch them like a movie reel. Killua can't lie about the truth if she's able to see and feel, what Killua felt during that time.

Vastorie didn't just suddenly change over the reveal of his father still being alive. He must have had a clue, or something eating in the back of his mind, that made the switch so easy to flick. It had to be built up from something, with that sudden reveal being the thing that broke the camel's back.

Nathaniel continued to argue against his daughter's way of thinking "If that man wasn't so blind with his anger, he'll have seen a better way to deal with the situation. He normally figures out how to deal with his current predicament in a better manner. Lately… I've noticed there are times where he relapses in his way of thinking. He believes killing is the only way to solve his plight. But the fact is… there is a better way… a way I WISH, I could tell him how to go about it…"

"What do you mean…?" Zaikaria touched her father's hand, "What do you wish you could tell him?"

"A restriction was placed on me… I can't reveal it, but it's here… locked in my mind."

"I could pull it out-"

"Too risky." The man pulled his daughter's hand away from his, "I don't know what the consequences would be if you try to pry it from my memories. I don't want you to lose yours, even if I believe you knowing it, may be able to help us deal with the problem."

Nathaniel stood straight, smiling at his daughter, "Even if you learned what I knew, it doesn't change the fact he, your father, hasn't learned the truth… He hasn't seen the situation for what it is… shades of grey, not black and white."

Zaikaria took a step away "Even if Victor was a shade of grey, or I've learned what you apparently, know. It doesn't change the fact that he's not only hunting down Daniel but he has also come, after us. Killing him is the only option if we're going to survive this…"

Nathaniel frowned at the argument, "You still have much to learn… but for the sake of things, let's start with the more pressing situation. NOT Victor… but rather Killua… Giving him a chance is not only what I want… But Daniel as well…"

"Until, not only does he remember about that time, but I also get to see those unfiltered memories of that time… I won't give him the benefit of the doubt."

"Then you're only going to continue hurting your little brother. Change your way of thinking… or you're going to end up regretting having this mindset."

"I can't just trust Killua because Daniel loves him, or Killua loves Daniel. You didn't see what I saw…"

"You're right… I haven't. But I saw the aftermath, ALSO, Vastorie told me not to judge Killua. If he was here now, he'd tell you the same. TRUST Daniel… Trust Killua… and especially…" The man held his daughter close, "trust me…"

Zaikaria trembled under her father's grip, the kindness… the love… "I do trust you. Just not with this… I need unfiltered memories. I need to learn the truth for myself."

Pouting from her lack of change in mindset, he sighed, "I hope for your sake… By the time you see those memories, Daniel doesn't hate you for the rest of his life."

"He won't… Sooner or later, he's going to realise they weren't meant for each other." He's not built for Killua's world. Nor is Killua capable of slipping into our world. He's been stuck in that dark world for so long, not even Daniel can pull him out, without having to sink into Zoldyck's Estate. He is destined to be the heir, whether they like it or not…

"~"

Cheadle's fist tightened, before slamming against the desk. She was royally pissed "Vastorie, you, selfish prick…"