Hello! Guys, I'm honestly SO happy to know you enjoyed the last chapter and are excited for the next ones! This is so rewarding!

I would like to thank LadyFluttershy, apple_seed, Dopplegengar, Vael, FourMoth, Harbucks and all the guests for leaving kudos, bookmarking and commenting here! I'm really grateful for all the support, means a lot to me!

Brace yourselves for chapters 12 and 13, btw

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See you,

—Cherry

"What do you mean I'm banned from any mission for six months?" Medea's eyes were as wide as a disco ball, her mouth slightly ajar as she looked at Kurapika through her phone's screen.

The street he was on was filled with warm-toned trees, their coppery and golden leaves falling as he walked, his own blonde hair seemed somewhat more vibrant than usual. A few strands framed his face, escaping his half up ponytail and making him look even paler. One of his black earphones hung free inside his coat so he would be able to stay attentive to his surroundings as they talked.

"It was the best I could do, Lasym's company and his partners kind of demanded it as a form of punishment."

"Punishment? For what? Being alive while he isn't?" She scowled.

"Not really."

"Then why?"

Kurapika sighed.

"They wanted you to be taken to jail until your innocence, or guilt according to them, was proven."

"For fuck's sake!" Medea growled. "I didn't kill him! I already said that a million times!"

"I believe you, and so does the Chairwoman. It was her who gave the final word in your favor, saying you had been as much of a victim as Evanor."

"Yeah, but I'm still being punished…"

"It was a way to please Greeks and Trojans. Everything will be over after the prosecution proves you're innocent."

"Prosecution?! Excuse me?"

"Oh, yes, they also insisted on a formal court hearing. Lasym Corp. and other enterprises who invest in the Hunter Association want to set an example for everyone. They want to show that the power remains in their hands and remind the Hunters that they can still be convicted of certain crimes. But don't worry, they won't win."

"How come are you sure?"

"Because I will be defending you and I assure you, Dhea, I won't let them arrest you for something you didn't do."

Except that I was also a part of it.

She sighed. There was no way to change her situation for now, the best thing she could do was suck it up and deal with it. "Alright. Thank you for trying to help me, by the way. I think I'd be in a way worse situation without you, really." She confessed as she took her milkshake's straw to her lips. "I owe you a million favors after this."

He chuckled, and shook his head. "Don't mention it, you saved me a lot of effort in Konneticot, it's a way to stay even." He turned to the screen, his once so serious gray eyes carrying a softness that made Medea smile. "Besides, even if we've known each other for a short time, I already consider you my friend. I couldn't let you handle it alone." He cleared his throat and looked back at the path ahead. "How's the trip going?"

"Everything's okay. I solved part of what I needed to, but now I'm in Padokea to finish the rest."

Kurapika frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I need to deliver something to someone, but I have to get that item here in Dentora." She explained.

"Dentora, hm? I was there once with Gon and Leorio." He grimaced. "Nice place, but what we went through to rescue Killua was tiring enough to make me want to never step foot there again."

She arched an eyebrow, going back to drinking her strawberry milkshake.. "Rescue Killua?"

"You don't know? Both Alluka and him are part of the Zoldyck family, the owners of the Kukuroo Mountain."

Medea choked immediately, coughing frantically.

"Dhea, what's wrong? Oh, damn! Take a deep breath and tilt your head back!" Gradually, she took her hand to her lips and coughed a few more times before calming down. "What was that?"

She gulped and laughed awkwardly. "It's nothing, don't worry." She attempted to evade the questions, and drank the content in the plastic cup again.

"You don't really expect me to pretend nothing happened, do you? Spit it out."

Medea liked Kurapika.

He had a golden heart and was great to be around, even though he was a little too suspicious sometimes and seemed to analyze her when they talked. The problem was that she only knew him for two months.

Could she trust him enough to talk about the Order?

It was true that he had kept her role as Night Lady and what had occurred in the Emerald Kaniv a secret, but there was a whole norm of not being able to talk about what was going on inside with non-members; doing so could risk her the loss of her caste privileges if someone found out.

If they found out.

But, truth be told, the thing bothering her, or rather shocking her the most, was hearing that her newest friends slash roommates were part of one of the most feared assassin families in the criminal underground. And she really was determined not to say anything... That is, until she saw those beautiful gray eyes staring at her curiously.

She pinched the bridge of her nose. Yeah, she really had a soft spot for handsome men.

And t wasn't like the Order really cared about that… Right?

It was just an exchange of information between friends, nothing too serious!

In fact, it was completely understandable when one saw that beautiful face and the way he smirked softly, waiting for the answer.

Fuck it.

"Kura, you have to swear you'll keep this secret." She said soberly and got more comfortable on the soft matress. "Pinky promise?" She raised her pinky as if she were in fact to seal the promise.

"It must be serious then... All right, Miss Lanfort, I pinky promise." He repeated the act and touched the screen with his finger, being imitated by her. "Now start talking."

She took a deep breath.

"Have you ever heard of the Order Of The Golden Moon?"

He shook his head. "I don't think so."

"It's a small religion of the Azian continent, I suppose that's why. Its commandments are mostly focused on obtaining knowledge. I'm part of it and my position is that of an Apprentice."

Kurapika nodded, showing that he was attentive while entering a bakery. "Oh, that's nice!"

"I know, right? Anyway, I was recently chosen to be promoted within the castes and become a Minor Priestess, which is a great honor in our community."

"Congratulations, Dhea!" He said, but something in his voice sounded different. Maybe it was the fact that he was surrounded by people; he probably wanted to be discreet like he usually was. She didn't care much.

"Thank you, it's very important to me!" The blond took a pack of buns and some brownies and took them to the cashier. "This leads to the reason I came to Dentora. I received the guidance of the High Priestess, our leader, and she gave me a task to fulfill. The goddess herself chose me to search for the Scroll of Tchingsen."

He finished paying, took the bag and walked back through the streets that were now darker due to the time.

"And where is it?"

"At the Zoldyck family's collection."

Kurapika stopped abruptly in the middle of the pedestrian lane, looking at her in shock. His mouth was parted, as if he meant to say something but it had gotten lost in the way between his brain and his lips. A car honked loudly and he apologized briefly before he walked across the street, where he frowned at her.

"Are you crazy?!" His face reddened and she stifled a giggle. "What's wrong with you?!"

"Mostly abandonment and mommy issues, but that's not the point." Responded the woman.

"Medea, you can't break into the Zoldyck Mansion, steal what you want from there and hope nothing goes wrong!" He ran his hand through his face exasperatedly. "I was in there! Those people aren't normal!"

"I trust my abilities, Kurapika."

"Do you think this is a joke? Ask Killua or Alluka what happened to them in the time they spent with their family, if you're so sure of yourself! Gon, Leorio and I could have died in there, you know?"

"But you're all thriving right now." She argued. "Seriously, I know how to take care of myself, I've been a Hunter for longer than you and I'm not dead yet."

He huffed and waved his hand as if he didn't care. "Okay. Fine. If you die, I'm not going to your funeral. I don't care." A deep crease appeared between his brows. "You're suicidal."

Medea sarcastically rolled her eyes. "Wanna bet that I'll stay alive?" She retorted.

"How can you even bet on something like that?"

"Life is a gambling game dear, either you accept it, or you lose everything."

"That's a terrible way to view life."

"It guided me this far, so I guess it works… If you're right and I do die, I'll leave a handwritten letter with all the information about the day of Lasym's murder for you, from the time I woke up to the hospital. My thoughts will be included, obviously." She offered. "That way you'll have more details that can help you notice something that I didn't even realize, how about it?" Medea was not dumb to talk much before she was sure of her fate, it would be stupid.

"...And what happens if I'm wrong and you survive?" He took a key from inside his pocket and walked through a metal hotel door.

"You're going to apologize for not believing me." He snickered, rolling his eyes as he walked into the elevator. "Have we got a deal?"

"Alright, I'll do it."

"Yes! I knew you wouldn't back down!" She cheered, almost as if she wasn't betting on her imminent death.

"When is the deadline for the Scroll's delivery?"

"In three days, but I intend to get it by tomorrow."

The man sighed, visibly stressed. "You're underestimating that family, Dhea."

"Maybe… But nothing is more important to me than my career and my beliefs, I'm willing to die for them."

"You still have time to give up." He got out of the elevator and yawned, taking a hand to his lips to cover them.

"I'm not going to. You, on the other hand, should give up not sleeping and rest at once."

He sighed and opened the door to the apartment. "Okay, I'll sleep a little after I take my shower and eat. Go write your will soon." He provoked, making her laugh.

"We'll see... Just one thing before you hang up." The man took off the scarf and the dark coat he wore, putting them on the table and arched a brow, indicating that she could proceed. "Don't talk about it with Alluka or Killua yet. If their family is as cruel as you implied they were, those two can try to come after me and I don't want that. Tell them once I'm back. Promise you will keep this a secret?" He looked the other way. "Please Kurapika, I'm asking you nicely!"

"Okay, I promise."

"Thank you."

"But if you don't come back by midnight tomorrow, I'll tell them and we'll all be there to rescue you..." He said. "Or whatever's left of you."

"Very funny, huh? Anyway, good night Kura, I'll see you tomorrow."

"Good night and try not to die." He waved briefly and then hung up.

Medea looked at her reflection in the mirror.

Was Kurapika right? Was she underestimating the situation, the people she would have to face? Did she really have no chance against Killua and Alluka's family?

She felt uncertainty spreading through her mind and suddenly she remembered Enoull's voice.

You can't do it, can you?

Shaking her head, she went back to drinking her strawberry milkshake.

Uncertainty wasn't part of her vocabulary; she was Medea Lanfort, for crying out loud! She had survived the worst situations that life had rubbed in her face, managed to become a Hunter and exceeded the expectation of everyone around her. She was one of the best professionals in her specialization field. All of that and she didn't even use her Nen!

She smiled smugly at her own reflection.

It was not her who should be scared.

The Zoldyck family wouldn't know what hit them until it was too late.

Surprisingly, that area in Dentora seemed fresher and more prone to breezes than the place where Medea was staying, probably thanks to the mountain that acted as an orographic barrier for the transport of air and humidity in the region.

Still, she felt hot. The black, sleeveless leotard and the black pants were too closed to be used at this time in the morning, but they were the best option she had to protect herself. The weapons on her belt were also annoying — they made her stiff on her seat.

The only thing she felt comfortable with were the black gloves, which would prevent her from leaving her fingerprints anywhere. Oh, and her mask.

It had details in blue, green and purple copying a peacock's patterns, with two rows of multicolored beads on each side that rolled down her shoulders and had a peacock's feather on its ends. She hardly used it, but it was really resistant and since she didn't know exactly what to expect, it was wise to do so now.

She had to be ready to withstand pretty much anything.

Medea was inside the tourist bus that led to the mountain, utterly quiet and serene, while she watched a group of men talk euphorically about breaking into the residence and looting everything — or even just taking a picture of one of the Zoldycks.

She wanted to laugh.

By the way they behaved, they had no knowledge in combat or in hiding amongst the environment; if a trained thief and Hunter with years of experience like herself had been warned that she could die in that place, she couldn't imagine what would not happen to those six.

Turning to her right, her eyes met the imposing form of the sleeping volcano, and she gulped. It was so tall that it surpassed the clouds themselves. From what she'd read, the Zoldyck mansion was on top of it and she truly hoped she wouldn't have to walk during the entire path or she'd be exhausted once she finally got there.

The tour guide began to speak, but she got off the transport before the woman could stop her and was followed by the group, the desperate cries for them to return immediately to the bus were promptly ignored.

The men looked at her with disdain, probably questioning what a woman had to do in that place, until one of them finally spoke: "Do you think you can get in, sweetheart?" He cooed.

She turned to him and shrugged. "I don't know, what do you think?"

"Nah, there's no way. You seem too fragile for this kind of activity." He replied maliciously. "With a body like that, baby girl, your place is on your knees sucking—"

"Good morning! How may I help you?" Asked an old man, who wore a simple gatekeeper's uniform. He had tired eyes and a calm smile, he seemed quite gentle.

Medea watched as the group argued with the man, who, despite giving off a false frightened impression, still had control over the situation. She narrowed her eyes.

There was something wrong.

He handed them the key to the smaller gate, and they marched to it arrogantly. The man looked at her with curiosity, gray eyebrows momentarily rising.

"Are you not going to follow them?"

She giggled. "Oh, please, you don't expect me to believe that that entrance is the correct one, do you? A family this terrifying wouldn't hire someone who'd hand over the keys to their property to the first group that tried to scare him."

He seemed surprised for a minute and then smiled. "You're right." Shouts of pain and noise from rigid things, presumably bones, breaking were heard. He just sighed. "My job is just to clean up Mike's mess."

"And that is...?"

"The family watchdog, obviously. It's him who takes care of the secondary gate." He explained. "If you don't mind it, could you tell me what you want to do here?"

"I'm a friend of Killua's."

The man squinted his eyes. "Does the young master want you to take something for him?"

"You could say that." She gave no room for further questions and he nodded.

"You know I'm not gonna stop you from trying to get in, right?"

"Yes, your posture is too relaxed right now."

The man laughed, visibly entertained.

"You're very observant, I can see why you are friends with the young master... Do you know how these huge doors work?" She shook her head. "They open according to the strength of the pushing force. The first gate weighs two tons on each side, adding four tons in total, and with each new gate the total weight doubles. If you can't open any, then you're not worthy to enter the property."

"So I literally just have to open a door to get inside?" He nodded. "Alright then."

She turned to the metal gates, high and dark, with two sculptures of Dragons on the biggest door, and took a deep breath.

Focus Medea, you can do it.

Closing her eyes, the young woman approached the gates, gloved hands touching the smooth surface gently.

Inhale.

Exhale.

And then push.

She felt her fingertips tingle, as if something was escaping from her against her will, almost as if she was connecting with the gates themselves. The woman heard whispers around her, but ignored them since they weren't intelligible; they seemed more like hisses than anything else.

Sweat began to drip under her mask. Her arms no longer had the same strength as when she first touched the metal. Her legs were struggling to support her. But perhaps it wasn't raw strength that it required. Perhaps it was something else. Something she didn't normally use.

Sighing, she activated her Ren, expanding and intensifying her aura as much as possible while continuing to push.

She hated the feeling of pure power surrounding her; it was uncomfortable, and reminded her of terrible moments, but she didn't avoid using it completely because there were times when she had to resort to it in her journey as Hunter. She just hoped the goddess wouldn't be too displeased with her because of it.

She groaned angrily. How come nothing was working? Would she have to plead with those doors?

"Fucking stupid gate!" She hissed, sweat rolling between her shoulder blades. "Come on! Let me in!"

Nicely, a serpentine voice whispered in her ears.

Beg nicely, another one, with a sultry tone, joined in.

Great. Now she was also hallucinating. This couldn't get any better.

She shook her head.

"Like hell I will!"

Be a good girl, show us manners… Said the sultry voice.

Yes, manners. Show us your worth.

Show us your Nen.

Are you worth?

Are you powerful enough?

Her body trembled with fury. Shut the fuck up and let me through!

Beg us.

We're waiting, child, one of them teased.

Medea gritted her teeth. I don't give a shit if you're a fruit of my imagination or not! Ask me to beg one more time and I will cut off your tongue! She threatened. Let me in right now!

There were angry hisses in her head, almost outraged, but she persisted and kept pushing the doors. She would not be bossed around by a hallucination.

Medea was almost giving up when she heard a creak. Then, it turned into something deafening. It was like something heavy was being forcefully dragged against the soil, like it tried to resist, but simply couldn't. There was a loud crackling noise echoed and she opened her eyes.

The first three gates were open.

She had opened sixteen tons.

She sighed and turned to the man, who seemed impressed by the result.

"Thank you so much for your help, Mister...?" He stared at the woman, smiling once again.

"Zebro. And you are?"

"I don't think I can tell you that. It was good to meet you though! See you around, sir!"

She waved amicably and passed through the portal, feeling a strong breeze envelop her body and rattle the tree branches in the private forest.

She was inside the Zoldyck property. Step one was complete.

On her right side, hot air collided against her and she turned around. She immediately went still. A huge hound, with thick purple fur and long snout, watched and sniffed her attentively, as if trying to check whether she would serve as a good snack or not. So that was Mike.

He just laid down on the floor, black eyes glued to the woman as he laid his face between his forelegs.

Medea didn't know if she should run or stay still. Which of those options seemed safer? Carefully, she turned to the original trail and stepped forward slowly to test his reaction, but he didn't seem to care, so she continued walking until he was out of sight.

Her body shivered.

She'd never seen an animal like that attentive to what was happening, almost as if he had a human consciousness, it was completely bizarre.

Activating her In, she climbed the nearest tree and jumped from branch to branch in an attempt to go unnoticed by anyone in the vicinity. Her movements were agile and silent when she was hunting, like a shadow, but she couldn't deny that using that Nen technique made it even better. She was suddenly the perfect similarity of a snake: cautious and lethal. Not that she liked to kill, but she'd do it if it meant having success on her missions.

From afar, she saw a teenager standing between two stone walls in the middle of the trail she was following. She wore a dark blue tuxedo and held a cane safely, she didn't look older than 15. She was probably one of the local butler apprentices, but was she strong enough to be taking care of that passage?

Why do you see her as someone unprepared? You had already murdered dozens of people at that age. She reminded herself.

Her internal monologue was enough for her to stumble on the wrong branch and fall lower than intended, causing unnecessary noise. She cussed.

The girl turned to hear the rustling of the leaves from where Medea had jumped, and raised an eyebrow inquisitively.

"Who are you and what do you think you're doing?" She inquired in a cold voice.

"I'm Killua and Alluka Zoldyck's friend."

She widened her gray eyes before going back to her indifferent posture. "I apologize, but I must not let you pass."

Medea frowned, it had worked the first time, why wasn't it working now? "Even if I'm their friend?" She descended from the tree and landed gracefully on the unpaved road.

"Yes. Besides, you haven't identified yourself and continue to stand on private grounds, so I ask you to leave." The girl replied.

Medea took one hand to the hip while lifting the other to her chest, dramatically. "Look honey, I really need to get to the mansion, it's an emergency." She insisted, her voice a little sweeter and gentler than before. "Can't you make an exception for me? Killua asked me to come get something for him, he said you'd help me." Was that a blatant lie? Damn right it was, but she really didn't want to fight with the girl.

The teenager seemed conflicted for an instant before shaking her head minimally. "The answer is no." She stated. "You can either leave now, or I'll have to force you to do so."

The thief sighed as she nodded and stretched herself quickly, cracking her knuckles.

The apprentice butler put herself on a defensive stance and put her cane between them to keep the older woman from approaching.

Medea guided her hand to her belt and pulled out her chakrams, holding them deftly and positioning herself to launch them. "Okay then. Let's see if you can kick me out."

The first part of the mission was sucessful. Will Medea be able to follow on her journey? Or will one of the members of the Zoldyck family manage to stop her before she reaches her goal?

To find out the answer to these and other questions, stay tuned for the next chapters~