The medical team followed closely behind.
Ron surveyed the surroundings. Not many Chimera Ants remained here; most had already departed. Among those who had left were division leaders, squad captains, and foot soldiers.
According to what was known, division leaders, squad captains, and even foot soldiers all possessed reproductive ability, but while the Queen was alive, they had been bound by her command. She had forbidden them from reproducing independently. Now that the Queen was in such a state, those who had left were no longer restricted.
"Since this entire matter has been driven by the V5, they must also have prepared countermeasures. The first generation of Chimera Ants, who awakened fragments of their human memories, could still be regarded as retaining humanity and might be of some use. But the second generation will not be the same.
Only the Queen retains the ability to preserve memory. The offspring bred by the others will be an entirely new species. The V5 can permit the deaths of humans. They can tolerate countless casualties among the lower classes. But what they will never allow is another species expanding and developing at a rate faster than humanity."
While Ron studied the Ants before him, they were also examining him and his companions. They had encountered humans before, but mostly the lowliest kind—peasants who survived through farming and hunting, or NGL's underground soldiers. In truth, the only real contact between a Chimera Ant and someone like Kite had been through Neferpitou.
Many Ants had once looked down on humans. But now, seeing Netero, Ron, Morel, and Knov at close range, they realized there were humans far stronger than they were.
One division leader judged the situation. "Those two are strong. We are not their match."
Another replied, "But they are not on the level of the Royal Guards."
"And what does that matter? The Guards and the King never even regarded us as the same kind. They cared nothing for us—not even the Queen held their concern. How could we ever be considered their equals?"
That remark left the division leader who had spoken of the Guards with a heavy heart.
"How is the situation?" Colt pressed the physician, his eyes fixed on him—not with hostility, but out of deep concern for the Queen.
The doctor stood and gave his assessment. "I've completed my examination. The situation is dire. Many of her internal organs have already failed and must be replaced. What I can do now is transplant artificial organs into her body, but I cannot guarantee how effective it will be."
Two words stood out to Colt: replacement and organs.
"Doctor, can my organs be given to the Queen? Take anything from me that can be used. As long as it saves her, my life doesn't matter."
At that, other division leaders reacted as well. Those who had remained here displayed extraordinary loyalty to the Queen, though even among them, the degree of devotion varied. Some stepped forward, volunteering their own organs. Others instinctively retreated, unwilling to sacrifice themselves in that way.
"No," the doctor shook his head. "You are all Chimera Ants born of the Queen, but your makeup is completely different from hers. The Queen's body contains only Chimera Ant genes. Yours carry the genes of countless other creatures. Even by looking at your external forms, you can see the difference. From a scientific perspective, you are not the same species as the Queen."
Colt's face turned pale.
"Now step back. I must begin the operation." The doctor gestured for them to clear the area.
Time passed slowly. Knuckle and Shoot were still on their way here, unaware that the battle was already over and the battlefield had shifted to the Republic of East Gorteau. The transition had been too sudden; no one had informed them in time.
Morel watched Colt's desperate actions and was deeply moved. The fact that Colt was a Chimera Ant made the display of loyalty even more striking, stirring emotions he could barely contain.
Ron, however, felt only indifference. Colt's feelings for the Queen were genuine, but that did not erase the truth—the Chimera Ants had slaughtered countless humans, and the Queen herself had devoured them. To Ron, such loyalty was not something natural or admirable. It looked far more like a distorted dependence, something closer to Stockholm syndrome.
The Queen had never truly cared for them; all of her thoughts and instincts were fixed solely on the unborn King. The soldiers, captains, and division leaders were nothing more than disposable tools for that goal. Yet they clung to her desperately, willing to sacrifice themselves for a mother who saw them only as fuel for another life. That kind of devotion, no matter how moving it appeared on the surface, was in Ron's eyes pathetic and hollow.
Morel's reaction reminded him of Gon back on Greed Island. Gon had faced the Bombers as enemies, knowing full well how many players they had killed. Yet when he saw the brotherhood among them, he was moved.
To Ron, such sentimentality was reckless and cheap. If Morel knew the full truth about the Chimera Ants, that would be one thing. But he did not. Netero had told Ron this beforehand.
"Morel-senpai, where are Knuckle and Shoot now?"
The question caught Morel off guard. Still overwhelmed by emotion, he froze for a moment. Then his expression stiffened.
"Damn it, I forgot about them. No one informed them earlier. They should still be on their way. By now they've probably entered NGL."
Morel hurried to Netero. "Chairman, I'll go retrieve Knuckle and Shoot."
Netero gave a brief nod without a word. Morel shouldered his massive pipe and left swiftly.
...........
.....
.
Elswere: Gon and Killua looked at each other before Gon nodded.
Killua hesitated, then used the white card Ron had given him to reach out.
"Ron-nii, are you there?"
Ron felt the vibration of the Zodiac card and answered.
"Killua, what is it?"
"Ron-nii, what's the situation inside right now?"
"It's chaotic."
"Have you seen Kite? Gon cares about him a lot."
"No."
Ron truly had not seen Kite. After being remodeled by Neferpitou, Kite's body had been reduced to a mere trophy, while his soul had been transferred elsewhere.
After a pause, Ron added, "The situation in NGL is far more complicated than you think. The place you're in isn't absolutely safe either. You may well encounter Chimera Ant attacks. Be careful."