Chapter 125: The Expedition Team Departs
Kite had already reunited with Gon, Killua, and other members of his team at the NGL border.
The Hunter Association had received information about the Chimera Ants through Kite's biological survey team and was currently awaiting the international authorities' response decision.
...
V5 United Nations, Dining Hall.
An opulent round table was laden with exotic delicacies.
Of the five seats around the table, only four were currently occupied.
An elder stood before the massive floor-to-ceiling window, overlooking the scene from a thousand meters high while speaking on his phone.
"We're counting on you."
"We only desire one thing—to eradicate the dangerous creatures swiftly and decisively."
The person on the other end of the call was none other than Hunter Association Chairman Netero.
"There have been numerous casualties already. Does this mean we should stop at nothing? Am I understanding correctly?" In the Hunter Association's chairman's office, Netero looked up at the wall plaque bearing the character for "Heart" as he spoke.
"That's up to you. We can't tell experts how to do their jobs." Though the elder's words suggested deference, his tone carried no respect for specialists. Just then, a flying insect happened to land on the glass window before him. He extended his left palm and effortlessly crushed it with a single slap.
"In any case, we simply want the dangerous creatures exterminated as soon as possible."
"Understood."
Netero ended the call.
He had completely grasped the V5's position.
They wanted the ants eliminated root and stem while shifting all responsibility onto the Hunter Association—that was the essence of it.
For the V5, this was merely a trivial matter that could be settled over a meal.
...
Meanwhile.
Chimera Ant Nest.
Looking at the injured Chimera Ant Queen, Shaiapouf's face darkened with resentment. "Those damned creatures nearly harmed the King. Who knows if the Queen's current injuries might affect him."
Recalling her earlier battle with Mord, Neferpitou remarked, "Shaiapouf, did you notice how those creatures can transform their energy into various interesting forms? Like lightning, hammers, and such."
"Since this energy can do anything, then healing the Queen's injuries shouldn't be difficult, nya."
"We just need to repair the damage."
As she finished speaking, Shaiapouf watched as the aura around Neferpitou coalesced behind her, eventually forming a giant humanoid doll.
Under Neferpitou's control, the humanoid doll extended its slender fingers and began repairing the gunshot wounds on the Chimera Ant Queen's body.
Witnessing Neferpitou's miraculous operation, Shaiapouf's eyes grew increasingly bright.
"So that's how it could be done."
The talent of the Royal Guards could only be described as heaven-defying. They developed their abilities in an instant, and soon Shaiapouf also completed his Nen ability development in a flash.
Although all the soldier ants had already perished, the food reserves previously stored in the nest remained, enough to sustain the Chimera Ant Queen for some time.
Meanwhile, on Kite's side.
Everyone wore worried expressions.
It must be noted that due to Mord's involvement, Neferpitou was the first Chimera Ant they encountered after entering NGL, with Shaiapouf being the second.
Kite believed he was no match for either one of them.
If the Royal Guards were already this terrifying,
There was no need to even mention the yet-to-be-born King.
At this moment, Kite suddenly remembered the man who had fought against the Cat Girl.
He must know many things we're unaware of, and his strength would be an indispensable force in the campaign against the ants. We must find him.
"Gon, Killua, you two stay here and wait for the Hunter Association's reinforcements," Kite stood up and said.
"What about you, Kite?" Gon asked.
"I'm going to find that man," Kite pressed down on his hat and disappeared from the spot after giving these final instructions.
With Netero taking personal charge, acting swiftly and decisively, the first Chimera Ant extermination force soon set out.
...
Aboard the airship.
Knuckle, as a member of the extermination team, began explaining the target of their mission—the Chimera Ants—to Chairman Netero.
"Chimera Ants are structured with the Queen at the top, divided into five tiers below."
"First is the Queen, below her are the Royal Guards, followed by Squadron Leaders who command the lower-tier Team Leaders, who in turn control the numerous Worker and Soldier ants."
"If a King is born, the organizational structure splits like this—the Royal Guards who originally followed the Queen immediately transfer to the King's jurisdiction."
"Correspondingly, the Squadron Leaders move up to directly under the Queen, thus commanding the Team Leaders and Worker ants."
"Additionally, the Queen permanently resides in the city, producing a King after certain cycles."
At this point, Knuckle adjusted his glasses and continued: "The King travels around the world mating with various organisms, continuously producing the next generation of Queens."
"Exponential population explosion," commented Morel nearby. After mentally calculating the potential outcome, sweat beaded on his forehead.
"It seems to prevent Chimera Ant proliferation, we must defeat the Queen before the King is born, Chairman," Morel turned to Netero and said.
"Hahaha," Netero laughed several times, though it was unclear whether he had listened to Knuckle and Morel's explanations.
As for Mord, he never left NGL's borders.
Finding a random cave, he began honing his sword techniques and adapting to his dramatically increased aura, striving to reach his peak condition before the great battle arrived.
...
NGL Border.
Members of Kite's biological survey team received a response from the Hunter Association.
"The first extermination team is coming."
"Extermination team?"
Gon asked: "Who will they be?"
"Given our opponents are the vicious Chimera Ants, they must be highly skilled experts," Killua chimed in.
Could the people sent by the Hunter Association really handle such opponents? Just the thought of the utterly malevolent aura emanating from Neferpitou back then still sent chills down Killua's spine, even after all this time.
Due to the influence of the Nen needle in his brain, Killua was far more sensitive to danger than ordinary people.
Of course, he kept this thought to himself.
All they could do now was wait quietly for the ant extermination squad to arrive.
The time was set for three days later!
...
Meanwhile, at the Chimera Ant Nest.
Since all the ordinary soldier ants had been wiped out by Mord, and the Chimera Ant Queen was now fully focused on giving birth to the King, she naturally couldn't produce more common soldier ants.
It was precisely this predicament that led Shaiapouf to decide to join forces with Neferpitou to create artificial ant soldiers.
However, with time being tight and the sparse population of NGL, the number of modifications was bound to be limited.
"We'll have to wait until the King is born, then find a resource-rich location to build his army," Shaiapouf said with a grim expression.