The sudden collective disappearance of the Chimera Ants was undoubtedly a bombshell. It represented a massive threat to both the Hunter Association and the V5. Consequently, within a few short days, a host of helpers and experts, including Chairman Netero, arrived by airship at the abandoned nest.
Gazing at the investigators busily scouring the area for clues, the 120-year-old man finally couldn't help but ask in a low voice, "What exactly did you do to scare the ants into this state?"
"Nothing much. I simply showed them a glimpse of human strength and malice, that's all," Allen replied with a look of pure innocence.
He had never imagined in his wildest dreams that the ants would be so easily spooked. He had merely used the ability stolen from the mad chemist to manufacture some toxic gas, and it had frightened the enemy into abandoning their hive and fleeing. If he had actually brought out a nuclear bomb and set it off, they might have fled the human world entirely for the Dark Continent on the other side of Lake Mobius.
It seemed that the essence of the Chimera Ants was no different from any other creature: they were typical bullies who preyed on the weak but feared the strong. When they realized the power possessed by their enemy far exceeded their expectations, their first instinct was to retreat and preserve their strength rather than rush in for a mutual destruction.
"Hahahaha! Human strength and malice..."
Netero couldn't help but burst into laughter. Minutes ago, he had learned about the frantic "population reduction" operation from Knov and Morel. He knew exactly how heavy the Chimera Ants' losses were. The mad chemist's ability, in particular, was capable of wide-range lethality; the resulting deaths were so gruesome and agonizing that anyone witnessing them would instinctively feel terror.
Clearly, the Chimera Ants' relocation was driven by fear and a sense of threat. No matter how powerful an individual ant was, they had no way to withstand such horrific chemical gas.
"Don't laugh; I'm telling the truth. But where could those ants have hidden themselves?" Allen rubbed his chin, sinking into thought.
Since the soldier ants left behind in the nest were nothing more than expendable pawns who knew nothing of the Queen's or Royal Guards' whereabouts, he could only wait patiently for information. After all, a large-scale migration of an alien species could hardly escape human eyes for long. Once they neared a densely populated area, photos and videos would inevitably surface on the internet or the news. By tracking these reports, they would soon find the ants' new hideout.
As for using his Hunting Map, he had tried. However, perhaps because their Aura capacities were too similar, or because the ants were using some unknown Nen ability, the two massive red dots representing Youpi and Pitou ended up blanketing the entire island and its surrounding waters.
Chairman Netero stroked his beard and said, "No matter where those little ants hide, they will be exposed sooner or later. According to the experts' investigation, the King being gestated by the Queen has reached a critical stage. He must consume vast amounts of food to ensure sufficient nutrition. Theoretically, they shouldn't have gone too far; they are likely still on this island."
"Could it be East Gorteau?"
Allen suddenly recalled the original timeline: after the King was born, he led the three Royal Guards in a direct assault on that nation's royal palace, ruling through the manipulation of the supreme leader's corpse. This tactic had once proven a major headache for the Extermination Team, as they had to deal not only with the ants but also with an entire human government under their control.
"East Gorteau?" A thoughtful expression appeared on Netero's face. "It's possible! No, I should say the probability is high. Like the NGL Autonomous State, it exists in a state of isolation from the outside world, making it a perfect environment for the Chimera Ants to flourish."
"In that case, I'll take my team there immediately to investigate."
Allen stood up, ready to leave the hollow nest and head for East Gorteau to search for signs of the ants. Anyone who had seen that massive pit filled with human remains would instinctively feel a surge of rage and a bone-deep desire to annihilate the Chimera Ant race. This had nothing to do with good or evil; from a human standpoint, a species that exists solely to prey on mankind cannot be allowed to exist.
But before he could walk far, Chairman Netero called out to stop him. "Wait! Don't be so hasty. I understand how you feel, but it's best not to act rashly right now. I have already issued a high bounty in the Association's name; news should arrive shortly. Furthermore, East Gorteau is not like NGL; the political environment there is much more complex. If you go in recklessly, the consequences will be severe."
"How severe? Will the V5 put a bounty on me for the sake of some small-time dictator?" Allen asked back with a meaningful smirk.
"Hardly! But as a Hunter of the Association, coming into direct conflict with a national government is never a good thing," Netero explained patiently. As the Chairman, he had to consider the future of the entire Association. If a direct confrontation occurred with the high-ranking officials of East Gorteau, the Association's position would become extremely awkward regardless of the outcome.
"Don't worry, they won't get the chance. If the ants truly are in East Gorteau, the first thing they'll do is seize the ruling class to control the nation. If they aren't there, do you really think I'd waste my time dealing with politicians and bureaucrats?"
With that, Allen turned and boarded the Association's private airship stationed outside, gesturing for the pilot to fly directly to East Gorteau.
Since the Neldrant Island incident, he had established solid cooperative relationships with many powerful politicians and bureaucrats within the V5. He no longer needed to be as cautious as before. Forget about an operation to eliminate the Chimera Ants; even if he actually did something to the ruling class of East Gorteau, the V5 would likely turn a blind eye. Compared to a self-isolated, fringe dictatorship, his value was far greater—he could even help the human world deal with threats from the Dark Continent. With the shrewdness of politicians, they could make that choice without a moment's hesitation.
Watching the airship slowly ascend, Netero let out a soft sigh. "Sigh, it seems this matter is becoming more and more troublesome."
"Chairman, is it really okay to let Allen leave like that? I felt a dangerous glint in his eyes; he might do something extreme," Knov warned cautiously.
"There's no helping it. He isn't the type to listen to advice. He's the kind of Hunter who, once he identifies his prey, will pursue it to the bitter end. For now, all we can do is mediate as much as possible to ensure the Association doesn't end up in an open conflict with the East Gorteau government. Additionally, keep tracking news from around the world. The moment there are reports of monsters eating people or large-scale disappearances, send someone immediately to confirm if it's the work of the Chimera Ants."
Netero didn't dwell on the issue for long, quickly issuing instructions in his capacity as Chairman. Currently, many world leaders, including those of the V5, were focused on the Chimera Ants' sudden disappearance from the NGL Autonomous Region. He had to provide an accurate answer soon. Otherwise, the entire human world would remain in a state of high tension and panic. To many politicians, the potential for even a small-scale invasion of highly developed major cities was far more terrifying than the deaths of a million people in the NGL Autonomous Region...