As Akira and Pyon traveled across Flame Rock Island, the Chimera Ants that had drifted from the Dark Continent to the Six Continents had already begun to flourish.
With each passing day, the Chimera Ant colony grew stronger, even producing ants capable of wielding Aura.
***
Hunter Association top-floor office
"Chimera Ants, huh..."
Chairman Netero looked at the report on his desk, his expression unusually solemn, devoid of his usual playful demeanor.
After carefully reviewing the details about the Chimera Ants, Netero couldn't help but sigh, his tone tinged with a hint of resignation.
Chimera Ants, also known as "Gourmet Ants" were a species capable of assimilating the traits of whatever they consumed, giving birth to new ants with those characteristics.
If the queen was provided with a sufficient variety of prey, the resulting ants would continuously evolve.
Ordinary Chimera Ants couldn't assimilate human traits, at most improving their exoskeletons by consuming small insects.
But the newly appeared Chimera Ants were not only unnaturally large, reaching human size, but some even exhibited humanoid forms!
Multiple Chimera Ants with human characteristics had already been discovered.
If they could assimilate human genes, could they also acquire human abilities?
Such as... Nen abilities!
And humanity most prized trait—intelligence!
Chimera Ants capable of having intelligence the same as human far surpassed their ordinary counterparts.
Clearly, such creatures couldn't have originated on the Six Continents.
The only place Netero could imagine them coming from was the Dark Continent.
Based on this information alone, Netero knew these were creatures from the Dark Continent and indeed, the Chimera Ants, as denizens of the Dark Continent, were classified as a threat ranked at B-level!
"So you've finally made up your mind, Beyond..."
Netero murmured in a low voice.
His emotions at this moment were complex—a mix of contemplation and joy that his son had finally taken this step.
Netero wouldn't blame Beyond.
He was only disappointed that Beyond lacked the courage to kill him directly, resorting instead to such methods.
Though somewhat peculiar, this was indeed the agreement between Chairman Netero and his son Beyond.
The specific terms were: Beyond could journey to the Dark Continent in the future—but only after he die!
As a father, Netero demanded that his son Beyond take his life to fulfill his wish of returning to the Dark Continent.
A Restriction and Vow had been established in this arrangement, which Beyond was bound to honor.
As Chairman Netero put it, if Beyond lacked even the courage to kill him, then venturing to the Dark Continent would only mean certain death.
This served as both a test of courage and a test of strength.
For Beyond, the second point wasn't much of an issue.
As Chairman Netero son, his strength was equally formidable. In their primes, it would be hard to say who would win between Beyond and Netero.
What truly restrained Beyond was the former point.
His prolonged inaction stemmed from an inability to cross that psychological barrier.
One thing Chairman Netero didn't realize was that this operation was largely orchestrated by Beyond partners.
"NGL Autonomous Region, huh? They really picked a perfect location."
'Tap, tap, tap...'
Netero rhythmically tapped the desk with his fingertips, producing crisp sounds before finally speaking to beans beside him.
"Beans, make a call. Have Morel and Knov accompany me to the NGL Autonomous Region."
Morel Purple Smoke Troopers would be invaluable for both reconnaissance and clearing out the smaller threats.
Knov was a rare spatial-type Nen User and his [Four-Dimensional Mansion] could serve as a concealed resting area.
"Understood, Chairman."
Beans nodded his head and left the room to make the calls.
With grunt-clearers secured and a resting place arranged, what else was missing?
Netero gaze wandered as he pondered what he might have overlooked.
Suddenly, a figure flashed through his mind—Akira!
That's right! When it came to versatility in abilities, Akira was unmatched.
Having him alone was equivalent to having an entire team.
Akira various Nen beasts could provide immense operational convenience and his strength was unparalleled in the world.
Even if Netero messed up and died, it wouldn't matter. Akira could handle the aftermath.
How had he forgotten about Akira earlier?
Age must really be catching up—his mind wasn't as sharp anymore.
Chairman Netero shook his head, stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window nearby, pulling out his private phone.
***
Azian Continent
As one of the six major continents with vast territory, it housed a massive nation—the Kakin Empire.
Despite occupying an entire continent, Kakin was not one of the V5 nations.
Thus, joining the V5 had long been a goal for Kakin leadership. Later in the story, this would be achieved, transforming the V5 into the V6.
In the capital of the Kakin Empire, stood a magnificent palace.
The palace covered an expansive area, its grounds stretching far and wide.
Bizarrely, even at night, the vicinity glowed with light emitted by gold.
It could be said that nearly the entire palace was constructed from countless treasures—either top-tier gemstones or rare minerals.
Any single item from this palace would spark fierce competition if brought into the outside world.
Yet here, their status was no different from weeds—mere "trash" randomly piled up.
In the grandest hall of the palace, a massive map adorned the wall, its frame crafted from pure gold.
The map's intricate details were meticulously drawn by a master artisan, down to the smallest features.
An ordinary person would be startled upon seeing it. Because this map was completely different from the commonly known six-continent world map.
The six continents occupied only a central portion of this vast map, surrounded by an expanse of ocean.
Beyond the ocean lay a landmass dominated by black hues.
Perhaps intentionally, this dark continent was depicted in an eerily unsettling manner—both in color and the features upon it, exuding an uncanny and discomforting aura.
Yet, despite this, there was one person who examined this map every single day.
At this moment, a figure stood before it.
This man was robust and fat, with a bulging belly and a face layered with fat, adorned with two long mustaches.
He wore garments tailored from high-quality fabric—an upper garment in yellow-red tones with floral patterns, paired with green, scale-like trousers, creating a rather peculiar ensemble.
This was none other than the current king of the Kakin Empire—Nasubi Hui Guo Rou.
Holding a wine glass, King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou gently swirled the wine within before taking a small sip.
This was an exceedingly rare vintage from the six continents, crafted from the finest ingredient—Rose Grapes.
Each Rose Grape was perfectly round, resembling crimson rubies in their beauty.
Due to their beauty, most fortunate enough to obtain them chose to preserve or sell them rather than eat them.
Each grape was of incalculable value, making it rare for anyone to actually consume one.
Let alone extravagantly fermenting them into wine.
Yet King Nasubi paid no mind to the wine, his full attention fixed on the map before him.
His beady eyes reflected nothing but the image of the map—nothing else could capture his gaze.
To him, this map seemed even more precious than the Rose Grape wine.
And indeed, it was—though not for the map itself, but for what it symbolized.
Like many kings, Nasubi Hui Gou Rou yearned to etch his name into history, to be remembered by the world.
At his level of status, there was nothing left he couldn't obtain.
Women? He had fourteen royal consorts.
Wealth? His coffers overflowed beyond measure—the bountiful lands of the Azian Continent ensured his treasury never ran dry.
The only thing he lacked—and desired most—was fame!
Merely being remembered as the king of Kakin by his own people wasn't enough!
He wanted the Kakin Empire to join the ranks of the V5—or rather, to turn the V5 into the V6! And to accomplish a feat so monumental it would shake the six continents!
After years of planning, he had set his sights on the Dark Continent.
An unknown, uncharted land—if he could reveal its existence to the world, ensuring all knew of it, his name would surely be immortalized!
That was why he scrutinized this map so intently, reviewing it daily.
What mattered wasn't the map itself—it was his legacy.
"Hohoho, staring at the map again?"
A burly man walked in through the door and couldn't help but chuckle softly when he saw Hui Guo Rou studying the map again.
The man's voice was rough, yet deliberately softened, as if trying not to disturb Hui Guo Rou.
With light steps, he crossed the carpet made from the pelts of top-tier beasts, his figure leaving faint afterimages in his wake.
Though his movement appeared slow, he appeared beside Hui Guo Rou in the blink of an eye.
This clearly demonstrated the man's extraordinary skill—a scene somewhat reminiscent of Chairman Netero Hyakushiki Kannon.
His words carried the teasing tone of a close friend.
Yet, from the way he deliberately softened his footsteps, it was clear he held the subordinate position in their relationship.
"It's you, Beyond~ hui."
Hui Guo Rou glanced briefly at his ally Beyond before returning his gaze to the map on the wall.
This subtle gesture revealed that, in Hui Guo Rou mind, Beyond's status paled in comparison to his own reputation.
"Hohoho, actually, there's something I wanted to discuss with you."
Beyond scratched the back of his head, flashing a "simple and honest" smile.
This burly man was none other than Beyond Netero—Chairman Isaac Netero's son.
One had to admit, the resemblance between father and son was uncanny, right down to their laughter.
In the world of Hunter x Hunter, names follow the given name-first, surname-last format.
Beyond bore a striking resemblance to Chairman Netero—essentially a younger version of the man.
The most notable difference was the large X-shaped scar covering Beyond entire face, undoubtedly the result of some horrific battle.
"What did you want to say~ hui?"
Hui Guo Rou showed no surprise at Beyond's arrival, as if he'd anticipated it all along, his gaze unwavering.
Beyond his physique, Hui Guo Rou most distinctive trait was his verbal tic "hui" to the end of every sentence.
"Nothing major. Just wanted to mention that some Chimera Ants have begun using Aura."
Beyond spoke calmly, yet a flicker of astonishment still surfaced in his eyes at the mention of Aura.
They're truly a creatures from the Dark Continent, weren't they?
To think they could develop Aura after assimilating human genes through consumption.
The Aura-wielding Chimera Ant Beyond referred to was named Rammot—the rabbit Chimera Ant whose Aura nodes had been accidentally opened by Gon and his companions.
"So they've learned to use Aura already~ hui."
"Creatures of the Dark Continent is really terrifying~ hui."
Hui Guo Rou couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
From the severely injured ant queen to the six continents and now to the appearance of Chimera Ants capable of using Aura—it had all happened in just a few months!
But none of this had anything to do with him!
In fact, he would be more than happy if the Chimera Ants grew even stronger, as that would increase the likelihood of Chairman Netero's death.
"I suppose you're not still hung up on Isaac Netero, are you?"
Hui Guo Rou finally turned around and faced Beyond squarely, his deep-set beady eyes seeming to pierce through Beyond.
His usual catchphrase was momentarily absent beneath his stern expression.
Beyond stiffened slightly but said nothing.
"You must remember that you are my ally. Because of your agreement with Isaac Netero, I've already endured this for far too long."
"As the deadline draws nearer, you still hesitate to make the decision to personally end your father life."
"That's why I contacted the V5, paid a hefty price and arranged for the Chimera Ants to be brought here."
"So you wouldn't have to lift a finger—just watch quietly as it all unfolds."
"Now we're just one step away from success. Don't tell me you can't even accept that!"
Hui Guo Rou voice rose sharply in the last sentence, a hint of anger creeping into his tone.
Hui Guo Rou and Beyond were partners in this endeavor.
Hui Guo Rou, with the resources of an entire empire at his disposal, handled logistics and funding—essentially acting as the sponsor.
Beyond, on the other hand, was responsible for assembling the team and recruiting experts.
Many had already joined this expedition bound for the Dark Continent.
"...Sigh. I'll accept it. After all, I still want to go to the Dark Continent."
Beyond exhaled heavily, his expression softening once more.
Seeing Beyond come to terms with reality, a faint smile slowly spread across Hui Guo Rou plump face.
As a partner, Beyond had many strengths—his formidable abilities, high emotional intelligence and meticulous team-building skills.
The only thing that dissatisfied Hui Guo Rou was this: Beyond lingering reluctance to act against his own father.
It had forced Hui Guo Rou to expend additional resources and effort in arranging the Chimera Ants.
Still, it would all be worth it.
If his calculations were correct, Netero would likely die soon.
Once the man was gone, the agreement between Beyond and his father would vanish and Beyond could finally proceed to the Dark Continent unhindered.
"Oh, one more thing I should mention—I plan to add one more person to the team roster."
"Though I'm not sure if we can recruit him."
"His name is Akira."
------------------------------
Read 45 chapters ahead and support me on patreon.
patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator