Kite gave a nod.
"In that case, the two of you can coordinate. Killua will focus on restraining the enemy, while Gon handles the attacks."
He stood up.
"You've rested long enough. Let's continue on our way."
"Yes." Gon and Killua followed behind him.
..............
.....
.
United States of Saherta.
Comprehensive Research Base.
Inside a conference room, several figures sat around a round table. Each of them stood at the pinnacle of authority in the human world—any single one of them could influence the global balance. This gathering was on a far higher level than any meeting of the Ten Dons.
Pariston was there, along with representatives from the V5 nations.
"Everyone."
Pariston rose and spoke. "The experiments of the Comprehensive Laboratory have succeeded. On the Chimera Ants, we obtained excellent results, and they can now be put to practical use."
"Project 073. As for the plan, here is how it is currently arranged. Starting with the modified Chimera Ants, we will allow them to spread naturally."
A middle-aged man frowned at him.
"Spread naturally? What method of natural spread are you referring to?"
Pariston smiled.
"Drifting along the ocean currents. Wherever they wash up is where they will go."
"But wouldn't that cause countless innocent civilian deaths?" the man pressed, brows knitted.
Pariston shrugged.
"Then it's simply bad luck for them. Besides, do you really care?"
An elder interjected.
"As long as they do not drift into our territories, it isn't of much concern."
"That, I can guarantee," Pariston replied smoothly. "I've calculated the ocean currents. They will never enter the V5's range."
"Good." The elder paused, then asked, "And after they spread, what effects should we expect?"
"According to prior experiments, once a Queen has consumed enough food, she will begin to lay eggs. The efficiency should be excellent. Among these offspring, some will inherit the memories of what the Queen has eaten in life, while others will be mere beasts. What we can exploit are the former. With human memories, they can pass as human, but their physical constitution will be far superior. With light training, they can reach the level of high-grade Nen users. We can send such people to the Dark Continent, and the gains will far surpass anything achieved before."
A woman tapped the table lightly with her fingers.
"Pariston, even if these new humans possess memories of their former lives, will they still acknowledge themselves as human? Would they not harbor hatred toward humanity?"
Pariston shook his head.
"As long as they never learn the truth, they will never hate."
The same middle-aged man asked again, his tone sharp.
"And those uncontrollable monsters—what will be done with them?"
"Chairman Netero will personally deal with them," Pariston answered.
"What level of strength can those monsters reach?"
"Possibly S-rank. Or even beyond S."
The moment these words were spoken, every pupil in the room constricted sharply.
"Beyond S?"
Pariston nodded.
"Yes."
"Can Netero handle that?"
"The Chairman can."
"When does this plan begin?"
"It has already begun."
"What?" The middle-aged man immediately shot to his feet, glaring at Pariston. "Experiments this dangerous, with even the possibility of producing beings beyond S, and you proceeded without our approval? What exactly are you trying to do? If anything happens, can you take responsibility?"
Spittle nearly flew from his mouth as he shouted, but Pariston only kept smiling.
"Don't be so hasty. This project requires a long time, which is why we started early. And there's no need to worry—monsters won't appear until much later stages of the plan. In the beginning, they won't exist at all. Moreover, Chairman Netero is fully confident in his ability to control this project, even at the cost of his own life."
Pariston paused, then added, "In fact, the emergence of such monsters is precisely what Chairman Netero has long anticipated. He wishes for one final, perfect battle to conclude his twilight years."
The elder fixed his gaze on Pariston.
"The Hunter Association guarantees there will be no accidents?"
"We can guarantee the monsters will be destroyed."
"How many will die?"
"That cannot be guaranteed. We can only ensure that the V5 will not be affected."
"Very well. We expect you to uphold your guarantee. Otherwise, the Hunter Association will not escape responsibility so easily. Furthermore, you must report all developments in this plan to us."
"Of course."
............
.....
.
Ron led his squad through various cities within Begrossé. The nation's internal war was drawing to a close, and the situation was gradually stabilizing.
"The killing spirits are finally gone."
"Thank goodness, the disaster is over."
"It's all thanks to the church."
Hearing such comments, Ron's expression grew complicated. The truth was that all of these disasters had been caused by the church, yet the common people, ignorant of the facts, only felt gratitude toward it. But there was nothing Ron could do about that.
For Begrossé to have endured for so many years spoke clearly of its strength. Even in his clash with Claude, Ron had sensed the church's terrifying power. A single cardinal already possessed such strength—how much greater must the Twelve Red Cardinals be? And Claude was certainly not the strongest among them. Beyond them still loomed the Archbishops.
Ron turned to the crystal sphere before him. The progress had reached eighty percent.
"Just two more cities, or perhaps one city and one piece of the Dark Sonata," he murmured.
He had already collected three parts of the Dark Sonata. Only one remained. When the three were brought together, they resonated faintly with the fourth, but only if it was within a few hundred kilometers.
"I wonder how the situation with the Chimera Ants is developing," Ron thought. "I need to hurry."
.......
...
.
At that very moment, the Chimera Ant Queen had already drifted along the ocean currents to the Human World, settling inside a cave. She had no idea that she was the product of human experimentation. All she believed was that her mission was to give birth to the King who would one day rule the world.
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