Clack!
The last piece fell. In the next instant, the King's entire body toppled forward, crashing onto the board.
Boom!
The board shattered into fragments, scattering across the floor.
Youpi's pupils contracted sharply, his eyes wide.
"No! King!"
But with the King dead, Youpi could not hold on much longer. Under the effect of the Miniature Rose's poison, his life force quickly withered away. His body collapsed, falling heavily beside the King's.
Ron signaled to Yuzuru Yamai. The music ceased. The lesser Chimera Ants were already in a dire state. Before long, they too would perish. The poison of the Rose was nearly impossible to neutralize, and even Ron had no solution.
As the soldier Ants deaths approached, Ron raised his hand. An aura bullet formed at his fingertip and shot toward the corpses of the King, Youpi, and the rest.
Boom!
The violent explosion reduced their bodies to ash.
Turning back, Ron walked toward the others. Killua was the first to rush forward.
"Ron-nii, how is it?"
"They're already dead."
"Who's dead?" Morel asked quickly.
"All of them," Ron said. "Chairman Netero, the King, and Youpi are gone."
Morel had already guessed this outcome, but still his body trembled at hearing it confirmed.
"Not even their corpses remain?"
"No."
Knuckle, Shoot, Knov, and Palm all fell silent. The Chameleon Ant stood at Gon's side—Gon had already regained consciousness.
"Gon," Ron said, "there's something you should know."
"What is it?"
"It's about Kite."
Gon's expression changed instantly. "Kite… what about him?"
"I got some information from Neferpitou. That night, Kite lost. He was taken back to the nest. He wasn't killed immediately. Instead, his mind was probed for knowledge. It must have been excruciating—torture in every sense."
Gon's fists clenched, his eyes beginning to redden.
"After that, Kite still died. But Neferpitou didn't feed him to the Queen. Instead, he was remade into a puppet. Right now, Kite is somewhere inside the palace of the Republic of East Gorteau. I don't know the exact location. It will take searching to find him."
Before Ron could finish, Gon had already bolted in the direction of the palace.
Morel glanced after him, then back at Ron. "If that's true, then Kite won't even be able to awaken his human memories, like the other Chimera Ants did?"
He knew of those cases—the Chameleon Ant, the Octopus Ant.
"I don't know," Ron said with a shake of his head. He knew the truth from the original course of events, but without explaining that knowledge, he couldn't claim certainty here.
"Not sure Gon can handle it," Knuckle murmured, watching Gon's back.
Shoot sighed. Killua turned to Ron.
"I'm going after him. With your help, we might find Kite faster. Kite didn't die just protecting Gon—he protected me too."
"Go ahead," Ron replied.
Killua sprinted after Gon.
The group gradually dispersed. Their mission was over. Like the end of a long journey, the destination had been reached, and the gathering dissolved. Morel and Knov departed with their students. The matter of East Gorteau would be handed over to others; it no longer concerned the Hunter Association. Their mission was finished. Ron's task was also done.
But Killua still remained in East Gorteau, and given the country's dangerous state, Ron decided he had to ensure his cousin's safety before leaving. Killua was still not strong enough.
A figure approached.
"Ron, long time no see."
"Hisoka."
Ron gave him a slight nod.
"How were the Ants?"
"Strong enough," Hisoka said with a trace of disappointment. "But not interesting. I killed one and lost interest completely. Ron, you've already stepped into that level… the same as the old man."
Ron shrugged. "That old man is dead."
"That explosion just now?"
"That's right," Ron said. "By the way, Hisoka, since I interfered with your fight against Chrollo, I'll give you some compensation—a piece of news."
"What kind of news?" Hisoka's eyes narrowed slightly.
"A new era is coming. Don't keep your eyes fixed on the past. The future will be more exciting than anything you've imagined. It's a path unknown even to me, but one I look forward to with anticipation. For you, it should be even more so."
Ron looked off into the distance. Hisoka's gaze flickered, a spark of curiosity rising.
"What era?"
"You'll find out soon enough." Ron said no more.
"Farewell."
With that, Ron walked toward the palace. Inside, Gon and Killua had already searched many rooms, but still found nothing. Gon's eyes were fully red now, deeper than Kurapika's Scarlet Eyes. Killua stayed close behind him.
Hisoka watched Ron's back. "More interesting than Chrollo? Someone who even Ron finds intriguing… what could it be?"
His eyes lingered on Ron's departing figure before he turned and left East Gorteau.
In the shadows, another figure lurked. A Chimera Ant—one of the Squadron Leaders. Still unaware of the full situation outside, it had hidden itself upon seeing Gon and Killua enter.
The moment their guard lowered, it struck. A mass of corrosive fluid shot forth, covering the two. A direct hit would mean certain injury.
"Gon, look out!" Killua sensed it first and cried out.
"What?" Gon turned, but it was too late.
Killua gritted his teeth and stepped in front of him. Aura flared around his body.
Boom!
Suddenly, a burst of flame shot past, colliding with the corrosive fluid. The two neutralized each other, splattering harmlessly across the floor.
Killua turned toward the source of the fire, his eyes lighting up.
"Ron-nii… thank you."