Those who took away the body and the friend were external members of the Special Operations Section, a subordinate department of the International Permit Agencies.
Their first task upon arriving at the scene was to use the highest-grade equipment to properly preserve the body, ensuring not even a single fiber of clothing was left behind.
Because this peculiarly-deceased body was related to the [New World].
The place the International Permit Agencies calls the [New World] is the Dark Continent.
The body was soon loaded onto transport and sent to the underground International Permit Agencies.
The friend's testimony was summarized into one sentence: 'He suddenly twisted into a rope-like shape right before my eyes.'
This testimony, along with everything else, was to be delivered to the International Permit Agencies.
There, they have the most advanced high-tech instruments and equipment, excellent talented elites, the strictest security arrangements, and also the Calamities brought back from multiple human expeditions to the Dark Continent.
On the negative second underground level of the International Permit Agencies, in a room filled with green potted plants.
A middle-aged man with sagging cheeks sat at his desk, reviewing the latest intelligence.
The discovery of a new rope-shaped corpse inevitably caused some agitation among the upper echelons.
The middle-aged man was one of the managers of the International Permit Agencies. Looking at the report forwarded by his subordinate, he felt a headache coming on.
"Now, I have to think about how to 'appease' them again."
Each 'body' can provide a direction for research, while also carrying unknown and uncertain risks.
After all, it is a symbol of [Calamity] from the [New World]. Each [Calamity] holds the potential to wipe out humanity, so there is no room for complacency.
The duties shouldered by the International Permit Agencies broadly consist of two points.
First: Manage all worldwide transit intelligence, digitize it, synthesize the degree of transit risk based on various information, and ultimately publish the safety index to the world.
Second: Impose comprehensive restrictions on anyone wishing to go to the New World in the form of transit. Put simply, to absolutely prevent any outsider from setting out for the New World.
Currently, the various [Calamities] preserved on the negative fifth level of the International Permit Agencies have already been digitized.
Whether for future meetings or high-level negotiations, this data will be used then.
And the emergence of a new Calamity will inevitably be accompanied by an in-depth investigation.
.
Zoldyck Family's residence.
The agreed-upon time had arrived.
Regarding the [Wish Level], it had been cleared under Silva's operation, temporarily reducing the risk associated with [Wish-Granting].
Next was to comply with Law's request: Take Alluka along, leave the Zoldyck Estate, go to the city where the Hunter Association is located, and restore Netero.
The departure time had come, but Law's group did not set off immediately.
The reason was that the departing Zoldyck Family members were only three: Silva, Tsubone, and the most crucial one, Alluka. Killua was strictly forbidden from participating in this operation.
Regarding this, Killua would not simply give up.
If strength was the right to speak within the family, then Killua believed he already had sufficient weight to voice his opinion.
More importantly, to secure Alluka's freedom, this trip was extremely important.
He had to go. Absolutely!
So when everyone arrived at the nest of the beast dragon, Killua, in his [Godspeed] state, appeared atop the beast dragon, defying Silva's order through action.
The departing Zoldyck Family's members were only Silva and Tsubone, but both Zeno and Kikyo were present, witnessing Killua's resolute attitude.
Regarding Killua's actions, Kikyo showed concern, while Zeno showed no particular reaction.
Judging solely from facial expressions, Silva, like Zeno, showed no reaction.
"I'll give you ten seconds to come down from there. Don't make me use force," Silva said, looking at Killua enveloped in electricity, his tone calm.
Killua remained silent, standing there, stubborn as a rock.
Naturally, Silva released his Aura, covering his body. His long white hair moved without wind, emitting a conspicuous imposing Aura.
Zeno, Tsubone, and Kikyo could only watch from the side. Although only one second of the ten-second limit had passed, they could see Killua wouldn't compromise, meaning Silva would definitely resort to force.
Five seconds later, Silva withdrew his Aura.
Because Law said one sentence: "Let Killua come along. I guarantee you, once the treatment is over, Killua and Alluka will return here."
Law's guarantee ran counter to Killua's goal, but based on his trust in Law, Killua didn't even harbor a hint of doubt.
Soon, the magical beast dragon carried Law and the others into the sky.
Zeno and Kikyo looked up, watching the shrinking magical beast dragon.
On the roof of a distant Zoldyck Estate's building, Illumi, Milluki, and even Kalluto stood, watching the magical beast dragon depart.
Seeing Killua and Alluka going together, a glint of envy floated in Kalluto's beautiful eyes.
A moment later, the magical beast dragon disappeared from everyone's sight.
Milluki glanced at Illumi then. For some reason, he felt the current Illumi was somewhat unsettling.
…
Hide-and-Seek Space.
Netero was located in the second largest room of the Hide-and-Seek.
As a temporary hospital room, it was fully equipped.
To simulate the hospital room environment, Knov had specifically arranged corresponding furniture.
But no matter how it was arranged, the appearance of the floor, ceiling, and walls clashed with the furniture, giving a sense of an interdimensional space.
At the moment, Linne, Beans, Knov, and Morel were all there, as well as the remaining humanoid Chimera Ant, Nique.
"Well, let's start watching."
Under the gazes of everyone, Nique took out the little fox marble and activated the playback function.
A faint red light glowed on the marble's surface, then suddenly brightened, projecting a screen in the air, starting to play the stored footage.
Knov and Morel had already seen this footage. It was being played now specifically for Netero to watch.
Once the footage started playing, Netero and Linne watched with rapt attention.
'So... he had already reached this level.'
Watching about half of the footage, Linne, while amazed, couldn't help but think back to when she first met Netero.
Netero was different. Watching Law's battle with the Ant King, a luster suddenly gleamed in his dim, lifeless eyes.
Like nourishment, it fed the insights he had gained from that battle, which finally began to take root and sprout.
Battle... he wanted to battle.
He wanted to fight against powerful individuals once more.
The Ant King was gone.
But there was an even more powerful Law.
It didn't have to be a life-or-death struggle. There were some changes he wanted to verify.
After that battle with the Ant King, was there still room for him to take a step forward? Could he correct the flaws from that battle?
Morel was an insider, with his own single-minded pursuit. So he couldn't see as far ahead as Cheadle and Botobai. His original intention in having Netero watch the footage was to persuade Netero.
Only, Morel didn't consider.
This footage instilled in Netero a sense of joy existing in the 'future'.
…
Airport.
Machi, Uvogin, Nobunaga, Buhara, and Menchi, the five of them, disembarked from the airship and headed to the airport terminal.
Being wanted criminals able to board an airship was thanks to necessary disguises and the function of two Hunter Licenses.
They walked towards the main exit.
The terminal was packed with people.
Suddenly, all five of them, being Nen Users, couldn't help but look in a certain direction within the crowd.
There were experts, and not just a few.
Although their Auras were well-concealed, with so many gathered together, they became conspicuous.