"Good God! That guy really is a lunatic! He... he actually detonated all the nukes at once!"
The mercenary captain, who had only recently returned to the airship, gripped the handrail with a white-knuckled hold. He struggled to steady himself as the vessel bucked violently against the atmospheric turbulence, all while staring out the window at the cataclysmic scene of the world being torn asunder.
Upon learning that Allen had taken the remaining nuclear warheads into the depths, the observer had immediately ordered the pilot to pull away from the island and hover at what she deemed a relatively safe distance.
Even so, they were currently being tossed about like ragdolls by the powerful air currents. The windows had completely shattered, several people had sustained head injuries from the impact, and many more were sprawled on the floor, unable to get back up.
It was fortunate that the detonation point was deep underground; otherwise, the airship would have been shredded instantly by the horrific shockwave. Neither ordinary humans nor Nen users would have survived.
As the aftershocks gradually faded and the fractured island sank completely beneath the waves, the observer struggled to her feet. In a voice thick with emotion, she declared, "You're right! He was a complete madman! But he was also a hero! He sacrificed his own life to permanently eliminate a terrifying creature that posed a gargantuan threat to all of humanity."
"You think he's dead?" A peculiar expression flickered across the mercenary captain's face.
"Of course! Do you honestly think anyone could survive that? Don't be ridiculous! Several high-yield nuclear warheads were detonated simultaneously! The entire island was vaporized in an instant, what hope does a fragile human have?"
Without hesitation, the observer pronounced a death sentence for Allen and his team.
However, the mercenary captain clearly disagreed. He replied meaningfully, "My view is exactly the opposite of yours. Many of that young man's actions seem insane on the surface, but in reality, every move is an optimal solution selected after careful deliberation, much like the first time he used a nuke to escape. It looked dangerous, but it saved the entire team from a dire situation. I believe this time will be no different!"
"But how could he possibly evade a nuclear explosion? As far as I know, even the most powerful Nen user cannot withstand the might of a nuke. Forget a nuke, even high-explosives like the Poor Man's Rose are impossible to tank," the observer questioned, furrowing her brow.
"Nen itself possesses near-infinite possibilities. Moreover, his Nen is so exceptionally powerful and staggering..."
Before the captain could finish his sentence, a Sea Hunter behind him shouted in pure excitement: "Look! What's that?"
Following his pointed finger, everyone saw a black speck leap out from the deep sea, approaching the airship at incredible speed.
About half a minute later, Allen jumped through the window followed by Hisoka, Baise, and Bodoro. He deactivated his dragonkin form and smiled at the dumbfounded crowd. "What, aren't we welcome back?"
"You're welcome! Of course you're welcome! Quick, tell me, what did you encounter down there? And how did you escape the blast?" The female observer, in her early forties, was the first to snap out of it, her tone urgent.
"It's a long story. But I imagine this footage should satisfy your curiosity."
As he spoke, Allen detached a micro-camera he had been carrying and tossed it to her.
"And these!" Hisoka added, handing over several eccentric photos he had taken.
Soon, with the aid of professional equipment on the airship, everyone, including the observer and the scholars, beheld the unknown creature at the island's core and heard the full conversation it had with Allen through Bodoro.
The mention of an "agreement" with a human caused every face in the room to turn to shock, fury, or a dark, brooding intensity. Clearly, regardless of who this person was, they could be branded a "traitor to the species" and executed without trial.
Once the viewing was over, all photos and recordings were treated as priceless research data, sealed in a reinforced code-box to be handed over to the V5.
With the crisis fully resolved, the fleet of warships and airships stationed at Runpa City quickly vanished from public view. The official story claimed it was merely a large-scale international joint exercise. Most ordinary people remained oblivious; many fishermen, who had been banned from the sea, even complained that the government's actions had hurt their income.
Watching the news reports that deliberately redirected the narrative and confused the facts, Slean shook his head with a wry smile. "It's quite surreal, isn't it? We did something truly great, yet we can't let the public know. Once they learn the truth of the world, it would lead to infinite panic. The stability of the people would collapse, and social order would vanish."
"Is that meant to be a consolation?" Allen sneered in response.
As expected, upon returning to the human world, the V5 did not immediately release him. Instead, they held several hearings and scientific symposiums to confirm the abilities and danger level of the creature in the footage. Ultimately, they dubbed it the "Island Master" and assigned it a Danger Grade of A.
The experts unanimously agreed that the creature's ability to learn, read memories, and control human thought and behavior would have been catastrophic had it reached the human world. It required the highest level of vigilance.
As the chief commander and decision-maker of the crisis response, Allen received immense praise. Furthermore, the observer's report highlighted that he didn't over-rely on Nen like other Hunters, but twice utilized the power of technology, nukes, to destroy the island at critical moments.
His declaration regarding "human nature" at the end of the footage resonated perfectly with the values of the high-ranking politicians. Assuming the worst of an opponent and doing everything possible to destroy potential threats was exactly how the V5 had protected the human world for years.
In their eyes, Allen was the ideal collaborator. Some were even bold enough to suggest secretly that they would help him replace Netero as the next Chairman of the Hunter Association.
Regrettably, such a proposal held zero attraction for him.
Slean gazed into the young man's eyes and remarked with a touch of self-deprecating helplessness, "Consolation? No. I just want you to understand the reality of this world. Being a Hunter is a semi-public profession, but once you reach a certain level, there's no going back. You can't even reveal a word of what you do to your family or old friends."
"I knew that long ago. And I have no intention of going back," Allen said. "I prefer this thrilling life to a mundane one. Challenging unknown territories, defeating powerful foes, and hunting prey that interests me, that's all I'm after. Oh, by the way, did you find anything on that mysterious person?"
"The investigation is ongoing, but don't get your hopes up," Slean replied, his expression turning grave. "He was meticulous. There are almost no traceable records, and he used unregistered transportation. Do you know what that means?"
Allen nodded expressionlessly. "I do. It means there is a nation backing him. A very powerful one."
"Exactly. This can't be classified as a simple terrorist act or a crime against humanity. It has to be handled as a political incident," Slean explained grimly.
"Don't bother investigating further. I can tell you plainly: the Kakin Royal Family is definitely behind this. They are collaborating with Beyond Netero, hatching a massive conspiracy. If all goes as planned, it won't be long before the entire world is dragged into it."
Leaving Slean with a look of utter bewilderment, Allen turned and disappeared down the end of the hallway...