Oboro stood on high ground, already seeing a large number of Kakin Empire armed forces converging towards them through the crowd.
The range of people controlled by Oboro's soul was limited. Today, it was a grand feast for the entire Kakin royal capital.
Military aircraft were even flying overhead...
Oboro threw away Beyond's head, glanced at Gray Pear, and left the rest to the king to handle.
This live broadcast was suddenly cut off, and unrest broke out, attracting some attention. However, it was not a major issue; the news would be contained within Kakin and not spread.
What Oboro needed to find now... was Pariston.
That guy... must be here!
Presumably, Oboro concentrated his attention and unleashed En, expanding his perception.
His aura had improved somewhat with his body's strengthening, and the increase in Nen intensity had also led to the evolution of his soul-based abilities. Through soul resonance, Oboro's brain became like an ultrasonic arena display, allowing him to keenly capture the burning flames and radiating fluctuations of every life form's soul.
These appeared as small dots of signal sources, scattered in all directions.
This way, his perception range was no longer limited to the Nen technique of 'En.'
Instead, it further stimulated the characteristics of soul-based Nen abilities.
It was very similar to the Ant King, who naturally possessed hyper-dimensional senses plus the amplification of 'En,' but Oboro utilized soul wavelengths.
"The royal palace, huh..."
Suddenly, Oboro's consciousness locked onto a distant soul, the target: Pariston.
"Ging is here too."
Oboro murmured.
He instantly vanished from his spot.
...
"That was terrifying... You saw it just now, didn't you?"
In a hall within the royal palace, Pariston and Ging Freecss stood outside the hall entrance, gazing towards the horizon.
That area was the stage for today's grand spectacle. Gray Pear, Beyond, and others were present. The deafening cheers of the entire city could be heard even from the royal palace, and there were large marching processions on the streets.
Pariston sighed.
He was referring to the fleeting 'darkness.'
The sky seemed to be stained with ink, pitch black, but it quickly returned to clarity.
"They're all dead."
Ging frowned. He couldn't sense what had happened at the venue but could guess.
Given Oboro's personality and methods, his arrival in Kakin this time... was to tie up loose ends.
In other words, he wouldn't leave any survivors.
With that thought, Ging looked at Pariston, only to find him tidying his clothes, a smile on his face, as if he were about to welcome a distinguished guest.
Suddenly, Ging Freecss's gaze sharpened. He looked back and saw a person appear on a palace turret outside the hall.
Standing tall, with his feet on the eaves, he sat there, looking down at them.
"Already... this strong..."
Ging muttered to himself.
The arrival was, naturally, Oboro, dressed in a black suit.
The problem was, Ging hadn't sensed him... He believed that with his own strength, even if Oboro completely concealed his presence, he would still be unable to hide from him.
Because he had already guessed that Oboro would come here, and he was mentally prepared.
This meant that Oboro's silent appearance was not due to hiding his aura or changing it, but rather a more advanced ability.
Soul.
A single word surfaced in his mind.
"Congratulations."
Ging Freecss spoke first.
This indicated that Oboro had achieved his goal, pushing the abilities of the game character, Thresh, to the extreme, reaching the realm and level he desired.
Even with Oboro's exceptional talent, he couldn't have achieved this through ordinary means... given the short time.
Therefore, the only explanation was that he had taken a shortcut, relying on soul-based Nen abilities.
"Are you going to interfere?"
Oboro asked immediately.
Did he mean Ging Freecss intended to save Pariston?
"Don't misunderstand... He's just here to persuade me to return to the Association."
Before Ging could speak, Pariston stepped forward, "I refused him... because the Association is boring now without a Chairman and without you. Of course, if you're willing to return to the Association and don't plan to kill me right now, I'd be happy to go back..."
"But I guess... that's impossible, right?"
Pariston smiled, "To you, the Association is just an empty shell, just an organization and a name. What you want... is leadership and influence. The Chairman is dead, and you have no need to return to the Association headquarters... because you can create a new Hunter Association in the name of Chairman... I believe with your capabilities, you can do it. Moreover, it will have more power and social status than the current Hunter Association, and the original members of the Association will defect and flock to your side."
"Very clever."
Oboro complimented him.
That's right, even if he clashed with Ging, and even if Ging had spoken to the Chairman and secured his position in advance... Oboro still had a way to win.
Create another Hunter Association!
Unlike the current ambiguous relationship between the Association and the V5, the newly formed Hunter Association would be recognized by most countries in the world, and more importantly, it would have the public support of the V5! As for benefits and treatment, the current Association couldn't compare.
Pariston was indeed very clever...
He could think of it, and Ging naturally could too.
Ging's attempt to win over Pariston was also to unite with him to counter the newly rising Hunter Association.
But unfortunately, Pariston refused him.
"Die on your own... Killing you would dirty my hands." Then, Oboro changed the subject, his eyes coldly fixed on Pariston.
"Don't be so heartless... I have many things I want to say before I die, consider them my last words, give me..." Pariston spread his hands, speaking kindly.
He clearly wanted to say something to Oboro.
Boom!
However, Oboro had no patience.
He made no move, and perhaps Pariston himself didn't even sense the impending danger. His facial features and limbs suddenly contorted and twisted in an instant, and then... he exploded.
A swift and clean death!
Oboro sensed the malice in Pariston's soul and had no interest in listening.
It wasn't anything good anyway.
Ging Freecss, standing beside him, looked at the pool of blood and minced meat on the ground, remaining silent.
He hadn't expected... in the blink of an eye, Pariston had died so violently.
He guessed what Pariston had wanted to say... Those five thousand Chimera Ant eggs, if Oboro went to the Dark Continent, the human world would essentially lack a protective barrier. Although the V5 and the military forces of various countries could handle it, no one knew what variables might arise.
If another Ant King like Meruem appeared, the human world would inevitably be affected. By then, Oboro's backing forces, whether the Fels family or some state groups under his control, would all be in mortal danger.
Pariston couldn't stop Oboro from going to the Dark Continent, but once he went, whether he could return alive... and how much time it would take, no one could guarantee.
What if, by the time Oboro returned, the human world had been turned upside down, and all his subordinate forces were gone... what then?
Pariston was purely trying to be disgusting.
Oboro was the backbone of the Fels family. Once he left, the Fels family's influence would surely diminish significantly... And the human world's power structure was complex. Whether it was the V5 or other restless countries, there were definitely more than a few who had designs on the Fels family.
The hidden threat of the Chimera Ants presented an opportunity.
In this way, would Oboro still dare to confidently go to the Dark Continent?
Pariston's plan was well thought out, but... he had underestimated Oboro's determination, or rather, he thought he understood Oboro, but in reality, he didn't understand him at all.
Ging Freecss sighed softly.
Looking at Oboro, this man before him didn't care about power or the Fels family; what he wanted... was simply the pursuit of strength. To put it simply, Oboro could gain the ability to influence the human world within a few years, and then... even if he returned from the Dark Continent decades later, he could still control the human world with thunderous force.
Or even faster...
Pariston's thinking was too naive.
Power had never been a factor that constrained Oboro.
"Are you going to kill me?"
Ging Freecss smiled.
"No need..."
Oboro said with a smile, "You still have some value to me. Besides, I kill people for a reason."
Ging Freecss shook his head self-deprecatingly.
After Oboro left the human world, he would need someone to maintain a balance, at least the balance within the Hunter community.
And he was well-suited for this role.
More importantly, he had the ability to do it.
"You lost."
Oboro jumped down from above and said calmly.
"I didn't lose... at least I protected the Chairman's legacy." Ging scratched his head.
Yes, even if Oboro created a new Hunter Association, it wouldn't be Netero's foundation.
Although Ging could foresee that Oboro's Association would poach most of the headquarters' members.
"Stubborn."
Oboro sneered.
"Aren't you going to collect his soul?" Ging slyly changed the subject. He couldn't see the so-called soul, but he had already deduced the path to Oboro's power.
"Such dirty trash, even hell wouldn't take it... I'm afraid it would tarnish my abilities," Oboro said.
"You really... aren't polite to him at all," Ging remarked.
"Your phone hasn't rung yet, and you know better than I do what that means! If I start creating an Association, your position as Chairman will become a mere formality. There won't be many people left at headquarters... Over time, the whole world will know me, and you and the remaining people will be gradually ignored, even forgotten."
"The old man's legacy was never about a specific building or organization... it was about what he sacrificed his life for to gain for the Hunters, for all of us." Oboro walked up to Ging and patted him on the shoulder.
"I'll give you some face; let's call it a draw... It's pointless for you to struggle further. I don't want to cause any more trouble. Find some time to step down yourself..."
After speaking, Oboro vanished from Ging's side.
Just as he had arrived, leaving no trace.
"You really know how to hurt people with words... I'm your senior, after all."
Ging looked up at the sky, pouting.
What Oboro said was the truth.
Normally, his phone should have rung by now, and the V5 would have surely issued orders or notifications immediately.
For example, asking the Hunter Association to list Beyond as a target for assassination.
But now, there was no movement.
This indicated... the V5 had fallen, and to some extent, had already been controlled by Oboro.
He... had lost this battle completely.
Although he had preserved the original Hunter Association, he couldn't keep its members, nor was he confident they wouldn't defect.
Because... he was not well-liked.
...
This global live broadcast from Kakin undoubtedly caused a huge stir among humanity.
In the eyes of ordinary citizens, they knew little about the Dark Continent. Now, with the Kakin royal family unveiling its mystery, countless people yearned for it.
After all, according to the Kakin King, the land was rich in resources, inexhaustible.
But what shocked people even more was the man in the suit who appeared before the broadcast was abruptly cut off.
What he said was completely different from what the King had said.
Just as everyone was wondering what had happened in Kakin and who was telling the truth, a piece of news spread.
The Kakin Kingdom had suspended its plan to venture into the Dark Continent. Furthermore, King Gray Pear personally took the stage to give a speech, stating that Kakin's understanding of the Dark Continent was too superficial, that it was too dangerous, and not something the current human world could venture into...
It also exposed past actions and information from the V5 and individual strong humans who had entered the Dark Continent.
As a result, the impact was no less than the previous live broadcast.
Because... it gave everyone in the world a certain understanding of the Dark Continent.
It should be known that the V5 had been suppressing information about the Dark Continent for years... Kakin's sudden revelation was undoubtedly a hidden danger. Human greed was endless.
It was possible that some restless humans would find ways to go to the Dark Continent.
This also indicated... that the V5 would face a very tricky situation, with more 'potential enemies'!
"He seems to be preventing a human disaster, but in reality, he's accelerating humanity's exploration of the Dark Continent... Damn it!"
The leaders of the V5's super-powers all harbored resentment towards Oboro.
But the next piece of news made them even more uneasy.
The Kakin Empire had used diplomatic policy to sign a detailed and extensive cooperation agreement with the Fels Group.
What this represented was self-evident.
The Kakin Empire and the Fels family had joined forces!
Given their previous understanding of the Fels family, this meant... Oboro had definitely infiltrated the Kakin royal family!
He could also influence and control this superpower!
The international balance had been completely disrupted.
The V5 could no longer stop it!
As the five ancient super-powers considered taking targeted measures against Kakin and the Fels family... the Hunter Association, whose Chairman Ging Freecss had only been in office for a few days, chose to abdicate for personal reasons. After internal elections, Oboro was undoubtedly elected Chairman.
The V5 received no prior notice and their calls to Ging Freecss went unanswered.
They also couldn't contact the Hunter Association.
As they were about to take further steps to control the situation, something even more critical happened...
News came from the V5 headquarters that a large number of personnel were feeling unwell due to some infectious source and had resigned one after another.
Also... some government agencies within several major countries seemed to have become unstable, with signs of factional struggles emerging.
Everything was developing towards 'chaos.'
...
A month later, at the Fels family's palace.
In the main hall.
Oboro sat on the sofa, looking at the few solemn faces in front of him, and smiled slightly, "Is there something you need? You guys..."
"…"
The V5 leaders exchanged glances and remained silent.
They had contacted the Fels family multiple times, wanting to speak with Oboro, but all requests had been rejected.
This time, they had finally found a breakthrough...
These five top figures in human power had personally condescended to come, disregarding the danger.
Because the current situation was too perilous.
On the verge of erupting.
They could only bow their heads.
Although Oboro was now the Chairman of the Association, he had handed over the management matters to the Twelve Zodiacs.
Although the Twelve Zodiacs did not fully recognize him as Chairman.
But... there was nothing they could do.
"What do you want?"
One of the leaders mustered the courage to ask.
They were not fools. The rapidly changing international situation, coupled with the unrest within the V5, all seemed too coincidental...
Setting aside these factors, the Fels family, now allied with Kakin, was not something they could easily deal with.
"You should understand... I can isolate the V5 in the international community, right?" Oboro said calmly.
It was unrealistic to control the V5 leaders with souls, unlike Kakin. Kakin was just one country, but this involved five.
Oboro was preparing to go to the Dark Continent, so... he wouldn't be able to maintain control afterward.
With the Fels family's power, it was already difficult to barely control the Kakin royal family.
Because the larger the country, the more complex its politics. Unless all the elites could be controlled, otherwise... as soon as they weren't watched, trouble would arise.
A group of small countries plus Kakin still couldn't shake the foundation of the V5's major powers. They could fight, and change the world order through war, but the chances of winning were slim.
However, Oboro could use public opinion or political power to make the V5 lose its restraint in the human world... For example, by having many countries declare that they would ignore the V5 and send troops to the Dark Continent.
Not just Kakin alone!
Furthermore... the political struggles within the five major countries were also being orchestrated by people from the Fels family.
The five countries could purge the Fels family's informants, but it would inevitably weaken them, and at this critical juncture, it would be fatal.
Their only option now was to seek cooperation with the Fels family.
To become allies.
"Make the Fels family one of you."
Oboro said nonchalantly.
"Furthermore, from now on... the Hunter Association will be detached from its subordinate status and exist as an independent entity. No one has the right to command or manage it! In other words, Hunters... are a special force for protecting the human world, obeying only the orders of each Chairman. Of course, if one day, the Association itself threatens the human world, you have the right to deal with it, but only under prior conditions."
"You mean to say, the Hunter Association's status is above the V5?"
The leader who spoke earlier was stunned.
"That's right... Do you have any objections?"
Oboro raised an eyebrow.
"…"
Seeing Oboro's cold gaze, the five took a deep breath and remained silent.
"I deeply respect Netero, but I don't like his methods."
"You may not be used to it now... but this is my style. You must learn to adapt, and you can only adapt."
Oboro's words were cold, spoken word by word.
"My will is absolute."
"…"
____________________
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