The Chimera Ants that pose a serious threat to human society aren't limited to just the Ant King and the Royal Guards.
The Queen inside the nest, along with the Chimera Ants led by the Squadron Leaders, are also threats that cannot be ignored.
Therefore, the Hunter Association not only needs to find a way to eliminate the newly born Chimera Ant King, but also has to get rid of the remaining Chimera Ants in the nest as soon as possible.
However, compared to the threat posed by the King, those other Chimera Ants are practically insignificant.
Netero left the task of handling them to Morel and the others, while he himself went to the Zoldyck Family to ask for external assistance.
The Chimera Ant King-
Was a true biological calamity.
"Old man."
Coming out from another exit of the Four-Dimensional Apartment, Moses called out to Netero, who was about to leave.
"Hmm?"
Netero stopped and turned to look at Moses.
"Chat?"
Moses strode toward Netero, who remained in place.
Netero raised an eyebrow slightly in surprise.
Although time is precious, he was willing to spare some for Moses.
He nodded slowly towards Moses.
A short while later,
Inside the Shadow World, soft light illuminates the surroundings.
Moses led Netero into the Shadow World and then explained the effects of Kyoka Suigetsu, as well as the wound he had inflicted on the King at the very end.
After listening to Moses's narration, Netero finally confirmed the reason behind Pitou's betrayal.
'So it really was his doing...'
Netero was inwardly astonished.
"The Chimera Ant King is also under your illusion?"
Suppressing the fluctuations in his heart, Netero looked at Moses with solemnity.
Moses nodded and said, "Yes, I can confirm the Ant King has been affected, but… I can't be sure if the tendrils will grow properly."
"Huh?"
A trace of confusion flashed in Netero's aged eyes.
Moses then recounted his encounter with that magical beast tribe in the Bone Burial Grounds of the Dark Continent.
If he were to compare the current Ant King to that magical beast tribe...
Moses believed the Ant King's physical resilience was significantly higher than that magical beast.
In terms of Manifested Aura, they were roughly on par.
However, after the King devoured Pitou, his Manifested Aura had clearly surpassed that magical beast's.
This was the fundamental reason Moses couldn't confirm whether the tendrils would grow successfully.
If that magical beast was used as a reference, then the King might also be able to suppress the tendril's growth speed due to the sheer gap in Manifested Aura.
At least from Moses's perspective, this possibility is extremely high.
In his opinion, the essence of the Nen System was equivalent exchange.
With the restriction that simply entering Zetsu could erase the effects of Kyoka Suigetsu, it made no sense for an enemy with five to six times his Manifested Aura to fall victim to it so easily.
Perhaps he could still accelerate the fungal growth through 'secondary damage' or 'emotional fluctuations', but the natural growth rate of the tendrils...
Would definitely take longer than five minutes.
Based on this reasoning, Moses had already prepared for the possibility that the King could suppress the tendril's growth speed.
But the specifics could only be confirmed the next time he got close to the King.
He wasn't sharing this information with Netero to reassure him that the Chimera Ant extermination team had an ace up their sleeve, but to exchange information with Netero.
"So, what are you going to do, old man?"
After explaining about Kyoka Suigetsu, Moses directly asked about Netero's plan.
To him, this was a question that was asked knowingly.
But he needs to use this topic as a starting point.
Upon hearing this, Netero didn't answer immediately, but instead silently stroked his beard.
Moses stared intently at Netero, waiting for an answer.
As if he couldn't stand Moses's eyes that seemed to want to get to the bottom of things, Netero said: "I'll spend some money to call in an old friend for help. Then, we'll gather our strength and intercept the Chimera Ant King."
"And?"
Moses's eyes flickered slightly as he pressed further.
Netero chuckled lightly and replied naturally, "That's the plan for now."
"But I don't think you can defeat the Chimera Ant King, old man."
Moses shook his head slightly.
Netero lowered his eyelids and said meaningfully: "I may be old, but my heart hasn't aged."
He had said this to Moses before.
Now, he repeated it, but the meaning had changed.
Anyway, no matter how much Moses probed, he wouldn't reveal his final plan.
Seeing this, Moses sighed softly. He then stopped beating around the bush and said calmly: "I can probably contribute around 10 billion Jenny. See how many Zoldycks you can hire with that, and also... I also want a rose bomb."
"???"
Hearing Moses's words, Netero's composed expression nearly cracked.
He just said he was going to see an old friend, but didn't mention any names.
As for the Rose Bomb-
He hadn't hinted at it at all.
'How the hell did this brat figure it out?!'
"Then it's settled."
Ignoring Netero's reaction, Moses finalized the matter.
Then, he added: "That money is a loan. So until you pay me back, don't go dying on me."
"…"
Netero fell silent.
Dead?
If there was truly no hope of victory, what choice was there besides mutual destruction?
No.
What he had pursued all his life was a battle that would push him to his limits… one where he might truly lose.
Under this premise, he would not abandon his duties as the Chairman of the Hunter Association.
So-
To ensure he could fight the King in a true life-or-death battle, he was even willing to discard martial honor and plant a Poor Man's Rose inside his own body from the very beginning.
…
A short while later,
Netero left the Shadow World.
He accepted Moses' loan of 10 billion Jenny and also agreed to procure a Poor Man's Rose for him.
Moses stood at the exit of the Shadow World, silently watching Netero's receding figure.
Obsession, pursuit...
Perhaps everything Netero had experienced in his life was leading to this moment… a battle against a being like the Chimera Ant King.
Moses knew he couldn't change Netero's resolve.
But-
Since he was already involved, he would do everything in his power to alter the outcome.
Suppressing his turbulent thoughts, Moses turned his gaze toward the Ant Nest.
The combat power that can be mobilized at present is very limited, so Netero has to spend his own money to ask people from the Zoldyck Family for help.
If it weren't for Netero's 'friendship', the Zoldyck Family probably wouldn't have accepted this kind of commission.
Now, with an extra 10 billion jenny, the question was whether Netero could convince that old monster of the Zoldyck Family to step in...
"First, let's deal with the remaining Chimera Ants."
Moses took out his phone and sent Morel a message saying he would act alone. He then found a quiet place, closed his Aura Nodes, and began to restore his Potential Aura.
Before Netero made his preparations, he couldn't afford to idle either. He had to hunt down the remaining Squadron Leaders with everything he had.
If he hunted alone, he might even receive some rewards from Perception.
Several hours later.
Moses opened his eyes, stood up and walked towards the nest.
At this moment, both his mental state and Potential Aura have recovered to their full peak state.
"Hmm?"
As he reached a rocky outcrop, Moses spotted his first target.
In the sparse forest below, a group of over a dozen Chimera Ants was moving through the trees.
The leading Chimera Ant has a charming face and a voluptuous figure. The most eye-catching thing is the scorpion tail behind her.
'Scorpion Girl...'
Moses looked at the Chimera Ant leading the group and had some impression of her.