The Old Man's Clarity

Inside the room, Long's expression was somewhat solemn.

Given Kim's personality, if he claims he can prevent him from succeeding as chairman, then... he must have a way.

Judging from the current situation, his strength, reputation, and popularity have an overwhelming advantage over the Zodiacs.

It's important to know that the Fills Family has been training new generations of Nen user and sending them to the Association...

"If he wants to sabotage his plans, the best way is to ruin my reputation," Oboro mused.

In the original story, after Netero's death, Ging Freecss secretly 'colluded' with Beans, planning to propose drawing lots when discussing the selection of the council chairman. During this time, there was also a covert power struggle between Ging Freecss and Pariston... In the end, all members of the Hunter Association decided to choose the new chairman through a vote.

If the plot remains unchanged and the new chairman is still elected by vote, popularity and reputation will be crucial. The only thing Ging Freecss can do is destroy the image that Oboro has been building up all along.

To expose his true colors.

Pariston might have wanted to do that from the beginning.

Using ants...

Oboro and his squad kept the truth hidden, indirectly causing Netero's death.

Killua has already made an agreement with him not to reveal any information about him. His coincidence of appearing in NGL was also covered up by the Fills Family, leaving no loopholes. Unless Killua acts as a witness, which is impossible.

Or... Ging Freecss and Pariston could team up to deal with him.

"There's no place left for the ants to attack, so if they want to stop me from becoming the president, the only thing left is to change the method of succession. It's no longer drawing lots, and it's no longer involving all members of the Association... Is it the internal voting of the Zodiacs?" He narrowed his eyes slightly.

If only the Association's management has voting rights, then he certainly doesn't have much of an advantage.

The prerequisite is that Pariston has to help Kim; Kim alone cannot do it.

"But... it's no use..."

Long put down his phone and said coldly.

The Kakin Empire has been requesting Biological Investigation for many years... yet the Association has only just realized it. This is a classic case of incompetence. Oboro could easily turn the tables, using the Zodiacs' poor management as a pretext to insist on becoming the new chairman... claiming that the Zodiacs' lack of vigilance led to Netero cleaning up their mess and failing to discover the ants early enough to prevent future trouble. Furthermore, given the Association's lower-level members' existing dissatisfaction with the Star Hunter x Hunter and the outdated system, he could easily gain a large following by using the guise of reform and righteousness.

Moreover, Netero has to clean up this mess, but what about next time?

Who else? There are very few people with that kind of ability.

His previous two refusal to join the Zodiacs, which cultivated an image of disliking power, transformed at this moment into him having no choice but to 'compromise' and step forward to take over the baton of the chairman... This was far more convincing than those who were eager to become chairman.

Ging Freecss, Dragon Botobai, Pariston... they may all have the ability to become chairman, but they need supporters.

Pariston has a number of Specialist Division who are more numerous than others, but his image within the Association... is of little use.

Oboro is the representative of 'people-friendly'.

Kite is dead... If Kim makes a fuss about the ants again, Oboro can also take the opportunity to prove the capabilities of his team. They provided the data and intelligence to the Association, but they didn't expect the ants to be so dangerous at first, and it was also because they trusted the chairman too much.

If a successor were to be chosen from among the Zodiacs, Oboro would be capable of initiating a 'reform'...

While Hunter License is valid for life and cannot be revoked for any reason, it can be revoked if a member withdraws from the Association and no longer recognizes their affiliation with it...

It's important to know that the Hunter Association doesn't have a large number of members to begin with.

He didn't believe that the Zodiacs could truly clash with him.

Most importantly, Beyond immediately launched an attack... At this critical juncture, who can step forward?

Therefore, no matter how Ging Freecss tries to sabotage his plans, Oboro can respond accordingly.

His battle with Kim was not a fight to the death, but a contest that could determine the course of the situation.

Ging Freecss doesn't easily get into conflicts or fights with others. He's not like Pariston, who's always being cheeky and picking fights...

"What's wrong?"

Fante and Anthony, who were standing nearby, realized something was wrong when they saw what he said.

"It's nothing... it's just that someone couldn't stand being alone and added some seasoning to this soup... hehe, it makes it even more flavorful..."

Long smiled.

"Ging Freecss... what is he thinking?"

Fante exhaled a puff of smoke and said in a deep voice.

To say that Kim and the captain are enemies... well, not really. All along, it seems that Kim has only been observing the captain.

Instead of actually tripping them up like Pariston did.

If there was no hostility involved, then Jin's actions were clearly targeted at Oboro...

This man was someone they couldn't quite understand.

Time passed slowly, and soon the Association's expeditionary force targeting the Chimera Ant set off.

Led by Chairman Netero, Knov, Morel, and Morel's disciples, Knuckle Bine and Shoot, etc.

Biscuit arrived as well.

She did it for Killua and Gon.

Now, these two little devils, like Wing, are considered her disciples.

All the characters from the original work are included.

The Zodiacs and other Association members did not participate, for a simple reason: Chairman Netero took the lead... Everyone had absolute confidence in his abilities.

Including Netero himself.

Before he came, Ging Freecss had spoken to him privately... during which he mentioned the danger to his life and the Chimera Ant King that Oboro had mentioned.

But the old man didn't pay any attention.

Besides believing in himself, another reason was that he couldn't refuse V5's direct appointment.

Biscuit found Gon and Killua and began to give her two apprentices special training again.

Meanwhile, Netero, Knov, and Morel went directly into the NGL to investigate the ants.

With Oboro's warning in mind, the three did not dare to venture deep into the ant nest. Instead, they explored the periphery, searching for lone Chimera Ant to capture and study. They observed the ants' physiological structure and studied their habits. The results were the same as the information Oboro provided: even ordinary Soldier Ant had terrifying physical strength. Some elite special Soldier Ant, in addition to having obvious biological characteristics, also incorporated mature thinking similar to that of humans in their fighting style.

This is scary.

With the help of Morel and Knov, they even captured a soldier captain who had awakened Nen.

This also gave them a clearer understanding of the threat posed by this creature.

He was just a squad leader; above him were Squadron Leader ... and the terrifying Neferpitou had severely injured Kite with a single blow.

Members of the Royal Guards.

During this time, Oboro also secretly traveled around and observed, confirming that Shaiapouf and Youpi had been born.

All that's missing is the Chimera Ant King, Meruem.

With the appearance of Shaiapouf and Youpi, the ants, who had previously been too afraid to show themselves because of Neferpitou's death, began to expand their activity range once again...

The queen ant's production has reached a critical moment, and food cannot be cut off.

Knov's Nen, in the Four-Dimensional Mansion.

Netero once again donned his long-unseen casual clothes: a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.

This is the outfit he wore when he was young, every time he fought with all his might and challenged powerful figures from various schools... He hasn't touched it for many years, which shows how much he values this mission.

In order to regain his former fighting form, he had Knov and Morel bring him all sorts of 'sparring partners'. In addition, the two of them also worked hard to study the Chimera Ant, striving to gain a more thorough understanding of this creature.

At this moment, on the ground floor of the Four-Dimensional Mansion, this independent space.

The ground was littered with ant carcasses... all alien species that Netero had killed.

A door behind the old man opened, and Knov, wearing glasses and a suit, walked in.

Looking at the Chimera Ant captain who had just died at the chairman's feet, he said calmly, "Did you answer?"

"Um..."

Netero grinned nonchalantly.

Seeing this, Knov closed his eyes and sighed, "So, he really did hide the truth from us... That Neferpitou is dead, killed by Oboro, and judging from the time he appeared, he didn't come to NGL on a whim at all... Even now, he may not have left yet."

Oboro's affair could be kept from them, but these ants knew everything about him... They all knew that a human was causing trouble on their territory, even killing the Royal Guards. Information about Oboro's appearance and clothing had spread throughout the anthill.

So... Netero and his group only need to ask them a few questions to find out.

"President... I advise you to be careful with him. This person... has other motives."

"I should still inform the Association," Knov said calmly.

"Need not!"

Unexpectedly, Netero suddenly spoke up to stop him.

"Pretend you know nothing about Oboro, and don't tell anyone."

The president stroked his beard, smiling without any sign of unease.

"President..."

Knov frowned.

I feel that the president is being too lenient with Oboro... Even if they are privileged, there are still some rules that must be followed.

"Oboro did what he had to do... That Neferpitou was incredibly powerful; even I might not have been able to kill her myself, yet he risked his life to eliminate her."

"Yes... he provided us with information and even killed that ant, but... he didn't tell us! If we had taken immediate action to address this, before the Chimera Ant King, and before the other two Chimera Ant in the Royal Guards awakened..." Knov wanted to say something more.

"Knov ..."

Netero's smile faded, he stretched his neck, and waved his hand. "You've already seen how dangerous the ant colony is. Even if that Neferpitou is dead, with the sheer number of these ants, including those Squadron Leader, do you think we can handle them in a short time?"

"Given the genetic makeup of these ants, their birth is inevitable, it's just a matter of sooner or later. Even if I had entered the ant nest ahead of time, those two ants and the Chimera Ant King would still have... been born prematurely."

"..."

"I could go in alone, but it's not a sure thing..."

The old man spoke to himself.

"But that situation is better than the present. Two members of the royal guard have been born and are wary of humans."

Knov lowered his eyelids. "I think he did it on purpose!"

"Yes... he's gambling." Netero flashed a row of teeth.

"That little guy thinks... I'll lose to an ant!"

Netero sighed, "This old man... has been underestimated..."

After saying that, he looked at Knov with a serious expression, "Remember, you are not allowed to tell anyone about Oboro, this is... an order."

Knov's breath hitched.

Finally, he nodded.

"It's to protect me..."

Knov Passage.

In addition, he was also aware of Oboro's influence within the Association.

If things fall apart with Oboro, the Association might fall into chaos, which wouldn't be a good thing.

He certainly didn't think things through.

Furthermore... Knov discerned another layer of meaning behind the chairman's words.

It seems to carry a certain awareness...

This made his heart sink.

Meanwhile, in the wooden house where Oboro and the other two were staying.

Long lay on the floor with her legs crossed, dangling her toes.

"You're just too kind... Even in this situation, you still want to prove yourself, trying to suppress all unstable factors. Human nature... is really hard to change."

"It's a dead end... but we didn't have to die..."

"They clearly saw everything, they had it all..."

"Why... do it to this extent? Living too consciously is too tiring..."

He murmured softly.