The airship arrived at the Hunter Association headquarters landing pad early the next morning. From the portholes, they could see that the area outside was packed with people.
The blades had barely stopped spinning when the airship's hatch opened and the gangway was lowered to the ground.
A crowd of people who had been waiting for a long time immediately gathered around. Most were members of the Hunter Association, while only a few belonged to other groups.
Some waited beside the gangway, watching the hatch. Others looked down at their phones and sent messages, while still others prepared a red carpet and flowers.
When the Chimera Ant Extermination Team, led by Chairman Netero, came down the gangway, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause, whistles, and cheers.
In fact, though, only Netero, Gelman, Morel, Nobunaga, and Knuckle appeared before the crowd.
Shoto still needed to spend some time in bed.
Because of their Chimera Ant appearances, Pam, Meleoron, Ikalgo, Welfin, Brobupta, and Shina couldn't be exposed to the public during this sensitive period.
For now, all they could do was stay aboard the airship and quietly listen to the cheers and celebration, their feelings a jumble.
Only after the crowd had dispersed would people in the know come to quietly escort them off the airship and settle them in secluded apartments.
The heroes among them would receive flowers and praise, but the flowers and praise would be given in the shadows, away from the stage.
Their achievements wouldn't be made public until much later.
Even then, barring exceptional circumstances, word of their deeds would still spread very little.
There was no helping it. It wasn't as if a writer or manga artist would be commissioned to write or draw a biography of them.
Leading the crowd welcoming the Chimera Ant Extermination