With the Ant Queen dead,
the extermination team led by Knov, Morel, and Netero was also busy making preparations.
Joining the operation were Morel's two apprentices, Knuckle and Shoot, along with Cordis, who wanted revenge for his right eye.
Meanwhile.
Meruem and his three Royal Guards stood atop the nest, looking down at the humans below as though they were ants.
Meruem seemed unaware of the Ant Queen's death-or perhaps he simply did not care about this so-called queen. Just as the queen herself had said,
giving birth to the King had already been an immense honor for her.
With his arms folded, Meruem gazed down expressionlessly. A breeze brushed past his ears, carrying the scents of grass, earth, and blood into his nose.
Meruem was full of curiosity about this world.
Just as he was taking it all in, Neferpitou spoke respectfully beside him. "Great King, I prepared a meal well in advance of your arrival."
"Please allow me to take you there."
At those words, Meruem looked Neferpitou up and down curiously. Apparently deciding that Neferpitou was harmless, he soon turned away again and gave a quiet grunt of assent.
Following Neferpitou's lead, Meruem sat in a small pavilion at the very top of the nest, picked up a flesh-colored meatball, and put it in his mouth.
Shaiapouf, the butterfly-shaped Chimera Ant born not long ago, was playing a violin with deep feeling.
The last to be born, Menthuthuyoupi, a huge, red-bodied Chimera Ant, still seemed unaccustomed to that body and was practicing using it.
The elegant violin melody drifted sweetly through the air.
But Meruem did not seem particularly pleased with the food Neferpitou had prepared for him.
After a single bite, he spat it onto the ground in disgust. "This tastes awful."
His words made