The next day, Law had Kuro take Komugi to Peijing City.
Kuro could take human form, but was completely pitch black, quite strange-looking.
However, Law rewarded Kuro with a human-skin mask. Paired with clothing similar to what Sanbica often wore, Kuro appeared no different from a human from the outside.
Law stood at the highest point of the capital palace, watching Kuro and Komugi walk along the straight road leading to Peijing.
After a moment, he withdrew his gaze and looked down at the silent, empty palace.
Once the cleanup of the Chimera Ants concluded, this place would be swiftly taken over.
It could be V5 intervening, or other countries of the Mitene Union coming to carve up East Gorteau.
In short, after the Chimera Ant disaster, with the Supreme Commander and Vice-Commander dead, and the military decimated, the entirety of East Gorteau was essentially defined as a failed state. And this incident needed someone to shoulder the blame.
For such matters, pinning it on a dead person was the most suitable approach.
Obviously, the most suitable candidate was Supreme Commander, Diego.
Place the blame on him, minimize the Hunter Association's presence as much as possible, then issue an international statement to smooth things over as best as possible.
This would be V5's next course of action. And if the surrounding countries of the Mitene Union could gain benefits, they would obediently cooperate with V5.
An hour later, Kuro returned to the palace, immediately removing the clothing and mask without a word, reverting to its original form.
Law wore a loose robe, his hair casually disheveled.
"Let's go."
Leaving the palace, walking on the barren land.
A gust of wind and sand swept by, the figures of the man and the cat gradually fading into the distance.
…
Half a day later, in a hotel in the Republic of Hass.
Law entered the hotel and went directly to the staircase.
Reaching the third floor, he came to a certain room.
Just as he arrived at the door, it opened.
"Law, you're here!"
The one who opened the door was Gon, his face excited.
Law had actively contacted Gon when leaving the palace, then told Gon to wait for him here.
Clearly, Gon had heard Law's unhidden footsteps and proactively opened the door.
"Yeah."
Law nodded and entered the room.
Gon closed the door. Simple luggage lay on the table in the room.
"Where's Killua?"
Law glanced around the room, not seeing Killua.
Regarding this, Gon hadn't mentioned it when Law contacted him.
"He went home. It must be something very important," Gon explained.
"Home?" Surprise flashed in Law's eyes. He then asked, "Taken back by his family?"
"No."
Gon shook his head. He also didn't know why Killua had actively gone home, but he felt it was related to the needle Killua had pulled from his head.
So, Gon told Law about this.
Upon hearing this, Law immediately understood the reason.
The needle was pulled out, so the memories regarding Alluka would also be unsealed.
Upon learning Alluka was imprisoned, Killua would naturally choose to return home.
However...
Killua hadn't told him about this, not even leaving a message.
A contemplative look appeared in Law's eyes.
'After memory modification, did Killua judge that I was one of the people in the know, hence not informing me?'
It wouldn't be strange for Killua to do this. From Killua's standpoint, Law shouldn't have turned a blind eye but should have helped him remove the needle.
But Law hadn't done so.
"Gon, come with me."
Law shook his head slightly, glanced at the simple luggage on the table, then walked towards the door.
Without a word, Gon picked up the luggage and followed Law.
The two walked side by side out of the hotel, heading towards the airport.
"I don't know exactly when Ging will return. Anyway, as long as you wait at Botda Hospital, you'll see him eventually. Also, when you see him again, remember to ask him for his contact number."
"Got it!"
Gon responded, roughly understanding why Law and Kite wouldn't give him Ging's contact number.
Because some things inherently needed to be done by himself.
Arriving at the airport, the two took out their Hunter Licenses and immediately enjoyed priority channel treatment, boarding an airship bound for the city where the Hunter Association was located, free of charge.
…
Somewhere in a forest on the Yorbian Continent.
A Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ant was desperately fleeing through the forest.
When he emerged from the Chimera Ant's nest, he harbored the ambitious dream of establishing his own kingdom. But as his fellow ants were eradicated one by one by humans, he had already given up on infiltrating human society.
Now, he only wanted to enter a sparsely populated forest, occupy a territory, and develop slowly.
However, these special humans were relentlessly pursuing him with an intent to exterminate.
A sense of crisis lingered, impossible to shake off. This Squadron Leader Chimera Ant could only continuously mutter low curses.
Suddenly, a graceful figure flashed out from ahead, accompanied by two bright, sharp glints.
The Chimera Ant halted abruptly. His gaze lingered on the woman who appeared for only a moment before quickly scanning the surroundings.
'The route was predicted...'
Fully aware he was trapped in an encirclement, beads of cold sweat broke out on the Chimera Ant's forehead. He could only glare hatefully at the woman in front of him with her many braids. Those gleaming cleavers were filled with dangerous intent.
Figures emerged one after another from the surrounding forest.
Uvogin, Nobunaga, Machi, Buhara were all present. And the woman blocking the front was Menchi.
During this Chimera Ant extermination operation, they hadn't acted as a group. But as targets dwindled to the last one, they had gathered together.
"This should be the last one, right?"
Nobunaga's hand rested lazily on his sword hilt, but his aura was extremely sharp, giving the impression he could draw his sword at any moment.
"Don't know. Let's kill it first, then discuss." Uvogin was eager.
During this period, the one who had killed the most Chimera Ants was undoubtedly Uvogin, the battle maniac.
Being an Enhancer, every fight was a direct clash with the Chimera Ants, inevitably leading to frequent injuries.
Twice, he even had limbs severed. If not for Machi reattaching them and his own unwillingness to stay put, he would have withdrawn from the operation long ago.
"It's the last one," Machi stated calmly.
"I really want to try what it tastes like," Buhara stared at the Chimera Ant within the encirclement, his face full of melancholy.
On the other side, Menchi said helplessly, "This kind of thing... I can't believe you still have an appetite."
Hearing this, Buhara gave a simple, honest smile.
Inside the encirclement, the Chimera Ant was furious.
But as meat on the chopping block, his thought wasn't about resistance, but how to escape from here.
But could he escape?
The answer: Impossible.
Perhaps only one Chimera Ant could have escaped.
…
Botda Hospital, Special Care Ward.
Netero, withered like dead wood, lay quietly on the hospital bed, eyes tightly shut, a respirator over his mouth.
Multiple instruments were placed beside the bed, and a doctor in a white coat was on standby.
Due to Netero's special condition, a doctor had to be on standby at all times for continuous, round-the-clock observation.
Moreover, Netero's ward was an area unauthorized personnel couldn't enter. Those who could visit were few.
The ward had a glass wall. Most of the time, visitors could only stand in the corridor, looking at Netero inside through this glass.
At this moment, several people stood in the ward corridor.