Knov's explanation was solid and made everyone nod in agreement. He had a good grasp of chimera ant biology. But that just raised another question, why was this chimera ant so different?
"No way..." Ging's eyes locked on the tiny baby in Colt's hands, anxiety bubbling up and making his eyelids twitch. He had a bad feeling about this.
Clap clap clap
Larry stepped forward, clapping his hands. "Knov, your analysis was spot on. This chimera ant is definitely special." He turned to Ging with a sharp smile. "Ging, don't you have something to say?"
Ging remained silent, his unease growing deeper. Larry's smile widened, clearly enjoying the moment. Ging's dread deepened as he began to piece it together.
"This little chimera ant... is actually Ging's apprentice, Kite!" Larry announced before Ging could say a word, reading the situation perfectly.
"What? That's Mr. Ging's apprentice?!" The room was stunned by the revelation.
Morel was initially startled but quickly moved closer to examine the baby. No matter how hard he looked, there was no way to mistake this baby for Kite, the differences were just too obvious.
"Kite was my apprentice, and he had a strong nen abilities," Ging explained. "After he was killed by Neferpitou, his soul somehow lingered. According to what we know, the Ant Queen gave birth to this child after ingesting his remains, though it wasn't the usual process."
In the original story, Kite's body was manipulated into a puppet by Neferpitou using her nen ability, Doctor Blythe. His body was used for combat practice, but not consumed in the conventional sense.
Later, the Chimera Ant Queen gave birth to a child who resembled a human baby with pink hair. This child retained remnants of Kite's memories and personality, suggesting that his soul had somehow reincarnated through the Queen.
This wasn't the result of typical Chimera Ant reproduction, it was a rare anomaly, likely caused by Kite's strong will and nen abilites.
"Is that really the case?" Morel and the others finally understood why Ging's apprentice had ended up like this, it was all because of his nen.
In this world, no matter how strange something seemed, if it could be explained by nen, people tended to accept it. It was enough to keep someone alive and basically human.
Just then, Colt quickly picked up little Kite and walked over to Ging. "Since Mr. Ging is her master, he must want to hold her, right?" Colt thought.
But Ging inadvertently took a half step back, cleared his throat twice, and said with an overly serious expression, "Actually, I'm allergic to chimera ants."
Who could possibly believe that? Everyone, chimera ants and humans alike, shared the same skeptical look at Ging's awkward reaction.
In the end, Ging didn't touch Kite at all. He just glanced at her briefly before giving up. He planned to take Kite back so that Razor and the others could care for her, and asked to be informed when she grew up.
With everything settled and even a little surprise, Kite, the medical team returned.
Ging took a group of Chimera Ants along with Little Kite to Greed Island to formally teach them Nen abilities. Among them, Meleoron was the most focused on training, believing that every bit of strength he gained would improve his chances of defeating the Ant King.
In truth, the entire team assembled to take down the Ant King was more symbolic than practical; they were like Larry's follower, a extra rather than active participants. Only Colt and Rena remained from the group, both driven by a deep desire to see their mother again.
Meanwhile, in a relatively secluded village within the NGL Autonomous Country, surrounded by dense forests and small hills, the locals remained unaware of the Chimera Ant incident. Apart from Rena and Colt, who had wandered too far and unfortunately been captured, no one in the village had been harmed.
The disappearance of the two children was assumed to be the result of encounters with wild animals, and since they had been missing for so long, no one really believed they were still alive. Knowing the truth was one thing; accepting it was another, especially for their mothers.
In a small, dimly lit hut, the sound of sobbing filled the air, casting a heavy sadness over anyone who heard it. The only table in the room, usually used for meals, held two plates: one with a whole cooked chicken and the other with a few pieces of meat and a fish.
Between them lay two bamboo sticks crossed in an X shape, and in front of the plates stood two small stone statues resembling Guanyin. The presence of such large portions didn't mean the family was wealthy, in fact, they were struggling.
These foods weren't meant to be eaten but served as offerings, the highest form of local ritual sacrifice. It was also the last hope of a desperate mother with no other options left.
Haruna, the mother, didn't touch any of the food. Instead, she lay half-reclined next to a thick quilt.
Though neatly folded, the quilt was covered in dust, showing it hadn't been used in a long time. Since her children disappeared, Haruna hadn't slept well, unwilling even to pull the quilt over herself, simply lying there, caught in her grief.
Haruna is still a relatively young woman, after all, her oldest child is only eight years old. But her appearance tells a different story. She looks worn and fragile, more like an elderly person struggling to walk.
Months of poor nutrition have left her cheeks sunken and her complexion dull and lifeless. She looks so haggard that if she weren't breathing, anyone passing by might think she was dead.
Her husband left early on, making it incredibly tough for her to raise two children alone. Thankfully, her eldest son is mature beyond his years and helps out with the housework, while her youngest daughter, though too little to do much, insists on tagging along with her brother, wanting to contribute however she can. But now, even these two well-behaved children are nowhere to be found.
"Why? Why did i let them go out alone?" Haruna whispered bitterly, lying on her quilt, tears streaming down her face. "I killed my own children."
It had been months since they disappeared, and every day she blamed herself for what happened. It was her carelessness that cost them their lives, how could she have let her children roam outside on their own? They were just kids.
The guilt weighed heavily on her heart. When she realized they hadn't come back, she searched the mountains and fields desperately, and even the villagers joined in the search.
But after days of looking, there was still no sign of them. The whole village had accepted the tragic truth, they weren't coming back. Only Haruna clung to hope, trapped in a dream no one else believed in.
Her days now were split between two things: searching for her children tirelessly, and remembering the happy times they once shared, only to scold herself afterward for her mistakes. Since her husband died, her kids were the reason she kept going, and the moment they vanished, her world shattered. If it weren't for that faint hope that they might return, she might have given up on life entirely long ago.
Suddenly, the old wooden door creaked open with a sharp, piercing sound.