Because the distribution was uneven, the east and west sides of the large island lay further south, while the middle part was situated more to the north.
Knov, stroking his chin with a serious expression, analyzed the situation. "If we try to explain it logically, it's probably because the Chimera Ants just happened to move along the route from NGL to East Gorteau." It was hard to believe he had been crying just moments earlier.
"We've got a serious problem," Morel said, exhaling sharply as two streams of white smoke puffed from his nostrils. "They used a manipulated corpse to replace East Gorteau's commander-in-chief, and their goal is to turn the entire nation into a food source."
They had managed to take over Ming Jol-ik by using Neferpitou's Nen ability, Doctor Blythe, combined with Puppeteering through Terpsichora.
With these abilities, Neferpitou could manipulate corpses like puppets, making them move, speak, and even appear alive, while masking their aura with In. To the public, Ming Jol-ik seemed unchanged, but the truth was, he had already been dead.
"That doesn't matter. We just need to fix it before it's too late," Larry said with a shrug before turning to Morel. "Where is the old man now?"
"The president only mentioned he planned to meet an old friend but didn't say who or when he'd be back," Morel replied.
The phrase "meeting an old friend" hinted that he might be seeking out Zeno to deal with their enemy, hoping to use Zeno's ability, Dragon Dive, to create an opening for a one-on-one confrontation with the King, just like during the palace invasion.
But the old man should have know Lary capability by now.
So, there was no real need to spend time and money tracking down Zeno. But maybe the meeting wasn't just about that; perhaps he also wanted to see Maha, especially since he had been thinking about death lately
"Alright, let's head back. The results of the match between your apprentice and Gon should be coming out soon," Larry said.
Finally, with the Ant King having been born three days earlier than in the original timeline, Morel and the others were even able to witness the battle firsthand. As a bright flash of light appeared, the three of them stepped into the spatial passage and vanished into the forest.
The Ant King has taken over the East Gorteau Palace, signaling that his crusade is just around the corner. Meanwhile, after a month of steady progress, the gestation bar in Larry's mind is finally nearing completion.
In the hotel where Gon and the others are staying, Biscuit sat comfortably on the sofa, casually flipping through a beauty magazine while urging Gon and the others to keep pushing forward.
"Keep it up like this. There are only a few days left until the deadline, so you have to stay persistent," she said.
Despite her instructions, Gon and Killua remained completely absorbed in the magazine, clearly fascinated by it.
"Got it!" the two boys responded in unison.
Standing side by side, both wore thin T-shirts, their hands resting on their hips as they focused intensely. Their bodies radiated a strong, steady flow of aura, a clear sign of their solid foundational skills.
At that moment, they were channeling their aura with full strength, creating powerful gusts of wind that rustled the tops of their hair and even caused the flowerpots in the room to tremble slightly. Yet, the magazine in Biscuit's hand remained perfectly steady, unaffected by the disturbance.
Gon and Killua's posture and technique closely resembled that of Chairman Netero in his prime. They were training one of the four major principles of Nen, the technique known as Ren.
Ren involves outputting one's aura with maximum intensity, surrounding the body in a powerful, constant flow. It's often used to display strength or intimidate opponents, but its primary function is to expand and reinforce one's aura capacity.
Because it demands sustained aura release, beginners with small reserves can only maintain Ren for a short time before becoming fatigued. However, through repeated practice, alternating between full exertion and proper rest, they gradually raise their overall aura output by unlocking latent potential.
In essence, Ren is a daily training method for those with Nen abilities. The longer it's practiced, the more the aura pool grows, though the rate of growth depends heavily on the individual's talent.
"If they keep up with Biscuit's Heart-Flow training, Gon and Killua might eventually forge an aura as refined as Chairman Netero's," Biscuit had once remarked.
Just then, she froze. Something stirred, an uneasy ripple in her heart. Slowly, she lowered the beauty magazine in her hands, her burgundy eyes shifting toward the hotel door.
A faint creak broke the silence. The door swung open.
Gon and Killua both turned, thinking it might be Palm back from her errands.
But the one who entered wasn't Palm.
Gon's eyes widened. He jumped to his feet. "Larry?!" he shouted.
Larry walked into the room, greeting the kids before turning his gaze to Biscuit, who was sitting on the sofa. "Reading beauty magazines again?" he teased.
Biscuit cleared her throat and replied, "Well, it's one of my rare hobbies."
She casually placed the magazine on the nearby table and asked curiously, "Why are you back so soon? Have the chimera ants all been dealt with?"
Unaware that the Ant King had already left with his royal guards, the three assumed Larry's return meant the crisis was over.
Larry shook his head. "No, most of the chimera ants have been taken care of, but some who wanted to stay human were sent to Greed Island."
He gave them a brief update while Morel and Knov left to search for Knuckle and Shoot. Normally, Knov would've gone to check on Palm, she was his disciple, after all, and currently accompanying Gon. But because of Palm's complicated feelings toward him, he chose to avoid the confrontation and simply followed Morel instead.
"I see. So the King and the Royal Guards have moved to the Republic of East Gorteau," Biscuit said with a nod.
As a woman in her fifties, despite her youthful appearance, she was familiar with that mysterious, closed-off nation.
"It's really tragic for the remaining Chimera Ants… good people twisted into monsters." She let out a quiet sigh and spread her hands. After so many years as a Hunter, she had seen far too many tragedies like this.
This world is full of mysteries waiting to be uncovered, but it's also filled with countless dangers. The only way to feel truly safe is to grow stronger.
When Larry returned, Gon couldn't hold back his emotions and immediately asked, "Larry, did Kite come back with you?"
The thought of losing Kite was unbearable, if he died because of this, Gon knew he'd never forgive himself.
In the original story, Gon always blamed himself for Kite's sacrifice. He believed that because he didn't leave in time, Kite's right arm was broken during their first encounter. If his arm hadn't been injured, maybe he wouldn't have died.
That thought haunted Gon constantly, until the moment Neferpitou confirmed that Kite was truly dead. Faced with the truth, the guilt and rage he'd been suppressing exploded.