Hisoka...
He firmly believed he was the strongest, yet considered himself utterly ordinary.
Within this seemingly contradictory self-perception, Hisoka's pursuit remained pure and unwavering.
What he was obsessed with was that soul-stirring, passionate clash in the heat of battle.
However, he had no interest in non-human opponents like the Chimera Ants.
No matter how powerful they were, they could hardly truly move him.
He also had no enthusiasm for teamwork, one could even say... it simply didn't excite him.
What he wanted had always been one-on-one combat with humans, a life-or-death struggle where everything was on the line.
So, just a few days ago, feeling the timing was right once more, the thought of seeking out Morrow surfaced in Hisoka's mind again.
Surprisingly, this time he easily managed to contact him.
Morrow quickly sent him a meeting address.
A peculiar country called East Gorteau, and a train station address that had only been decided yesterday.
Despite the bustling crowd at the station, Hisoka immediately recognized Morrow, who had not only altered his appearance and build but had even disguised the flow of his aura with remarkable skill.
Suppressing the fluctuations in his heart, Hisoka weaved through the crowd boarding the train and approached.
And the moment he heard the girl address Morrow, the corner of Hisoka's lips curled up slightly.
It was like spotting the hidden joker in the other's hand at a glance.
Such challenging feats, fueled by his narcissistic nature, could still evoke pleasure in him.
He didn't even mind Morrow borrowing his name again.
After all, compared to the impending battle that would fulfill all his desires, such a trivial matter was utterly insignificant.
"You've got a pretty sharp nose."
Hearing the familiar voice from behind, Morrow turned and saw Hisoka, who showed no signs of disguise.
Anyone entering East Gorteau could clearly sense the country was in a state of emergency.
Logically, a foreigner like Hisoka, who had snuck in to save trouble, would at least make some effort to disguise himself to avoid unnecessary complications.
But Hisoka made no attempt to conceal himself.
He still wore his exaggerated tear-drop makeup and sported that eye-catching, flamboyant hairstyle.
The heart design on his crop top was especially conspicuous.
Defying conventional logic, that was just so Hisoka.
Hearing Morrow's remark, Hisoka paid it no mind, merely curling his lips as he requested, "Can you change back to your usual look~? It'll feel more fitting that way."
'...'
Morrow fell silent for a moment, unwilling to reveal his true appearance in such a crowded place.
Even if they moved elsewhere, he couldn't be bothered to indulge Hisoka's request.
But then he remembered he might need to make use of Hisoka again later, so he figured it wasn't a big deal.
"Let's talk somewhere else."
With those words, Morrow turned and walked away.
Hisoka narrowed his eyes slightly, a smile playing on his lips as he followed at a leisurely pace.
Located in central East Gorteau, most of the citizens had already left for the capital via various means of transport.
However, due to the proximity to the train station, there were still quite a few East Gorteau residents in the surrounding area.
Morrow and Hisoka walked a long distance before finally finding a relatively secluded corner. At Hisoka's request, Morrow removed his disguise, reverting to his original appearance. He no longer deliberately simulated naturally overflowing aura, instead enveloping his entire body with a stable and silent Ten.
"Let me clarify one thing first: although I gave you the meeting address, that doesn't mean I've accepted your challenge."
After restoring his true appearance, Morrow looked calmly at Hisoka and said plainly:
"There are two reasons. First, I'm about to face a tough battle soon and don't want to waste energy now. Second, I still don't think the current you can spark my interest."
"Don't be so quick to judge. I'm 'different' now."
The smile on Hisoka's lips gradually faded as he stared intently into Morrow's eyes:
"There are two reasons. First, not long ago I was 'fortunate' enough to experience near-death firsthand. Second, my ability has become stronger."
"Oh?"
Morrow couldn't help but raise an eyebrow, asking calmly: "Are you saying you nearly died but survived, and instead became stronger?"
"Exactly~"
The smile reappeared on Hisoka's lips.
His recent experiences had frequently brought him to the brink of death.
But precisely because of this, he had achieved significant growth in extreme adversity.
Especially his Nen ability, which had undergone new evolution.
This was the fundamental reason why he felt confident enough to seek out Morrow for battle again.
A flicker of strangeness passed through Morrow's eyes: "What a coincidence, I also experienced near-death not long ago."
"Oh?"
Hisoka's first reaction was that Morrow was using this opportunity to counter his earlier imitation of speech patterns.
But then he saw Morrow raise three fingers and say calmly:
"But I experienced it three times. According to your logic, I should have become stronger three times over. So, what makes you confident you can still interest me?"
'...'
Hisoka fell into rare silence.
He carefully examined the subtle expressions on Morrow's face with a scrutinizing gaze, trying to determine whether the other was lying.
After all, something that could bring Morrow to the brink of death three times... such a thing sounded rather unrealistic.
However, after careful observation, Hisoka found no flaws in Morrow's expression.
He really did experience near-death three times...
Coupled with Morrow's earlier mention of an upcoming tough battle, Hisoka couldn't help but feel somewhat curious.
"Who?"
Hisoka set aside his frivolous demeanor, his expression turning serious.
He was genuinely curious about who could push Morrow to the brink of death.
Morrow lowered his hand and straightforwardly listed three names: "Beyond, Netero, and a monster from the Chimera Ants named Youpi."
Hearing these three names, Hisoka's attention naturally focused on Netero.
After all, Netero was the only one he knew.
As for the Chimera Ants... although they could be called monsters by Morrow, the thought that they were merely similar to magical beasts made him lose interest.
Thinking this, Hisoka asked with some curiosity: "How strong is Netero?"
"Impeccable."
Morrow answered with utmost seriousness.
Even though he had vaguely glimpsed a path to contend with Netero during their encounter... at this moment, the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva remained an unshakable existence.
Only when the decisive battle arrived in a few days... would the undefeated myth of the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva truly come to an end.
Hisoka felt surging emotions and fluctuating battle intent, but his focus remained firmly on Morrow. Morrow could naturally see right through Hisoka's barely suppressed thoughts, but he had no intention of responding.
Instead, when he heard Hisoka confidently declare his desire to grow stronger, Morrow's urge to make Hisoka his workhorse grew even stronger.
This was precisely why he had deliberately taken the trouble to lay the groundwork step by step.
He knew full well that Hisoka had no interest in so-called alien species.
Unless he could make Hisoka realize that the Royal Guards of the Chimera Ants, with their highly integrated human genes, were in a sense special beings existing between humans and magical beasts.
Not only could they learn Nen abilities, but they fundamentally surpassed the ants Hisoka had imagined.
For Hisoka, they were opponents who defied conventions, even transcended norms... perfect for a life-or-death battle.
That would surely satisfy Hisoka.
As these thoughts crossed his mind, Morrow slowly said, "How about this... first, help me with one thing..."
'?'
Though it was the same old routine, Hisoka faintly sensed something amiss.
—--
After Morrow's detailed explanation, Hisoka's perception of the Chimera Ants gradually shifted.
Especially upon learning how deeply they were influenced by human genes and their proficiency in using Nen abilities, Hisoka finally grew interested.
And as Morrow painted an even grander picture, Hisoka reluctantly accepted the deal.
He agreed to join the Extermination Team and assist in dealing with the Chimera Ant Royal Guards, whom Morrow held in high regard.
In return, after the mission's success, Morrow would seriously engage in an all-out battle with him.
Consider it an appetizer before the main course.
Unaware of what he was about to face, Hisoka held this thought in his heart.
Morrow watched as Hisoka remained as enthusiastic as ever, his gaze unconsciously softening.
If Hisoka had ever read 'The Capitalist and the Workhorse,' he might have recognized... the look Morrow was giving him now was exactly that of a capitalist.
But Hisoka never cared about such gains and losses.
As long as it satisfied his desires and pursuits, he was willing to do anything.
So, to him, whether he was the fruit farmer or the apple made no real difference.
"Shouldn't we get to know our 'companions' before the official operation begins?"
Walking across the vast wilderness, Hisoka seemed a bit bored and casually brought up the topic.
Without turning his head, Morrow replied, "Don't worry. The day before the operation starts, everyone will gather to finalize the plan based on progress. There will be plenty of time to get acquainted then."
"Seems... you're all quite busy."
Hisoka's tone carried a hidden meaning.
Hearing this, Morrow glanced back at him and raised an eyebrow. "What, did you specifically investigate the situation here before coming to this country?"
"Not at all."
Hisoka's lips curled slightly as he narrowed his eyes. "But it wasn't hard to guess."
"Well, you guessed right. To weaken the King's forces, everyone else is acting without a moment's delay."
Morrow's gaze returned to the path ahead.
Hisoka leisurely pressed further, "So, that's why you left a mark on that girl?"
'...'
Morrow couldn't help but turn to look at Hisoka again.
When he had planted the Star Mark on Komugi, he had always randomized its location to inconspicuous spots for concealment.
He never expected Hisoka to detect the Star Mark's presence. This forced him to ponder... whether the Star Mark could evade the senses of the King and the Royal Guards.
"How did you figure it out?"
Morrow's gaze turned slightly serious as he asked.
Hisoka, with one hand on his hip, smiled and said, "Just a guess~~ But judging by your reaction... I must have guessed right, huh?"
'...'
Morrow shook his head helplessly and averted his gaze.
Whether the Star Mark he had implanted in Komugi earlier would prove useful in the subsequent actions... he couldn't be certain.
Yet, he still believed that, with knowledge of the future, it was necessary to lay this hidden piece in advance.
In comparison, preparing some 'health packs' in advance seemed even more crucial.
This was one of the essential preparations he had to complete before the team assembled.
The only uncertainty was whether he could still find Chimera Ant Peons within the Mitene Union; even Officers would suffice.
But the most suitable targets for health packs remained the Chimera Ant Peons.
After all, when using Shooting Star · Essence Siphon to extract healing energy, even without injecting much aura output, he could easily eliminate Peons in an instant.
Over the next three days... relying on intelligence support from Kite's team members, Morrow successfully located three Peons.
Though he intended to prepare more health packs, the assembly time was approaching, so he had to abandon the idea.
Morrow had Hisoka use Bungee Gum to restrain the three Peons, then headed to the team's rendezvous point.
—--
Several kilometers away from the capital, Peijin, a palace stood silently on a barren stretch of land.
For reasons unknown, the palace where the East Gorteau leader resided was not only far from the urban area of Peijin but also separated from the road to the capital by a wide river.
For the King, however, this palace, isolated from the bustling city, was exceptionally tranquil, perfect for immersing himself in reading and rapidly absorbing knowledge of the human world.
His intellect was extraordinary, and his learning ability was no less than Neferpitou's. He could often finish a book in an extremely short time and thoroughly comprehend its contents.
However, during his reading, the King soon became deeply fascinated by competitive board games like Go.
He began to experiment.
Yet, human chess skills were far weaker than he had anticipated.
Even so-called champions were effortlessly crushed by him.
Such opponents brought no sense of accomplishment; they were, at best, a way to pass the time.
But this arrogance and disdain came to an abrupt halt two days ago when he encountered Gungi.
Her skills... are still improving.
The King glanced across the board at Komugi, who was happily gathering the pieces.
—--
Meanwhile, high atop the palace's towering dome, Neferpitou sat quietly in a meditative pose.
The sinister aura emanating from her spread like ripples, enveloping the surroundings in the form of En.
Suddenly, her cat ears twitched slightly.
A faint sound of fluttering wings reached her ears.
It was Shaiapouf.
He flew directly to Neferpitou's side, hovering in mid-air.
Neferpitou turned her head to look at him and asked, "Is the King still playing?"
"Hmm."
Shaiapouf's eyes were slightly gloomy. He responded briefly before directly shifting the topic to the Meat Orchard in the central courtyard, his tone flat as he said, "The first batch of soldiers has hatched, but the progress is still too slow."
"Meow~ Maintaining 'En' while controlling the puppet to perform modification surgery is already the fastest speed possible."
Neferpitou spoke as her gaze shifted to the ten giant trees in the courtyard, each densely hung with flesh eggs.
Every tree bore five hundred flesh eggs.
At this moment, all the eggs on one tree had already completed their hatching.
Among the remaining flesh trees, a conjured puppet shrouded in crimson aura was manipulating precise and sharp surgical instruments, piercing them into the eggs one by one to perform modifications.
Even without the Queen's reproductive abilities... as long as one mastered genetic implantation technology and had abundant human specimens like insects, it would be easy to mass-produce Chimera Ant soldiers possessing Nen abilities.
This was a crucial step in the King's imminent domination of the world.
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Bonus chapter @1400powerstones