Chapter 417: Episode 74

"Alright, let's play cards; you are all demons."

Inside a large facility surrounded by walls on four sides, there were over a dozen people. It was an enclosed space; there were no windows on the walls, only a single doorway. Most of the people there were children of elementary school age.

Only one adult was mixed into the circle of children. With androgynous features and a fine physique, he looked like a man at first glance, but his voice carried a feminine quality.

The scene of him chasing and playing with the children was just like an elementary school teacher playing with students. He truly wished he had. Tokunosuke watched this scene from afar.

Cher and Tokunosuke. Until a few months ago, they were both affiliated with the Sahelta Special Forces. But that history had now become a thing of the past.

The Sahelta Special Forces were often assigned top-secret missions as the state's underworld. Massive capital was invested in its training, and due to the nature of its missions, it held secret government information that could not be made public. A request for withdrawal was not easily accepted. The two had not officially retired.

The final mission they carried out as special forces, an incident commonly known as the "Heaven Island Incident," changed everything. Both were incapacitated during the mission and detained by an organization.

It was one of the dark organizations behind the scenes sponsoring the ITU Bar offline meetings. It was a research group that administered a "new drug" to the 2,000 spectators gathered at the off-site venue and orchestrated an inhumane human experiment.

There was one subject who survived that insane experiment. These were the children here. For unknown reasons, the survival rate for only children was higher. The effects of the "new drug" were closely related to the subject's mindset. They might be more adaptable to the unknown than adults.

The "new drug" research group used the survivors as valuable experimental subjects. Before the incident was made public, they intervened and executed their plan. Cher, the only surviving adult, was also detained. Tokunosuke was also captured as a bonus. Because the two of them were among the factors that greatly disrupted the underground organization's plans, they were captured as sources of information to understand the behind-the-scenes connections.

As a special unit of Sahelta, the reaction when captured by a hostile organization was hammered into them. He must absolutely not leak information; even if there was the slightest possibility, he would immediately end his own life. If Tokunosuke had followed the manual's instructions, he would not be here.

He abandoned his homeland and submitted to the dark organization. This was not without conflict. He felt ashamed for selling his soul to people he hated. However, he wanted to protect something, even if it was by their side.

A sedative produced by the research group was needed to save Cher's life. With this drug, the runaway effects of the new drug could be temporarily suppressed. With her life as a shield, Tokunosuke completely went against his will to resist. He chose to help his comrade, even if it meant betraying the motherland he had sworn allegiance to.

Cher was not the only one being held hostage. The captured children were as well. Cher did not resist the dark organization and silently obeyed them, mainly because he had the children.

The effects of the new drug could still be felt in the body. Taking the sedative every day was essential, and its side effects were also great. The current situation of being kept as experimental animals had a serious impact on both physical and mental health.

Cher created opportunities to play with the children, hoping to make them feel relaxed and at ease, but this was also a source of emotional support for her. As fellow sufferers of the same "disease," the children opened their hearts to Cher.

It was a feeling of mutual dependence, but Cher was also able to keep a strong heart to repay their trust. Even if it was a relationship being used by a dark organization, he could not give it up now.

Cher and Tokunosuke were both tied down. This cleverly designed situation, where there was nowhere to escape, was the very skill of a dark organization adept at controlling people's hearts. The name at the top was "Gyro."

This laboratory was located in a country called NeoGreenLife, commonly known as NGL. Gyro established a major drug production and distribution conglomerate in this country. In addition to the drug called D2 produced to date, it also began developing this new drug as a new business.

Gyro was the shadow lord of NGL. They operated under the guise of a country, were involved in large-scale criminal activities behind the scenes, and had the ability to get away with it. The fact that this country produced drugs in large quantities behind the scenes was a well-known fact to some knowledgeable people, but they had not yet caught them, which illustrated Gyro's power.

In fact, Tokunosuke had only met Gyro once. He was a friendly person who did not make you feel the arrogance peculiar to the privileged class. However, he felt that something mysterious was hidden behind that humanity. There was a warmth in his words, as if he were communicating with a friend, but on the other hand, he was somewhat isolated. There was a strange charm in that superhuman demeanor.

Gyro bought Tokunosuke's power as a Nen Ability user, granted him a certain degree of freedom during his time as a prisoner of war, and presented a cooperative relationship. He guaranteed he would not harm Cher and the children, but he was not sure how much he could trust that.

"Mom..."

Tokunosuke's thoughts were interrupted as he was lost in contemplation. A child who had been playing happily just a moment ago suddenly started crying. It was simple. Although it looked calm on the surface, his heart was deeply wounded. It didn't matter when this feeling would collapse.

But for the subjects here, such a small emotional expression could lead to irreversible seizures.

"Mom, ahhhhh!"

A girl cried for her family, whom she would never see again. Cher rushed over to comfort her, but she didn't seem to stop crying. Red, scale-like crystals began to appear on the girl's arms.

"It's okay! Teacher is here, Jasmine!"

"Oh, oh, oh, oh!!"

Cher held the young girl tightly. Tokunosuke immediately walked toward the two. He took out the sedative and tried to inject it into the girl.

"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no!"

To suppress this runaway state, there was no choice but to take the sedative. But children who continued to take it every day would feel the side effects of the drug. It was a drug whose effects on the human body had not yet been thoroughly verified. The girl rejected the semi-poisonous drug.

But he still had to administer it. Cher held the young girl tightly, as if restraining her. Just then, Tokunosuke fired a needle. The girl screamed and trembled in pain.

"I'm sorry... I'm sorry..."

The surrounding children watched this scene silently. No one could help but cry. The children's hearts were bound, afraid that if they did so, they might suffer the same fate.

He couldn't finish it. The research group claimed that if research and development progressed, it would be possible to create a complete sedative with improved efficacy and side effects, but how long would that take? By then, would the children even have bodies?

Could Cher help? Tokunosuke unconsciously squeezed the syringe after injecting the medicine.

"I will talk about the difference between Victorian maids and French maids."

Dismissal. I blocked the words of the woman in front of me with my gaze.

"... I'm sorry, you don't even need to listen to such common sense. Now, let me explain the basic design and performance."

After returning from Greed Island, I returned to the place where Pariston had prepared the Game Console. At that time, all items obtained in the game were lost, except for the Ring and the data left inside. The clothes on Six were gone, and he was thrown out naked.

It would have been better if I had prepared a change of clothes myself, but just then, the clerk from the shop appeared. However, I knew I couldn't move freely, so I didn't object.

"First, as you can see, the clothes this time are a maid outfit, very stylish."

A white-trimmed apron dress. The color was a plain black-and-white monotone, but to say this was an outfit with frills and a large ribbon tied behind the waist, that made no sense. Most importantly, the length of the skirt was eye-catching.

"I understand, this irritable short skirt is far from simple; it indeed appears vulgar, deviating from the original maid style. I was also worried. However, in the royal road of Victorian style, the existence of a long skirt is a great hindrance." "Yes."

Does it have to be compatible? Bare legs wore white knee-high socks. The clerk took out a special glue stick, and while adjusting the fixed position, measured the exposed skin between the socks and the skirt in 1mm increments. Afterward, she pressed her cheek against the adjusted socks.

"Shu-ki..."

I kicked the knee of the clerk who was muttering under her breath.

"Agu!?... Is that a reward?"

Suppressing the surging killing intent. It was foolish to reignite the emotions from Greed Island in a place like this.

"Ah... those eyes of absolute zero, those eyes looking at pigs in a pig farm... completely opposite to the word 'service,' and even wearing a maid outfit. Is that so? Miss, what do you look like!"

I don't care about the design of the clothing. What matters is its function. This dress was made by the clerk using her Nen Ability. It was not a materialized product, but a masterpiece, made with great effort by injecting her own Aura into existing thread and sewing it stitch by stitch.

In addition to Hatsu, by combining the use of Kamiji, the Aura was fixed in a Hidden state, and even if it left the caster's hand, the defensive power would not decrease much. Furthermore, it had the function of automatically clearing attached dirt, as well as the function of automatically repairing damage as long as the built-in clerk Aura was not exhausted.

The pure defensive power alone far exceeded that of military bulletproof vests, and its practicality as combat equipment was extremely high. Its foolish design could also be used to lure enemies into letting their guard down.

If this was the role I requested, I would use whatever was available.

"Then, after this, the meeting with Lord Pariston is arranged, so I will take you to the conference room."

I followed the clerk's instructions and entered the facility. This was some kind of building prepared by Pariston. It was not the headquarters of the Hunter Association. The subject walked proudly down the aisle while crawling with his arms. m.

When you enter the conference room, the people inside look at you. Two men are sitting there. Both are people I don't know.

"Hmm. Are you the example?"

"What on earth is this..."

One was a large man wearing sunglasses. Although he wore a shirt and tie, he did not look like a businessman. His shirt sleeves were rolled up, revealing his strong, thick arms.

In contrast, the other was a man in a suit wearing glasses. His build looked slender, but by no means weak. As it turned out, both men were first-class users of Nen Ability.

The two looked at me with appreciative eyes. There wasn't even a hint of friendliness. On the contrary, I could even feel intense hostility. They might not attack immediately, but they certainly didn't like this.

"I've heard of it, but was Netero's grandfather really killed by a child like this... It's not that hard, but I can't believe it. I only started to guess until I met him, but, this is bad. I really don't like it."

After hearing this, I was convinced. These two were likely not Pariston's people. It seemed they weren't overtly hostile to each other for being invited here, but they were likely members of the Association who were close to the former Chairman Netero.

"We haven't talked yet; isn't it too early to make a decision?"

"I'll tell you this. You can't just look at those eyes. Pariston thinks of that girl as an unfortunate victim, but that's just how it is. Why would you 'exterminate'? You must be hiding something. What is it?"

Ever since I came here, I had been in a state of despair. Thinking that being exposed was better than being suspected, I had settled into a state of Hidden.

"... Ah, fine, fine. Shut up. Haha."

The large man pinched his nose, and the man with glasses covered his mouth with a handkerchief. I returned to a state of death. As the atmosphere became even more dangerous, Pariston appeared there.

"No, sorry! I'm late, right? There are five minutes left until the meeting starts, right? Everyone is serious. Since everyone is here, let's begin."

Naturally, the Hunter Association was confused about how to handle Netero's death and my existence. First, let me explain by confirming the current situation.

Since the Chairman left, the Hunter Association's highest executive body, the "Zodiacs," is in charge of the current Association management, but it's hard to say they are united. The Hunter Bylaws state that if the Chairman position becomes vacant, the next Chairman election will be held immediately, but the specific outlook is unclear.

"Currently, there are still some issues that take precedence over the election that need to be resolved."

"This is also your family's specialty, buying time, right? Until the next Chairman is determined, the Vice President will be granted the power to act, which is perfect for continuing to hold power."

"Huh? Do you really need to do that? I think I would normally win the election and become Chairman."

The large man had an expression like he had bitten into a bitter bug. I don't know if Pariston will win the election, but it was a fact that no one could get hung up on it.

The secret mission that Netero exchanged with V5 has also been exposed, and this matter is no longer just an internal dispute within the Hunter Association. The trend of the new Disaster, which is my existence, is the bottleneck.

"I know there are many people in the Association who don't believe in Netero's death. However, is it right to persecute her while being controlled by such emotions? I am resolute. I will deny it as..."

"I understand what you mean. As long as it is decided after a proper discussion with the Zodiacs, I won't complain about anything. I don't mind unnecessary prefaces, so why did you call us here? Tell me."

"Yes, actually..."

It has been confirmed that there is an insect called a "Chimera Ant," which has been certified as a Level 1 Separation species in the NGL country of the Mitene Union. I know a lot about their biology. Because I am also "it."

The obvious difference between me and the recently discovered species might be the size of the body. The Chimera Ants in NGL have human-sized bodies. It is said that the Queen learned the taste of humans, and the resulting humanoid Chimera Ant swarm is hunting all surrounding humans with the power of extinction.

It seems that quite a few Hunters who obtained information on their own have headed to NGL, but many have lost contact. It seems some were able to get close enough to see the nest, but were attacked by powerful Chimera Ants and barely managed to Escape.

"Just how strong is a powerful individual?"

"The Hunter I fought, Kaito, had strength comparable to the Zodiacs. He was able to escape after his arm was torn off, probably because of his advantage."

"You've reached a level where even the Zodiacs would have to run barefoot..."

Moreover, according to the Hunter, this person likely belongs to a higher level of the Chimera Ant organization known as the "Royal Guards," and it wouldn't be surprising if there were multiple people of the same level.

Based on the Chimera Ant ecology that has been clarified so far, it seems that the highest-level entity named "King" has not yet been born shortly after the nest was built. However, even if the Royal Guards are this strong, if a King that surpasses them is born, how much power would it have? I can't even imagine.

"I want to send Hunters in to suppress them as soon as possible before the King is born, but introducing troops in sequence is dangerous."

"So you want as few people as possible, but you need elites capable of suppressing the enemy? That's why Morel and I were chosen."

"Yes, if I were Mr. Netero, I would definitely accompany you two to the scene."

"Isn't the price too high? We are certainly suitable for supporting the battlefield, but in terms of raw combat power, there are guys stronger than us. As expected, Novu and I are a bit tired. It looks like a job."

"Yeah, that's why I want to request the cooperation of the 'three parties' here."

"... Hmm, I thought the story would go in this direction. I'll check, just in case. Me, Novu, who is the other one?"

"Of course, it's Mr. Six."

The large man sighed blatantly, and the man with glasses looked up at the sky in an exaggerated manner.

"With the support of Mr. Morel's 'Deep Purple' and Mr. Novu's 'Four-Dimensional Residence (Hide and Seek),' plus the power of Six, the operation to subjugate the Chimera Ants will surely succeed!"

If Pariston counts my Disaster as part of her combat power, then it's no surprise I've done such a big thing. If you use the Almeiza Machine, these three will be able to handle it without any problems. No, I alone would be enough.

I didn't tell Pariston that I had already sealed the power of the Almeiza Machine. However, for Pariston, as long as the strategy succeeds, it doesn't matter if it loses. I already knew this guy thought that way. Perhaps they also saw through my Hidden vow.

"Of course, I won't force Mr. Six; since you have to fight the existence of the same kind as the Chimera Ants you raised, you might have a feeling of reluctance..."

There's no such thing. Killing is the same. For me now, I'd rather avoid it.

"I thought you'd say that, but there are still people within the Association who are skeptical about you, the connection between this humanoid Chimera Ant and Mr. Six."

Chimera Ants are insects said to be native to the Dark Continent. It is possible that ants that escaped human extinction survived elsewhere, but the appearance of human-sized species is still unusual. Coupled with my existence, it's no use even if they suspect a connection.

Pariston seems to have used the time I played Greed Island to prepare Six, but now that the NGL Chimera Ant incident has occurred, the discussions in the Association have started to Split again.

"Therefore, by letting Mr. Six play an active role in solving this case, we are appealing that he has nothing to do with this case, and he is willing to build a friendly relationship as a member of the Hunter Association. I want it."

No matter what means are used, as long as the Hunter Association can solve a case that has them scrambling, they will gain a certain amount of fame. Do you mean to use it to Purify your career?

"Hey, hey, I don't care about your intentions, why do you have to deal with your situation? Honestly, it's better to do it with Novu, it's a question of strength, no, can you entrust your life to him? This guy is fighting again?"

Pariston nodded angrily at the large man who disapproved.

"I'm in trouble. The reason I chose Mr. Morel and Mr. Novu is not just because they are suitable for support. Here, it is easy to attach a Hunter I am familiar with as an assistant to Mr. Six. However, it cannot be said that this is the best way to objectively convey her abilities and activities to everyone in the Association."

Daring to let a former Chairman Netero stand by my side, I can get a fairer evaluation. If I firmly demonstrate my abilities in front of them, even those who hate the Pariston faction will have no choice but to recognize me.

But this is also a double-edged sword. Whether it's good or bad depends on the two Netero factions to judge. In the worst case, my position might become worse due to baseless rumors. Considering this, it's better to get along well to improve the impression.

"Those without a Lottery ticket don't need one."

However, I interrupted the hesitation with one move. I don't intend to seek cooperation by selling flattery. All you have to do is leave results. If I can subdue the Chimera Ants, Pariston will put me on a pedestal with this fact.

"I'll do it myself."

Hearing this, the large man smiled for the first time. A grinning, ferocious smile, full of hostility, but for some reason, it contained a color that seemed to recognize this person a little.

"Fine. Let's accept this request."

The first person to express agreement was a man named Novu.

"If the Chimera Ants continue to breed, it's only a matter of time before they annex the Mitene Union; we can't let them go."

"Can you cooperate with Mr. Six?"

"It doesn't matter; use him if you can, and cut him off if you can't."

Staring at me from behind his glasses, his eyes were as cold as if he were looking at a tool. Pariston said nothing about that man's attitude, merely plastering his habitual smile onto his face.

"Hehehe, I'll take it too."

"Thank you, Mr. Morel."

"Hmm, I can't guarantee that things will go according to your plan."

Another man agreed. With this, the Chimera Ant Extermination Team was complete.

"Hey there, little beauty, what's your name?"

"If I recall correctly, you are listed as Chocopolov on the Hunter registration form."

"That's right, it's Chocopolov! Kuku, nice to meet you, Chocopolov! I am Morel Mackernasey."

I brushed away Morel's hand, which was roughly stroking my head. Knov was about to walk past me, leaving the room without a word. Pariston canceled it.

"Ah, that's right! I forgot to tell you one important thing! Uh, I want to know where the Material is..."

Pariston was rummaging through a pile of documents. There is no way this guy would forget to tell you something very important. His words, his actions, everything is sinister.

"Actually, there is a criminal organization in the NGL that needs attention."

"Yeah, about the rumors of manufacturing and selling illegal drugs. I know. But the Chimera Ants are a different matter."

"That is indeed the case, but there has been a movement recently that cannot be ignored, and it might get a bit messy."

Apparently, just defeating the Chimera Ants was enough. Pariston's smile was cast in a shadow of malice.