When he heard those words, Killua instinctively turned to look at Gon. He could guarantee that he himself would absolutely obey Ron's orders and not act recklessly. But Gon was different. Gon was far too willful. Even if he promised Ron, there was no certainty that he could actually keep that promise. When the time came, Gon would always put his own thoughts above all else. He might regret it afterward, but given the same situation again, he would make the same choice.
"Here's how it will be," Ron continued. "On my side, I can take on one more person, but only one. However, I can give you a suggestion—over with Chairman Netero, he may also need a bit of extra manpower. You could try contacting him."
Killua's eyes lit up, but quickly dimmed again. "But we don't have any way to contact Chairman Netero."
"That's your problem," Ron replied. "Killua, you're Hunters now. As Hunters, you should learn to solve certain things on your own. You can't always depend on others, right? Enough, I have other matters to deal with. Once you've decided, contact me."
After speaking, Ron recalled the Zodiac Card. A figure entered his field of vision. This person's entire body was wrapped in clothing. The appearance looked human, yet the aura emanating from them clearly belonged to a Chimera Ant.
Benas seemed to sense danger and moved a little closer to Ron. "Uncle?"
Ron studied the figure. The other lifted their head slightly, looking at him warily. In their eyes was a trace of complex emotion.
"You aren't from NGL?" the figure said. "I'm warning you—if you go any further, it'll be dangerous. Don't continue, turn back now."
Ron raised an eyebrow. For a Chimera Ant to issue such a warning to humans made it clear that this one had awakened the memories of its human life. It no longer regarded itself purely as an ant, but as a human being. To awaken so early meant this was no ordinary soldier—this person must have possessed extraordinary mental strength. And where mental strength was great, Nen talent would inevitably be formidable as well.
"You're a Chimera Ant, aren't you?" Ron asked.
The figure froze, falling into a long silence. Only their eyes were visible, locked firmly on Ron.
"Who are you?" the Chimera Ant asked, voice filled with caution.
"A Hunter. My name is one you wouldn't have heard of," Ron replied. "But not long ago, I killed a Chimera Ant. That's why your behavior feels so strange to me. Other Chimera Ants see humans only as food, eager to kill them on sight. Why would you give a warning instead? Do you think you're not an ant, but a human?
Still, I can be sure you're a Chimera Ant. So—shall we talk? I'm investigating the situation in NGL, and since you, as an Ant, took the initiative to warn humans, it means the reality is different from what I expected. Perhaps you also want something, and I might be able to provide it. Up until now, neither of us has attacked the other. That means we can talk, doesn't it?"
Ron's words persuaded the figure. The Chimera Ant removed its hat, revealing its face—an Ant's visage, yet marked by the weariness of age, like a middle-aged man who had worked overtime, gone drinking, and trudged through years of routine.
But in his eyes, Ron saw something else. This was not an ordinary person. He carried a special identity, much like how the true power of the underworld was never in tattooed street thugs smashing things on corners, but in men in suits seated in tall buildings. A suspicion rose in Ron's mind.
"I am a Chimera Ant," the figure said, "but also a human. What do you want to discuss with us? Or rather, what can you offer me?"
"From what I understand, Chimera Ants are all born from the Queen and must obey her. Why can you act freely, without taking her orders? And what do you mean by calling yourself human?"
Ron already knew the answers, but he needed a source to confirm them.
"Do you know Nen?" he asked.
The Chimera Ant didn't answer directly. Instead, he asked, "Do you?"
"Yes."
"Teach me Nen, and I'll answer your questions."
"Agreed."
The Chimera Ant nodded, raising one hand and looking at his palm. "My situation is this—I call it my reincarnated human stage. In truth, I already died once. I was killed by a Chimera Ant, and even my corpse was consumed by the Queen. Yet my consciousness did not vanish. Instead, it was reborn in the body of a Chimera Ant. When I broke out of my shell, my memory and awareness awakened fully within this body. My body is that of an Ant, but my mind is human. Because of this, the Queen's command has no hold on me. As a human, there is no way I could ever serve an insect."
Ron pressed further. "According to what you're saying, there should be other Chimera Ants like you. Have you noticed any, or are you the only one?"
"There may be," the Chimera Ant answered. "But that has nothing to do with me."
"Very well. Then tell me about the Chimera Ants current situation. How many are there, what are their next moves, and how strong are they?"
The Chimera Ant nodded. "That I can do. Their numbers are already considerable—several thousand so far. Most are soldiers, weak individually but stronger than normal humans. Conventional firearms are of little use, unless they are heavy weapons with high firepower. Above the soldiers are the squad leaders…"
He explained in detail. Ron quickly pieced together the picture. The Ants were still in the Royal Guard stage—the Queen's primary focus was producing Guard-class Ants. So far, only Neferpitou had been born. Shaiapouf and Youpi had not yet emerged, and the birth of the King was still some time away.
A thought flickered through Ron's mind. Was Netero deliberately waiting for the King to be born?