When Meruem's strength recovered to 40%, he finally unlocked the spatial restriction and released the Chimera Ant army.
Although somewhat surprised that Meruem had become a child's appearance, due to the natural suppression of racial hierarchy, the vast majority of ants still obeyed Meruem's commands.
As for why "vast majority" - this was because when hearing that Meruem's strength wasn't as strong as his peak period and only had a few layers of strength remaining, and that this wasn't the world they'd been in before, that the humans in this world were far less terrifying than that world and didn't have those strange weapons, the eyes of several Chimera Ants began flickering.
Every Chimera Ant had their own personality, their own thoughts and ambitions.
Chief among these were Zazan and Leol, who had previously received Golden Silkworm Gu enhancement. The main reason they had submitted to Meruem before was because of Meruem's strength and the threat from humans in that world.
But when all this was gone, each of their minds began becoming active.
After releasing these Chimera Ants, Meruem had them continue developing forces in this world just like in the previous world.
It was the same in any world - power was the foundation for establishing oneself in the world.
As for Meruem himself, aside from constantly holding a huge egg at all times, he stayed together with Uchiha Ruiko.
Although being so close to humans was completely incomprehensible in other Chimera Ants' eyes, since he was the Chimera Ant clan's king after all, they didn't question anything.
On the surface he looked idle, but actually Meruem was remotely controlling the surviving Uchiha clan and Naruto far away in Konoha.
However, Meruem didn't tell others in the Chimera Ant army about these matters, because the only person he truly trusted was the cat girl Pitou who had become an egg for his sake.
Although Meruem's non-action appeared in some people's - no, some ants' eyes - like an incompetent ruler who only knew pleasure.
Now, aside from slowly recovering his strength, hatching Pitou's egg was his primary purpose. Other matters didn't seem important to him.
As for boring things like becoming king of the world and dominating humans, Meruem had absolutely no interest. He preferred continuously becoming stronger, fighting the strong, and learning different abilities.
However, what Meruem hadn't expected was that everything he was doing now was being watched by someone.
In a palace castle built in the deep mountains at some unknown time, several Chimera Ants were saying something outside a great hall's door.
"Pouf, don't forget our agreement."
"Don't worry."
"Who's there? This is where the King resides - not a place you can casually enter." Just as several people wanted to push open the great hall's door, a black-clothed figure blocked their way.
"Please notify the King - say that Shaiapouf requests an audience." One of the butterfly men with wings outside the hall said to the black-clothed man.
"I'm sorry, Lord Pouf. It's already very late - not the time for an audience." The black-clothed man didn't agree with Pouf's words but decisively refused.
"Pouf, I told you long ago - what's there to dawdle about with these Squadron Leaders? Just kill those who won't listen." A woman with a scorpion tail on her back interjected.
"I'm just cooperating with you. I have no intention of betraying the King." Pouf glared fiercely at the other party, but they didn't seem to care.
"Let them in, Snake." Meruem's voice came from within the great hall.
"Yes, King." After hearing Meruem's words, the black figure pushed open the door behind him, but his eyes hidden within the black clothing stared intently at these people.
Suddenly, after seeing a red figure, his eyes widened even more. He absolutely didn't believe that among these people who came to find the King so late with obvious ill intentions, that person would be present. Could even he be betraying the King? Was heaven truly destroying the Chimera Ant clan?
The great hall's door was still quite far from Meruem's position, but this was only for ordinary humans. For Chimera Ants, this was just a short distance.
Before long, the three arrived before Meruem. At this time, Meruem wore pajamas, holding that huge egg in one hand while his other arm embraced Ruiko who was drowsily sleeping at his side.
"Zazan, Leol, Pouf, and... Youpi? What brings you to me so late?" Meruem said. Although he'd known long ago that there were still some unstable factors in the Chimera Ant clan, he hadn't expected Youpi to appear among this visit's members.
But after glancing at Youpi who lowered his head not daring to look at him, then at Pouf whose eyes had been tightly fixed on Ruiko since entering, he understood - this simple-minded Youpi had probably been incited by Pouf.
As for Pouf's purpose? In the original work it was because of Komugi; now it was probably because of Ruiko.
This was why Meruem didn't particularly like Pouf among the three Royal Guards. Although this guy was loyal, managing heaven and earth - didn't he manage a bit too much?
Did I need your approval for who I'm with?
Zazan and Leol's purpose - Meruem could guess with his eyes closed. Nothing more than seeing this world had no danger and wanting to break away.
But my Chimera Ant army - was it something you could come and go as you pleased?
Precisely because he understood his subordinates, Meruem hadn't summoned these guys the moment his strength recovered to 30%.
These few were already the highest-end combat power in the entire Chimera Ant clan. Other Chimera Ants, including current Squadron Leaders, were just greater in number.
Leol and Zazan's strength, placed in the Naruto world, were at minimum Kage-level powerhouses, and the particularly strong kind among Kage-level.
As long as they didn't particularly seek death by troubling those ninja villages, even if they occasionally ate humans, it wouldn't have too great an impact. The Naruto world was different from the Hunter world.
In a Warring States-like world of constant warfare, a few civilian deaths weren't worth mentioning. Human life in the Naruto world was even cheaper than in the Hunter world.
These two guys probably had precisely this plan - freedom and being unrestrained?
Unfortunately, even with only 40% strength remaining, making Meruem compromise through this almost palace coup-like method wasn't simple.
So they brought Pouf and Youpi? Hmph, too naive. Pouf would definitely eliminate you the first moment I agreed to his demands.
"King, you are our Chimera clan's king. I hope you can, for our race's better development..." Blah blah blah, Pouf began his long discourse.
What he wanted to express was nothing more than saying there was an extra, obstructive existence hindering Chimera Ant development beside Meruem.
Who was that person? Only Uchiha Ruiko.
Yet what did the Chimera clan's development have to do with Ruiko? Why must it be tied to racial survival? Why elevate this to such principles? Meruem's mood was becoming increasingly displeased.
The party involved, Pouf, was currently in another mindset - the more he spoke, the more excited he became, the more he felt his actions were correct.
"I absolutely won't let that human become the King's weakness. I must kill her!"
"Enough..." Meruem very roughly interrupted Pouf's long discourse.
"So you came to find me this late just to make Ruiko leave? Or are you saying you want me to personally kill her?" Meruem's expression was as dark as ink.
"Yes, King." Pouf said very respectfully.
"Ridiculous. In other words, who I'm with requires Lord Pouf's approval? Or is Lord Pouf now ordering me to personally kill my own life-saving benefactor?"
"King, I absolutely don't mean that. It's just that her existence hinders our Chimera Ants' development." Pouf was very firm in his beliefs, believing his actions were for the Chimera Ants' future.
"How ridiculous..." Meruem laughed in extreme anger.
"Meru, if - if Ruiko's existence makes you feel obstructed, then I can leave. If Ruiko's death can free Meru from troubles, then please kill me, Meru. Anyway, I have nothing left except Meru. Being able to die at Meru's hands would also be a kind of happiness. Meru, please don't be angry." Uchiha Ruiko wasn't stupid - how could she not understand Pouf's meaning?
"Ruiko, remember this - unless you actively leave me, I will absolutely never let you leave my side. No one can, even if the opponent is a god, I'll still kill them. I do what I say."
Ruiko's words made Meruem's heart ache, and his anger burned even stronger, but his heart slowly calmed down.
Even if I refuse his demands, Pouf absolutely wouldn't dare attack me. Then it could only be Zazan and Leol or Youpi acting to stop me while the remaining ones attack Ruiko.
Although my Shadow Guard Twelve aren't weak, they still can't stop them.
As long as Ruiko dies, this guy's purpose would be achieved.
But would I let your wishful thinking succeed so easily?
"If I say I refuse, are you planning to attack me? Is it you, or Youpi? Or these two wastes?"
"As expected, the so-called three Royal Guards most loyal to me are just a joke. Indeed, only Pitou and the Shadow Guard Twelve are truly loyal to me." Meruem's last sentence was spoken very lightly, but to Youpi's ears it was like thunder.
Pouf's face showed a smile of impending victory. He believed Meruem would definitely make the correct choice - well, the choice he considered correct.
Youpi's face showed struggle and conflict, drops of sweat continuously falling.
Youpi, who hadn't shed a single drop of sweat even when fighting Netero, was now covered in sweat.
Finally, Youpi made some decision and suddenly blocked Meruem's front, saying in a low voice to Pouf:
"I'm sorry, Pouf. I really still can't do this to the King."
At this moment, Pouf's smile froze, while Meruem showed a smile of "just as expected" behind Youpi's back.
(End of Chapter)
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