"We're ready."

Back on Greed Island, what Biscuit had given the two of them was instruction. Here, what she gave them was training. The concepts were different. Instruction was meant to teach, to let them learn the basics. It was relatively lenient, the focus placed on guidance. Training, on the other hand, was to push their strength forward as quickly as possible. The intensity was on an entirely different level, far harsher than instruction.

Their own states of mind were different as well. On Greed Island, Killua and Gon had looked at Kurapika's progress, at the strength of the Phantom Troupe, and from that pressure, they had developed a deep urgency to become stronger and a keen curiosity for Nen. Now, both of them had Neferpitou forced into their hearts like a nightmare. That oppressive weight drove them to work harder than they ever had while simply learning.

...........

....

.

Meanwhile deep within NGL:

Ron's tests had already produced results. When the Raccoon Chimera Ant saw something familiar from its human life, memories resurfaced, accelerating the recovery of its past self. This principle could apply to other Chimera Ants as well. Moreover, the more memory was restored, the stronger the genetic resistance became.

"I was a killer," the Raccoon Chimera Ant said calmly. "I worked in NGL's underworld, taking jobs to eliminate targets, living each day the same way without anything else. Sometimes I'd sit in a bar. I liked children. My dream was that after I'd taken enough jobs and earned enough money, I would leave NGL and move to another country. I wanted to settle in a quiet town, marry a wife, have children, and live peacefully."

As he spoke, his eyes reddened. "But now none of that is possible. I've become like this. I can never live as an ordinary person again. My life is ruined." He lifted his head, confusion deep in his gaze. "Ron, what do you think I should do?"

"If you're worried that your appearance will make others shun you, then go somewhere where appearance doesn't matter," Ron answered.

"Where?"

"Meteor City."

Ron paused, then said, "You're not the first person I've seen whose appearance was no longer human. Before you, I've seen many. All kinds of strange shapes, some even looking like magical beasts."

The Raccoon Chimera Ant hesitated. "But am I still considered human?"

"What do you think defines the essence of a being?"

"I don't know."

"Have you heard the story of the new ship and the old ship?"

"What story?"

Ron spoke slowly. "A fisherman had a boat he treasured. Whenever a part wore out, he repaired it. But he never threw away the replaced materials, instead piling them in a warehouse. Over time, the discarded parts accumulated. One day, the fisherman's son used those parts to build a new boat. So which do you think is the real original—the boat the fisherman still uses, or the one his son built?"

The Raccoon Chimera Ant furrowed his brow. Benas and the little girl beside him also fell into thought. It was a question with no definitive answer. Yet for someone who doubted his own existence, confronting such questions could open a path to clarity. The Ant sank into contemplation.

Ron looked at the crystal ball before him. "Progress: twelve percent."

The next morning, when Ron opened his eyes, he found the Raccoon Chimera Ant's gaze still red.

"I didn't find the answer to yesterday's question," the Ant said, "but I've decided about myself. I can be human, or I can be a Chimera Ant. What matters isn't my appearance, or even other people's views. It's my own. What I believe myself to be is what I am. Some people, even with human appearances, aren't truly human. I still think of myself as human.

Thank you. I'm going to Meteor City. If it doesn't suit me, I'll find somewhere else."

Ron nodded. "Then do me a favor."

"What kind of favor?"

"When you go, take Benas and that little girl with you."

The Ant froze. "Take them with me?"

"Benas is a survivor from another village I came across. That girl was the survivor you deliberately spared. I believe you can take care of them. In exchange, I'll teach you Nen techniques."

After a moment's hesitation, the Ant nodded. "Alright."

Ron watched as he departed. With his human memories fully restored, the Raccoon Chimera Ant had become like Gyro—capable of disregarding the hierarchy and genetic instincts imposed by the Ant Queen, and instead standing as an independent individual. He had saved Benas simply because the chance arose, just as Ron had once saved Misty during his travels.

But Benas's talent was limited. She could not become a strong Nen user. Because of that, Ron would not bring her into his own team. As his strength grew, the time he could allow for members to develop diminished. Anyone joining his team from here on would need to already possess significant strength, or at least special conditions like Ponzu, who could leap several levels once enhanced by medicine.

Ron was already preparing to move deeper into the inner circle. In that situation, protecting Benas would be a burden. The King had not yet been born, but even the Royal Guard were far from opponents an ordinary fighter could overcome. Ron was unwilling to take Gon and Killua into such danger. He certainly would not bring Benas.

"Neferpitou's strength should be even greater now than when it fought Kite," Ron thought. "Back then, pitou had only opened its aura nodes. After killing Kite, it acquired a wealth of information about Nen users."

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