"Even so, it's only in the United States of Saherta that I have a chance to survive."
"You're using me to gain the results of the parasite research."
"But... this is also my only chance to live."
"I know to you, I'm probably just insignificant."
"You look at me the way I look at the common people."
"But... I've figured out the path of the parasite."
"I will return."
Oster lifted his head, gazing up at the pitch-black ceiling—but his vision seemed to pierce through the darkness, as though he could see the world aboveground.
...
Outside the corridor, Beard leaned against the wall as Sarona stepped out.
"Sarona-sama, the envoys from the V5 nations have arrived."
Sarona frowned.
"That eager already? Fine. Let's go together."
"Yes."
...
They walked side by side.
"Sarona-sama, how do you plan to handle this situation?"
"They've already joined forces to push this through. But they can't push too hard. All they can do is make some concessions."
Sarona sighed. It was a reluctant compromise.
Even though the United States of Saherta was one of the V5 nations, the attitudes of the other four—especially on this issue—were cautious. This involved taboo subjects.
It involved the deaths of countless civilians.
Sarona had no way to keep the other V5 envoys from intervening.
"What about the Zoldyck family?"
"No need to pursue anything further."
Sarona shook her head, turning to look at Beard.
"Beard, your mindset still hasn't changed. Stay at the S-Rank aura level a bit longer—you'll understand eventually."
"This world has layers."
"The V5 royalty, religion, and those like us—we're on a different plane altogether."
"Oster is no different from any other civilian."
"The life or death of people like that... is decided at our whim."
"But the Zoldyck family... they're just barely on our level."
"Let me put it simply."
"Beard, have you ever been to a slaughterhouse?"
Beard nodded.
"For us, Oster and the average person are like the livestock. We are the butchers."
"And the Zoldycks? They're like the neighbors next door—poor, maybe vegetarians, eating whatever they can, whenever they can. But at least... they're human."
"The way we treat people and the way we treat livestock—that attitude is bound to be different."
"Do you understand?"
Beard was quiet for a moment, picturing it. Then his expression shifted.
"...I understand, Sarona-sama."
...
When Sarona and Beard entered the meeting chamber, five people were already seated.
Pariston was among them, along with envoys from the remaining V5 nations.
All of them were A-Rank aura users.
...
Inside the palace.
A young man dressed in ornate royal garb sat with a heavy expression. His brow was furrowed, and scattered across the table before him were papers filled with jumbled handwriting—emotional outbursts poured onto the page.
They were notes. Notes about Oster.
This man was the current king of the United States of Saherta.
"Great-grandfather knew everything... so why did he just sit by and watch me make all these mistakes?"
"Did he lose faith in me?"
Below, a servant hesitated before speaking.
"Perhaps... perhaps he thought this was a good opportunity for Your Majesty?"
"A trial? But so many people died..."
"Just civilians."
"Just civilians..."
The king's eyes flickered.
The servant wasn't wrong.
Oster understood this, too.
The elders of the Saherta royal family hadn't ignored what he was doing. They hadn't even covered it up. They knew exactly how they were playing with the young king.
Most elders wouldn't tolerate being manipulated like this by the younger generation.
"This was a test for the little king."
"Using me as a whetstone."
"Using the deaths of countless civilians as kindling."
"When I finally deliver the results, they'll probably toss me to him—to let him take my life with his own hands."
"Feed my death to him, like fuel for his growth."
Oster chuckled darkly.
...
The emergency V5 summit concluded.
Several parties had reached a consensus.
With joint funding from the V5, a research lab was to be constructed in the United States of Saherta. It would be built upon the foundations of Oster's original lab, and all of its research data would be shared with all V5 members—
Including the Hunter Association.
That wasn't all.
The United States of Saherta had staged a grand gesture.
At least, it felt grand to ordinary citizens.
A public trial was held in the royal capital. The crimes committed by Oster were laid out in full detail—although Oster himself was never brought out.
Masses gathered.
Some cursed Oster with hatred.
Some cried, believing this meant hope was finally here.
Some shouted praises for the king's wisdom and justice.
A corpse was wheeled into the square. In full view of the public, it was doused in gasoline and set aflame.
Until it turned to ash.
The square was packed with people. The air was feverish.
The people of Saherta had lived under fear for too long. Their voices had been stifled. Their lives filled with dread and silence...
Not everyone had the courage to resist.
But everyone dreamed of a better future.
As Oster was condemned and burned, the people truly believed—hoped—that the nation was changing, that their suffering might end.
What they didn't realize was...
Nothing had really changed.
Oster's death would not reform the nation.
The only thing that changed... was the name of the person casting the shadow over them.
The dark clouds hanging over Saherta never left.
...
"Almost there," Zeno's voice came from up front.
Kaizen looked up. The silhouette of Kukuroo Mountain loomed in the distance.
A familiar feeling washed over him—deep, in his bones. This was home.
Even the pace of Mito's wings quickened, as if she too sensed the nearness of their destination.
"I wonder if Killua's still at the manor… or if he went back to Heavens Arena."
Kaizen hadn't had the chance to ask.
His thoughts had been consumed by everything that happened in Saherta.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (1047 chapters in total)