As long as the Hunter Association's review board remains controlled by those old fossils, and with someone secretly stirring the pot behind the scenes... The final members of the Extermination Team would always be Netero, Knov, and Morel.
Even now, Morrow couldn't understand why Netero tolerated the existence of those stubborn old men on the review board.
What he found even harder to accept was that Netero, a legendary Hunter, would willingly let a group of old fossils influence his decisions.
In comparison, Beyond was much freer.
Although Morrow didn't know Beyond well, he was certain that if Beyond became the Association Chairman, his first act would be to kick those old fossils right in their backsides.
Chairman Netero's primary target is the Queen, but considering the scale of the Chimera Ant army, he'll most likely execute a plan to weaken their forces first.
Morrow silently calculated in his mind.
He vaguely remembered that the teams led by Squadron Leader-level Chimera Ants would be reduced to just over a dozen by Netero within a month.
However, due to expert analysis predicting the Ant King's birth in two months, Netero's team didn't rush to launch a full-scale attack even after significantly reducing the nest's forces.
This approach wasn't unreasonable.
After all, before the Ant King's birth, the Chimera Ant Queen couldn't reproduce soldier ants.
This meant that as long as Netero's team stuck to this tactic, they could easily conquer the nest with minimal risk.
One could say this tactic was very Hunter-like.
But how could Netero's team have anticipated that the Ant King would be born a month early?
Just in case, I must convince Chairman Netero ten days in advance to launch a full-scale attack directly on the nest. The best outcome would be to kill the Royal Guard on the spot and prevent the Ant King from being born.
Morrow's eyes showed deep thought as he mused, which means I have at most fifteen days to level up...
Netero's team didn't know the Ant King would actually be born in just one month.
But Morrow knew.
That's why he decided to intervene early and push the Extermination Team to attack the nest sooner.
As long as the Ant King's birth was prevented, the entire situation's difficulty would decrease significantly.
Moreover, there was a chance to claim a Royal Guard's head during Netero's team's attack on the nest...
Morrow wasn't greedy.
As long as he could securely take down one Royal Guard, he would be satisfied.
—--
Meanwhile, the team composed of Netero, Morel, and Knov didn't operate only in the peripheral areas like Morrow.
Instead, they headed straight toward the Chimera Ant nest's location.
Although they had learned about the Chimera Ant Royal Guard's approximate strength from Kite, ultimately, judging combat chances required seeing for themselves.
Plus, they still didn't know the nest's specific troop deployment.
So whether they could directly attack the nest required preliminary judgment after on-site investigation.
"That giant wasp might be a reconnaissance-type ability of the soldier ants. Should we investigate further?"
Morel glanced in the direction where he had shot down the giant wasp, speaking cautiously.
Netero tucked his hands into his sleeves, gazing ahead with a hearty chuckle. "We're heading to the Chimera Ant Nest at maximum speed. It's inevitable our movements will be detected, so there's no point wasting time on minor details."
"The Chairman is right."
Knov, dressed in a black suit, adjusted his glasses and said calmly, "Moreover, the nest's location won't change again. If the enemy tries to launch a preemptive strike based on our movements, it would actually benefit our next steps."
"Hoho."
Netero said seriously, "In any case, let's first go to the nest and 'see' the situation with our own eyes."
The group shot through the dense forest like arrows from a bow, making no attempt to conceal their tracks.
In less than half a day, Netero's team arrived at a rocky mountain area just three or four kilometers from the Chimera Ant Nest.
They stood atop a rocky peak, looking into the distance at the nest.
Even from this range, they could see a Nen wave expanding outward from the nest.
It was En.
An En of absurdly large scale, irregularly shaped and enveloping the surroundings.
"That En... must be the work of the Royal Guard that Kite encountered."
Morel stared at the En stretching over the distant nest. Based on Kite's earlier intelligence, he could almost confirm its source.
After all, even without using En, that Royal Guard could directly sense Kite's presence from two kilometers away while he was suppressing his aura.
So it wasn't surprising that she could deploy an En of this scale.
Knov shoved his hands in his pockets, contemplating. "Kite's intelligence didn't mention an En of this level."
"Haha, maybe that Royal Guard just learned it in the past few days."
Morel grinned widely.
Knov glanced at him, his tone flat. "I think it's more likely that after encountering Kite and Morrow, she realized the importance of strengthening surveillance. Or perhaps Morrow's recent actions have drawn their serious attention. That's why they've further enhanced their vigilance. In the current situation, it's already impossible to bypass surveillance of that level of En."
"..."
Morel's eyes flickered with subtle amusement at this, half-jokingly saying, "Somehow, it sounds like you're blaming Morrow for acting on his own?"
"Isn't that the case?"
Knov didn't deny it, directly countering.
Morel scratched his cheek.
He didn't see any problem with Morrow's actions.
In his view, to deal with the Queen in the nest, combat was inevitable anyway.
And Morrow's independent actions could weaken the nest's forces.
Looking at the bigger picture, eliminating one more Chimera Ant could potentially save an NGL citizen from disaster.
Though his perspective differed from Knov's, Morel kept it to himself and didn't argue.
In the few moments they exchanged words, Netero had already finished observing Neferpitou's aura intensity. Stroking his beard, he said, "The situation isn't good. That one... seems stronger than me."
At these words, both Knov and Morel turned to look at Netero.
Their operational plan was to first ascertain the Chimera Ants' forces, then gradually weaken them until the time was ripe to take the nest in one decisive move. The most critical aspect of this operation was the final assault.
That is, to breach the Royal Guard's defenses head-on.
Yet Netero's current words carried a hint of discouragement.
Knov sighed softly, "Chairman, that's quite the exaggeration. If even you aren't her match, who else could possibly deal with her?"
"Hoh hoh."
Netero chuckled.
He wasn't joking.
In terms of pure Nen intensity, that Royal Guard was indeed far superior to him.
But victory in battle never depends solely on aura strength.
Staring toward the powerful aura emanating from the Chimera Ant Nest, Netero couldn't help but feel a flicker of anticipation.
At that moment, Morel spoke up, "It seems breaking into the nest won't be easy."
"Indeed."
Netero responded, "However, if conditions permit, resolving things in the simplest way is naturally the best approach. The question is, how do we achieve that? Do you have any plans?"
Saying this, he turned to look at Morel and Knov.
Knov sighed again, "Chairman, why ask when you already know? With my and Morel's abilities, of course we'll eliminate them one by one in complete silence."
As soon as he finished speaking, Knov crouched down halfway, and a dark passage emerged from the rocky ground before him.
He reached his right hand into it, pulling out a large smoking pipe and casually tossing it to Morel beside him.
Morel caught the pipe and laughed, "Anyway, let's first figure out the enemy's numbers."
Just as they began their operation, Neferpitou, sitting cross-legged on the outer wall platform of the nest, immediately detected it.
"Many of them, coming this way. They don't seem to be living creatures. A probe... meow."
Neferpitou looked down at the forest ahead, murmuring to herself.
At this moment, rabbits condensed from white smoke were scattering and running through the forest.
This was Morel's ability.
By observing the smoke rabbits' movements, they could gradually map out the nest's approximate military strength.
On the outer wall of the nest, Neferpitou closely watched the smoke rabbits' movements.
As they gradually approached the nest, she quickly determined they were nothing but harmless entities.
Since they weren't living creatures, they could only be the enemy's ability.
As expected, it's a probe... It seems they'll attack sooner or later.
Neferpitou raised a hand to her chin, forcefully suppressing her urge to launch a preemptive strike.
Acting recklessly without understanding the enemy's abilities would likely play right into their hands.
Therefore, the best response now was to maintain the alert network.
Once the enemy attacked, she could immediately grasp their movements and then eliminate them.
Still, even after having the soldiers awaken to Nen, humans are still breaking in this easily.
Neferpitou shook her head somewhat disappointedly.
Over the past few days, the Chimera Ants had lost four or five army divisions, yet they still hadn't uncovered the enemy's capabilities.
And now, the enemy had approached this closely.
This made her feel that helping the soldiers achieve Nen awakening hadn't brought much substantial return.
If she had to say, it only improved hunting efficiency.
What Neferpitou didn't know was... The team currently using abilities to probe wasn't the one responsible for eliminating those four or five army divisions.
At that moment, a gentle voice came from behind Neferpitou: "If you measure the usefulness of Chimera Ant soldiers by your own standards, disappointment is inevitable."
Neferpitou didn't turn around.
She had already sensed the other's presence long before he spoke.
The newcomer was none other than another Royal Guard, Shaiapouf.
Among the three Royal Guards, he possessed the most human-like characteristics.
Were it not for the insect antennae extending from his forehead and the elegant butterfly wings behind him... Judging solely by his face and physique, he could almost pass for a handsome human man.
Shaiapouf stepped forward slowly, his gaze directed toward the distant forest as he remarked meaningfully: "Having fought humans, you should understand the importance of abilities in combat. But the soldiers aren't like us, they can't effortlessly develop the abilities they desire."
"Is that so, meow."
Neferpitou remained noncommittal.
Shaiapouf continued in a matter-of-fact tone: "The gap in talent was predetermined from birth. Give them more time. If necessary, I'll personally guide them."
"..."
Neferpitou didn't respond further.
She had already lost interest in improving the soldiers' strength.
If not for her guard duties, she would rather be studying human anatomy.
—--
Team Netero's reconnaissance operation was conducted right under the Chimera Ants' noses.
This confidence stemmed from their strength.
Also because hunting parties of Chimera Ant soldiers would eventually return to the nest.
Both their departures and returns would be detected by Morel's smoke rabbits.
The Chimera Ants tried to eliminate the smoke rabbits, but no matter how many they destroyed... These smoke rabbits seemed endless, quickly emerging again and again.
Though they attempted to locate the source, several operations yielded no results.
Instead, they ended up delaying their human hunting missions.
This outcome was inevitable.
For Morel, creating smoke rabbits was just a matter of blowing a few puffs of smoke.
And Knov's Hide and Seek provided unbeatable logistical support.
Faced with such unreasonable ability coordination, even if the Chimera Ants dispatched large forces, they could achieve little.
While Team Netero was conducting reconnaissance, Morrow's team relied on Ponzu's scouting ability to continuously improve their hunting efficiency.
Having confirmed that Netero had begun operations, Morrow no longer operated in the periphery, directly pushing their hunting zone deeper inward.
With only fifteen days remaining, Morrow had to race against time to compete with Netero for prey.
Moreover, with Netero drawing the Chimera Ants' attention, the risks during Morrow's hunts decreased.
Another three days passed quickly.
Morrow smoothly leveled up again, reaching Lv.77.
Although higher levels required more experience points... They couldn't withstand this swarm of experience sources.
As Morrow's team and Netero's team conducted their respective hunting operations, the massive deaths of soldiers finally alerted the Squadron Leaders within the nest.
To counter this targeted hunting by enemies, the Squadron Leaders began adopting team-based strategies.
However, this change inadvertently improved Morrow's leveling efficiency.
Another week passed, and Morrow's level had soared to Lv.80.
He could hardly count how many Chimera Ant teams he had eliminated over these ten days. The Star Marks previously implanted had already been harvested by more than half.
Approximately five more days...
Morrow stood atop a rocky peak, gazing into the distance at the Chimera Ant Nest that appeared as a tiny black dot.
It was almost time.
Once he reached Lv.81, he would be able to confirm the reward mechanism for Tree Rings upgrades.
—--
Deep within the Chimera Ant Nest, Morena sat quietly in an inconspicuous corner, mentally reviewing the status information of the infected.
Four have already reached level 100... excellent.
Although human hunting operations had caused some of the infected to perish prematurely, the Squadron Leaders she had invested in at least understood how to assess the situation.
Unlike certain fools who couldn't even grasp the most basic principles of seeking advantage and avoiding harm.
As soon as the Chimera Ant King is born and leaves the nest, I can make my move directly.
Morena cast a discreet glance toward the Chimera Ant Queen's direction, a trace of bloodlust quietly flashing in her eyes.