Chapter 115: Checkmate
Meanwhile, Kite and his group had finally confirmed that the Chimera Ants were most likely in NGL and were preparing to depart.
At the airport, they coincidentally ran into Gon and the others.
Gon and Killua had just completed Bisky's special training and parted ways with her.
This encounter at the airport was truly a fateful meeting.
It was unknown whether there was an invisible hand behind all this.
Airport.
"Kite?!" Gon's eyes lit up as he spotted the familiar figure in the crowd. He waved vigorously and called out loudly.
"Gon? What are you doing here?" Kite turned to look at Gon, his face filled with surprise. "Long time no see, you've grown so much."
"It's been a long time indeed." Gon nodded happily. "I've become a hunter who can stand on my own now."
"Kite, who are these two?" Kite's companion behind him asked, looking at Gon and the others.
"They're my friends. I never expected to run into them here."
"I'm Gon Freecss, pleased to meet you." Gon introduced himself.
"Freecss... Could it be..."
"Yes, he's Ging's son." Kite nodded, then looked at Killua beside Gon. "And this is?"
"I'm Killua Zoldyck, nice to meet you." Killua replied.
"Zoldyck? From that famous assassination family?"
"Yeah." Killua nodded. "But I've retired from that life now. Like Gon, I'm a professional hunter—I just got my license not long ago."
"I'd love to hear about what you've been up to all these years, but I have urgent business to attend to right now. It'll have to wait until next time." Kite said apologetically to Gon.
After several years apart and meeting again, they were about to separate once more.
"Is there anything I can help with, Kite?" Gon spoke up.
Kite's companions behind him also chimed in: "That's right, Kite. Since both of them are professional hunters, they'll definitely be able to help."
"No, it's too dangerous there," Kite firmly refused.
Killua took a step forward and said confidently, "Gon and I are really strong now."
...
NGL.
Chimera Ant Nest.
"Trash! A bunch of useless trash!"
"How could he break through our defenses so easily and reach this place?"
Colt shouted angrily as he stared at the man who had appeared in the nest.
Mord merely glanced at the bird-like creature before him, then expanded his En, quickly pinpointing the Chimera Ant Queen's location.
In an instant, he vanished from his original position.
"Enemy intrusion!"
"Everyone, protect the Queen at once!"
Seeing Mord disappear, Colt immediately reacted, frantically flapping his wings as he flew toward the Queen's location, shouting loudly all the while.
"Something is approaching rapidly." The Chimera Ant Queen had barely formed the thought when Mord materialized right in front of her.
"Pleased to meet you. Allow me to introduce myself—I am Mord. There is a matter I wish to discuss with you, Your Majesty." Mord curled his lips into a warm, friendly smile.
But to the Chimera Ant Queen, that smile evoked memories she would rather forget—the man from her memories had smiled in the very same way.
For a moment, she was at a loss, instinctively shielding her belly with her hands.
It was a mother's instinct to protect her unborn child.
"To control the lords, one must first seize the Queen. You are now my hostage."
Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!
As soon as the words were spoken, the ten Squadron Leaders still in the nest arrived at the Queen's palace. Seeing their Queen held captive by a lowly human, they seethed with rage.
"Release Her Majesty!"
Colt was about to charge forward but was cut short by Mord's icy tone.
"Take one more step, and she dies."
Humiliation—this was utter humiliation for them.
So many of them had failed to stop a single intruder. If anything were to happen to the Queen, none of them would be able to atone for their failure, even in death.
"What will it take for you to release Her Majesty?" The strategist Peggy signaled the others not to act rashly, stepping forward to negotiate.
"Whatever you want, as long as it is within our power, we will provide it immediately—just release the Queen now."
"Call back all soldier ants currently out hunting. Have them return to the nest and stand by," Mord said, glancing at Peggy.
"Understood." Peggy nodded, then turned to the other Squadron Leaders.
"Notify your subordinates to return to the nest immediately. And recall Zazan and Yunju as well."
Though the infusion of human genes had gradually given these Chimera Ants individual wills, their absolute loyalty to the Queen was etched into the deepest parts of their genetic code.
They could not defy her.
"I will inform Zazan and the others. The rest of you, hold the fort here." Colt shot a fierce glare at Mord before turning to leave.
To prevent Mord from harming the Queen, the best Colt could do now was to ensure the hunting ants returned to the nest as quickly as possible.
"Is there anything else you require of us?" Strategist Peggy spoke up again.
"Not for now." Mord drew the Zanpakutō from his waist.
Seeing his movement, the Squadron Leaders still present grew tense, fearing Mord might do something to harm the Chimera Ant Queen.
In contrast, the Chimera Ant Queen could sense that he bore no killing intent toward her at that moment.
Mord raised his hand and swung his sword, the sharp blade aura slicing through the air, carving out a massive arena in the empty space before him.
After completing this, Mord took no further action.
The Squadron Leaders looked at each other, none understanding the meaning behind Mord's actions.
Even the wisest among them, Turtle and the advisor Peggy, could not see through Mord's intentions.
Time passed minute by minute.
It was not until dawn the next day that all the soldier ants and Squadron Leaders who had been outside finally returned to the nest.
Once they developed individual personalities, they became difficult to control.
Yet, under the strongest constraint—the Queen—they had no choice but to return.
At that moment, a soldier ant carrying a large basket of giant meatballs entered the palace, intending to deliver them to the Chimera Ant Queen. But before it could get close, its head suddenly flew into the air.
Bright red blood splattered everywhere.
The bamboo basket fell to the ground, and the meatballs inside scattered all over.
"What are you doing?!"
"We mean no harm. We were just delivering food to Her Majesty the Queen. She needs a large amount of nourishment now," Advisor Peggy spoke up.
Mord looked at the Squadron Leaders before him and said, "From now on, she is not allowed to eat without my permission."
"But that will lead to insufficient nutrition for the King!" the Chimera Ant Queen conveyed her thoughts via telepathy, clearly agitated.
"What does that have to do with me?" Mord turned and looked at the Chimera Ant Queen as he spoke.