Inside the room, Oboro's expression was grim.
Given Ging's personality, if he said he could prevent him from succeeding as Chairman, then… he must have a way.
From the current situation, his strength, reputation, and popularity held an overwhelming advantage compared to the Twelve Zodiacs.
After all, the Fels family had been cultivating and sending new generation Nen users into the Association…
"If he wants to disrupt my plan, the best way is to ruin my reputation," Oboro mused.
In the original work, after Netero's death, Ging Freecss privately 'conspired' with Wing, and had already prepared a method for discussing the Chairman selection: proposing a lottery. During this time, there was also a covert struggle between Ging Freecss and Pariston… ultimately leading to all members of the Hunter Association deciding the new Chairman through a vote.
If the plot remained unchanged, and the new Chairman was still chosen by vote, popularity and reputation would be crucial. The only thing Ging Freecss could do was to destroy the image Oboro had cultivated over the years.
Expose his true self.
Pariston might have intended to do the same thing from the beginning.
Using the ants…
Oboro and his team knew about it but didn't report it, indirectly causing Netero's death.
And now, Killua had already made an agreement with him not to reveal any information about him. His appearance in NGL was explained away by the Fels family, leaving no loopholes. Unless Killua acted as a witness, but that was impossible.
Or… it was Ging Freecss and Pariston joining forces to deal with him.
"With no room to maneuver regarding the ants, the only way to stop me from becoming Chairman is to change the succession method. No more lotteries, no more involving all Association members… Is it a vote within the Twelve Zodiacs?" Oboro narrowed his eyes.
If only the Association's management had voting rights, then he truly wouldn't have much advantage.
The prerequisite was that Pariston had to help Ging; Ging alone couldn't achieve it.
"But… it's useless..."
Oboro put down his phone and said coldly.
The Kakin Empire had been issuing biological investigation commissions for many years… yet the Association had only just noticed. This was a typical case of incompetence.
Oboro could easily turn the tables, using the Twelve Zodiacs' mismanagement as a pretext to insist on becoming the new Chairman… saying that it was due to the Twelve Zodiacs' lack of vigilance that Netero had to clean up their mess, failing to discover the ants early enough to prevent future trouble.
Furthermore, the lower-level Association members were already dissatisfied with Star Hunters and the old system. By campaigning for reform and righteousness, he would surely gain a large number of supporters.
Moreover, Netero was handling this mess this time, but what about next time?
Who else?
There were very few people with such capability.
He had refused to join the Twelve Zodiacs twice before, cultivating an image of disinterest in power. Now, he had to 'reluctantly compromise' and step forward to take over the Chairman's baton… This was more convincing than those who were eager to become Chairman.
Ging Freecss, Botobai the Dragon, Pariston… perhaps all had the strength to become Chairman, but they needed supporters.
Pariston had his loyalists in the Association, giving him a numerical advantage, but his image within the Association… was not useful.
Whereas Oboro was the representative of 'the people.'
Kite was dead… If Ging tried to use the ants again, Oboro could also take the opportunity to prove his team's capabilities, stating that it was their provided data and intelligence that went to the Association, and they had simply underestimated the ants' danger initially, due to their trust in the Chairman.
If the successor was to be chosen from within the Twelve Zodiacs, Oboro had the ability to instigate a 'revolution'…
Although Hunter Licenses were lifelong and could not be revoked for any reason, if Association members voluntarily withdrew and no longer acknowledged their affiliation…
After all, the total number of Hunter Association members was not large to begin with.
He didn't believe the Twelve Zodiacs could stand against him head-on.
Most importantly, with the old man's death, Beyond would immediately make his move… At this critical juncture, who could step up?
Therefore, no matter what method Ging Freecss used to disrupt his plan, Oboro could adapt.
This battle between him and Ging was not a fight to the death, but entirely a contest to influence the situation.
Ging Freecss generally disliked getting into disputes or conflicts with others. He wasn't like Pariston, who always seemed to be looking for trouble in a rather obnoxious way…
"What's wrong?"
Fante and Anthony, seeing his words, sensed something was amiss.
"It's nothing... just that someone couldn't stand the quiet and decided to add some spice to this soup... Heh heh, it's become more flavorful..."
Oboro smiled.
"Ging Freecss... what is he thinking?"
Fante exhaled a puff of smoke and said gravely.
To say Ging and the Captain were enemies… wasn't quite right. All along, he seemed to have been merely observing the Captain.
Unlike Pariston, who genuinely tried to trip him up.
If there was no hostility, then Ging's actions themselves were quite targeted towards Oboro…
This man was somewhat incomprehensible to them.
...
Time passed slowly, and soon, the Association's expeditionary force against the Chimera Ants set out.
Led by Chairman Netero, Knov, Morel, and Morel's disciples, Knuckle and Shoot, among others.
Bisky also rushed to join.
She was there for Killua and Gon.
Now, these two kids, like Wing, were considered her disciples.
The characters from the original work were all present.
The Twelve Zodiacs and other Association members did not participate. The reason was simple: Chairman Netero was personally going… Everyone had absolute confidence in his strength.
Including Netero himself.
Because before coming, Ging Freecss had spoken with him privately… mentioning the potential for mortal danger, and the Ant King that Oboro had spoken of.
But the old man didn't care.
Besides believing in himself, another reason was V5's direct appointment, which he couldn't refuse.
Bisky found Gon and Killua and began to conduct further special training for the two young disciples.
Meanwhile, Netero, Knov, and Morel directly entered NGL to begin investigating the ants.
Heeding Oboro's warning, the three dared not venture deep into the ant nest. They only explored the periphery, capturing and researching isolated Chimera Ants, observing their physiological structures and habits.
The results were consistent with Oboro's provided information: even the ordinary soldier ants had terrifying physical strength… and some elite special soldier ants, in addition to their distinct biological features, had combat styles that incorporated mature, human-like thinking.
This was frightening.
Morel and Knov cooperated and even captured a squad-leader level ant that had awakened Nen.
This once again gave them a clear understanding of the threat posed by this species.
It was just a squad leader; above them were division chiefs… and then the terrifying cat-woman who had severely injured Kite with a single blow.
Members of the Royal Guard.
During this period, Oboro had also been secretly moving around, observing, and confirming that Pouf and Youpi had been born.
Only the Ant King Meruem remained.
With the appearance of Pouf and Youpi, the ants, who had been hiding after the cat-woman's death, began to expand their activity range again…
The Queen Ant was at a critical stage of labor, and food could not be cut off.
In Knov's Nen ability, the Fourth Dimensional Apartment.
Netero once again donned his long-unworn casual attire: a short-sleeved shirt and shorts.
This was the outfit he wore in his youth when he fought at full strength and challenged strong opponents from various schools… He hadn't worn it for many years, indicating the importance he placed on this mission.
To regain his former combat state, he had been having Knov and Morel capture various 'sparring partners.' In addition to this, the two had been diligently researching Chimera Ants, striving to understand this species more thoroughly.
At this moment, on the ground of this isolated space within the Fourth Dimensional Apartment.
The ground was littered with ant corpses… all were foreign species eliminated by Netero.
A door opened behind the old man, and Knov, wearing glasses and a suit, walked in.
Looking at a soldier-ant Chimera Ant that had just died at the Chairman's feet, he said calmly, "Did it answer?"
"Mhm…"
Netero grinned nonchalantly.
Seeing this, Knov closed his eyes and sighed. "So, he did hide the truth from us after all… That cat-woman is dead, killed by Oboro. And judging by the timing of his appearance, he didn't come to NGL on a whim… He might still be here, even now."
Oboro's matter could be hidden from them, but these ants knew the details… They all knew a human had been causing trouble in their territory, even killing a Royal Guard. Oboro's appearance and attire had even spread throughout the ant nest.
Therefore… Netero and the others would know with just a little questioning.
"Chairman… I advise you to be cautious of him. This person… has ulterior motives."
Knov said calmly. "I should still notify the Association…"
"No need!"
Unexpectedly, Netero spoke up to stop him.
"Regarding Oboro, pretend you know nothing, and don't tell anyone."
The Chairman stroked his beard and smiled without a hint of concern.
"Chairman…"
Knov frowned.
He felt the Chairman was being too lenient with Oboro… Even for the privileged faction, there were rules to be followed.
"Oboro has done what he should have done… That cat-woman's strength was extraordinary. Even I might not have been able to kill her personally, yet he risked his life to eliminate her."
"Yes… he provided us with information and killed that ant, but… he didn't tell us! If we had acted on this information immediately and planned accordingly, before the Queen gave birth to the Ant King, and before the other two Royal Guard Chimera Ants awakened…" Knov wanted to say more.
"Knov…"
Netero's smile faded. He stretched his neck and waved his hand. "You've already witnessed the danger of the ants. Even with the cat-woman dead, with the sheer number of these ants, including the division chiefs, do you think we can handle them all in a short period?"
"Given the genes fused into these ants, their birth was inevitable, just a matter of sooner or later. Even if I had infiltrated the ant nest earlier, those two ants and the Ant King would still have appeared… just prematurely."
"…"
"I could charge in alone, but it wouldn't be a sure thing…"
The old man spoke to himself.
"But that situation would still be better than the current one, where two Royal Guard members have already been born and are wary of humans."
Knov's eyelids drooped. "I think he did it on purpose!"
"Yes… he's gambling." Netero bared his teeth.
"That brat thinks… I'll lose to the ants!"
Netero sighed. "This old body of mine… is being underestimated…"
With that, he looked sternly at Knov. "Remember, don't tell anyone about Oboro. This is… an order."
Knov's breathing hitched.
Finally, he nodded.
"He's protecting me…"
Knov thought to himself.
Moreover, he was aware of Oboro's influence within the Association.
If they fell out with Oboro, the Association might descend into chaos, which was not a good outcome.
He had indeed been shortsighted.
Furthermore… from the Chairman's words, Knov sensed another underlying meaning.
It seemed to carry a sense of resolve…
This made his heart sink.
...
Meanwhile, in the wooden hut where Oboro and the trio were staying.
Oboro lay on the floor with his feet crossed, swinging his toes.
"You're too kind… Even in this situation, you still want to prove yourself, thinking of suppressing all unstable factors this way. Human nature… is truly hard to change."
"You call it a dead end… but it didn't have to end this way…"
"You saw everything so clearly…"
"Why… go to such lengths? Living too clearly is also too tiring…"
He murmured softly.
____________________
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