Meleoron had originally planned to use his ability to activate Perfect Plan and bring Knov to the palace to coordinate the entrances and exits together—ensuring the plan was as secure as possible.
But then, Morel decided to act alone, which left Meleoron feeling annoyed, as if his trust had been undermined.
"They probably don't want to let this opportunity slip away."
Ronnel retrieved his phone and glanced in a certain direction.
His gaze pierced through the entire capital, Peijing, and locked onto the palace, tens of kilometers away.
With his enhanced vision, he could see everything happening within the palace with complete clarity.
By using "Gyo" on his eyes, he could even perceive the flow of aura within the palace.
"Opportunity?" Meleoron frowned, puzzled.
"The palace was supposed to be under constant surveillance, but the Nen that was guarding it has disappeared."
Ronnel explained.
"Neferpitou was always the one maintaining it, but now that it's gone, the soldiers on the perimeter—controlled by her ability—are sluggish and unresponsive."
"Meaning, Neferpitou is preoccupied with something else and doesn't have the capacity to maintain it?"
Meleoron fell into thought.
"The Royal Guards' top priority is protecting the King. If Pitou, who's in charge of guarding, has withdrawn Nen to focus on something else, then…"
Meleoron's eyes widened as he realized the implications.
"Either the King ordered her to remove it, or something happened to the King that forced her to."
Ronnel finished the thought.
"And if it were just a matter of removing Nen, the soldiers outside wouldn't be in such a dazed state."
"So… something's wrong with the King?"
Meleoron's expression grew serious.
"That's right. I remember Colt once mentioned that when Neferpitou used her ability to stitch together a human corpse, she had to retract her Nen to focus. It consumed an enormous amount of energy."
"Which means something happened to the King that forced her to activate her healing ability, and that's why Nen was removed!"
"Exactly." Ronnel nodded. "That's the most logical explanation. The Royal Guards would never be negligent when it comes to the King's safety."
"If we figured this out, then Gon and the others might have as well. They probably saw the opportunity and decided to act fast. That would explain why their movements seem rushed."
"Then what are we waiting for?!"
Meleoron's previous irritation vanished, replaced by eager excitement. His entire body trembled slightly.
"We should take advantage of this and strike the King while he's vulnerable!"
Seeing Meleoron's excitement, Ronnel couldn't help but chuckle and shake his head.
"Calm down. You're too worked up right now—your breathing is uneven. In this state, even maintaining your Perfect Plan ability might be difficult."
Hearing this, Meleoron took a deep breath, trying to steady himself, though his excitement still lingered.
"Even if the King is injured, that's still just our speculation."
In reality, Ronnel knew exactly what had happened. The King had been playing Gungi with Komugi, intending to manipulate her with desire and fear. But he underestimated her resolve—her ability to remain undistracted by anything but the game. When she lost, she punished herself by breaking her own left arm, seeing it as an unforgivable failure.
But Ronnel kept his expression serious as he continued:
"Morel and the others only asked Knov to set up the entrances and exits—they haven't taken any major actions yet. That means they're still not entirely certain."
"But—"
"Relax." Ronnel cut him off with a grin. "The King's condition wasn't part of our original plan. What we already had in place is enough to succeed.
"If you rush in for a quick win, you might end up suffering a major setback instead."
Meleoron remained silent for a moment before exhaling in resignation.
"Looks like we have to wait a little longer."
"Exactly. You can't rush perfection."
Ronnel chuckled as he tapped away on his phone, sending a message.
"That advice goes for you too, old man~"
On the phone screen, a message from Netero to Ronnel was displayed:
The Ant King is mine. Don't go stealing from an old man.
Ronnel smirked.
"I won't compete with you," he thought. "But if you can't handle it alone, don't blame me for stepping in."
...
Meanwhile, Gon and the others had also noticed the unusual state of the palace and, after some deliberation, decided to send Knov to set up the entrances and exits while the opportunity was there.
Everything had gone smoothly—until the final phase.
When Knov was setting up the last exit, he suddenly sensed Shaiapouf's aura. The overwhelming presence froze him in place.
Fear paralyzed him.
He could no longer summon the determination or courage to fight the Chimera Ant King.
It wasn't his fault.
After all, a person's Nen ability is often a reflection of their own personality and nature. Knov's Hide and Seek was an escape-based ability, designed for stealth and support rather than direct confrontation. This alone showed he was not the kind of person who thrived under extreme pressure.
Alone in the palace, uncertain of the King's condition, Knov was crushed under the weight of the unknown. Then, faced with an overwhelming aura far beyond his own, it was a miracle he didn't break down completely.
Despite his fear, he had completed his mission. The entrances and exits were secured, all necessary preparations were in place, and backup support had been arranged for Morel and the others.
There was nothing more he could contribute to the upcoming battle. His role was done.
His absence in combat was unfortunate but not a critical loss.
However, his reaction served as a warning to Morel.
It reinforced the gravity of the situation.
They had originally believed that their force was more than enough to deal with the Royal Guards.
But now, it was clear—
They might have underestimated just how terrifying the Chimera Ants truly were.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)