It had to be said that conversing with someone of Illumi's personality was actually a very relaxing and pleasant experience.
Unlike most of the self-indulgent, impulsive people in this world, Illumi possessed a fierce sense of principle and maintained a very clear internal hierarchy regarding his relationships.
First and foremost was the family; second was his younger brother, Killua; third was his work as an assassin; and finally, at the bottom, came the so-called "friendship" he shared with Hisoka.
Generally speaking, as long as one didn't touch the first two taboos, he was a very rational and easy person to talk to.
Of course, Illumi's twisted, pathological love and desire for control over Killua was something most ordinary people truly couldn't stomach.
Fortunately, Allen was not a member of the Zoldyck family and had no fundamental conflict of interest with the eldest son of this assassin clan. Their interaction remained relatively pleasant, and they could even engage in limited cooperation in certain areas.
For instance, they could utilize Illumi's Manipulator Nen abilities to capture large numbers of Chimera Ant soldiers. Bodoro would then forcibly initiate their Nen, while Baise would be responsible for simple ability development using Instant Lover. This would create an assembly-line-style production chain.
In this manner, the originally complex process of screening and seizing powers could be completed with ease.
As Allen stood there pondering whether he should go experience Greed Island during the time before the Ants appeared, or try to complete some exploration and capture missions for the Hunter Association, Pariston, who had been waiting patiently for a long time, finally walked over. Lowering his voice, he said, "Someone is waiting for you in the western woods. He wants to speak with you face-to-face."
"Oh? Who is it?" Allen raised his head and stared into the other man's eyes.
"Sorry, it's not convenient for me to say his name here. But believe me, he won't disappoint you." A mysterious, practiced smile appeared on Pariston's face.
Unfortunately, Allen wasn't buying it. He insisted without yielding: "Give me his name. Otherwise, I refuse to meet someone who doesn't even dare to reveal their identity."
"Beyond. He is Chairman Netero's son, and one of the very few people who has been to the Dark Continent and returned alive."
Realizing his little trick hadn't worked, Pariston immediately reported his collaborator's name.
He deliberately emphasized the words "Dark Continent," as if underscoring its significance.
"Beyond?" A glimmer of intrigue flashed in Allen's eyes upon hearing the name, and he quickly nodded. "Lead the way. I'd very much like to meet this 'filial son' myself."
"This way, please."
In a rare move, Pariston skipped the idle chatter. He cast a cautious glance at the Hunter Association blimp parked on the ground, confirming that Chairman Netero wasn't watching, and then stepped onto a narrow, steep path leading into the western woods.
After about two or three minutes, a tall, robust man with a topknot, looking like an ancient fierce general, stepped out from behind a tree.
There was no need to ask; this was Beyond, Chairman Netero's biological son. He radiated the same stubborn, resilient, and indomitable aura as his father.
Before Allen could even speak, Beyond raised a hand with a smile and greeted him: "Yo! I'm glad you chose to come. I guarantee you won't regret this choice."
"Please, continue. I'm listening," Allen said expressionlessly, making a "proceed" gesture.
"First, congratulations on winning against that old man in today's battle. You should know that even though he's old and his strength is less than half of what it was in his prime, there are no more than five people in this world who could achieve what you did. And you are the youngest among them, the one with the most potential to reach the summit and lead an entire era. As a Hunter who tirelessly pursues strength, I assume you've heard of the Dark Continent?"
After a few brief compliments, Beyond pivoted sharply to the sensitive topic of the Dark Continent.
Allen nodded slightly. "Of course. In fact, I know a bit more about the Dark Continent than you might think. Specifically, that the world currently occupied by humanity is merely a tiny, insignificant speck in the middle of a lake within the Dark Continent. Furthermore, all humans and Magical Beasts originally migrated from there. It is a place hidden with infinite resources, terrifying disasters, and all manner of bizarre flora and fauna."
"Hahaha! Exactly! You're just as I expected, you have a deep interest in the Dark Continent as well. After all, how could a truly elite Hunter be satisfied with this tiny human world? Since we share a common goal, why not collaborate? My team just happens to be missing a talent like you, someone who masters multiple abilities and can handle various emergencies and accidents at any time."
Beyond extended the invitation directly.
A man as arrogant as he was didn't deign to play the boring little games Pariston favored; he preferred an open, straightforward grand strategy.
"Join your team? If I recall correctly, you seem to have promised Chairman Netero that you wouldn't step foot in the Dark Continent again as long as he lives," Allen reminded him meaningfully.
"Ah! That's true. However, that obstacle will soon cease to exist. The old man has lived too long, and he grows weaker with every passing day. Seeing him like this... it truly pains my heart."
As he spoke those words, a look of deep disappointment appeared on Beyond's face.
Perhaps in his eyes, the Netero who was so powerful he was "undiscernible" was the only form his father was meant to take.
Allen, however, only felt disgusted. He sneered and questioned, "So you conspired with Pariston and the Kakin Empire, using the deaths of tens of thousands of ordinary people as the price, intending to use artificially bred Chimera Ants to eliminate the Chairman?"
"Hmm? How did you know about that?!"
Beyond immediately turned his head to glare at his collaborator.
Pariston spread his hands with a look of pure innocence. "Don't ask me! I haven't leaked this plan to anyone. Perhaps... he seized some kind of prophecy or precognition ability from somewhere."
"Can you tell me where you got your information and how you reached that conclusion?"
Learning that it wasn't Pariston who leaked the secret, Beyond immediately shifted his attention back to the young man before him.
The Chimera Ant plan was vital to him; if it were leaked prematurely, it could lead to total failure.
"I am under no obligation to answer any of your questions. Nor will I associate with people like you. But don't worry, I won't expose this secret. Doing so would mean a direct confrontation with a colossus like the Kakin Empire. However, I will do what needs to be done in my own way. If you feel I am an obstacle, then feel free to use any means necessary. But remember one thing: once a war begins, only the victor has the right to end it."
As the last word left his mouth, Allen turned and walked away without looking back.
Through this brief meeting, he had confirmed that the way these two operated was exactly what he loathed most. There was zero possibility of cooperation.
Especially Beyond!
In the manga, this man had told his team that he wanted to go where no one else had gone, see what no one else had seen, take treasures no one else had touched, be bound by no one, and do as he pleased with integrity, trampling upon uncharted lands. He would welcome all who came, let go of all who left, and destroy anyone who stood in his way.
From those words alone, it wasn't hard to see that when it came to the Dark Continent, he would stop at nothing to achieve his goals, even if it meant dragging the entire human world into the grave for his ambition.
To be honest, the deeper Allen understood the world of Hunter x Hunter, the more he felt it was a mirror of the cruel reality of Earth.
Particularly those in high positions, possessing vast power, wealth, and strength, they often didn't care at all whether the commoners in underdeveloped regions lived or died.
Take the Chimera Ant incident as an example: Beyond, Pariston, and the Kakin Empire each played their parts, effectively using the citizens of NGL and the Republic of East Gorteau as sacrifices.
The V5 were no better; they simply didn't want the threat to spread to their own territories. They had no intention of investigating further afterward; instead, they huddled together to discuss how to get a piece of the pie.
As for the dead civilians of the two victimized nations, no one cared.
Much like the small, weak nations ravaged by war on Earth, they vanished completely from the news and public discourse.
It was as if their suffering and death were less important than that of a common pet...