Ron gave a faint smile. "Even setting aside that you haven't yet awakened the memories of when you were human, even if you had, your understanding of this world would still be far from enough. This world is far larger than you imagine. Enough of that—tell me, in this village, is there anything that feels familiar to you?"

The raccoon Chimera Ant looked around. "Humans."

"Only humans?"

"Fallen humans. If anything, corpses," the raccoon Ant said.

Ron's brow moved slightly. "That proves corpses left a deep impression on you when you were human. Perhaps when you were human you had frequent contact with them. In NGL, the professions that deal often with corpses are either assassins or handlers of the dead."

At Ron's words, the raccoon Ant's face changed, as though fragments of memory were stirring. Images surfaced in its mind.

"An assassin…"

Not long after, the raccoon Ant regained clarity. "I remember some things. I should have been an assassin. I can see scenes of myself holding a firearm, killing my targets. I remember now."

Ron nodded. Judging by its expression, he confirmed that when one mentioned things familiar to a Chimera Ant's human life, it could trigger their memories. This should apply to others as well.

"Anything else?"

"For now, nothing." The raccoon Ant shook its head. "These are all I can recall."

Ron willed a handgun into his hand and handed it over. "Since you were an assassin who used firearms, take this. It may help you recover more memories."

"Thank you."

The raccoon Ant accepted it, and though its hand now had only three fingers, it gripped the gun with practiced familiarity. More fragments stirred within it.

Ron asked again. "Now that you've recalled these memories, does the Queen's hold over you lessen?"

Within the Ant hierarchy, there was a powerful binding force. Aside from exceptions like the Royal Guards and the King, all Chimera Ants were compelled to obey the Queen, even to the point of sacrificing their lives.

Measured purely in strength, the Queen was weak—any soldier outmatched her, let alone a division leader. But because she implanted that loyalty in their very genes as they were born, they remained obedient as long as she lived. Gyro had completely awakened his human memories and broken free from this bond. What about this raccoon Ant? With partial memory awakened, how far could it go?

"I don't know."

Ron glanced at the crystal ball. The progress had finally reached ten percent. By now he was drawing close to the Ant Nest itself. He could already see the white smoke rising ahead. It was not natural smoke—it had been produced by Morel.

..........

.....

.

Outside NGL, a ringtone chimed.

Ring ring ring!

Killua picked up instantly. "Biscuit?"

"I'm coming over. Give me your exact location," she said.

Killua froze. "What?"

"Chairman Netero has agreed to let you participate in this operation, but only on one condition. You will compete against others, and only if you win will you gain the qualification."

She continued, "But as you are now, you're not ready. That's why I'm coming to give you further training."

"Alright. Understood."

Killua gave her the address and hung up. Gon immediately looked over. "Killua, what did she say?"

"We've got a chance to join the operation, but only if we win against others."

"Others? Who are they?"

"I don't know. But from what Biscuit said, they should be stronger than us, otherwise she wouldn't bother coming to train us."

Gon clenched his fists. "No matter who they are, I'll win."

Killua nodded. "Of course."

Soon after, Biscuit arrived. Compared to when they were in Greed Island, she had changed into another outfit—still the same Gothic doll style. Nearly sixty years old, yet fond of that look. But it also served as deception. Since her transformation into that form was real, and with her skill at concealing her aura, most people could never see through her.

Even A-rank Nen users couldn't discern her true strength. Even someone like Hisoka could only sense she wasn't ordinary, but could not perceive her actual capabilities.

"Killua, Gon, long time no see."

"Biscuit, long time no see," they replied—though in truth, not much time had passed.

She looked them over. "You've both changed quite a bit since Greed Island. Stronger, good, very good. But this time, your opponents are indeed formidable. The two you will compete against are Knuckle and Shoot. Both are disciples of Morel. Both are already mature Nen users."

She paused. "These two are much stronger than the Bombers. I remember you crossed paths with the Phantom Troupe back in Yorknew, didn't you?"

Killua and Gon exchanged a glance, then nodded.

"The strength of Knuckle and Shoot is at the level where they could enter the Troupe," Biscuit said. "And not as the weakest members, either."

At that, both Killua and Gon's faces turned serious. Against the Troupe, they had never gained the upper hand. Killua could not evade all of Franklin's Nen bullets, and Gon's fists had been utterly outclassed by Phinks.

"You four—only two will gain the qualification to join the operation. But remember this." Biscuit's tone turned stern. "Defeating them is not your goal. Defeating them openly, fairly, and with full acknowledgment is your goal. Otherwise, forcing your way into the operation will be nothing but suicide. If you're ready, then I will begin your training now."