Chapter 517 ( Discovery - II )

"Chimera ants" - Cloud said as he squinted his eyes.

He had slight knowledge about these creatures because they had come up in a conversation he had with Cheadle and gel during their plant research.

"Let's see, a strange species that inhabits different parts of the world" - Cloud muttered while squinting - "They can reproduce after consuming some living thing, this is known as [Phagogenesis], and in a colony, only the queen has this ability. Hmm, I guess it's a similar ability to normal ant queens, they use pheromones to prevent other ants from being fertile."

Cloud thought for a few seconds as he continued reading, not noticing how Ponzu opened her eyes, terrified because she never thought that those strange creatures, were Chimera Ants, not with those appearances and their size.

"Impossible, Chimera Ants can't measure more than a human finger!" - Ponzu exclaimed, only to be terrified to see what she had done.

"Normally so, but what if the queen's size, grew because of her eating habits and the experiments of a certain mad scientist?" - Cloud asked as he mused calmly - "It's even possible that this species in and of itself, was already large, possibly because it came from a place no one had ever gone before for obvious reasons."

"The Dark Continent!" - excluded Ponzu while connecting points.

"This is just a theory" - replied Cloud as he closed his eyes - "But it's possible, after all, Chimera Ants are highly adaptable to their environment, and surviving in that place could give them the chance to evolve with each generation, to the point where they could grow to try to consume more powerful creatures."

"B-But" - Ponzu said, ignoring the fact that she was still outside the window.

Cloud didn't say anything else, after all, his words were just unsubstantiated theories that could easily be disproved with a little information, but at the same time it made the more he thought about it, the more feasible it all became.

Ponzu slowly turned around and went back to her room so she could think things over a bit better, not noticing how she had forgotten what she had gone to.

Cloud thought quietly about his theory, then wrote a message to Netero, after all, he really needed this information because with it, he could investigate things further.

* * * * *

Five days later, Netero managed to receive Cloud's report, which seemed to be slightly damaged.

He frowned when he saw this as he tried to read the report, but it was impossible in this state.

Netero was thinking that this must be a joke, but Cloud didn't seem like the person who would joke, much less on a mission, so he quickly called his secretary to try to get to the bottom of it all, only to frown even more when he heard how the report seemed to have been shredded during the course of the trip.

"Strange, this hasn't happened before" - Netero said with a frown - "Why did it happen just with an important message?"

"I have no idea, sir" - replied the secretary calmly while frowning because it seemed strange to him too, although at the same time it wasn't as if he cared.

It was at that moment that he understood that something extremely strange was happening because his professionalism should not allow him to think that way, more so when it was a direct mission from his boss.

Netero also noticed this detail, so he decided to investigate the situation a little better, only to discover that this was not something natural, but that the workers were not professional for an unknown reason.

Isaac Netero again took the document and read it carefully while trying to decipher the ruined words, only to be surprised to see a few words - "Chimera ants?"

Netero was silent for a few seconds before calling out to Cheadle, who arrived a few seconds later.

"Do you need something, Netero-sama?" - Cheadle asked in confusion.

"I want you to tell me everything you know about the Chimera Ants, as well as reports about any strange behavior in them" - Netero said seriously as he called his secretary to bring the reports about the experiments that had happened in Yorbian.

Cheadle quickly explained all the knowledge she had, then waited for her leader to say something why she was sincerely confused about the situation.

"I'll explain in a few seconds" - Netero said as he took the documents his secretary had brought, only to frown when he read how the scientist was trying to experiment with Chimera Ants, so he could find the origin of their special ability.

"The unreadable words have a greater meaning with this little piece of information" - Netero said while frowning - "And if what I managed to read is correct, then things are much worse than I thought."

"Netero-sama?" - Cheadle asked in confusion.

"Sorry, I was rambling" - answered Netero with a smile - "What I wanted to tell you, is that we are possibly facing a huge crisis."

"What do you mean?" - Cheadle asked with a frown.

"Relax, I'll let you know what I'm talking about, but first, I want you to summon the whole [Zodiac], no exceptions" - said Netero seriously.

Cheadle was surprised, but still nodded firmly because he knew this was serious business.

Fifteen minutes later, everyone was assembled, and those who were out of town were in the meeting via video call.

"I hope this is serious, because I was in the middle of an investigation" - Ging said as he looked around with a frown.

"Then you tell us what it's all about, but now we have to listen to our leader, [Boar]" - Botobai snorted as he looked at Netero - "Please begin, Netero-sama."

"Thank you, [Dragon]" - Netero said with a small smile, only to turn serious - "Well, I called you all because I have some bad news regarding the Yorbian incident. We've received new information that makes things take a 180° turn."

"So drastic?" - Pyon asked, who was finally paying attention to the meeting.

The other [Zodiac] members were also attentive to the [Association] president's words now that they had heard about this.

"Yes, let's say it's quite possible that we found the identity of the creature that escaped" - Netero said as he looked around.

"And I'd like to assume it's extremely dangerous" - mused Ging as he started to think - "But now the question is, how dangerous is it?"

"Possibly, risk of extinction if we don't move well" - Netero said as he noticed how those present froze with his words, even the carefree Ging was showing a cold expression when he heard his words.

"Impossible, there shouldn't be such a dangerous creature, even in the [Dark Continent]" - Ging said seriously, after all, he was the most qualified to say those words because he had managed to survive a few months in that place, and had seen many of its "inhabitants".

"I'm speaking honestly, this creature is potentially an extinction level threat" - Netero said as he waved his hand, showing those present, the information they had gathered.

"Is this a joke? This is a simple Chimera Ant" - said Ging with a frown.

"A possible Chimera Ant Queen over two meters tall" - answered Netero seriously.

This silenced those present and wiped all confusion from their faces.

"It's impossible, those things can't grow more than 10 centimeters" - said Piyon while the others nodded.

"We'd like to assume that this Queen, came from the [Dark Continent], and was modified by our fugitive scientist" - said Netero as the members of the [Zodiac] widened their eyes in surprise.

"That would make a little more sense, I mean, this place is the only one with the ability to so drastically mutate a creature like a [Chimera Ant]" - Ging said as he started to think.

"Those insects have a powerful ability of adaptability to the environment, so growing in such a dangerous ecosystem as the [Dark Continent], makes it possible for them to be not only much stronger than the other members of their species, but also much larger and more dangerous" - said [Horse] Saccho as he started to think - "It's an unproven possibility, but with a high probability of being possible if all this information is correct."

"I think the same, that's why I have asked for this meeting, seeking your opinion" - said Netero as he looked at each of the [Hunters] present.

"We'd better settle this as quickly as possible, that's why I nominate myself as the leader of this operation" - [Rat] Pariston Hill said as he looked around with a smile - "I hope you don't mind this."

"Stop looking for credit to become the new chairman, Netero-sama has many more years until he can retire" - Kanzai said with a frown as he looked at his partner.

"Actually, I wish I could retire so I could have my well-deserved rest" - Netero said as he tugged his beard.

"Denied!" - [Zodiac] members exclaimed with the exception of Pariston, who was just smiling calmly.

--

NEW WORLD - ARIFURETA

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