One-Man Theatrical Performance

"I really am... Worse than trash!!"

"Alright then, you traitor Shaiapouf, who's not even as good as garbage, from now on, you're just a minor character!"

"You must not hold any expectations for yourself! And therefore, you must not harbor any hopes toward his majesty."

"You can only serve his majesty with absolute devotion..."

This nearly religious level of fanaticism in Shaiapouf's emotions completely clouded his rational thinking the moment he reached the royal throne hall.

He was entirely unaware of the changes in his surroundings or the potential dangers and disadvantages of his current situation.

For instance…

Behind Shaiapouf, at the entrance of the throne hall, the newly arrived Ging Freecss scratched his head as he looked at Shaiapouf, who was putting on what looked like a one-man theatrical performance in a state of madness.

"This guy... Has he really gone this far off the deep end?"

Ging doubted Shaiapouf's mental state at this point.

Although he'd seen Shaiapouf act strange through Lan's big screen before, seeing him now in person, he seemed even more deranged.

"Let's go... return to his majesty's side..."

Shaiapouf, with tears streaming down his face, turned to leave. As an irredeemable traitorous piece of trash, he had resolved to go to his majesty's side and offer the last of his strength.

Whoosh.

However, when he turned around, he found…

At the palace gate, a human was already there, waiting.

"Looks like if I want to reach his majesty, I'll have to get past this guy first..."

"Yo."

As Shaiapouf's lifeless eyes met Ging, the latter raised his hand and waved to him.

However…

Whoosh!!

Shaiapouf suddenly shot up into the air, intending to escape immediately; he had no intention of engaging in battle.

"You can't just leave like that."

Ging muttered calmly, hands in his pockets, seemingly not making a move at all.

But then…

Bang!!

A loud crash sounded from the ceiling behind Shaiapouf.

"Sorry, but I've already sealed off this entire area."

Ging spoke nonchalantly without even turning his head to look at Shaiapouf's state.

"What do I have to do..."

Above, Shaiapouf wiped the tears from his face and floated back down.

"... For you to let me leave?"

"Nope. I won't let you leave."

Ging shook his head.

"Is that so?"

Colorful butterfly wings unfurled behind him as Shaiapouf slowly landed.

Suddenly, his arms spread wide, and scales, like glittering dust, flew out in waves.

"Spiritual Message!"

This was one of Shaiapouf's Nen abilities, Spiritual Message.

When inhaled, the powder could cause hypnosis, but its main use was to reveal the flow of aura around the opponent.

Shaiapouf could observe the aura currents to read emotional states and analyze Nen's abilities.

So through this trick, in the original timeline, Shaiapouf used it to determine the most suitable Nen ability for each soldier of the Chimera Ant army and used it to guide and teach them their respective abilities.

Although the hypnotic effect of Spiritual Message has not been fully demonstrated, it makes ordinary people lose their self-awareness.

Now, Shaiapouf had no interest in fighting; he just wanted to fly to the king as quickly as possible.

This time, he used Spiritual Message mainly to probe Ging's ability and find an opening to retreat.

But clearly, this enemy was different from anyone he'd faced before.

"No reaction at all?!!"

As the feedback from the scales came in, Shaiapouf's previously blank expression finally changed.

"How is that possible?!!"

He looked at the sloppy man opposite with a gloomy face.

"Not only is there no emotional fluctuation, I can't even sense his thoughts at all..."

The powder had failed to extract any useful information from Ging Freecss.

This was getting tricky!!

Shaiapouf suddenly realized that the man in front of him was a serious trouble.

He might not be able to reach the king in time after all...

… … …

At the same time, Gon and Killua had rushed out from the central staircase and arrived at the upper levels of the palace exterior.

Their first instinct was to look at the nearly destroyed throne hall.

In that direction, they sensed two distinct auras.

One was Shaiapouf, which they had sensed before.

The other… was someone else who had been outside the palace earlier, not Lan or Chairman Netero.

"That's Ging's aura!!"

Both Gon and Killua blurted it out at the same time.

It was Gon's father, the man he had always longed to meet, Ging Freecss!

"No sign of the king or Neferpitou..."

Killua, always alert to danger, scanned the area.

When he didn't sense Neferpitou or the Ant King nearby, he finally relaxed.

Gon, however, stared intently at the throne hall on the third floor, his eyes shining with intensity.

But soon, another powerful aura, completely unhidden, drew both of their attention.

On another tower not far away, they saw it.

The legendary Chimera Ant king.

He walked with steady and powerful steps toward the front of the hall.

Behind him was Lan and Chairman Netero.

Sensing Gon and Killua's presence, Chairman Netero looked over.

Their eyes met a gaze that lasted an eternity in a second.

It was, perhaps, a final farewell.

Netero still had the leisure to smile and show Gon a gleaming white grin.

Lan behind him was completely calm and didn't look worried at all.

It was as if the Ant King standing in front of them was not the big boss they wanted to eliminate.