After being out of battle for a while, the pure white halo above Germain's head shifted into a dark crown.
His expression changed slightly, but he skillfully suppressed the flood of agitation and chaotic thoughts in his mind.
Zeno also noticed the change in Germain's halo and the appearance of the dark crown, but he didn't say anything about it.
Germain looked at the girl in Zeno's arms.
She had thick white hair tied into two large braids, thick eyebrows, her eyes tightly shut, and snot dripping from her nose down to her mouth.
He recognized Komugi and understood why the Ant King, Meruem, was so deeply entangled with her.
No matter how much the timeline shifted or how events changed, certain things seemed to circle back to a state that was eerily similar to the original.
For those caught in these events, their fates changed—but not entirely.
Zeno also lowered his head to look at Komugi, paying no attention to Germain's expression at that moment.
"The Ant King's actions surprised us… He—no, it—clearly had the power to seriously injure me in an instant, yet for Komugi's sake, he didn't attack."
"That's because our fight would have drawn Komugi into it."
"In the end, we chose to agree to his request."
"I healed Komugi's injuries in front of him using 'Breath of the Archangel.'"
What Zeno didn't know was that Komugi was actually blind.
When he used 'Breath of the Archangel' on her, not only did it heal her injuries, but it also restored her eyesight, allowing her to see the world clearly.
Of course, whether this was good or bad for Komugi in the long run, no one could say for sure.
Zeno continued speaking:
"After that, the Ant King completely let his guard down and allowed me to escort him and Chairman Netero away."
"However, Komugi's body was already frail to begin with. Being in a near-death state caused her severe mental shock, and she hasn't woken up since. I'm troubled about what to do with her."
Zeno's "active career" wasn't just for show.
As a top-tier assassin, he had killed countless people—some good, some evil, some important, and some completely innocent.
He didn't feel guilt over accidentally injuring or killing a stranger, even if it was a young girl.
The reason Zeno carried Komugi away from the unpredictable battle in the palace was out of respect for the Ant King, Meruem.
Meruem's overwhelming presence and dignity led Zeno to make that choice.
But after carrying Komugi out, he didn't know where to take her.
Should he bring her back to the Zoldyck family estate?
How could that be possible?
A weak girl like her would be of no use to the Zoldycks, and the family wouldn't take care of her for free.
She needed an arrangement.
At that moment, both Germain and Zeno sensed something and turned their heads.
Not far away, ripples formed on the ground, revealing a dark hole. A figure in a black suit emerged.
It was Knov, his white hair disheveled and his expression weary as he adjusted his glasses.
His "4-D Mansion" had multiple entrances and exits, both inside and outside the palace. This was one of them.
Knov still didn't dare to step inside the palace, but he had come here to silently observe.
However, as soon as he appeared, he saw Germain and Zeno. He froze in surprise.
"You… why are you here?"
Knov quickly recognized who they were, and his gaze shifted awkwardly, tinged with shame.
Zeno, on the other hand, suddenly lit up with interest.
He recognized Knov. Chairman Netero had mentioned the members of the Chimera Ant Extermination Team in their conversations over the past few days, including Knov.
Knov and Morel were supposed to be the second core of this battle, right after Netero, Zeno, and Germain.
But unexpectedly, Knov broke down mentally before the fight even began and withdrew early. Now, Morel had to shoulder the burden on his own.
Netero didn't blame Knov for anything. He simply stated the facts calmly.
Zeno still had an impression of Knov.
On top of that, Knov's Nen ability, "4th Dimensional Mansion," was as distinctive as a calling card. Zeno immediately confirmed his identity.
Carrying Komugi, Zeno walked over.
"I was wondering what to do with this human girl. Here, I'll leave her to you."
Zeno handed Komugi, who was still looking confused, into Knov's arms. Then he drew his hands back and clasped them behind his back.
"This is an innocent girl I rescued from the royal palace. Take her away. Bring her to a safe place."
Zeno left out the part where the Ant King had asked them to save Komugi. He also didn't mention his or Netero's attitude toward the situation.
He wanted to keep this matter as simple and straightforward as possible.
Knov, too, tactfully avoided mentioning the Ant King's connection to Komugi. In fact, he wasn't particularly concerned about her.
Her future—whether she came to terms with reality or had her memory wiped—wasn't something Knov felt responsible for.
To put it bluntly, Komugi was of no use to him.
Beyond that, Knov wasn't about to let the Ant King's feelings for Komugi influence his judgment.
The Ant King was both the one eating humans and the one asking to save one.
If it were just an issue between the Ant King and their small group, it might be negotiable.
But now, it had escalated into a war between the Chimera Ants and humanity—a fight to decide the top of the food chain. Both sides were on the brink of a cliff. Where could there possibly be room to compromise?
Could the Ant King of the Chimera Ants bow down to humans? That was impossible.
Because it was impossible, Knov never entertained such unrealistic thoughts from the beginning.
Zeno glanced at Germain, smiled, and turned to leave.
"Well, this means my task is officially over. From here on out, whatever happens has nothing to do with me."
"But, out of respect for Chairman Netero and you, Silva and I will watch the end of this battle from the skies."
Zeno walked away from the palace without any hesitation.
Germain showed no intention of stopping him and instead prepared to climb over the wall to enter the palace.
At this moment, Knov, holding Komugi, finally reacted.
He couldn't help but call out to Germain.
"Germain..."
Germain stopped in his tracks and turned to look at him.
Knov swallowed nervously, his brows furrowed tightly. After hesitating for a moment, he carefully spoke.
"Are you really going in? The palace is a nest of demons. Forget the Ant King—even the three Royal Guards are terrifying monsters..."
Knov didn't know that the Ant King had already left the palace, nor that Neferpitou was no longer there. He didn't even dare to use En to investigate the situation.
Moreover, his understanding of Germain's strength was still based on what he had seen six months ago in the hospital and the scattered information from the professional Hunter website.
From what he knew, Germain's combat ability was likely stronger than his own and Morel's but probably around the level of the "Zodiacs."
Beyond that, Knov dared not speculate further.
Germain met Knov's gaze, seeing the fear and confusion in his eyes.
He decided to tell Knov the truth.
"I just took down Neferpitou. Now I'm going in to deal with the second Royal Guard. After that, I'll go assist Chairman Netero. That's my plan."
"'Took down Neferpitou'?
'Deal with the second Royal Guard'?
'Assist Chairman Netero'?"
Knov understood every word.
But when strung together into sentences, he found he couldn't fully grasp the meaning.
His mind was shaken.
Germain didn't bother explaining further. He simply pointed in the direction of the palace and then toward where Zeno had gone.
"Knov, after using '4D Mansion' to settle this girl, you actually have two choices."
"The first option is to enter the palace and support your companions. If there are any injured, take them to the rear for treatment."
"The second option is to stay away from the battlefield like Zeno and quietly await the final outcome."
"Neither choice is right or wrong. It's only about what you're willing to do and whether you'll regret your decision."
"Make up your mind. Don't hesitate too long."
After saying this, Germain turned and walked away.
He moved like the wind, racing toward the high walls of the palace.
Knov's mind was in turmoil.
Holding Komugi in his arms, he watched Germain's retreating figure, unsure how to react.
********
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