"I have to admit, this is truly a great place for a vacation."
Standing on the edge of a steep cliff in the NGL Autonomous Region, Daniel Davis gazed down at the breathtaking natural green landscape below. He exhaled a deep breath, feeling a sense of calm and openness in his chest.
If you disregard all other factors, the NGL Autonomous Region is indeed a beautiful place. Though life is tough for the people living here, it's their choice, and others have no right to judge.
Daniel supported environmental protection, of course, but rejecting all modern technology in the name of preserving nature seemed extreme. It reminded him of an environmental activist he once read about online before he crossed over to this world.
Putting aside other issues, just consider medical care. Ancient medical practices cannot compare to modern medicine. Yet, the NGL Autonomous Region had even abolished hospitals, relying entirely on local herbs for treatment.
"For the wealthy, living in a place like this is an indulgence. For the poor, it's anything but," Daniel thought as he reached a small village nestled in the forest, observing the people laboring diligently. He sighed lightly.
"Brother, brother, I found mushrooms!"
"I see them. Wait a moment, I'll be right there." In the forest, a boy and a girl, both under ten years old, were joyfully walking through the woods, each carrying a small basket filled with wild vegetables.
Seeing the siblings so happy and loving, Daniel smiled. Just witnessing this peaceful scene made him feel it was worth coming here to eliminate the Chimera Ants.
"Strange, I don't sense any strong creatures nearby." After leaving the village, Daniel, using his Observation Haki to sense the surroundings, couldn't help but ponder. While there were many animals in the area, they were all ordinary beasts, not even magical creatures.
"Could I have arrived too early? Perhaps the Chimera Ant Queen hasn't arrived yet." The NGL Autonomous Region wasn't large. After flying around the area and continuously using Observation Haki, Daniel couldn't find any powerful creatures, leading him to this conclusion.
Daniel didn't know the exact time the Chimera Ants appeared. He could only guess a rough timeframe, but in this real-world Hunter universe, the accuracy of that estimate was questionable.
"Could the Queen have drowned on the way here?" With this thought in mind, Daniel decided to stay in the NGL Autonomous Region a bit longer, to observe further while also continuing his training.
The NGL Autonomous Region was vast and sparsely populated, with a population too small and isolated to be accurately counted.
"No doctors, no teachers—such a place is truly unbelievable in modern society," Daniel mused as he temporarily settled in the NGL, balancing his time between training and observing the lives of the local populace.
"Another case of someone like Kurozumi Orochi—seeking not just revenge on his own country but on the entire world," Daniel remarked, having naturally observed the lifestyles of the NGL's upper class as well.
In contrast to the struggling peasants, the lives of the NGL's elite were luxurious. Though their residences, carved into mountainsides, appeared modest from the outside, the interior decorations were lavish, filled with luxury goods from around the world.
Some had discovered the stark contrast between the NGL's outward image and its reality, but those who did were silenced. In a country where being eaten by wild animals was seen as part of the natural cycle, no one investigated sudden disappearances. Even if they wanted to, they couldn't.
Through continuous observation, Daniel finally understood the truth behind the NGL Autonomous Region. Decades ago, the NGL was a normal country, albeit a corrupt one, that didn't reject electronic products, with skyscrapers dotting the landscape.
The current king overthrew the previous corrupt monarch, transforming the country into the NGL, an extreme environmental protection organization, which gained the strong support of other countries' environmental groups.
But in reality, the current NGL king simply used this as an excuse to prevent outsiders from entering. In truth, the NGL king and his subordinates openly produced drugs here, most notably the infamous D-drug, known worldwide.
D-drug was a white substance, easy to use, with minimal side effects and potent effects, making it extremely popular among drug users worldwide.
Many organizations under the Ten Dons were dealers of this drug.
While the origins of the D-drug were mysterious, a basic analysis would reveal its components, much like how a certain chemistry teacher analyzed his blue crystal meth. The primary ingredient of the D-drug came from a tree called the Bila Tree.
Eighty percent of the world's Bila Trees grew in the NGL, making it obvious where the drug was produced. Unfortunately, due to various reasons, even the V5 couldn't take action against the NGL.
A reporter once uncovered this truth, infiltrating the NGL to gather evidence, only to be caught and executed.
All this was orchestrated by the NGL's king, Zaiyiloh. His actions were motivated by revenge; his childhood was extremely tragic, with even his father treating him as less than human. As an adult, he disappeared from the NGL, returning later as a completely different person. With the help of a revolutionary army, he overthrew the previous king.
Zaiyiloh's success was largely due to his rudimentary knowledge of Nen, though he hadn't mastered even the four major principles. Nonetheless, against ordinary people, he was superhuman and easily seized power through assassination and rebellion.
The NGL was small, with few soldiers and no Nen users, making Zaiyiloh the strongest there.
After rising to power, Zaiyiloh began his quest for revenge against the world, using drugs. The profits were so immense that even the Ten Dons had to cooperate with him.
In theory, the Ten Dons' Shadow Beasts could easily eliminate Zaiyiloh and his men, but they didn't dare. Internal conflicts were usually ignored by the V5, but if a mafia dared to challenge a nation, the V5 would certainly retaliate.
While the NGL might have been appealing to some, not everyone wanted to live in such an environment. The peasants simply lacked the power to resist.
From a certain perspective, the Chimera Ants' appearance could be seen as a blessing for the NGL's future. Although many civilians were killed, the Ants also wiped out the nation's corrupt upper class and destroyed the drug factories.
Because of its effectiveness and affordability, the D-drug had quickly dominated the market, severely impacting other drug businesses. For Zaiyiloh, it wasn't about profit—he intended to use the drug to exact his revenge on the world, so the cheaper it was, the better.
"This is indeed an impressive drug. No wonder it made so much money." Daniel analyzed the white tablet with a "D" printed on it, using his Ope Ope no Mi abilities to break down its components. Even he had to admit, this was the best drug he had ever come across.
Because of the Ope Ope no Mi, Daniel had studied drugs for a while—not to manufacture them, but to practice his abilities. In the Marvel universe, the Oasis world, and even the *One Piece* world, drugs were prevalent.
Marvel needed no explanation; everyone knew how chaotic it was. The situation in the Oasis world was similar, with a large portion of the population addicted to games and drugs due to a lack of future prospects—an even scarier scenario than in the Marvel world. This might be humanity's way of coping with the fear of apocalypse.
In the *One Piece* world, as one of the Shichibukai, Daniel naturally encountered the darker aspects of society.
In any era, vices like drugs, gambling, and prostitution were the most profitable ancient industries. No matter how advanced the system, these could never be completely eradicated, only pushed into the shadows.
If Daniel were willing to enter the drug business, just this D-drug alone could double his wealth in a short time. Such was the terrifying profit of the drug trade—it was simply too lucrative.
"Strange, could it be that the Chimera Ants won't appear, or have they shown up elsewhere?" Daniel pondered as he checked the latest news on his phone but found nothing noteworthy. He quickly pulled out a map of the area around the NGL and furrowed his brows.
The NGL Autonomous Region was part of a larger island in the Balza Archipelago, which consisted of hundreds of islands, both large and small.
To the northeast of the Balza Archipelago lay Greed Island, although it wasn't marked on any map. Only a Nen user could locate it.
"I guess I'll have to call them," Daniel thought as he dialed Killua's number, hoping to find out where they were.
"No answer. Strange, are they still inside Greed Island?" Greed Island's unique game system rendered phones useless within its boundaries.
After hanging up, Daniel tried calling Gon, but he also didn't answer.
Ring, ring.
Just as Daniel was about to head back to his training, his phone suddenly rang. Seeing it was Killua, he quickly answered.
"Hello, is that you, old man? Sorry, my phone was off earlier," Killua's voice came through, sounding fatigued to Daniel.
"You don't sound well. What happened?"
"There's trouble," Killua immediately explained the situation.
"Chimera Ants, Republic of East Gorteau," Daniel repeated, finally realizing that the Chimera Ants had indeed appeared, but in the Republic of East Gorteau.
Killua's phone had been off because he was investigating the situation in East Gorteau. The kind of amateur mistake where a phone ring gives away your position during a stakeout was something Killua
would never make.
"Do you need help?" Daniel asked.
"It'd be great if you could come. We're short on skilled fighters here."
"I'll be there shortly. I'll contact you when I arrive."
"So I was wrong about the location… Is this the butterfly effect? East Gorteau… Well, this is a good opportunity," Daniel thought after hanging up, his eyes gleaming as he prepared to take action.
Since the Chimera Ants hadn't come, the fate of the NGL wouldn't change on its own. It was up to Daniel to intervene.
"It's been a while since I made a Philosopher's Stone. Let's see if this batch turns out well," Daniel said coldly, showing no mercy for Zaiyiloh and the NGL leadership.
If Zaiyiloh wanted to take revenge on society, he should have gone directly after the V5, not oppressed ordinary people.
"Let's begin." Daniel arrived at Zaiyiloh's stronghold, which also served as the D-drug production factory. Without hesitation, he tossed dozens of knockout gas grenades into the facility.
"Cough, cough… What's going on? Are we under attack?" The sudden commotion threw the soldiers stationed there into a panic. Soon, all the soldiers on the perimeter were unconscious in the gas cloud.
"Gas masks? They came prepared." But soon, reinforcements from inside the base arrived, well-equipped with radios, submachine guns, and gas masks.
"There are no cameras here. Good, let's have some fun," Daniel said, forming hand seals. Instantly, dozens of arms sprouted from his back, resembling the Senju Kannon. Then, fifteen identical figures emerged from behind him.
Eiken no Kata—this magic created physical clones, each capable of using all of Daniel's abilities. If not for the limitation that they couldn't stray too far from the original, they would be perfect for use as Shadow Clones.
The sight of fifteen identical figures left the soldiers dumbfounded. They couldn't have anticipated this.
While the soldiers were stunned, Daniel's clones were not. Moving in unison, they launched chains that soared through the air, binding all the soldiers in an instant.
Since he intended to make a Philosopher's Stone, Daniel wouldn't kill them recklessly—it would be too wasteful.
"Shoot! Shoot!" As Daniel walked deeper into the base, the soldiers inside opened fire, unfazed by the sight of so many identical figures.
"Your Majesty, the enemy is too powerful. Should we escape?" Meanwhile, in the depths of the base, Zaiyiloh's loyal subordinates were urging him to flee.
"I will not run. This is my country," Zaiyiloh replied firmly, refusing to abandon his post.
"Hunter Association?" Deep inside the base, Daniel finally confronted Zaiyiloh.
"You didn't run. I guess you knew this day would come. Farewell." Daniel had nothing to say to Zaiyiloh. Though his childhood was tragic, that didn't justify his actions. If suffering was an excuse, then far too many in this world would be beyond redemption.
"The next step is to expose everything. Let's see if the V5 does anything now." If the situation wasn't publicly exposed, the V5 could turn a blind eye. But once it became public, ignoring it would damage their credibility.
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