Chapter 133: What Era Is This? What's the Use of Fighting?
Over the next few days, Canary indeed followed Mord's teachings and began using Zetsu when delivering meals.
But no matter how much she concealed her aura, Mord would always detect her.
This ignited her competitive spirit deep down. From then on, she didn't just use it during meal deliveries—she would secretly approach Mord at any opportunity.
Yet even in the dead of night, when everyone was asleep and all was quiet, she still couldn't slip past Mord unnoticed.
Mord wasn't idle either.
While waiting for the old man Netero, he took the time to thoroughly explore the world's number one assassin family—the Zoldyck Family.
Among the younger generation, Illumi was extremely busy, out on missions. He handled the majority of the family's business these days. Killua was in NGL, and Kalluto was also absent, likely off training with the Phantom Troupe.
As for that freak Alluka locked in the basement, Mord had no intention of approaching them for now.
That left only Milluki Zoldyck, the fatty.
"I'm begging you, bro—no, sir, please!"
"You have to be careful with that. It's a globally limited edition Snowy figurine."
...
Mord glanced at the fatso behind him. The guy's expression was pitiful, on the verge of tears, his voice trembling with distress.
Mord turned his attention back to the figurine in his hand.
He had to admit, the craftsmanship was exquisite—even the skin texture was clearly visible.
And surprisingly, the fatso had remarkably good taste.
Mord casually placed the anime girl figurine aside and continued browsing through the fatso's collection.
Milluki hurriedly wiped clean the figurine Mord had set down and carefully put it away.
These things were his lifeline, more precious to him than his own life.
But there was nothing he could do. He was no match for Mord in a fight, so he could only plead like this, hoping Mord wouldn't damage his figurines.
"You're also a young master of the Zoldyck Family. How come you're so weak? You're not even as good as your younger brother," Mord remarked.
The fatty showed a disdainful expression, pursing his lips. "What era is this? What's the use of fighting?"
"Oh? Then tell me, what is useful nowadays?" Mord asked with a playful smile.
The fatso's face lit up with pride as he declared loudly, "Technology, of course!"
"So that's why you stay home all day, not working, just eating and playing on the computer?" Mord's expression turned scornful.
"Tell me, what remarkable inventions have you come up with recently?"
The moment his area of expertise was mentioned, the fatty's small eyes immediately brightened. He excitedly began explaining, "Like the bomb I made this time—it's fantastic!"
"Extremely small, mounted on a female mosquito. The moment it sucks blood, it instantly explodes."
He lifted his head, looking at Mord with an expression awaiting praise.
"How powerful is the bomb? And how does the mosquito identify its target? A special Manipulator-type Nen user could solve that problem, but that would greatly reduce its applicability," Mord pondered briefly before posing his questions.
Upon hearing Mord's words, the stuttering man suddenly became hesitant: "Currently, the bomb's power is only at the level of fireworks, and we still haven't overcome the challenge of accurately identifying targets with the mosquitoes."
"No worries, the idea itself is good. The path of scientific research is always full of twists and turns—failure is the mother of success." Mord patted the man's thick shoulder, speaking with profound sincerity. "Where does your research funding usually come from?"
"I earn the money by taking on assassination missions myself. When the funds run out, I go out to accept tasks," the man replied.
Of course, compared to going out on missions, he would much rather stay home and conduct his research.
"How about I build a dedicated research institute for you, and you become its director? I will cover all the research expenses, so you can focus on your work without wasting time earning money through missions."
Mord looked through the man's past research achievements while listening to his explanations and made the offer.
"You don't have to give me an answer right away. I currently have a very important matter to resolve as well. I will come back to your home later, and by then, I hope you can give me your answer."
"Alright, let's end our conversation here for today."
"Consider this figurine a gift to commemorate our first meeting."
With these words, Mord turned to leave. Before going, he casually took the globally limited edition Snow figurine right in front of the man.
Every action Mord had taken earlier seemed unintentional, but in reality, each was purposeful.
When his hand touched the figurines in the room, not a single subtle expression on the man's face escaped Mord's notice. Mord could confirm that the Snow figurine was the one the man cared about the most.
Meanwhile...
While Mord was leisurely spending his days with the Zoldyck Family, the man known as the strongest in the world lay down on the operating table for the sake of this world.
Challenging the King of Ants was for himself.
But eliminating him was for humanity.
...
At the same time, far away in the NGL territory, the Chimera Ant Nest.
"Ahhhhhhhhh!"
Screams of agony echoed throughout the nest.
The three Royal Guards standing beside the Chimera Ant Queen watched their queen in such pain, yet smiles of joy adorned their faces.
"Is it finally about to happen?" Shaiapouf spoke.
Neferpitou, the Cat Girl, gazed at the Chimera Ant Queen's increasingly swollen abdomen and nodded. "Yes, the King is about to be born!"
"W-wait!"
The Chimera Ant Queen clutched her stomach in agony.
"It's not time yet..."
She still hoped to communicate with the child inside her.
The next moment.
"Silence!"
A cold voice emerged from her abdomen, and in an instant, a powerful fist pierced straight through her stomach.
"Awooooooo!"
The Chimera Ant Queen let out a painful, mournful wail.
But the King of Ants inside her paid no heed, stretching out both hands to tear open her entire abdomen before calmly stepping out.
Thick, sticky fluid mixed with the Chimera Ant Queen's internal organs spilled across the ground.
"I'm hungry. Where is the food?" The King of Ants stood in place, uttering his first words in this world.
"Your meal has been prepared."
"From now on, the three of us shall serve as your subordinates."
The three Royal Guards knelt in unison before the King of Ants.
Neferpitou: "Whatever you desire, we shall present it to you."
Youpi: "Your wishes, we shall fulfill them all."
Shaiapouf: "You may command us to handle any matter."
The King of Ants nodded faintly and strode ahead into the distance.
The Royal Guards followed closely behind.
No one, not even a single glance, was spared for the Chimera Ant Queen lying in a pool of blood, her internal organs utterly destroyed.
Yet the Chimera Ant Queen continued to murmur about her child through her dying breaths.