"Don't rush, Gogus," Ron said. "Whatever's in that village isn't going anywhere, and we need to know what it really is before we go. My friend's grandmother is still there, after all. You just mentioned 'those bugs'—could you tell me more?"
Gogus stared at Ron. Ron met his gaze calmly. Neither was about to back down. Ron needed more information before taking any action, while Gogus wanted immediate access to whatever lurked in the village. Even though Gogus could go by himself and find it eventually, Ron could, if he chose, destroy the entire village from a distance, making it impossible for Gogus to study those creatures. They each needed something from the other. Both were A-rank Nen users, and neither seemed afraid of the other.
After a tense moment, Gogus shifted his gaze to Hanzo, Ruco, and Ponzu. "Alright, what do you want to know?"
"Everything you know about this village," Ron said. He opened his laptop again. "Here—this footage shows what's going on inside. My Nen beast is carrying a wireless camera."
Gogus raised an eyebrow. "A Nen beast, huh? Cautious. But with those bugs, this is the safest approach."
He continued, "You're talented to have reached this level at your age, but it's normal you haven't heard of these things. In the entire world of Nen users, only a handful of us know they exist. I'm one of the few. They are Nen, yes—but not "human Nen" or any common living creature's Nen. I call them 'bugs,' but they're not like insects we can see in everyday life.
They're…something else.
"I only discovered them by chance. Their Nen is fascinating, and I've been chasing them ever since, hoping to learn something new. But there are too few of them around. I never imagined I'd find so many in one place—that's just perfect!" Gogus's expression lit up with an excitement that reminded Ron and the others of Hisoka.
Gogus went on, "Different bugs follow different rules. They're a bit like a disease that can spread, but only under certain conditions. The symptoms vary, but usually, they're not fatal—though some side effects do lead to death. In general, these bugs feed off certain concepts. But if you wield them correctly, they can also be useful."
Ron's mind went immediately to the word "parasite."
"That's right," Gogus nodded. "They're like parasites, though smaller—even closer to bacteria, viruses, or fungi. But if used well, they can be quite beneficial. I ran into a little girl once who had an illness that caused her pain whenever she saw light. Turned out a type of bug was living inside her eyes. They hated light and thrived in darkness, so eventually the girl lost her sight entirely. Under the right conditions, those bugs could be transmitted to others in dark places without any light at all.
"Still, those very same bugs can be harnessed. By storing them in a container and letting them remain there, even mere skin contact with that container can grant vision—like having an extra set of eyes. So in theory, you could help people who have lost their sight for various reasons."
Clearly immersed in his favorite topic, Gogus's brusque manner vanished. "From what I see in that footage, this village has at least three varieties of bug. That's a huge find and could bring about incredible changes for humanity."
Ron inclined his head. "It does sound valuable."
"Of course it's valuable," Gogus said irritably. "Otherwise I wouldn't have devoted my entire career to researching them. I even changed my official title to 'Insect Hunter.' Now then, can we go?"
Ron pointed ahead. "The village is about two or three kilometers that way, in the valley. But, Gogus—are you really going in without any protection? That entire area is dead silent."
Gogus shook his head. "No need. I actually plan to let these bugs parasitize me so I can feel them more directly and study them better."
Ron paused, then said, "Fine. I'll have my Nen beast go with you, but I won't be joining you in person. If you need anything, just speak to it, and I'll hear you."
Nodding, Gogus headed off toward the village. Ron, Ponzu, Hanzo, and Ruco remained where they were, watching him depart.
"Ponzu," Ron said, "do you know where the Bee Queen is kept in your village?"
"Yes," Ponzu replied. "It's usually in the center of the village—there's a giant tree there. The older Bee Queen lives inside a hollow about twenty meters up the trunk."
"Show me, and I'll send my Nen beast to take a look," Ron said.
"Alright." Ponzu pointed, and Sasuke followed her direction to the village center. There stood a massive tree, one that would take more than a dozen people linking hands to encircle its trunk. Partway up, there was a gaping hollow where the Bee Queen was supposed to live.
Sasuke lifted his gaze. No sign of bees anywhere.
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