Ron pulled out his phone and first dialed Zeno's number.
"Grandpa Zeno, I seem to have gotten into some trouble."
Zeno paused. He knew Ron's capabilities—what kind of problem would make Ron call him?
"In the Hunter Exam, I recruited someone to my team. Later, I went with that teammate to her hometown—the same place I mentioned to you before when Gogus showed up."
"Yes, I recall recommending Gogus to you."
Ron continued, "After Gogus and his team arrived, I left to take another commission. Not long ago, one of Gogus's teammates called me, telling me to escape. Then I got an email explaining that the insects—what Gogus called 'bugs' in that village—were part of something bigger. There's someone behind it all, and because I've been to the village, they're worried I'll expose their secret, so they're trying to kill me. Three people already came after me: one B‑level Nen user and two A‑levels. I killed them."
"Hm, continoue." Zeno said.
"They referred to themselves in conversation as the 'Three Hounds.' It seems their boss has now sent another group called the 'Four Beasts,' who must be stronger than the Three Hounds."
Zeno's eyes flashed. "All the information you have on those insects—send it to me."
"Where are you right now?"
"Still on an airship."
"For the moment, yes."
"All right. Be careful. I'll make arrangements as soon as I can."
"Thank you, Grandpa Zeno."
After hanging up, Zeno immediately contacted the Hunter Association.
A beaming voice came from the other end. "Well, if it isn't young Zeno. Been a while! What brings you here?"
Zeno's eyebrow twitched slightly. Almost nobody called him "young," but Netero was one of the few with seniority to do so. Zeno forwarded the insect intel to him.
"Have a look at this," he said.
As Netero read, his eyes narrowed. Zeno asked, "How do you plan to handle this?"
Netero replied with a question of his own: "Given your family's usual stance, I'm surprised you're concerned about this. Is something else going on?"
"Ron got dragged in and is being hunted."
"I see." Netero nodded. "I'll investigate first. Once I have the facts, I'll decide what the Association should do."
Next, Zeno headed to the rear mountain of the Zoldyck estate.
"Grandfather, Ron's in trouble."
A door creaked open, and a silhouette stepped out from the shadows. It was Maha Zoldyck, looking like an unassuming, frail old man—but Zeno knew the colossal strength hidden in that seemingly withered body.
"What's the matter?" Maha asked.
Zeno gave him a brief rundown.
"The Saheerta Federation, is it?" Maha murmured. "All right. Not too big a problem, but we'd better go there. Call Silva."
Zeno called Silva, who had been talking with Killua. Silva's face grew solemn the moment he answered.
"I see," he said, hanging up. "Killua, I need to step out. Wait here."
He vanished in a blur.
A massive magical beast spread its wings and took flight from the back mountain of the Zoldyck estate, swiftly picking up speed—much faster than an airship. Under normal circumstances, the family rarely used that creature. Some of the butlers looked skyward in surprise.
"What's happening? Master Zeno, Master Silva…and even Master Maha are all on the move?"
"Must be something big…"
Zeno was mostly retired by now. Typically, the family's primary active assassins were Silva, Illumi, and Milluki—Silva and Illumi handling top-tier missions, Milluki taking on mid- or lower-level jobs. Ron was already A‑level in strength, but he still focused on training over regular assassin work.
Gon and his friends also noticed the enormous beast in the sky. Even from afar, its pressure felt no less daunting than Mike's. Canary likewise peered up.
Ron's second call was to Tuck.
"Tuck, have you heard of the 'Three Hounds'?"
Silence came first, followed by sounds of commotion. Then Nesli's voice rang through the phone.
"I know about the Three Hounds," Nesli said. "They're one of Minister Oster's elite Nen squads—very strong. If you run into them, whatever you do, don't provoke—"
"They attacked me, and I killed them. Now I hear Oster is sending another group called the 'Four Beasts,' apparently even stronger. Do you know anything about them?"
Nesli replied, "I've heard of them. They're definitely a notch above the Three Hounds."
Ron paused. "So, do you need something from me?"
"Would you like help?" Nesli asked. "Our group, Nightfall, might not be extremely strong, but we're not that weak either. We do have some A‑level Nen users on our side."
"I doubt you could help."
"It's not just us," Nesli insisted. "We may be weaker than you, but Oster is our enemy too."
Ron fell silent for a moment. "Then give me any intel you have on the Four Beasts. In exchange, I'll kill them all myself. Beyond that, I don't need your help. You can use this situation as you like for your own plans."
He didn't want to get too deeply involved in a revolution. That was Saheerta's internal affair, and Ron wasn't interested in aiding their cause. So he limited their arrangement strictly to dealing with the Four Beasts.
As for any further retaliation from Oster afterward? Ron figured that once he left the Saheerta Federation, it wasn't his problem.
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