Ikalgo sneaks up on us as I turn to look at him as Palm has a mini heart attack "Ikalgo!"

I sigh "It looks like we all thought the most safe place is underground."

Ikalgo nods "I thought youse might come here... Let's go in! Hurry!"

Palm responds "Yes, but..."

Ikalgo interrupts Palm "Hurry! Isn't that why you came here?"

I nod "Right now this is unfortunately our only safe spot for now..."

Ikalgo nods "If he uses En again, we're finished!"

We run inside, closing the gate behind us.

We continue to run down the shaft as Ikalgo speaks "Where's Killua?"

"He went after Gon." I mutter under my breath as Ikalgo freaks out "Huh? And you didn't go with him?"

I nod "I would slow him down and I'm not about to ask him to carry me... Anyways, his with Gon right now..."

Palm nods "However, I don't know what happened to Pitou."

We grab one of the trucks as Ikalgo loads something onto the back of the truck.

Although, I don't bother checking what it was.

We head further into the place while Palm explains our scenario to Ikalgo.

Ikalgo speaks after listening "I see... So Meleoron and Knuckle were captured. The King is on a whole other level."

I nod "And I might be the only one left to defeat him... The only problem is, I know I won't be strong enough to beat him alone..."

I hear a voice in my head "That's why you need me. Give in already!"

I grit my teeth shaking my head as Ikalgo speaks up "Why do you think their lives were spared?"

Palm looks confused at Ikalgo "Um, well..."

I interject "To interrogate them..."

Ikalgo shakes his head "It's probably so they can be exchanged."

Palm freaks out "You mean the way Killua discussed exchanging hostages?"

Ikalgo nods "We'll set a trap... I'm not going out without a fight. First, we'll hide the girl in Bizeff's room!"

Time Skip

As we reach Bizeff's underground town, I notice some houses.

Ikalgo leads us into Bizeff's house as we drop Komugi into the bed.

We leave the room, locking it behind us.

As we step outside the house, Ikalgo speaks up "Palm, take the four women still here with you."

Palm looks confused "They didn't run away?"

Ikalgo nods "No. Use duct tape to bind their hands and cover their eyes. If they see me, it'll take too long to explain."

Palm looks at me "That's true... I understand... But wouldn't Daniel be better for the job? Since he looks the most human?"

I frown.

I feel the least human right now...

Ikalgo objects "No, I need him apart of the plan... If his ability is as strong as he says it is, we can win..."

Palm turns to the truck "Why did you put them on the truck, anyway?"

I look confused at Palm "Who? What did Ikalgo put in the back of the truck?"

Ikalgo opens the truck, revealing two more Chimera Ants.

Ikalgo speaks up to the wolf ant "Welfin, I need you to be a messenger."

Welfin looks confused "A messenger?"

Ikalgo nods "You just have to tell the King or the Royal Guard that Komugi is in the underground warehouse. Let them know that we're looking to negotiate. Once that's done, you're free."

Welfin grins "It's probably a trap, right? That's what I'll tell the King. If I don't, it'll look unnatural, and he'll suspect me."

"Yeah." Ikalgo nods as Welfin stands up with crutches "Fine, I'll try it."

Welfin leaves as Ikalgo looks at him "Can you drive?"

Welfin grins "Better than you."

Palm starts to hold up her hand to her left eye as Ikalgo stops her "Palm..."

Ikalgo shakes his head as he jumps down to speak up "Welfin, once this is over, you're free. Go and see Gyro."

Welfin stands there in shock before yelling at Ikalgo "Don't get too cocky! I'll kill you! Don't you dare speak his name! You would never understand! Huh!"

Ikalgo responds calmly "I understand, Zaikahal."

Welfin stands there in shock "How do you know my former..."

Ikalgo interjects "I probably won't ever remember my former name, but we were buddies."

Welfin looks confused "Buddies?"

Ikalgo nods "Before we were Ants. They're our enemies. Enemies of NGL. Am I wrong?"

Welfin grits his teeth as Ikalgo turns to the truck "Brovada has forgotten his past, but he was also one of us. Take him with you."

Palm goes to collect the girls, loading them onto the back of the truck as Ikalgo closes the doors.

Welfin gets in the front. As he's about to closes the door, he speaks up "Ikalgo... How do you know?"

Ikalgo looks confused "What do you mean?"

Welfin turns to Ikalgo "You told me to go see Gyro. You'd only say that if you knew Gyro was alive."

Ikalgo nods looking at the floor "Yeah, that's true. But... I don't know that he's alive. I just can't believe otherwise. Since we all survived. He couldn't have just been digested."

Welfin slams the door driving off.

I turn to Ikalgo "Now what?"

Ikalgo sighs "We wait..."

I nod as we head up to watch over Komugi.

Time Skip

Palm watches Pouf's, Gon's and Killua's movements as her eyes widen in surprise "We're okay now..." I look confused at her as Ikalgo speaks up "What you mean, Palm?"

Palm speaks up "Between what Daniel and Killua have said... It's safe to say that she is special to the King. But the Royal Guard is divided... That is because Pitou tried to save and protect her, while Pouf tried to kill her. In other words, she is a double-edged sword for the King."

Ikalgo freaks out "Wait, wait, wait, wait... I find that hard to believe. It's impossible for the Royal Guards to bicker and defy the King's will!"

I move Komugi's hairs away from her eyes "You better start believing it... This girl is the King's one weakness..."

Palm nods "Agreed. Ikalgo explain why you and I am here now with him?"

As Palm points at me, I retort "Because you guys love me SO~ much!"

Palm looks at me before looking back at Ikalgo, ignoring my comment "Wouldn't you say it's impossible for Soldier Ants to side with humans?"

Ikalgo frowns looking at Palm as she continues "Adding humans to the gene pool has led to many events that would be impossible for normal Chimera Ants. Can you be certain that I'm wrong? Sorry..."

Ikalgo sighs after being defeated in a topic.

"Humans do have a tendency to fuck with most things... Excuse the French!" I muse as Palm adds on top "My point is that the division among the Royal Guards may not necessarily contradict their loyalty to the King. There is a human that the King cares deeply about. We must protect that human. Both reactions make sense."

Ikalgo nods "For now, I'll concede that point to you. Why does that mean we're okay now?"

Palm speaks up "Twenty minutes have passed since the initial wave of En. But the King hasn't killed or captured us yet."

Ikalgo frowns "I don't get it... What's going on here?"

I sigh "The King won't make any bad moves while Komugi is in danger! Jeez read between the lines..."

Palm points out "When the En was being used, I was carrying this girl. If the King had noticed, he wouldn't have come straight to me. He didn't because I had concealed her within my hair. It's possible that he didn't realize I was carrying another person. Are you following me?"

Ikalgo nods "It seems logical, so I can't argue that... But I still don't see your point."

Palm responds "If she's covered up, the King can't find her with his En."

Ikalgo freaks out as I respond "You want to play hide and seek with the King?"

Ikalgo freaks out again from my comment "Are you suggesting that we let Knuckle and Meleoron die, rather than make an exchange?"

Palm shakes her head "Of course not... Daniel is closer but still not close enough. We'll offer to make an exchange. But we'll try to buy as much time as we can. To accomplish that, we must hide her in a place where the King cannot find her."

Ikalgo speaks up "Buy time? How long are we talking?"

Palm responds calmly "Until the King dies."

She looks straight at Ikalgo as I speak up "You telling me the King is slowly dying?"

Palm nods as Ikalgo quickly interjects "Sure, he has to die sometime... But if we knew when he'd die, we wouldn't have a problem! Why are we okay now? Give me a proper explanation!"

Palm stands up "The King will die, and it will happen soon."

I speak up "How soon are we talking?

" Palm responds "Within the next few hours, the King will die!"

Time Skip

As we walk around, finding a good place to hid Komugi, Palm speaks up "We need to go deeper... Yes, we must put her in a place where only we can find her."

We find a small section hidden in the back of the warehouse as Palm covers her up, hiding her in a box.

We push her in as Palm sighs in relief "That should do it. All that's left is to negotiate, without going far enough to make the King snap."

Ikalgo looks down as Palm speaks up "I know... What we're doing is cruel. We are no different from them. No... We are far worse!"

I speak up "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer... Then let's get started. I think I know how to pull it off..."

We hide back in Bizeff's secret area, waiting for the King.

I hear light footsteps enter the room as small particles cover the room.

I jump down from my hiding spot "Don't bother King... I was actually waiting for you..."

The King looks at me caught slightly off guard as I continue "I propose a deal for you... I want you to answer a few questions for me. They're simple questions and they won't take up much of your time... will you answer them for me... King?"

The King objects catching me off guard "My name is Meruem. Go, ask your questions... Then tell me where Komugi is."

I nod "In that case... Meruem. First question, How far are you willing to go to find Komugi?"

I look directly at Meruem.

I will know if he lies in this question!

Being a guy who's in love, I would kill anyone to be with Killua.

But now that's changed with my mentality.

I would rather be as far away from him, to avoid hurting him...

I speak up "Well Meruem?"

Meruem pauses for a second before speaking up "If you continue to ask stupid questions... I would push you out of the way to get to her...?"

"Would you even go as far to say that you would kill me?"

I grin widely as Meruem shakes his head "I would rather find her quickly! If that means answering some questions... No, I would rather choose to answer the questions."

This is different...

I speak up "Meruem... Second question, What do you feel towards Komugi?"

Meruem freezes "Feel...?"

I nod.

The best question to ask if you want to keep someone deep in thought...

Especially if you want to keep them thinking hard...

I hope this question is enough to give you the time you need...

Palm...

I look at Meruem whose deep in thought.

Is this the best choice for me...

I don't want to leave Killua...

But at the same time, I don't want to hurt him!

His the last one I would want to hurt...

But doing this might be hurting him more than if I was to stay by his side...

But then again, I don't know how he would react if I were to attack him...

I don't know how I would react if I were to attack him...

But I know, I would kill myself if my hands were the ones used to kill him...

Meruem speaks up "Hurt... Kill... Who is he?"

I gawk "Huh?"

Meruem points at me "Who is he?"

I frown "He is none of your concern! Now answer the question!"

Meruem glares at me "I can't give you an answer because I cannot explain it. But what I'm feeling, is the same ones you are showing to me. They're the same as I direct towards Komugi..."

I grit my teeth.

My feeling? Like you could ever compare mine to yours!

I smile "In that case... Let me re-word it. What does Komugi make you feel like?"

Meruem speaks up "When I heard her name... The first thing I thought of was a vast empty golden field... In the middle was Komugi and I... We were playing an endless game of Gungi... Alone... Just the two of us..."

I'm taken back by Meruem words, left deep in thought.

Alone...

Just the two of them...

Together...

I look at Meruem still in deep thought.

I'm sorry... Palm...

I can't do this!

Not after hearing that!

Please... forgive me!

Palm...

Ikalgo...

everyone...

Killua...

I look at Meruem slowly pointing in another direction " Meruem... you-"