Queen: Your first mission
will be to lead all the soldiers here to capture my food.
I want you to capture
more of those highly nutritious organisms for me.
Squadron leader: I shall.
♪
( Singing in Japanese )
♪
Narrator: The chimera ants are insatiable carnivores which are
currently under the designated quarantine level one.
Once these creatures have evolved
beyond two meters in length,
humans no longer stand a chance.
( Farmer sighs )
Huh?
Huh.
( Insects buzzing )
Hey, what the hell is that?
Farmer #2: Huh?
( Farmers yelling )
Squadron leader: Target the fully grown ones!
They will provide the most nutrition. Now go!
♪
( Farmer #1 yells )
( Farmer #3 grunts )
( All yelling )
Man: Look out! Look out!
( Men screaming )
Kite: A chimera ant queen stays on the move
until she finds a site she likes.
During her search,
she’ll produce more and more soldier ants,
building her own personal army.
Once she’s chosen a location,
she produces a swarm of construction ants
to build her castle with incredible speed.
She will then remain within that fortress until her death.
Should a queen who has reached two meters in height
develop a taste for human flesh, no one is safe.
Entire towns and villages will go missing,
victims of the queen’s limitless hunger.
Spin: Nothing so far.
I just finished checking out the past six months,
and the largest group I could find only numbered ten.
Gon: Hey, can we try looking for missing people individually?
Spin: Don’t be ridiculous.
You know how many hundreds of thousands of people
go missing worldwide each year?
Killua: We could still see which areas
have the highest concentrations, though.
Spin: Mm, well...
No good. This data is two years old.
Gon: Maybe we should start by checking for sightings.
Killua: Yeah, seeing a two-meter-tall insect
would be a big deal.
Spin: Sure, that goes without saying,
but we tried that already.
We didn’t turn up anything.
Banana: We might be getting all worked up over nothing, guys.
Spin: Maybe so.
Kite: Bring up all the tidal data
from the day the arm was found.
Spin: It was discovered right around here.
Kite: Now try going back to ten days ago.
Locate any currents that could potentially have carried the arm
to that location in that period of time.
Spin: Wait. What do you mean?
Kite: I mean that we should consider
the possibility the arm was severed
after the chimera ant washed up somewhere else.
Spin: I see.
Seems it could have come from any of the balsa islands.
Kite: And unfortunately that includes the mitene union.
Stick: Seriously?
Banana: Oh! Where the n.G.L. Autonomous region is.
Kite: Yes, and that’s not to mention east gorteau.
No chance of getting information out of those two countries.
Killua: What’s the n.G.L.?
Banana: N.G.L.’s an acronym that stands for Neo-green life.
Stick: It’s a country founded by people
who reject modern technology,
choosing instead to live in nature.
Spin: Here it is.
♪
They primarily communicate by mail,
and primary travel is by horseback.
Anyone who brings technology into the country
could be executed.
Like back in ’87, there was a three-man television crew
that was caught trying to enter the country
in order to get a story.
One was executed, and two are still jailed.
99% of its 2.17 million population
belong to the n.G.L. Party.
The rest are volunteers.
Kite: Let’s assume for now
that the chimera ant washed ashore there.
How would the n.G.L.’s citizenry react?
I doubt they’d do anything.
When a deadly epidemic spread through the area,
they refused international medical aid,
because they preferred
to let nature run its grisly course instead.
Even if they tried to contact the outside world,
it would be too late by the time word arrived.
So if the arm that was discovered did belong
to the chimera ant queen, then it’s entirely possible
that she’s already begun constructing her nest.
Squadron leader: A contest?
Alligator ant: Yeah, between you and me.
Just a friendly challenge to see which one of us
can bring the queen more humans to devour.
- What do you say, huh? - ( Squadron leader scoffs )
Alligator ant: Hmm? You’re running away?
Accept my challenge!
Squadron leader: What?
Are you ordering me around?
Tell me. Why should I follow an order from you?
I only follow orders given to me by the queen herself.
Alligator ant: Oh, give me a break.
You’re just scared of losing.
See, my squad is comprised of elite soldiers.
I can beat any squad in this entire castle.
Hey, I know!
I should get the other squad leaders in on this,
make it a group thing.
If we all compete against each other,
we’re bound to capture more prey.
Squadron leader: So that’s the goal?
I see. I agree with your premise.
If we gather more prey,
the queen will be quite pleased indeed.
Alligator ant: Well, okay, then. That settles it.
Squadron leader: However, the quality of the prey
matters as well. It’s very important
to ensure that the queen eats only highly nutritious humans.
Alligator ant: That guy’s such a stiff, it’s not even funny.
Turtle ant: But that’s what makes him so endearing.
He’s as loyal as he is dedicated to the cause.
Bird ant: I presume that the human
from which he was created was also quite earnest.
( Mother crying )
Farmer: Oh.
Where are you going?!
I told you to get some rest, didn’t I?!
Farmer #2: I’ll go bring her back.
Elder: Don’t bother. It won’t help.
Farmer #2: But she’s been going
to the forest every single morning
and spending her whole day searching.
Farmer #1: That’s right.
She’ll probably collapse from exhaustion soon.
Elder: But she still can’t stop
looking for her missing children.
That’s what it means to be a parent.
Farmer #2: How long has it been now?
How many days ago did Kurt and reina vanish?
Farmer #1: It’s like the spirits whisked them away.
- ( Children laughing ) - Boy: Yeah!
Girl: Huh?
Wow. Those bugs are big.
Boy: Huh?
Squadron leader: It’s an area we haven’t raided yet.
♪
( Girl screams )
( Mother grunts )
( Squadron leader gasps )
( Mother sobs )
( Man screams )
Girl: Mommy!
Farmer #1: It was them, those awful monsters!
They must have been the ones
that stole your children from you!
( Mother gasps )
( Elder grunts )
( Crowd murmuring )
Turtle ant: Excellent. The queen will be most pleased.
This will be more than sufficient, i’m sure.
- ( Gunfire ) - ( Gasps )
( Hostages screaming )
( Turtle ant gasps ) What?
Gunman: Exterminate the insects quickly.
Gunman #2: That’s gyro’s direct order.
Turtle ant: Gyro? What is gyro?!
Gunman #3: The name of our king, you fool!
Damn it.
♪
Spin: Okay, I just bought us tickets to the mitene union.
Banana: But in order for us to reach the n.G.L.,
it looks like we’ll have to take an airship
to the neighboring rokario Republic,
and then we can travel by land the rest of the way.
Stick: Well, those nasty rumors "ant" gonna help.
Just kidding. ( Laughs )
Killua: Nasty rumors?
Gon: Like what?
Kite: Have you heard of d.D.?
Gon: Uh, no.
Kite: It’s a drug propagating rapidly
in urban areas worldwide.
It’s derived from the bira tree,
which is native to the mitene union.
And not only are they native to the region,
but they claim over 80% of the world’s bira trees
are located in the n.G.L.
Killua: Okay, so the nasty rumors
are that the n.G.L. Is manufacturing it?
Kite: They’re still only rumors.
No one has been able to prove it publicly yet.
Stick: The country is locked down tight.
Spin: When anybody tries to get in and investigate,
they’re instantly executed.
Gon: They are?
Pokkle: He wasn’t killed?
- Ponzu: Hmm? - Man: No.
If he had been captured trying to uncover
the n.G.L.’s secrets, then there’s a good chance
he would have been executed like that TV crew man.
Man #2: But this reporter wore a recording device.
Our goal was to intercept the final message,
and that’s how we did it. When the message was played...
Reporter: M-monsters! Gigantic bugs!
( Static crackling )
Pokkle: Gigantic bugs, huh?
Man #1: Mm. So what do you think?
Pokkle: Hmm. I can’t be sure without knowing a lot more.
- ( Chuckles ) - Men: Huh?
Pokkle: I’ll have to see for myself.
I mean, I am the only magical-beast hunter here.
Man #1: That settles it.
I’ll go get three tickets for the journey.
- Ponzu: Make it four. - Men: Huh?
Pokkle: Ponzu?
Ponzu: I’m coming with you guys.
Pokkle: You can’t! This is too dangerous!
You don’t even have a professional license yet,
and we’re talking about the n.G.L. Here, remember?
Ponzu: And that’s why.
You’re not allowed to bring technology
into the n.G.L., right, so if they catch you
with any cell phones or wireless communicators,
guaranteed you’ll be arrested on the spot.
All i’m saying is if there’s any trouble,
you guys’ll need me,
or rather, you’ll need them.
( Buzzing )
If you have a letter for someone,
they can carry it anywhere you like.
( Pokkle chuckles )
I get it.
They’ll sure come in handy.
( Indistinct announcements )
Kite: It may be too late to ask this,
but are you sure you want to come along?
Gon: Of course!
Killua: You weren’t kidding about the "late" part, huh?
Kite: As you know, we have no idea
what the situation is inside the n.G.L.
There may very well be a swarm of giant chimera ants
already hunting humans down,
and if that does indeed turn out to be the case,
then my priority will be saving them,
so be aware that I may not be able to help you two.
If you’re going to join us,
you must be able to protect yourselves.
Gon: Right. I got it.
Killua: We’re okay.
Kite: And if it happens to be me
who finds himself in danger, then leave me there.
Gon: Uh...
Kite: You got it?
♪
( Squadron leader gasps )
Alligator ant: Hey, that’s a pretty good haul.
Well, it’s less than half of what my squadron delivered,
but it’s okay.
Squadron leader: My focus was quality,
and I wasn’t competing with you.
( Alligator ant scoffs ) Whatever.
So anyway, did you hear?
That turtle guy’s group ran into a bit of human resistance.
Squadron leader: You don’t say.
( Page turns )
Bird ant: Hmm. What you saw
were probably things called guns.
Turtle ant: Guns?
Bird ant: To put it simply, it’s a barrel
that launches small metal projectiles, or bullets,
using the explosive force of gunpowder.
It’s one of the most commonly used human weapons.
Turtle ant: I have no idea what you’re talking about.
Bird ant: If you want to know more, then read these books.
They’re wonderful and filled with quite useful information,
such as how humans think, behave,
and function as a society.
Turtle ant: Maybe you can answer a question for me, then.
These humans, do they have armies, too?
Bird ant: Why do you ask?
Turtle ant: Well, because what attacked us out there
was an army. That much I know.
They belong to a military body
led by an authoritative figure, much like us.
Oh, yes, and I have another question.
They mentioned something about a name?
Bird ant: A name? Hmm.
I can see why you’re confused.
It’s a human idea and one that we do not make use of ourselves.
In terms you would understand...
Alligator ant: It seems humans are capable
of more than we thought.
I was beginning to think
all they could do was cry and run away.
Squadron leader: And why does that surprise you?
You and I are quite different ourselves, are we not?
It’s only natural
that humans would have unique traits as well.
Their blood, after all, flows through all of our veins.
( Tone ringing )
Queen: Squadron leaders, assemble!
Squadron leaders, assemble!
Bird ant: The queen is summoning us.
Queen: Squadron leaders, assemble!
Cat ant: Do you get a headache
every time the queen calls to us, or am I the only one?
Lobster ant: No, my ears start ringing like crazy
whenever I hear it.
Scorpion ant: A shame, really.
If only the queen could talk like we do.
♪
Queen: I shall now begin preparation
for the birth of the king.
Every day from this day forward, you will deliver me 50 humans.
Chimera ants: Yes, majesty!
Turtle ant: Your majesty, may I ask a question?
Queen: Yes. Speak.
Turtle ant: Among the humans
are soldiers like ourselves, my queen,
with weapons to use against us.
If I may make a suggestion, we must fortify our defenses
in preparation for a potential attack.
We have already come up with a few options.
Would you care to hear them?
Queen: I will allow you to decide your own course.
For now, I must focus entirely on my son.
( Turtle ant gasps ) Thank you, your majesty.
But one more thing,
may we have your permission to have names?
Queen: And what is a name?
Turtle ant: It’s like a label, my queen,
one that can be used to identify each of us individually.
Queen: Fine. Do as you please.
Turtle ant: I am eternally grateful.
Queen: Curious creatures.
They’re assertive
and desire things called names to be distinct.
They place a high value on individualism,
yet strive with one another for the good of the colony.
I suppose i’m just as peculiar to find this change fascinating.
Perhaps, just perhaps,
I, too, have faint traces of human blood within me.
Regardless, I cannot help but feel great anticipation.
Yes. I can sense you already,
almost as if recalling a memory from my own past.
I promise you this,
you shall stand at the pinnacle of all species!
Names, amusing little things.
The three elite royal guards,
I shall come up with a name for you myself.
( Airship whirring )
Killua: Well, what did you just decide?
Gon: You remember what kite said before we left,
that we should escape without him if he’s in danger?
Killua: Yeah. He didn’t make it sound like it was a choice.
Gon: Right,
and that’s why neither one of us
felt comfortable saying anything.
But there’s something that i’ve been thinking about.
Do you really think kite, a guy ging respects,
can ever actually be in that much danger?
You said before that ging had a reason
for bringing kite and me together.
So do you still think that?
Killua: Yeah.
Gon: Lately i’ve started to think you’re right.
I don’t know the reason, and maybe I never will,
but I can’t give up.
And it doesn’t matter what’s going on here.
I just don’t want to disappoint ging, you know?
Or me. I couldn’t forgive myself, either.
I won’t run away. That’s what i’ve decided.
( Killua gasps )
Damn it.
You had such a serious look on your face,
I was expecting something big,
but it’s the same stuff as usual.
Gon: Huh? I thought about it a lot.
I even ran a bunch of simulations in my head.
Killua: Think all you want, you’re still gon.
If someone said you should abandon them,
there’s no way you’d ever do it.
( Gon sighs )
You make it sound like I wasted my time considering it.
Okay, then, so what about you?
Killua: Don’t know.
I guess i’d just think about it when the time comes.
Gon: Hold on. You mean you might run away?
Killua: Depends on what happens.
Look, I don’t really do these hypotheticals.
Gon: Fine, but what if--
killua: Look, I already told you.
I don’t know what i’d do, okay?
I never decide ’til it’s time.
♪
Narrator: And so, the airship,
along with the group and all of its other passengers,
begins the journey for the mitene union
still completely unaware
of the cruel fate which lies in store for them.
♪
( Singing in Japanese )