Chairman Netero stroked his white beard again and flashed the same sly grin as yesterday.
"After the V6 formed and the Hunter Association's exploration team confirmed the mission to the Dark Continent, I secretly gathered them and brought them here for 'training.'"
"You can't imagine the look on their faces when they saw your 'achievements' for the first time…"
"Hehehe, I even took a few photos. Want to see? Cheadle's stunned face? Her glasses even slipped off. After that, she spent every day and night in the library and research institute."
"No, I'm not interested in that." Germain wasn't into that kind of mischief.
Chairman Netero deliberately hummed in dissatisfaction, then quickly flashed another smile.
His mood changed so fast it was astonishing. He didn't seem like a man over a hundred, but rather like a mischievous child.
"To complete this great sea-land connection, expose your achievements to the world, and protect your abilities from the V6's covetous eyes, we need to prepare three things."
"First, the understanding of the Dark Continent and the corresponding preparations. In this regard, the 'achievements' you gathered on Greed Island are like a treasure trove."
"Cheadle and Mizaistom have been diligently researching for months, almost neglecting their work at the Hunter Association."
"In terms of preparation, the Hunter Association's exploration team will far outshine the Beyond exploration team."
"As the chairman, I have to stay busy, but seeing their eyes light up as if they've discovered a new world—it's all worth it."
"Isn't this your job in the first place?" Germain couldn't help but comment.
"The company you keep," Chairman Netero gave Germain a glance, "Spending too much time with Bisky has clearly taught you how to make sarcastic remarks."
Then, he continued, "Second, the Hunter Association exploration team needs members who have actually been to the Dark Continent, to act as leaders and provide their experience."
"And this time, the leaders will naturally be me and Morel. Linne and Zigg no longer have the energy for such a long voyage."
"My memories of the Dark Continent are a bit distant, after all, it's been more than half a century. But Morel, who spent five months there with you, will provide fresh and valuable experience."
"On this point, our combination is clearly better than just Beyond alone."
"Third, of course, is your coordination on the Dark Continent."
"We have the map of the route taken by the United States of Saherta from back then. But after so many years, the terrain has definitely changed to some extent, and that's where you'll come in to assist us."
Germain nodded: "No problem, just give me a few copies of the route map. We'll set up several meeting points and agree on a time to meet at those places."
"Done, it's settled."
Then, Chairman Netero asked Germain about his experiences over the past few months.
Germain explained one by one, and also shared that the "Stagecoach Group" had developed the habit of documenting the "New Journey to the New World" and writing their own "Stagecoach Logs."
Their experiences, down to the smallest details, were all written there, accompanied by photos. This time, Germain had brought back the memoirs that had been stored for five months.
Chairman Netero, the other twelve Zodiacs, the A-level members of the Greed Island, and Cheadle all wanted to learn more about the Dark Continent. To do so, they could just flip through the records.
"It's clear that during our long journey, you won't give up on the challenge posed by the remaining two 'Disasters and Hopes'," Chairman Netero said.
He understood. When Germain and Ging worked together, no one could stop them, not even him.
Germain nodded again.
The V6 colonial and exploration army had departed from the Six Continents. They were expected to reach the imagined Dark Continent in two months and then cross the Dark Sea, which would take even more time.
Germain and Ging were not planning to wait quietly, even though their achievements were already enough to make history. Honors like "Triple Star Hunter" were nothing to them.
They were the core members of the "Stagecoach Group," and the core values of the team were "Lawful, Neutral, Chaotic" or "Good, Neutral, Evil," which often determined the team's position.
Chairman Netero couldn't help but shake his head and sigh. He thought that when he was younger, he didn't have the same level of madness as these two.
The most important thing was that he, along with Zigg and Linne, had failed in the end. The different outcome for Germain and the others would change everything.
Everything started with the appearance of this young man. He had changed so many things.
"Then go ahead and do it... I know you won't stop until you uncover the truth of the Dark Continent."
"But you must remember, right now, you are the core that connects and unites several organizations. If something happens to you, we'll be stuck with only the 'Five Hopes'."
Germain left Chairman Netero's room, fully aware of the weight of Netero's words.
The Ancient Labyrinth Post Station, Greed Island, the Hunter Association, Meteor City, the Zoldyck Family... He is now the central figure connecting these five major organizations and even more.
They revolve around him like planets orbiting the sun—this is both an honor and a praise, but also a responsibility and trust.
Germain has now surpassed everyone except Don Freecss, standing at the forefront of humanity. The tidal wave of people coming toward him will continue to push him forward.
He is humanity's vanguard and pioneer returning to the Dark Continent.
During breakfast, Germain became busy as expected because so many people wanted to meet him and talk to him.
Germain decided to take them one by one, and his first choice was Cheadle.
"Dog Girl" Cheadle invited Germain to meet her at the Dark Continent Archives in Limeiro Castle.
When Germain walked in, he saw Cheadle, wearing thin-rimmed glasses, sitting in a corner, reading a book.
She really resembled many of the female high school librarian characters from anime, even with a touch of the Furry factor.
"Ah, you're here," Cheadle said, glancing around as if worried her voice would disturb others in the library.
Then, she waved at Germain, signaling him to sit in front of her.
After Germain sat down, he realized there were many familiar faces in the library—"Dragon" Botobai, "Horse" Saccho Kobayakawa, "Snake" Gel, and so on.
Cheadle adjusted her glasses and said in a somewhat neutral tone, "Everyone is reluctant to leave the materials here. Even the copies have been flipped through countless times."
"Of course, some couldn't stand it and chose to give up," Cheadle pointed to none other than "Tiger" Kanzai, there was no doubt about it.
This member of the Zodiacs, Kanzai, didn't even know who the king of the Kakin Empire was, let alone what the Dark Continent was.
It's a miracle that someone like Kanzai, with no common sense, could become a professional Hunter and even join the Zodiacs.
The original storyline's Ging once described the Dark Continent like this:
"It is the Pandora's Box that adults, with common sense, deliberately avoid touching..."
"We don't want to face it, but the world we know is just a small part of a vast world beyond imagination."
"In some era, in some region... certain chosen people... left records of having been there, hidden in their relics..."
The Dark Continent is the "taboo" of the human world, a forbidden part of "common knowledge."
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