Then, Beyond took a sip of the purple wine, the liquid shimmering in the glass as he swirled it. A slightly intoxicated expression crossed his face before he leaned back onto the plush bed, a smile tugging at his lips.
"How is it? This wine, made from the legendary Amethyst Grape Crystal that every Gourmet Hunter dreams of tasting?"
"It's truly one of the seven most exquisite colors in the world. Not just the appearance—its taste is mesmerizing as well."
Beyond praised it sincerely. He could tell that this glass contained more than just a single Amethyst Grape Crystal.
A treasure that had captivated Gourmet Hunters and Gem Hunters alike was being casually used to make wine. If word got out, many would find it both laughable and tragic.
Sheer extravagance at its peak.
But for Beyond, who had no interest in being a Hunter, such lavish displays from the immensely wealthy Kakin Empire only proved they were the perfect partners for his ambitions.
"If you like it, I'll have them send over two more bottles later." The king of Kakin chuckled, his words laced with nonchalance that could drive others mad with envy.
Then, his attention shifted to the screen, where Ronnel was facing Jade.
"What do you think of him?"
"He's the main reason I came to see you."
At this, Beyond set the crystal glass aside, his expression turning serious.
"Tell me, Your Majesty, what do you think of this man?"
"Me?" The king of Kakin glanced at the screen before responding lazily. "I'd like to recruit him into the Kakin Empire's service, to place him under the royal family. But with his background, he'd likely resist, wouldn't he?"
"He's from the streets of Meteor City. Naturally, he'd be opposed to any form of government control. And to make things worse, he's a member of the notorious Phantom Troupe. Even if someone like that agreed to join us, I'd never fully trust him."
The king of Kakin paused, then cast a glance at Beyond. "That said, he has a good relationship with your father, Netero. As his son, have you considered approaching him?"
"Using my father's name? I'd rather not."
Beyond waved a hand dismissively. "It's not that I can't, but if I reach out under that pretense, he'll compare me to the old man. And if I don't meet his expectations, he'll just turn me down. What would be the point?"
He smirked. "Besides, the old man's still alive. If he found out, he'd never let me hear the end of it."
That last part is the real issue, huh?
The king of Kakin gave Beyond a knowing look. "It's up to you, but I can't wait too long. Once I deal with the remaining obstacles, I'm moving forward. And you still have that contract with Netero. If you don't resolve this before then…"
He didn't finish, but Beyond clearly got the message. He scratched his head in frustration.
"I know, I know. I'll figure something out."
He had signed a contract with Netero—a restriction and vow.
Beyond was forbidden from setting foot on the Dark Continent while Netero was still alive.
If he wanted to go, he'd have to wait until Netero was dead.
This condition had been Netero's idea, and Beyond had agreed to it.
Netero's intention had been to push his son to surpass his limits—to remove the final obstacle in his path with his own hands. Only by doing so could Beyond break free of his inner shackles, growing exponentially stronger.
Once he reached his peak, he would inherit the mantle of the strongest and ensure his own survival in the Dark Continent.
Netero would take satisfaction in that. The old man had no desire to die by Beyond's hand, leaving him burdened with guilt. If Beyond could prove himself, Netero would accept his fate and choose an appropriate time to depart this world.
But it was clear that Beyond wasn't ready yet. If things continued as they were, this impasse would last until the Chimera Ant crisis erupted…
The king of Kakin shook his head slightly. He had heard this excuse too many times.
"But someone else is more impatient than we are. I hear some unusual ants have made their way from the Dark Continent. Supposedly, they're being used to test whether humanity is ready for the Dark Continent."
"Yeah, I heard," Beyond replied, nodding. "I've already instructed the Hunter Association to make preparations. There's no need to worry about that."
"Good." The king of Kakin smirked. "It would be convenient if those ants helped you solve your problem. But from what I hear, they won't be easy to deal with."
"We'll see." Beyond sighed. "If the old man insists on interfering, I can't stop him… But back to the matter at hand—this guy on the screen. His name is Ronnel, right?"
Beyond carefully watched the replay of Ronnel's fight, nodding in approval. "He's much stronger than I expected."
"Oh?" The king of Kakin arched a brow. He knew how proud Beyond was.
For him to acknowledge someone's strength so readily—it was impressive. But…
"With that level of ability, are you sure he'll accept your offer?"
Beyond grinned. "No one can resist the temptation of the Dark Continent. A new world, full of adventure and the unknown—who wouldn't be intrigued?"
His confidence was unwavering. "Even if he's a member of a criminal gang, that continent is a treasure trove beyond compare. If he has the power to survive there, he won't say no."
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)