The two [Guides] remained hidden in an invisible corner, and the [Gatekeeper], who'd never shown his face, seemed deliberately out of reach.
Larry guessed the [Gatekeeper] was simply too massive to fit inside the house, so only his voice came through.
Unlike the sub-human [Guides], the [Gatekeeper] was a true monster.
Many monsters were huge. Take Sanmao from the Zoldyck family, for instance, whose body was the size of a house.
This [Gatekeeper] was likely on an even grander scale.
Looking at the map, the Dark Continent was full of enormous creatures.
When Larry finally got there, he wouldn't be surprised if someone told him a towering mountain across the land was actually a living being.
The thought of exploring the Dark Continent excited Larry more and more.
He wondered what kinds of creatures he'd encounter, and what Pokemon he could breed from them.
For him, the more dangerous the continent, the better.
The stronger the creatures, the better.
That meant he could raise even more powerful Pokemon.
After some thought, the [Gatekeeper] finally asked.
"Would we have the honor of guiding you?"
Even if he didn't really need a guide, it was a good chance to spend time with someone so strong.
Making friends with someone like Larry was definitely worth the effort.
The sheep-headed and black-robed figures hiding nearby were stunned.
It was the first time they'd seen such a high-level adult being so flattering.
At that moment, all they wanted was to get out of there as fast as possible.
They were worried that if they stayed any longer, they might overhear something they weren't supposed to and end up following the same fate as the boss, the Black Dragon.
"No need," Larry said casually, refusing their concern.
Following his lead, Marshadow picked up the stone ball, which had grown much dimmer.
With a faint click, the green light on the stone ball vanished completely, signaling the call had ended.
At the same time, the screen image disappeared as well.
Without a word, the Gatekeeper noticed the stone ball's color shift from green to white and quietly left the scene.
Only the two men in black robes, who felt they'd narrowly escaped disaster, remained alongside the 'black dragons' scattered on the ground.
Larry had no intention of accepting the Gatekeeper's unspoken offer or relying on any carefully planned safe routes.
He was eager to head straight into danger, craving encounters with stronger creatures.
That meant more experience points.
The Dark Continent wasn't just about discovering new Pokemon; it was a treasure trove of massive experience gains.
"This time, I've done everything perfectly," Larry said, turning to face the five suited men.
After a brief pause, he continued.
"From now on, you'll carry on with your usual duties. If there's anything special, I'll let you know."
"Yes, sir!" they answered in unison, fully under his control.
Looking at them, Larry nodded with satisfaction.
This mission had exceeded all his expectations.
He had gained control over the five top leaders of V5.
On top of that, he impressed the Gatekeeper and obtained a highly detailed map, far more precise than anything even V5 had access to.
---
A few days later, in the Hunter Association president's office, Ging carefully held a small teacup as he savored the tea.
"This tea is really good. Where did you get it?" he asked.
"Out of all the teas I've tried, this definitely ranks in my top three."
Even Ging, known for his
His usual casual attitude was unusually meticulous as he took another sip.
"At my level, I can actually feel its effects."
After taking a sip, a fresh tea aroma instantly filled his mouth, lifting his spirits.
Carrying some along would definitely come in handy in places like the Dark Continent.
But more importantly, the taste was exceptional.
He had sampled dozens, maybe even hundreds of teas before, but never one so fresh and full of flavor.
"Do you like it? I have quite a few, take whatever you want," Larry said as he sat down across from Ging.
"These things? They're gifts from others," he added casually, pulling a bag of tea from his belongings and setting it on the table.
He wasn't just making small talk, these teas had indeed been given to him by the man in the suit.
Men in suits often juggle so many responsibilities that they not only suffer from overwork and frequent headaches but also need medical attention regularly.
When feeling drained, they drink a special tea known for refreshing the mind and boosting the body.
This tea isn't just effective, it also has a flavor that Ging truly admires.
It's no ordinary product; its production is limited across the six continents, highlighting how valuable such a tonic is to national leaders.
"Did someone give this to you? President Larry, have you accepted a bribe?" Ging teased with mock seriousness.
"You've only been president for a few days and you're already doing this? I might have to report you to the old man. You need to stay honest and not compromise your principles over small favors," he added righteously, though his tone lacked conviction as he slipped the small bag of tea into his pocket.
Larry didn't even raise an eyebrow.
He knew Ging well enough to realize he was just being cheap and wouldn't be honest unless "forced."
"Ahem, what tea are you talking about?" Ging coughed twice and spread his hands, pretending to have nothing.
But the moment he pocketed it, he had already tucked the tea leaves into a small cloth bag.
"Alright, let's get back on topic. You didn't come here just to drink tea or get some, right?" Larry emphasized the word 'get' with a deliberate tone.
Hearing this, Ging slowly set his teacup down, his expression shifting from playful to serious.
"Is Pariston on your team?" Ging asked.
A flicker of surprise crossed Larry's eyes.
How did Ging find out so soon?
In the original timeline, Ging only approached Pariston months later, after Beyond's live broadcast featuring nasubi.
This was much earlier.
Larry realized this had to be a butterfly effect, some event had changed the sequence of things.
"Did you really notice him the moment he appeared? Have you been watching his moves closely?"
After a pause, Larry didn't deny it but turned the question back to Ging.
If Ging's suspicions were right, Pariston's secret identity had been uncovered ahead of time, and it was likely because of him.
Back then, Beyond had called his teammates together to introduce the new captain, himself.
It was during that visit that Pariston came to the base camp, and it was probably then that Ging picked up on the clues.
Normally, Pariston could come and go as he pleased, but this time, he happened to cross paths with Ging, who had his own hidden agenda.
That's when Pariston's secret was revealed.
"Yes, I've been sensing something off about him since the last election," Ging said slowly, his tone full of certainty.