New Creatures X the Dark Continent

Hero Island officially opened to the public a month ago, and the gangsters have done a massive publicity campaign. Now, you can see news programs related to this game in any mainstream media outlet.

There are even videos of the host interviewing members of the game development team, namely Mondel.

With this kind of publicity, Hero Island's popularity soared to unprecedented heights, attracting the attention of countless Nen user.

Regarding Nen, it is something that the general public does not understand. To outsiders, Hero Island is just an online handheld game... But through the Hunter Website or other channels accessible to Nen user, including completing the handheld game and defeating the final boss, one can obtain a 'way' to go to Hero Island.

It's something only Nen user can discover...

This idea and design came from Kim.

During his six months on Hero Island, he played a significant role. Most importantly, he made the mandatory effect of the 'Player Contract' even stronger, adding many fun life-related settings and gameplay elements outside of the main game content, that is, during daily rest and idle time, making players more engaged... and firmly bound to the game.

After doing all this, Ging Freecss also left Hero Island... and left a message saying that he would come back after the basic player ranks improved.

Currently, it's difficult for someone of his caliber to find enjoyment in competition with ordinary opponents.

In addition, during her time on Hero Island... Kite was also summoned by King and stayed for a few days before leaving.

Kite has been very busy lately... It's already a relief that she could come.

Oboro and Ging Freecss exchanged contact information, so... they talk on the phone occasionally.

People like Jin rarely contact others... The fact that he can maintain intermittent communication with Long clearly indicates that he wants to gradually understand the latter.

She clearly understood his thoughts, but didn't care.

Over the past year, the Game World has received a large amount of 'energy replenishment' and is running more and more stably... He felt that it wouldn't be long before he was able to go offline.

He officially acquired all three Nen!

Long returned to the Association headquarters and met Men Menchi and the other four who had also undergone a year of training.

The changes in these individuals were dramatic, not only in terms of their abilities but also in their mental state... Their personalities remained distinct, but they were no longer as naive as before.

Currently, in the team, apart from Oboro, who is Two-Star Hunter, the rest are all One-Star Hunter.

Menchi's achievements and qualifications have almost reached the point where she can apply for Two-Star Hunter... However, her strength still needs to be improved.

Otherwise, even if you apply at that time, the chances of the Association's management approving it are not high.

Even so, her current level far surpasses that of the original works from the same period.

This growth is inseparable from the fact that Oboro led the team through a year of training.

"What are you planning to do next? Try to become a three-star Hunter x Hunter?" In the Association's hall, Menchi looked at the captain and asked.

They hadn't seen Long for a long time either.

Upon meeting again... at least, Longdan's presence had become unfathomable to her.

Unfathomable.

Two years ago, when the team was first formed, Oboro was also very strong, but at least the team members could still feel it.

And now... even though I believe my strength has improved by leaps and bounds in the past two years, I'm still far behind this man...

Lone spared no effort in nurturing them... not out of kindness or goodwill.

The only thing Menchi could think of was the Samsung Hunter x Hunter.

And... Samsung missions.

This level of mission cannot be obtained through the usual process; it must be assigned by the guild leader and higher-ups.

"That's right... but it's not just for me to reach three stars; I also need you all to become stronger," Oboro said with a smile.

"Looks like another adventure is about to begin..."

Anthony grinned.

Let alone a three-star Hunter x Hunter, even Two-Star Hunter isn't something anyone can become. Among them, the only one who seems to have a chance is Menchi.

For someone like Anthony, becoming One-Star Hunter is already quite an achievement.

However, the current six-person team has already formed some emotional bonds, as well as their respect and trust in Oboro... In any case, they will do whatever the captain tells them to do.

"You've already accepted the mission?"

Seeing Long's expression, Menchi confirmed it.

Long nodded.

"Then let's just set off... what are we still doing here?" Menchi asked, puzzled.

Perhaps influenced by Long, they all preferred to do things cleanly and efficiently, without dragging things out. This habit had become ingrained in their solo missions throughout the year.

"Waiting for someone."

Long replied with two words.

"Should we team up with other squads?"

Menchi is slightly different.

However, given the special circumstances of the Samsung mission, it is reasonable.

Samsung might only have one or two tasks a year, and some commissions have been piling up for a long time without anyone being able to complete them.

"It's not a small team... it's a temporary outside help provided to us by the Association." Long smiled slightly.

"Foreign aid? Do you think we can't complete it?"

Anthony frowned and asked, puzzled.

Could it be that this time, instead of going directly to the old man as usual...?

Hunter x Hunter from the Association who were passing by greeted Oboro from time to time, and Oboro waved back to them all in a friendly manner.

He's incredibly popular within the Association right now.

"They're here!"

Before his teammates could ask again, Long spotted a figure walking towards them with downcast eyes in the distance and gave them a warning.

Upon seeing the newcomers, Menchi and his four companions showed slight changes in expression.

It turns out to be... the Zodiacs.

The Monkey King's Journey to the Saiyu.

How could it be the Zodiacs?! Menchi immediately looked at Long, trying to find the answer on his face.

Oboro hadn't reminded them before... Logically speaking, the Zodiacs, as the management of the Association, rarely show up or interfere in the missions of other Hunter x Hunter groups, and even if they do, it's a special case.

As long as Oboro is around, this three-star mission shouldn't be a big problem.

Under these circumstances, it's somewhat intriguing to still allow the Zodiacs to emerge... especially considering Oboro's situation within the Association.

Over the past two years, Menchi has become aware of some of the infighting within the Association ... Oboro had run for a seat among the Zodiacs, but ultimately failed due to his refusal! Furthermore, Oboro and Vice President Pariston have a poor relationship...

Menchi sensed a conspiracy.

"There's one more..."

Fante, smoking a cigarette, glanced in another direction.

The snake (巳) Gel).

Two members of the Zodiacs.

"Hello everyone," Oboro greeted them warmly.

Although he has been a member of the Association for many years, Oboro has actually appeared in the Association only a limited number of times and for a limited period of time. He has not yet officially met any of the Zodiacs Branches, except for Pariston.

Menchi and Anthony exchanged glances, and they all understood each other's meaning.

The difficulty of this mission is another matter, but the situation behind it is at least somewhat complicated.

None of them were beginners...

It's obvious that the Zodiacs are targeting the team leader.

As team members, they need to be wary of these two, so they'll definitely side with Long.

"I think we don't need to introduce ourselves..." said the poison Hunter x Hunter Gel, in a clear yet cold voice.

"Certainly."

Long smiled gently.

"There's plenty of time to talk on the road."

Saiyu twirled his special weapon, a shrunken long staff, glanced at Long's companions, and walked away first.

Immediately afterwards, the group left the Association.

The danger level of this three-star mission is unknown.

Although it is still within the human world, it is relatively close to the Dark Continent, belonging to the outermost edge of the human world.

Between Mobius Lake, where the human continent is located, and the Dark Continent, there are some deserted islands, none of which are very large.

The Association has received information that species from the Dark Continent may have infiltrated an island from the other side of the land. If not stopped, they could cause deadly disasters once they enter the human world.

They were heading to the tenth island on Route 3.

However, the Oboro Squad's task was merely to conduct an investigation; they had no other instructions. After all, the information might not be accurate or true.

If they do discover creatures from the Dark Continent, the team doesn't need to deal with them; they can simply return immediately.

Therefore, since the Dark Continent was involved, the mission was upgraded to three stars, but there was no need to send two of the Zodiacs.

The reason for doing so... in Oboro's view, may be entirely due to the will of the Zodiacs themselves.

Ging Freecss has achieved his goal!

The Zodiacs began to focus their attention on the "Long" (胧) character...

Whether Pariston was involved in this is still uncertain.

Pariston, as the vice president, wielded more power than the other members of the Zodiacs, making arrangements all the easier for him.

Back then, there were several routes for V5 to travel to the Dark Continent. Even the guild leader's two trips to the Dark Continent followed specific routes... and the direction of travel was different for each of them.

It is worth mentioning that humanity has always only explored the outermost edge of the Dark Continent, including the five calamities they brought back, which were all things from the very periphery of the Dark Continent.

They've never even truly entered the Dark Continent, never stepped through that door...

It's like wandering outside the forest...

Even so, the cost is still quite high.

A week later, the group of eight, led by Oboro, first applied to the Voyage Bureau and reported to V5 before boarding the officially designated ship and heading to the island for investigation along the third route.

"If the news is false... that way, we didn't have to do anything, we just ran errands and completed a three-star mission."

Inside the cabin, Anthony sat with his legs crossed, holding a tabloid magazine in his hands, lost in thought.

Sitting opposite him Gel, who was also holding a book related to pharmacology and reading it.

The woman didn't even look up, and said directly, "The news is very likely to be true... This mission was issued directly by V5, which means it's not baseless, and it's highly confidential. Apart from the mission personnel and the Association's higher-ups, no one else knows about it."

Even without her emphasizing it, everyone understood what the Dark Continent meant.

Taboo.

"I heard that the Kakin Empire has also sent people..." Oboro, who was standing to the side, raised an eyebrow.

As he said this, he glanced at Journey to the Saiyu without making a sound.

"Really? How come I didn't know?" Gel a little surprised and put down her book.

"The Kakin Empire once issued a commissioned investigation into a new type of creature. Oh... right, that was around the time Pariston was elected vice president," Oboro said with a chuckle.

"Such recklessness?"

Gel's tone turned cold. After being reminded by Jing Long, she remembered that there was indeed such a thing.

The Kakin Empire changed its system and name nearly 30 years ago due to a revolution, and subsequently withdrew from the V5 Treaty, evolving into its current state.

The Kakin Empire is quite influential and powerful among the countries of the Six Continents, and it doesn't need to depend on V5 at all... and V5 doesn't have much of a way to deal with it either.

The so-called new Biological Investigation refers to species that have never appeared in the human world before, and the target is naturally... the Dark Continent.

This country seems to be showing signs of breaking the pact of 'the Dark Continent is inviolable'.

It is an uncertain hidden danger.

Their team's task was simply to conduct an investigation, but what if Kakin's people landed on the island, caused some unforeseen events, or brought back unknown species...?

"Don't worry, since I know, V5 must have received the message a long time ago and will send someone to stop it... but they won't entrust our people to do it." Seeing her expression, Long spoke up to ease the atmosphere.

"Regarding the investigation released by the Kakin Empire, the so-called new creature... do you have any leads?"

He asked a question he already knew the answer to.

"A new creature? It's been a while now... During this time, the number of investigation tasks and teams commissioned by the Association seems to have surged... Could it be related to our mission?" Before Gel could answer, Menchi, who was sitting on the sofa, couldn't help but frown.

"There should be a point... It is precisely because of the emergence of new species that V5 is so vigilant in infiltrating the human world." Oboro nodded slightly.

What do you know?

The Association has not yet investigated the matter of the new organism.

But judging from Long's expression, it seemed he knew some inside information.

Gel looked over.

"I don't know... this is just a guess. If the new creature really originated from the Dark Continent, then the subsequent situation could be quite serious." Long shook his head.

He didn't want to tell the truth.

The new organism is the Chimera Ant.

Ants have long been reproducing in the human world, but they are located in the Balsa Islands, within the NGL Autonomous Country of the Mitene Union. The NGL Autonomous Country is known as the 'most difficult nature reserve to enter'.

Getting inside is even more difficult than getting into East Gorteau.

When talking about NGL, one cannot help but mention Gyro.

He was the tyrant who founded the NGL Autonomous Country. Due to his upbringing and some experiences, he felt the malice of the world towards him from a young age.

Therefore, Gyro's purpose in creating NGL was to unleash his evil upon all of humanity, a form of revenge! Drugs, weapons, medicines—all contraband flows out of this country... none of them are products that can threaten human life.

NGL has always been a major headache for v5.

NGL is even more difficult to intervene in or get involved in than East Gorteau. Although it is called a country, it is more like a large criminal organization... On the scale of a country, it far exceeds the relatively scattered gangs.

Because it is difficult to be interfered with by external factors and the situation is special, v5 has no solution and can only let NGL cause trouble.

It's not hard to see that when Gyro created NGL, he already had a strategy and ideas to deal with v5.

Therefore, the progress of this new Biological Investigation is very slow.

The outside world is completely unaware of what is happening within its country.

Of course, the slow progress, which caused the ants to hatch at an alarming rate, was also due to Pariston's interference.

This guy is targeting Netero... He wants to use ants to make a fuss, and he's been planning this for a long time.

The purpose was to break the old man's rule against going to the Dark Continent —that was only one reason! Secondly, Pariston greatly admired Netero, to the point that his twisted personality drove him to want to sabotage him...

There's another person involved in this matter, someone even more significant Beyond ...

The reason why Oboro has not intervened in the ant incident is because the large-scale reproduction of Chimera Ant is also beneficial to him... If hunting Magical Beasts can obtain souls and black mist, what about Chimera Ant?

The boost he receives will be greater...

Another point is that the president's resignation was also part of his plan.

However, now that he's around, Oboro might try to save the old man, but the chances are slim...

It hasn't been long since the old man and the Chimera Ant King Meruem went to war...

During this period, the improvement he could achieve would make it quite difficult for him to intervene in battles of that level.

The main point is that, putting aside the Poor Man's Rose, the old man himself didn't actually put much pressure on the Chimera Ant King... let alone him.

The queen ant took much longer to reach human land, and at that time, he had neither the room nor the energy to intervene...

Forget about the Association; others are either still practicing in the deep mountains or have just arrived at the Heavens Arena.

All we can say is that Netero's downfall was due to fate... something even Oboro couldn't reverse.

The arrival of Oboro, this transmigrator, will indeed trigger some 'butterfly effects,' such as Biscuit and Wing, the Phantom Troupe, and Hisoka... but there are some things that even he is powerless to change.

The update is late, but there will be more later. If you can't wait, go to sleep now.

Sweet dreams~ (づ￣3￣) づ╭~