October 5.
The sky over Greed Island was gray and overcast. The island had just been washed by rain under the "Administrator's" control, and the vegetation in sight gleamed green.
The whirring of propellers drew closer.
A bullet-shaped airship descended from the clouds. It had no advertisements or organizational insignia, just a plain white exterior that made it look utterly unremarkable.
But the airship carried a highly respected elder of the Hunter Association, which made it special after all.
Nearly all of Greed Island's current, active Administrators had gathered on an endless stretch of grass to welcome its arrival.
Even Doon and List, who had been run ragged by the recent Greed Island update, had come to see it.
The airship grew larger in everyone's view. Then the powerful wind from its propellers sent the fresh scent of grass into their noses.
It touched down smoothly, without a hitch.
The propellers slowly came to a stop.
A little while later, the cabin door opened with a hiss of escaping air. A metal gangway lowered, providing a path up and down.
Gelman and the others stepped forward and waited quietly.
For five long minutes, nobody emerged from the airship. Then they heard a concerned voice, as if its speaker were protecting some precious treasure.
"Careful, there's a raised corner here."
"Mind your head, mind your head."
"The gangway slopes downward ahead. Take it slowly. There's no rush."
Gelman and the others saw an elderly, hunched woman appear at the cabin door, surrounded and supported by Biscuit, Menchi, Buhara, and a group of strangers.
She had a head of sparse silver hair, and her eyes were always narrowed, as though she were half asleep. Her face was covered in wrinkles.
She was Lin Nie Odlebro, the Hunter Association's Two-Star Hunter whose seniority