Hunter Website

After spending the past two days together, Netero had observed Biscuit's judgment and confirmed that she was probably right.

"Just as you'd expect from the Jewel Hunter. She's unearthed another rough gem buried deep in the muck. Perhaps, with careful polishing, he'll make outstanding contributions in certain fields in the future."

He stroked his beard, but still felt uneasy, as though he'd caught a familiar scent coming from Gelman—a scent that had no business being here.

Netero had been to the Dark Continent twice and returned alive both times. He was already a legend, and his journeys to the Dark Continent made him even more awe-inspiring.

But how could that be?

The V5 nations held almost all the information and routes to the Dark Continent. Even the Hunter Association was under their control and forbidden from leaking information at will.

Ging, and even Netero's own son, had gone to great lengths without managing to return there... Of course, apart from the V5 nations, Netero had also deliberately obstructed them...

It was far too soon for the young Hunters of today to venture to the Dark Continent again. They would not only suffer devastating losses, but might also bring back a catastrophic "calamity."

That was the problem. Gelman was all alone. How could he possibly get past every one of them and accomplish something like that?

Afternoon, January 10.

Gelman boarded a huge public airship. It slowly rose into the sky from Sofa City's airport, passing over the city's old-fashioned buildings.

After presenting his Hunter License, he did indeed receive a discount on his fare.

After several hours in the air, the airship landed at SW City's airport after nightfall.

Wearing a gray-black Hunter outfit and carrying an old travel backpack, Gelman strolled out of the airport amid the echoing announcements and stood on a street lined with taxis.

He tapped on the window of one of them. A tall man immediately got out from the driver's seat, beaming as he walked over.

The hairy-armed driver opened the rear door for him and asked, "Where would you like to go, sir?"

"Opera Hotel." Gelman had settled on his next stop while aboard the airship.

"No problem. We'll be there in twenty minutes."

The driver hadn't lied. The taxi arrived at the Opera Hotel twenty minutes later.

Gelman paid and got out, then lifted his head as the cold evening breeze brushed past.

Although the hotel was called the Opera Hotel, it wasn't an opera house. It had been built near one and named after the landmark.

It was tall and brightly lit. Several young people dressed as attendants stood before the red carpet at the entrance and greeted Gelman warmly.

Fifteen minutes later, Gelman was in his room. Through the bright floor-to-ceiling window, he looked down at the opera house, surrounded by lights like a cluster of stars.

The soundproofing was excellent. Gelman couldn't hear the music inside the opera house, but he could almost imagine it.

After enjoying a decent dinner at the dining table, Gelman sent Biscuit a text message.

"Have you eaten?"

"Send me the Hunter exclusive website."

Even after someone passed the Hunter Exam, the Hunter Association didn't directly give them the address of the Hunter exclusive website. They had to find it themselves.

Gelman didn't know many people, so Biscuit was the first person who came to mind.

It was a long while before Biscuit replied.

"Hey, hey, don't think that tossing in a casual greeting counts as 'successful communication.' That's so halfhearted. (Resigned face)"

→

"Looks like you passed the Hunter Exam and got your Hunter License. That was even faster than I expected. (Surprised face) I thought the exam would take at least a week."

"Wing sent me the Chameleon Stone, and I just received it. I love it. If I knew where it came from, I'd be even happier. (Expectant face)"

Biscuit's hint was obvious.

Gelman wasn't oblivious to social niceties. He understood them; he just sometimes found them so troublesome that he couldn't be bothered. But that wasn't an option now, since he needed a favor from Biscuit.

"I can't tell you where it came from." Gelman refused without hesitation, then proposed another deal. "I'll try to get another Chameleon Stone in exchange for the Hunter website address."

Getting a Chameleon Stone wasn't too difficult. He was planning to go back to the Dark Continent anyway, so it would be no trouble to pick one up while he was there.

"Okay." Biscuit replied at once. She seemed to have expected Gelman wouldn't tell her. "I'll send you the address."

A few seconds later, she sent him a website address, followed by two more messages.

"Teacher Netero said you're going to pursue the field of Beast Hunters. Beasts, huh... I think I can guess where the Chameleon Stone came from..."

"If you get any other types of gems, contact me right away. I'll make you an offer you won't regret. Don't forget, don't forget!"

Gelman replied, "Got it," and ended the exchange.

The next day, Gelman found an internet café in SW City and used a public computer to log in to the website Biscuit had sent him.

The website's homepage looked like a bar, and the bartender on screen was the one providing information.

There were two ways to access the Hunter exclusive website. One was the regular online version; the other made you feel as if you were actually standing inside the bar shown on the website.

Gelman chose the first option.

First, he searched for information related to the Dark Continent, but found only facts that everyone already knew.

More detailed information, such as "Gatekeepers," "Guides," and "calamities," was all hidden. No amount of money could buy access to it.

He then searched for entries on the V5 nations, the Hunter Association, the World Mafia, the Kakin Empire, and the Zoldyck Family.

There was far more information on them than on the Dark Continent, but the more confidential it was, the more Jenny it cost. Some entries even had additional requirements.

Next, Gelman searched for the Phantom Troupe.

He already knew most of the information that came up. The website knew even less than he did, and the answers about the members' names, appearances, and Nen abilities were all vague.

Even Gelman was only labeled a "suspected member of the Phantom Troupe," but that was already enough for people to hunt him down.

He popped chips into his mouth with his left hand and clicked the mouse with his right, finding the bounty offered for information on the Phantom Troupe.

The bounty was so large that he almost wanted to post his own information on the website.

Finally, he started searching for Hunters in related fields—or, more precisely, potential buyers.

Medicine, pharmaceuticals, biology, plants, gems, gourmet food, viruses—the list went on and on. Gelman didn't contact them right away. Instead, he committed their names to memory.