Hunter World, Here I Come!

In the blink of an eye, ten days passed.

Over those ten days, Leo answered every question they asked. From the secret realm's climate to its distribution of life, from terrain features to resource locations, he provided whatever information Satotz's team needed as best he could.

He also took the initiative to help wherever he could—carrying equipment, clearing survey areas, and even helping analyze the origins of certain traces.

Selena's attitude toward Leo visibly softened. Though she remained wary, she was no longer on guard every moment as she had been at first.

She discussed hunting techniques with Leo and shared her own wilderness survival experience.

Once, Leo brought back a herb she had never seen before. She carefully recorded its properties and said she would help him identify it after they left the secret realm.

Kaspar, meanwhile, was extremely enthusiastic toward Leo. The young scholar practically treated him as half a guide and half a consultant, with endless questions every day.

What was this plant used for? What was that rock composed of? Why was there no biological activity in a certain area? Leo's patient answers benefited him greatly.

Leo himself made time to go hunting every day, continuing to accumulate life energy.

Knowing he was about to leave, Leo no longer held back when hunting. After ten days, he had reached level 24, just one final step away from his target of level 25.

On the seventh day, Leo remembered the beast-hide map. After considering it again and again, he decided to hand it over to Satotz.

"I found this in the palace storeroom." Leo handed the rolled-up hide to Satotz.

"I can't read the writing on it, but I think it should help you."

Satotz took the map. The moment he unfolded it, the usually composed Hunter showed a rare expression of surprise.

He bent down to study the ancient words and markings closely. His fingers hovered above the hide without touching it.

"This is..." Satotz's voice was lower than usual. "A variant of Old Kape language, and ritual script reserved for royalty."

He looked up, his gaze at Leo turning especially serious. "This map is very valuable, Mr. Leo. What it records may not be limited to information about the secret realm."

Leo's heart stirred. "You mean..."

"I'll need to return and consult the relevant materials before I can fully decipher it."

Satotz carefully rolled up the map, his movements exceedingly gentle. "But I suspect this map may be connected to 'that place.'"

He did not explain where "that place" was, but Leo understood—the Dark Continent.

Selena and Kaspar had clearly understood as well. The two exchanged a look, each seeing the shock in the other's eyes.

"Once it has been successfully deciphered," Satotz continued, "I'll organize the information recorded on it and return it to you along with the map. This was your discovery. You have the right to know what it contains."

"No problem." Leo nodded. He did need the information on the map, but he knew nothing about ancient writing. Handing it to a professional was the best choice.

Besides, Satotz was trustworthy—in the original work, this Examiner had been known for his rigor and fairness.

Over the next three days, the survey work entered its final stage.

Satotz's team collected enough samples and documented every detail of the palace.

On the evening of the tenth day, Satotz announced that the preliminary survey was complete.

"We'll return to the Hunter Association first and release a report on this operation."

Satotz said to the team.

"Later, this ruin may undergo protective restoration. After all, it is currently the best-preserved Cape Kingdom ruin discovered."

He turned to Leo, his tone much gentler than before. "Mr. Leo, come with us. There's no point in staying here any longer."

It was both an invitation and recognition of Leo's help over the past days.

Leo did not hesitate. "All right."

The four packed their belongings. Satotz's team carefully packed up their professional equipment one piece at a time, while Leo's luggage was much simpler. He made sure to bring the stone knife with him; it was proof of his more than half a year in the secret realm.

Early the next morning, they headed for the secret realm's exit at the eastern end of the forest.

Inside the cave, the patterns on the rock walls lit up one after another under the activation of Satotz's aura, and a gate of light slowly took shape.

Standing at the cave entrance, Leo took one final look at the forest behind him and the faint outline of the palace in the distance.

Half a year had passed. From a bewildered transmigrator to a survivor of the secret realm, this experience had changed him too much.

He was finally leaving.

After enduring seven months, he could finally head to the true Hunter world.

He could not help feeling excited.

"Hey, it's time to go!" Selena turned back and waved, a smile on her face. "Don't tell me you can't bear to leave?"

Leo turned around with a brilliant smile. "Coming!"

The four stepped through the gate of light one after another, their figures vanishing into the swirling radiance.

Off the coast of Lambo City, in the southern part of the Ulubian Continent.

Inside a secluded cave along the Azure Coast, the air rippled as a gate of light slowly emerged.

Satotz stepped out first, his suit still impeccably neat. Selena followed, then Kaspar, and finally Leo.

The moment he stepped out of the gate, Leo took a deep breath.

Different air—salty and damp with the sea breeze, mixed with the scent of human habitation, utterly unlike the pure natural smell of the secret realm.

Sunlight slanted in through the cave entrance, brighter and more direct than it had been in the secret realm.

"Mmm, we're finally out!" Selena stretched, her joints cracking softly.

"I can finally take a proper hot bath! After ten days in the secret realm, I'd almost forgotten what a shower felt like."

Kaspar was equally excited. "This operation yielded so much! Those samples, that data... I want to get back to the institute and analyze them as soon as possible."

"Especially that map, Mr. Satotz. When do we begin the deciphering work?"

"First, we return to the Association and submit our report," Satotz said calmly. "The deciphering will take time. It may take months, perhaps even longer."

Leo said nothing. He simply stood at the cave entrance, looking toward the faint outline of the town in the distance.

Half a year had passed. He had finally returned to the civilized world.

"Finally free," he murmured, unable to hide the emotion in his voice.

Satotz looked at him. "Let's go. It's still some distance to town."

The four left the cave and headed along the coast toward Lambo City.

At first, Leo's steps felt a little unsteady—after growing accustomed to the heightened vigilance of the secret realm, where danger could strike at any moment, he found himself somewhat unaccustomed to suddenly entering the relatively safe world of civilization.

Scattered fishing boats could be seen along the way, while cargo ships sailed across the distant sea.

Occasionally, seagulls swept past with crisp cries. Everything seemed so... normal.

Half a day later, they arrived in Lambo City.

It was a typical coastal city, with clean streets and mostly white or light-colored buildings. Pedestrians wore all sorts of clothes: some dressed like tourists, some were fishermen, while others were businesspeople in suits.

The air carried a complex blend of smells from seafood markets and cafés.

Standing on the bustling street, Satotz asked one last time, "Are you sure you don't want to come with us?"

Leo shook his head. "Yeah. I've been in the secret realm too long. I want to look around on my own and see the sights in different places. Besides..."

He smiled. "I have some personal matters to take care of."

That was the truth. He needed to reach level 25 as soon as possible to lift "Zetsu," then begin systematically training in Nen.

Following Satotz's team would be safe, but it would not be conducive to moving freely.

Kaspar looked a little disappointed. "All right... Then, Mr. Leo, come find me if you ever have the time. You're always welcome! Here's my contact information."

He handed over a card bearing his name, phone number, and the address of an institute.

Selena also handed him a card along with some Jenny. "If you run into anything you can't handle, call us. Don't be polite."

"And here's some money. You probably need a change of clothes." Her words were blunt, but sincere.

Leo accepted the two cards and the money, carefully putting them away. "Thank you."

Satotz looked at Leo. After a moment of silence, he said, "Every December, you can register for the Hunter Exam on the Hunter Association's official website. Every Hunter is a Nen user."

He did not say more, but Leo understood—it was Satotz's reminder, and also a form of acknowledgment.

If Leo wanted to officially step into the world of Nen users, the Hunter Exam was one path.

"Thank you all very much." Leo gave the three a solemn bow. "I'll always remember that you brought me out of the secret realm."

Selena stepped forward, patted him on the shoulder, and smiled brightly. "No need to be so formal. We're already friends!"

Friends. The word warmed Leo's heart.

Since transmigrating, this was the first time anyone had called him that.

"Yeah, friends." Leo smiled too. This time, there was no calculation or disguise in his smile, only pure happiness.

He waved at the three of them, then turned and merged into the crowd. He did not look back, his steps firm.

Satotz, Selena, and Kaspar remained where they were, watching Leo's figure disappear around a street corner.

"Actually, he didn't need us to take him out," Selena suddenly said calmly. "He should have been able to leave on his own, right?"

Satotz nodded. "It seems you noticed Leo's differences too."

Selena gave a quiet "Mm." Kaspar, meanwhile, awkwardly scratched the back of his head and laughed sheepishly—he had clearly noticed nothing.

"Vows and limitations." Satotz pushed up his glasses, the glare on the lenses hiding his eyes. "I think that is probably why Leo cannot use Nen, yet can continually hunt all kinds of powerful creatures."

Kaspar was confused. "Vows and limitations? What are those?"

Selena sighed helplessly. "Are you an idiot? Weren't you paying attention when you learned Nen?"

"I really wasn't..." Kaspar answered honestly. He was the scholarly type and had little interest in Nen's combat applications. After learning the basics, he had focused on archaeology.

Satotz explained, "If one imposes certain limitations and vows upon oneself during training, the rate of mastery will improve. The stricter the limitation, the higher the rate of mastery. Establish rules, swear to them in one's heart, and uphold them—the more difficult the rules, the greater the power they unleash."

He paused. "If ordinary Nen abilities are like addition, then Nen abilities bound by rules are multiplication. Their power increases exponentially. But it is also a double-edged sword. Breaking a vow invites backlash. One might lose their Nen abilities, or in serious cases, lose their life outright."

Kaspar exclaimed, "That sounds so dangerous..."

Satotz said nothing more. He looked in the direction where Leo had vanished, his eyes beneath his purple hair thoughtful.

Satotz turned around. "Let's go. It's time to return to the Association."

The three headed toward the airport. The sunlight stretched their shadows long, intertwining them with the shadows of the bustling crowd.

Meanwhile, on the other side of the city, Leo stood outside a bookstore, looking at the world map displayed in the window.

Leo spoke softly.

"Hunter world, here I come!"

The dark red tattoo on the back of his hand glimmered faintly beneath the sunlight.

Level 24. Just one more level to go.

A new journey had begun.