Yorknew City's deepwater harbor.
The salty sea breeze sent the flags along the shore snapping in the wind.
The enormous emigrant ship, the Black Whale, lay docked in the harbor.
The ship was so large that it defied every human notion of scale.
Wrapped in thick black armor, its hull looked like a mountain range of steel floating on the sea.
The harbor plaza was packed with people, hundreds of thousands of ordinary citizens bringing their families along in pursuit of dreams of striking gold.
They pushed battered suitcases while children wailed in the crowd and adults came to blows over places closer to the front of the boarding line.
Riot police struggled desperately to maintain order with their shields.
The whole scene was utter chaos.
Luo Ye stood on the exclusive VIP red carpet above the crowds.
He wore his trademark loud Hawaiian shirt and a casual pair of battered canvas shoes.
In his hand were several black tickets edged in gold, top-tier tickets he had forcibly "borrowed" from the Kakin Empire's fourth prince.
Shizuku followed behind him, adjusting her black-framed glasses, with a large tub of popcorn in her arms, popping pieces into her mouth one after another.
Gon and Killua carried travel bags on their backs and leaned over the railing, watching the packed crowds below.
Ging Freecss brought up the rear.
He wore the same battered headscarf as always, his hands stuffed into his pockets, resistance and reluctance written all over his face.
"I already told you..."
Ging grumbled.
"I have my own expedition team."
"Pariston and Beyond's people are all down there."
"I need to keep an eye on them."
Luo Ye turned around and slapped Ging on the back of the head hard enough to send him stumbling forward two steps.
"Who said you