Dio planned to take a long-distance bus to Kabarafo City, and then take an airship from there.
From the airship, he would head to Loi City, the capital of the Minbo Republic, and the National Medical University was situated right in the suburbs of Loi City.
The long-distance bus was bustling with noise, and various aunties and uncles pointed and gestured at the scenery outside the window.
Dio quietly ate a steamed bun while summoning The World, continuously activating his ability.
"Sure enough, the duration has indeed increased."
After experiencing it multiple times, Dio confirmed that the time-stop duration of The World had extended by about 0.2 seconds.
"Is it because of those two battles? The cooldown time hasn't changed at all..."
Dio pondered silently, figuring it might be that those two battles increased the synchronization between him and The World.
However, compared to DIO's 5 seconds of time-stop in his normal state and 9 seconds at his peak, it was still far from enough.
He still needed to practice.
"Beep-beep-beep-beep--"
A sharp cellphone ring interrupted Dio's deep thoughts.
With a strange look on his face, Dio took out a Beetle Phone; he had bought it newly before leaving, and although it was rather expensive, the cost-performance ratio was high.
Who could possibly be calling him at a time like this?
Casually pressing the answer button, Dio held the phone to his ear, and before he could even speak, a clear and calm female voice came through:
"Hello? Is that Dio? I heard something happened to you. I took on a job a few days ago and didn't receive your message, are you alright now?"
Hearing that voice, Dio's eyes lit up. It was Chopper... no, Cheadle Yorkshire!
"Ah, Professor Cheadle? I'm fine now."
Dio raised his tone, first reporting that he was safe, and then changing the subject:
"However, I recently made some new research discoveries regarding the human body and would like to ask for your guidance. Are you free these past few days?"
That was right, he intended to use the Ripple as bait in exchange for Cheadle's teaching of the Nen Ability.
Given Cheadle's character, which was rated in the manga as having "an overly strong sense of morality," Dio felt this approach should be viable.
Besides, there was no other way. Where else could he find someone who knew the Nen Ability, was willing to teach him, and was trustworthy, all while the Hunter Exam still had a long time before starting?
He didn't have that much time to wait on luck.
At this very moment, far away at the Loi City airport, Cheadle, who had just landed, frowned, but didn't refuse verbally:
"Alright, I'll be at the university these next few days. Just look for me when you get here."
After that, Cheadle didn't offer any extra pleasantries; she instructed him to arrive on time and then hung up the phone.
To Cheadle Yorkshire, the student Dio Dio left a deep impression on her.
During his university years, he participated in scientific research ahead of time as an undergraduate, and many of the results he produced were quite pioneering from her perspective.
She even thought that if viewed through the standards of a Diseases Hunter, this student had the potential to achieve star ratings in the future.
Therefore, even as someone who never took on students, she made an exception to take him in as her pupil, and later even personally invited him to pursue his master's and doctoral studies under her supervision.
Yet he seemed to have no ambition for further advancement, refusing her invitation with a guilty expression upon graduation.
She had even deeply lamented the loss of such a scientific research talent back then.
Regarding the new discovery he had just mentioned on the phone, Cheadle felt somewhat perplexed.
According to her intelligence, Dio had encountered a shipwreck, miraculously survived, and then recuperated while lodging at a kindhearted person's home.
Upon learning that Dio was in distress, her first thought had been to issue a mission for hunters to search for him, and she only felt relieved when the intel showed he was rescued the very next day.
So the question arose: under those circumstances, where did he find the time and equipment to make this so-called new discovery?
"Could there be something that can't be discussed over the phone?"
Cheadle's first reaction was that Dio had an important matter, but it had to be said in person due to the risk of leaks over the phone.
Yet what kind of important matter could a student who had just graduated from school possibly have?
Cheadle shook her head, dismissing the conjecture, and the two dog ears attached to her head swayed along with the movement.
Whatever the matter was, she would find out once he arrived. What gave her a headache right now was what Beans had told her yesterday regarding the Vice Chairman Election scheduled for December!
The moment she thought of that, Cheadle recalled the person she simply couldn't stand the sight of-Pariston.
Not to mention being appointed as the new [Zodiac Rat] in just a few short years.
There were even rumors spreading that the chairman had secretly preselected him as the new vice chairman!
"Chairman, what on earth are you thinking..."
Standing at the airport, Cheadle turned her head to look in the direction of the Hunter Association headquarters, her mind filled with churning thoughts.
Before you continue