The aerial view of the Dark Continent... hmm... at first glance... well, it kind of looks like a sanitary napkin.
Although it's not immediately clear which one resembles a day-use or night-use version, and which looks more like it, but upon closer inspection, its overall outline actually looks more like a symbol representing infinite time.
Due to its relatively unique structure, the Dark Continent is divided into eastern and western sides.
Currently, all known records of human voyages are to the eastern side of the Dark Continent. This is because all the existing information humanity possesses comes from the eastern Dark Continent.
And so-called failures serve as the groundwork for success.
The International Permit Agencies has dispatched national-scale teams multiple times to challenge the Dark Continent, without exception returning in crushing defeat. However, the sacrifices from each voyage were not without value… they at least verified and gained reliable information.
Based on this foundation, the destination of this voyage is, as a matter of course, the more certain eastern Dark Continent.
Including Beyond, he also met with failure in the eastern Dark Continent, unable to bring back the alchemical plant named [Metallion].
Conventionally, where you fall, you must stand up again.
The International Permit Agencies believed Beyond's destination for this voyage would be the eastern Dark Continent. But in reality, the place Beyond wanted to go this time was… a place no one has ever set foot.
Therefore, the actual destination Beyond chose for his route was the western Dark Continent.
It was because Netero perceived this point that he chose the landing site to be the western coast of the Dark Continent.
Beyond believed the likelihood of their team encountering the International Permit Agencies team had become very low.
However, Pariston's argument leaned towards the possibility that the International Permit Agencies' own target might always have been a certain place in the eastern Dark Continent where [Hope] existed.
A certain place... a place where humanity once failed in exploration.
On the bow of the ship, Beyond turned his head to look at Pariston, who was smiling without speaking. "That man has also come, so the possibility you mentioned has a high chance of becoming reality."
"Who?"
Beyond lowered his eyelids slightly and said calmly, "The Director of the International Permit Agencies, Giles. Like me, he is one of the only survivors. It's just that no written record was left."
"Giles..." Pariston was somewhat surprised, lowering his head slightly, murmuring inwardly: 'One of them?'
Beyond shifted his gaze forward, saying, "The person in charge of one of the operations to explore the Ancient Labyrinth City was Giles. Of course, that operation also failed. The written records left behind show the team was annihilated, but in reality, Giles was the sole survivor of that operation. If circumstances permit, I'd rather not run into him."
Pariston maintained his smile and asked, "Why?"
"Of course because it's better not to provoke him. His strength should rank within the top five in the world." Beyond threw his head back and laughed heartily, candidly acknowledging Giles's strength.
"I see."
Pariston narrowed his eyes and then said, "Since he is leading this voyage operation, then..."
"Correct. Their target is highly likely the Ancient Labyrinth City, which is one of the five known Hopes… the Herb for All-illnesses."
"So, for the sake of this goal, the International Permit Agencies is selectively ignoring the potential threats our current action might cause?"
"It's merely a matter of prioritization. The choice between high-quality and low-quality goals, isn't the result obvious?" Beyond turned his head to look at the massive sea beast not far away, his gaze gradually deepening.
"Ah, indeed," Pariston said.
The ocean-going ship leisurely passed through the domain of the Horned Sea Beast, continuing towards the unknown and perilous waters ahead.
As long as they followed the guidance of the [Guide], humans, in their ant-like stature, could safely traverse areas inhabited by various 'elephants'.
The chosen route was always a subtle, extremely safe, and absolutely correct path.
This was also... the reason Beyond's group could disregard the nearby sea beasts.
…
The team of a thousand Nen Users was the grand gesture the International Permit Agencies threw out for this operation, containing an air of determination to succeed.
If the ship Beyond's team rode was an ocean-going vessel, then the ship the International Permit Agencies rode could be called a sea carrier. The two were not on the same scale in terms of volume.
On such dangerous dark seas, the larger the ship, the bigger the target it presents to various ferocious creatures.
Admittedly, the International Permit Agencies' team had over a hundred times the personnel of Beyond's team, but their choice of transportation seemed unwise.
In reality, the International Permit Agencies had a blind-like trust in the [Guide], hence they chose such a vehicle to enhance the carrying capacity for supplies and equipment.
"Witnesses..."
In a cabin room, a refined-looking man wearing gold-rimmed glasses sat upright at a desk, looking down at a document spread on the table.
On one corner of the desk, a stack of materials bookmarked with various tabs was piled up… all information about the Ancient Labyrinth City and other locations where Calamity and Hope coexisted.
Among them, the information about the Ancient Labyrinth City he had read countless times, practically able to recite it backwards.
As one of the persons in charge of this operation, this was something he ought to do.
"These glasses cannot withstand the upcoming journey."
The refined man's gaze left the document. He then removed the gold-rimmed glasses, placed them in a case, and took out a specially made, sturdy pair of black-rimmed glasses from a soft cloth box nearby, putting them on steadily.
The man's name was Kincaid, a non-Nen User, one of the heads of the International Permit Agencies' Licensing Division. He had been transferred here recently, or rather, promoted.
However, he had just barely familiarized himself with the work when the gold rush triggered by the Kakin Empire caught him, making him feel somewhat like he was being rushed into things, integrating into the work in the shortest time possible.
Even though the path ahead was fraught with danger, and dying the next second wouldn't be strange, Kincaid, as an ordinary person, did not feel the slightest fear.
Because this was his duty.
Rather than spending effort fearing unforeseen changes in the future, it was better to think more about how to better complete the work.
In another cabin room with the lights turned off, only a single candle was lit on the corner of a table.
The flickering flame magnified the silhouette of the person at the table onto the wall.
That person's large, calloused hand pressed down on the table, covering a yellowed photograph that revealed only half its content.
"Heh."
A low laugh suddenly sounded.
In the bridge.
One of the guides summoned by Blue Shadow was stationed here at all times, providing the direction of travel for the helmsman.
Here, there was no so-called autopilot. Someone had to be here every moment because changes in the course direction often occurred inadvertently… possibly changing a dozen times within a minute, possibly not changing for several hours.
The guides were all demi-human magical beasts, possessing some human characteristics but more resembling magical beasts.
The demi-human magical beast guiding the International Permit Agencies had the head of an eagle. It stared at the screen displaying the course, a flicker of strange light in its amber eyes.
[Cannot revoke landing qualification, cannot revoke landing qualification.]
[Can mislead, can mislead...]
…
Western Dark Continent, Hunter Association's Camp.
The dwarf opened his eyes… eyes filled entirely with black, unable to see the structure or distinction of sclera and pupils.
Botobai had not gagged the dwarf, so the first thing the dwarf did upon waking up was: scream loudly.
"A female?"