If the Dark Continent were a massive jigsaw puzzle, the information Law currently possessed was merely two small pieces.
But even glimpsing the tip of the iceberg was an unprecedented achievement.
During exploration, what Law wanted was to collect more puzzle pieces. He didn't aim for a complete puzzle but at least to piece together over half the area.
If possible, Law hoped to encounter Don on the way to the western Dark Continent and share information.
As for whether Ging and Don's meeting would be awkward wasn't Law's concern.
Using the relationship between the Dark Continent's ecosystem and Nen Abilities as a hypothesis, everyone discussed based on existing information.
Finally, they recorded the integrated information in the God Hand book.
Afterwards, both the screening of items and interpretation of ancient script made progress, giving the team a rare respite.
Law and Buhara cooked together, spending several hours carefully preparing a large table of dishes.
Everyone sat around the table, eating, chatting, laughing, enjoying themselves harmoniously.
Kuro devoured the rice in his large bowl, looking unsatisfied, instinctively glancing at the Nitro Rice trees in the cultivation area.
Nique, noticing Kuro's action, immediately watched him warily.
Seeing Nique's protective expression, Kuro curled his lip, too lazy to comment.
Though he very much wanted to eat Nitro Rice, he wasn't foolish enough to touch the transplanted Nitro Rice trees inside the space.
If he did, he might be beaten to death by Law.
"Law, when we return to the western Dark Continent, can we go to the underground world?" Kuro licked his lips.
"What do you want?" Law glanced at Kuro.
Kuro hesitated for a moment, then said seriously, "I want to catch a fire chicken in the magma area!"
"Catch a fire chicken? Why?" Law was taken aback.
"I-Isn't it because we harvested many mature Nitro Rice grains from the swamp?" Kuro said shamelessly, "If paired with fire chicken from the magma area, we could make a higher-grade Stuffed Chicken!"
"So that's it."
Law hadn't thought of that, but he hadn't forgotten the supremely delicious Stuffed Chicken made in the Misty Forest. If one of the ingredients, the rice, was replaced with Nitro Rice, the flavor might elevate another level.
He didn't directly reject Kuro's suggestion but considered feasibility.
Hearing Kuro, Biscuit and Tonpa also involuntarily recalled the Stuffed Chicken's taste. That was perhaps the most delicious food they'd ever eaten.
"What's Stuffed Chicken?" Uvogin, eating with greasy mouth, asked curiously.
"A delicacy you've never tasted," Kuro's face radiated a sacred glow.
Hearing this, Uvogin instinctively glanced at the table full of rich dishes. He thought just this table of food was enough to be called a delicacy. Perhaps another way to put it: dishes cooked by Law and Buhara were enough to satisfy him.
Kuro didn't continue with Uvogin. His gaze swept past, landing on Tonpa and Biscuit.
He felt he alone couldn't persuade Law, but with Tonpa and Biscuit's support, the persuasion chance would greatly increase.
As people who had also eaten that Stuffed Chicken, he thought Tonpa and Biscuit would agree.
Thinking, his gaze finally settled on Biscuit.
"Big Sis, you want to taste that flavor again too, right? If using Nitro Rice..."
Boom!
Before Kuro finished, he transformed into a meteor crashing against the Hide-and-Seek room's four-dimensional wall.
Biscuit silently retracted her fist, then looked at Law. "Going?"
Law pondered. "Probably. Not because of fire chicken, but because the Grass Jelly is almost gone."
Biscuit nodded. "Right. Although we have Shiro's healing, his ability has an irreparable flaw."
Hearing this, Shiro glanced at Biscuit but didn't refute.
As the ability user, he certainly knew [Fool's Method]'s flaw was the lengthy treatment time.
After all, [Fool's Method] was a relatively rare, efficient healing ability. Nen Abilities inherently emphasized restrictions and balance.
Exchanging [Time Consumption] for [Efficient Healing] already utilized the restriction balance to its maximum limit, leaving no room for change.
His ability was indeed versatile. But if a teammate was severely injured, hanging by a thread, and he wasn't lucky enough to summon an Angel's Breath, the injured teammate simply couldn't wait for his treatment.
"Grass Jelly can not only sustain life but is essentially a defensive item too. It's necessary for everyone to have one," Law said seriously.
The special herb could resist high-temperature flames. Like [Lichen], it was essential for exploring the Dark Continent.
To go further on the Dark Continent, they must effectively utilize various local Dark Continent products with unique effects.
In other words, the western coastline's underground world was a must-visit. They also didn't know how the Slu Tribe were now… they should visit them this time.
"Then we only need to follow the coastline west," Biscuit said.
"Right. The coastline's danger coefficient is low, so we can travel fastest." As Law spoke, he looked at Nobunaga, smiling. "Nobunaga, how about a stone sword?"
"Huh?"
Nobunaga looked up, somewhat confused.
"A sword made of stone. Will you use it?"
"..."
"Definitely better than your current sword, whether sharpness or hardness."
"Impossible," Nobunaga didn't believe.
"If possible, will you change?" Law smiled.
Nobunaga hesitated but quickly thought of the battle with the Gatekeeper Clan's magical beast.
'If I was using a sharper sword, perhaps combat time could be reduced.'
Thinking this, changing swords seemed necessary, provided the stone sword Law mentioned was better than his current one.
As for getting used to it, he'd adapt slowly later.
With this in mind, Nobunaga no longer hesitated, saying solemnly, "If there's a better sword, of course I'll change."
Law smiled. "Good, I'll make you a new sword then."
He had witnessed Nobunaga's battle with the magical beast. Plus, going to the underground world later meant visiting the Slu Tribe's settlement, asking for a piece of Vein Stone's essence to make a stone sword for Nobunaga.
After deciding the next route, everyone continued chatting.
Only late at night did everyone return to their rooms to rest.
Early next morning, the team resumed work.
However, Law had decided to leave the Ancient Labyrinth City soon.
As long as they collected all ancient script, regardless of where the team went, Salin could stay in Hide-and-Seek to interpret.
Moreover, greed knows no bounds. The Ancient Labyrinth City had too many supplies, and their small team couldn't swallow it all. Having enough seeds, there was no need to continue plundering.
Soon, another week passed.
On this day, the team packed up. Knov eliminated the entrance/exit established in the Ancient Labyrinth City.
During this time, while plundering supplies, the team also buried herb seeds in the land scorched black by the Mountain Ship.
They weren't sure if seeds buried in scorched earth could sprout, but at least they left hope for later comers.
The sun hung high in the sky. Law's group left the Ancient Labyrinth City, heading to the next destination.