Cheadle suddenly realized—Netero was stepping back, playing the role of a hands-off shopkeeper.
After the V5 reached an agreement with the Kakin Empire, Beyond publicly unveiled the colossal expedition ship known as the Black Whale—the BW, capable of carrying up to 200,000 people.
The King and royal family of Kakin would personally lead the first batch of selected passengers to venture toward the Dark Continent.
With the Kakin royal family backing the journey, doubts about the existence of the Dark Continent all but vanished. People across the world were convinced—and captivated.
On the internet and in the streets, conversations exploded. Everyone wanted to know: how could they apply? How could they be among the first to set foot on the mysterious new land?
The excitement gripped the world. People couldn't keep calm.
The V5 quietly thanked their stars for securing a deal with Kakin early on.
But if the world wasn't noisy enough already, the Hunter Association, led by the Zodiacs and spearheaded by Cheadle, threw more fuel on the fire.
They announced that the next Hunter Exam would be held early.
This wasn't just any exam. The Association would be using it—alongside the Black Whale's voyage—to hand-pick 483 Hunters to accompany the expedition.
The announcement hit like a thunderclap—like a drop of water hitting a sizzling oil pan.
For people dreaming of the Dark Continent, this opened up a new path.
You could go through Kakin's royal selection, or you could try your luck with the Hunter Association.
Most agreed—the Association carried more credibility. Its influence had been deeply rooted in the world for years. Becoming a licensed Hunter wasn't just a title—it was a gateway to endless opportunity.
But just as people began leaning toward the Hunter side, Kakin announced something new: the princes had begun recruiting personal guards.
The rewards? Lavish enough to tempt even veteran Hunters.
That announcement rocked the scales again. Even seasoned fighters and lone mercenaries found themselves rethinking their options.
On one side stood Beyond and the power of the Kakin royal family.
On the other, the V5-backed Hunter Association, wielding global authority.
Both sides opened the floodgates, pulling in every force they could muster.
It was like watching a grand opera. The world had become a stage—and both acts were heating up.
...
And in the midst of all this chaos, Ronnel acted like it didn't concern him.
He quietly traveled to the Kakin Empire, with Ging by his side.
Following the address Beyond had sent before his surrender, Ronnel and Ging made their way to his base of operations.
The moment they stepped into the strange, landmark building, seven or eight sharp, wary gazes landed on them.
Ronnel didn't flinch. While they were being sized up, he and Ging casually scanned the room in return.
There was a brooding young man with one eye covered, sprawled in front of a computer. A waiter-looking guy in a top hat balanced a tray full of drinks. A man with wild curly hair and unreadable eyes. A tiny girl leaning against a bookshelf, motionless like a doll.
Then there was a guy with a watermelon haircut playing chess with someone dressed like a fisherman in a rope-tied apron.
Two women sat calmly nearby—one brushing her long hair like a frail Japanese noblewoman, the other chewing a lollipop without a care.
And finally, Pariston, lounging at the far end of the room, calmly reading a book as if nothing in the world could bother him.
Nine in total—members of Beyond's team, currently holed up here.
"Yo~ I'm here to join you."
After scanning the room, Ging raised his hand in a familiar, casual wave at Pariston.
"What a surprise~" Pariston gently closed his book, his signature smirk sliding into place. "I thought you were here to arrest me."
"Honestly? That was my first instinct," Ging shrugged.
"But then the Association and V5 decided to ride the wave of public opinion. Who am I to stand in the way?"
He put heavy emphasis on "public opinion."
"You were the one who orchestrated all this, weren't you, Pariston?"
His tone was a blend of accusation and admiration.
Pariston offered no clear answer—just his usual enigmatic smile.
"What's so wrong with it?"
"You know exactly what happens when you stir up emotions like that and throw the world into chaos."
"Do I? I just gave them another option. No one forced them to follow it.~"
"And that's exactly why you're a bastard..."
Once the conversation between Ging and Pariston got going, it was like everyone else in the room ceased to exist. The others exchanged looks, visibly annoyed.
Ronnel used the distraction to find an open spot and sat down, quietly observing the little girl by the bookshelf—the one who hadn't moved or spoken since they arrived.
Of all the people here, apart from Pariston, she gave off the strongest presence.
When Ronnel and Ging walked in, most eyes flicked toward them at least once.
But she didn't react at all. Just sat there like a broken doll.
It wasn't until Ronnel openly stared—his gaze roaming with open curiosity—that she moved. Her neck turned with an audible creak.
Her posture was stiff, but she locked eyes with him.
"...What are you looking at?"
Her voice had a mechanical, synthetic quality.
"Nothing much," Ronnel replied, calm and honest. "I'm good with puppets. Just got curious about your... structure."
She tilted her head. A faint glimmer passed through her eyes.
"You're the Ronnel that Boss Beyond mentioned, right?"
At the sound of his name, every person in the room—even those still focused on Ging and Pariston—suddenly turned their heads toward Ronnel.
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Fanfic is completed on patreon.com/FanficsHub (799 chapters in total)