Chapter 858
Nasubi gestured to the maid beside him. She quickly stepped forward with a tray.
"Nasubi-senpai," Ron said calmly, "if you have something to say, please just say it."
Nasubi paused for a moment, then spoke. "Alright. About Camilla—I hope you won't take it to heart. I can promise you that she won't cause you any more trouble. After all, she is still my daughter."
"As an apology on her behalf, you may choose any number of the maids here to take with you," he added.
Ron glanced over the maids standing in a row and shook his head. "Sorry, Nasubi-senpai. I'm not interested."
Although the maids were elegant and refined, Ron felt little interest. He wasn't someone drawn to surface-level attraction—and more importantly, the company he kept around himself consisted of powerful Nen users whose strength, presence, and depth far outweighed mere appearance.
It was like the entertainment industry—not necessarily the most beautiful women were the most popular. Often, it was those with status that carried more allure.
"What do you want, then, Ron?"
Ron hesitated briefly. "Nasubi-senpai, could you grant me access to the entire Black Whale?"
"You mean, unrestricted access?"
"Yes."
If there was anything Ron might actually find useful, it would be that. As for Camilla, he had no intention of retaliating against her immediately. To Ron, she no longer even registered as a threat. It was like a human wouldn't go out of their way to step on an ant. And if they did act, it would be against the whole nest.
Ron also understood clearly that Nasubi placed great importance on the Succession War. He didn't care about Camilla's life—only the outcome of the war. With that in mind, there was no need to oppose Nasubi directly.
Though both were S-rank, Ron hadn't sensed any Sequencer aura from Nasubi. Still, Kakin's internal situation was complex. It was hard to say whether Nasubi was hiding something.
"That's not a difficult request," Nasubi said with a smile. "With your strength, there's nowhere on this ship anyone could truly stop you from going."
"And since you're showing me this courtesy, I won't be stingy either."
"Exploring the Dark Continent is extremely dangerous for humanity. The resources are abundant—but the risks are equally immense. Very few make it back alive, let alone bring anything back."
"I can share something with you. You're familiar with the Five Great Calamities of the Dark Continent, right?"
Ron nodded.
"Those five aren't the only threats at that level. The reason they're singled out is because of two things: one, the massive casualties they caused to past exploration teams; and two, the valuable resources found near them."
"For example, near the Beast Papu lies the Endless Stone. It can produce immense energy—far beyond coal, oil, or gas. Just a small amount can generate enormous amounts of electricity. Its value to technology is immeasurable."
"Near the territory of Brion—the creature that guards the area around the Armament Gold and Silver Ingots—grows a rare medicinal herb said to cure all diseases. Consuming it eliminates illness entirely and significantly extends lifespan. It's something humanity has long dreamed of: freedom from sickness and death."
"Near the Hellbell Twin-Tailed Snake, there's a special type of rice that also extends lifespan. Its effects are even more noticeable for Nen users. Who doesn't want to live longer?"
"By the Gaseous Life-form Ai, there's something called Trinity Elixir—a universal liquid base. It can serve as the foundation for crafting nearly any other liquid substance. Compared to the others, it might be a bit less valuable, but still incredibly useful."
"And near the Zobae Disease lies a rare alchemical plant. They say using it in alchemy can achieve mythical results. Whether that's true or not… only those who get it will know."
"But the Black Whale isn't going to any of those places."
"The Human World is just a small island."
He paused.
"That vast sea outside? It's just a lake. And the Human World sits at the center of it. Until now, our exploration has only reached the shores of that lake."
"North, northeast, east, southeast—that's where the V5 has explored. But the Black Whale is headed southwest."
"To the V5, this region is entirely uncharted. That's why they sent people aboard the Black Whale."
"Only fools think the V5 wants to protect them."
"They're dreaming."
"In the southwest," Nasubi said, "there exists a species recorded in the journals of past expeditions—a species most official documents have chosen to omit. Their bodies are twisted and grotesque, with pale greenish-black skin and narrow limbs. They're not strong individually, but their reproductive instincts are invasive, and their numbers grow exponentially."
"They don't distinguish by species. Anything female—whether human, livestock, wild animal, or insect—is captured and used to reproduce. Anything male is slaughtered and consumed."
"The reproductive process is extremely rapid. Once implanted, the host is kept alive long enough for dozens of larval offspring to develop. The result is excruciating and always fatal."
"When they move in groups, there's no possibility of confrontation. All one can do is retreat."
"In terms of threat level, they rank above Chimera Ants by a full margin."
Ron's expression shifted slightly. What Nasubi described didn't resemble any known lifeform from the Human World. These weren't fantastical monsters—they were invasive organisms that spread like a plague and used reproduction as a weapon.
Nasubi continued, "Near the area they occupy, there's a unique patch of soil. It's not naturally formed, but rather a result of long-term biological contamination. We refer to it as Reaver Earth."
Ron looked at him. "So this time, your objective is to confront those creatures, obtain the Reaver Earth, and transport it back to Kakin. I assume it holds value for Nen users as well?"
Nasubi gave a slow nod. "Its regenerative properties are extraordinary. It can accelerate aura recovery to an unnatural degree. For ordinary soldiers, it can temporarily mimic the effects of Enhancement-type Nen. There are some side effects—mental instability, mild physical alteration—but even so, it's a resource worth acquiring."
Ron said nothing for a moment, only noting the implications in his mind.
The Dark Continent was still far more dangerous than most people imagined.