Ging looked at him and said, "After I set my sights on the Dark Continent, if you didn't want to sneak there, you had to get permission from the Navigation Bureau to go. And obtaining this permission requires quite a few conditions."
"I did go, naturally, but they didn't want to pay any attention to me, so I had to back out," Ging shrugged. "I wanted to sneak in and get some conditions, but the defenses were too tight. I had to back out."
"Tight defenses? With your abilities, you should be able to get what you want from there, right?"
"Yeah, I could get it, but the risk of exposure is too high. It's not worth it."
So, you can do it, but it's not worth it, huh?
Morin looked at him. "Then how many of the conditions to go to the Dark Continent did you get from the Navigation Bureau?"
With the Bureau's permission, you could officially go to the Dark Continent through official channels. To get permission, you need to obtain four conditions: license, means, qualification, and contract.
"So far, no one has obtained all four."
"Not a single one," Ging scratched his head, nonchalantly. Even someone as strong and influential as Ging Freecss was stuck, unable to obtain a single condition so far. It was clear that these conditions were just for show.
The V5 and the Navigation Bureau basically wouldn't let anyone outside their own forces go to the Dark Continent. Ging likely realized this long ago and held no hope for it.
"What if I said I happen to have all four conditions?" Morin smirked.
"Hmm?!"
Ging's attention finally shifted from the screen. He didn't ask anything, but his eyes said it all.
Morin didn't keep him in suspense. He took two rolled-up parchments from his backpack. Though the contents were unclear, the two large characters on them were unmistakable: "Contract."
"I only found the 'Contract' in the Navigation Bureau. The other license, means, and qualification seem to be in the hands of the V5."
Morin casually tossed a 'Contract' to Ging, who caught it quickly. He unrolled it and began reading intently.
Having made a rare visit to the Navigation Bureau, Morin naturally wanted to extract every bit of value from it. He was certainly mindful of the four conditions to go to the Dark Continent. Unfortunately, the V5 seemed to know better than to put all their eggs in one basket, leaving the Navigation Bureau with only one condition: the 'Contract.'
The item was genuine and effective, with a guarantee of authenticity.
After Ging read through it carefully and wrapped it with a thin layer of Nen to examine it thoroughly, he nodded slightly.
"Name your price."
He rolled up the 'Contract' again and tucked it into his chest with an air of nonchalance, speaking to Morin as if he had no intention of returning it. His arms crossed, guarding the 'Contract' closely.
Morin chuckled at Ging's behavior. Knowing Ging's character, he had anticipated this move. The 'Contract' in his possession was plentiful, so Ging taking one was expected.
When Ging asked for the price, Morin simply narrowed his eyes slightly. "That's why I came to see you."
He said calmly, "I'll be straightforward. I plan to officially launch an expedition to the Dark Continent next September and put it into action. I'm currently looking for suitable teammates..."
Before Morin could finish, Ging understood his meaning.
"I agree!" he responded promptly and decisively.
"So soon?" Morin's face broke into a smile. "Aren't you going to think it over a bit more?"
"No need. Since you've already set the departure time and plan, I assume you've been ready for a while."
---
Ging nonchalantly picked his nose. "Definitely more reliable than someone like me who doesn't even have a plan."
He flicked the booger onto the ground carelessly. "Besides, your strength and abilities are impressive. You're a great partner. Going to the Dark Continent with you makes me feel at ease," he said. "A strong alliance is the wisest choice."
"Moreover, you have many magical tools. They're the most reliable things for dealing with the bizarre dangers and disasters of the Dark Continent. With so many excellent conditions, if I didn't agree, I'd be an idiot."
From Ging's perspective, this made perfect sense. Both Morin and Ging were among the "World's Top Five Nen Users," with strength and abilities beyond question. Morin might even be slightly above him.
When venturing to the Dark Continent, the last thing you want is a weak teammate dragging you down. In such a perilous place, only by working together can you survive safely. A lousy teammate could drag the entire team into a bottomless abyss.
Even if Ging were to form a team, Morin would be the first person he'd consider bringing in. Not only because of his strength, but also because Morin's convenient and practical tools would be invaluable during the exploration of the Dark Continent.
The most dangerous things in the Dark Continent aren't the powerful, hard-to-handle monsters, but the sudden and strange "disasters" that can strike from unknown angles. Only Morin's tools can prevent or evade these disasters and provide timely treatment if disaster strikes.
Having Morin and his tools in a team could increase the success rate of an expedition to about sixty percent. This is a conservative estimate, given the unknown nature of the Dark Continent's disasters.
Moreover, Ging currently didn't have suitable teammates for the Dark Continent. Dwun, List, and Razor might be strong enough, but they weren't interested in the Dark Continent. They were indifferent to the outside world, having spent over a decade on Greed Island. Ging wouldn't have gone alone to find Pariston and join Beyond's team in the original story otherwise.
"Can I ask how many people we've recruited for our team so far?" Ging scratched his head and asked casually.
"Including you and me, we have six people tentatively," Morin pointed at Biscuit Krueger on the screen. "Biscuit Krueger also agreed to join my team and go with me."
"Biscuit Krueger, huh? Strong, experienced, and a hunter for over fifty years. She's quite seasoned," Ging had no objections to this choice.
"Also, there's Kastro, my disciple. You know him too."
"Yeah, with his strength, he's definitely qualified."
"And there's someone named Tonpa, a Radar-type Nen user, perfect for detecting disasters."
"A premonition-type Nen ability? Very necessary."
As they chatted, Morin laid out his small group's composition.
"And the last person?"
Ging counted the team members and asked.
"The last one, you'll find out when we meet," Morin said with a playful smile.
"Alright," Ging didn't press further. "If they're your picks, there shouldn't be any problems."
"By the way," Ging suddenly remembered something, "aren't you taking any members of the Phantom Troupe with you?"
"No, each has their own goals," Morin shook his head. Chrollo had been preparing for the Dark Continent for a long time, and he was always coveting the treasures there. Morin and Ging's group had different paths, but having someone to rely on while exploring the Dark Continent was beneficial.
With Ging now part of the team, Morin's group was shaping up nicely. Beyond's team was diverse, with talents of all kinds: chefs for cooking, fishermen for handling marine life, university professors for collecting ancient texts, and many mercenaries, fighters, and other ability users working for money.
In Morin's view, although these people had their uses, they couldn't compare to his tools. For instance, when it came to collecting ancient texts, Morin's "Translation Konjac" could do it effortlessly.
If Beyond hadn't already formed his team and connected with the Kakin Empire, Morin might have considered recruiting Beyond himself. If Beyond wasn't an option, Morin could consider some of Beyond's team members.
Morin firmly believed in the saying, "As long as you dig well with a hoe, there's no corner you can't topple!"
After chatting with Ging for a bit, Morin glanced at the screen showing Gon and Killua battling the barber Binolt, then bid farewell to Ging.
"Here, take this!"
Before leaving, Ging casually tossed a card to Morin.
Card: Doraemon, No. 22, Designated Pocket Card, Difficulty to Obtain: A-Rank, Card Limit: 15.
Effect: An endangered beast with the habit of stuffing things into the pouch on its belly. Some Doraemon pouches contain very rare items.
Morin looked at the card's design, featuring an orange cat with a "king" character on its forehead and a tail resembling a spiky ball. The most noticeable feature was the bell on its neck and the pouch on its belly.
This description, this illustration, this name... It's like a weakened version of "Doraemon"!
"I don't know why, but I feel this cat really resonates with you. Maybe it's because, like you, it has some gadgets~?"
Isn't that the truth?
His own Nen ability was inspired by Doraemon???
Morin inexplicably pocketed the card.
[PS: This card appears in chapter 134, page 14 of the manga, obtained by Shalnark. It's a real designated pocket card. It's also a tribute to Doraemon by the author.]
Well, since the author pays homage to Doraemon, isn't it reasonable for me to use Doraemon's gadgets in the Hunter world?
Feeling justified, Morin stored the card and recalled another point.
"When playing the Greed Island game, I discovered a very interesting card tool, Card No. 007, the Designated Card Tool, [Pregnancy Stone]."
"Wearing this 3-kilogram stone for a month, regardless of gender, guarantees pregnancy after a week. There are male and female stones; wear the stone of the desired birth gender..."
Hmm, this is the card Gon and the others acquired by exchanging information about the Bomberman Genthru's abilities during a gathering.
The author subtly gave the [Pregnancy Stone] a prominent close-up.
The shapes of the male and female stones... well, how to put it, resemble a boy's third leg and a girl's stormy area.
Morin seriously suspected that the author intentionally drew these shapes.
[Those interested can check the manga. The shape is... well, you'll understand.]
Listening to Morin, Ging's lips and eyes twitched violently.
Usually indifferent, his face now bore rare dark lines, and his fingers trembled uncontrollably.
The joy of obtaining the [Contract] was now completely overshadowed!
"Hey, I say!"
Ging, with a darkened face, interrupted Morin, "Do you think I used the Pregnancy Stone for Gon...?"
Ging couldn't bring himself to finish the sentence.
Otherwise, why did you mention Gon's mother in the message you left for him?
Gon didn't listen, stopping the tape halfway through.
It's hard not to suspect that Gon is a product of the [Pregnancy Stone].
Perhaps even the author had this idea, otherwise, he wouldn't have designed such a card and given it a special close-up?
"No, I'm just making a guess, though it might be very close to the truth..."
Of course, Morin wouldn't say this out loud.
But what he said was quite close to his guess.
"Close to what truth!"
Ging couldn't hold back and shouted a curse.
"I've never used any Greed Island tools, never!!"
"Okay, understood. No need to get so worked up."
Morin waved his hand, looking calm and collected.
What's that saying?
Explaining is covering up, covering up is the truth?
Whether Ging used the [Pregnancy Stone] to conceive Gon... only he knows for sure.
"Well, I'll be off then."
Ging called out to Morin, who was about to leave.
"Didn't you say you went to the V5 Navigation Hall and got a lot of Dark Continent intel?"
"Yeah, I did."
Morin didn't turn around; he knew what Ging wanted to say.
So before Ging could speak, he said:
"I'll make a copy of the data and have it sent to you by old Ickshonpe. I'm off to handle some business now."
---
"If things go smoothly, we might be able to add a few new members to our team," Morin said before disappearing from sight.
"This guy..." Ging shook his head as Morin vanished. Clutching the [Contract] scroll against his chest, Ging's heart began to beat with a slow-burning excitement. He had been waiting for the chance to venture to the Dark Continent for years.
In a city on the Ejine Continent, inside a rather grand-looking hospital...
"Don't worry, your sister will be fine." A nurse comforted the man sitting on a bench outside a surgery room with a red light glowing above its door.
The man had a hairstyle resembling the back of a pangolin, similar to Ging's, with a fringe covering his left eye. He anxiously rubbed his hands together and occasionally looked up, revealing a face that seemed to blend directly into his neck without a chin. His entire demeanor exuded a melancholy aura as he stared unblinkingly at the red light that had been on for quite some time.
He was worried about the situation inside the surgery room. However, according to the doctors, the therapy had been quite effective, with at least an 80% chance of a successful operation, so there was no need for excessive worry. On the other hand, he was also concerned about his sister's post-surgery recovery and the debt from medical expenses.
These were areas that required money, and the amounts were not insignificant. In the Hunter world, with its six continents teeming with countless beasts and poisonous insects, the chances of contracting bizarre diseases were not low. Treatment was extremely difficult, and without considerable wealth, it was impossible to afford the medical expenses.
Leorio had learned medicine because he watched his dear friend Pietro suffer and die due to the inability to afford treatment. Even with money, some illnesses couldn't be cured, as in the case of the world's top billionaire, Battera. His loved one passed away under such circumstances, forcing him to pin his hopes on Greed Island when modern medicine failed.
This chinless man with a pangolin-like hairstyle had also been running around trying to gather funds after his sister fell gravely ill. But in the face of the exorbitant medical costs, it was like a drop in the ocean.
Fortunately, the owner of the welfare institution where his sister stayed was an angel, willing to use the institution's funds for her treatment. This barely covered the surgery costs but left the welfare institution with a huge debt, which even selling his Hunter license multiple times couldn't repay.
He had already sold his Hunter license while raising funds for his sister's medical expenses. Now that his sister's condition was about to be cured, he couldn't forget his gratitude and needed to gather a large sum to repay the welfare institution for covering his sister's medical expenses.
However...
The debt, amounting to over a billion, was suffocating him.
"Should I really accept that man's offer?" the chinless, melancholic man murmured, recalling the man with a scarred face and a Guan Yu-style beard, whose hearty laughter echoed in his mind. The offer was 1.5 billion Jennies for official personnel and 200 million Jennies for important pending participants, as quoted by the generous man named Beyond.
According to him, he planned to explore unknown lands, and the man's Nen ability matched his requirements perfectly.
"Fifteen billion Jennies..." the chinless, melancholic man calculated silently. "With that amount, I could barely cover the welfare institution's debt and my sister's subsequent treatment and nutrition expenses..." He pondered quietly.
Suddenly, the light in front of him dimmed, causing the chinless, melancholic man to instinctively look up. He saw a handsome man in a trench coat standing before him.
"You're Kelikuch, right?"
Morin smiled, extending his hand.
"I'm Morin, a Tool Specialist and a Professional Hunter."
"Tool Specialist? Professional Hunter?!" The melancholic, chinless man, Kelikuch, looked up, puzzled at Morin.
"What do you want with me?" he asked, standing up and shaking Morin's hand.
"Here's the thing: I'm planning to explore an unknown land sometime in the next year or two. I heard you're quite capable, so I'm inviting you to join us," Morin said bluntly.
Another exploration of unknown lands? Kelikuch was taken aback. How did this new guy, just like the previous one named Beyond, say the same thing?
"Has someone already invited you?" Morin could tell from Kelikuch's expression.
"Have you accepted their invitation?"
TN: Does anyone knows this Kelikuch I have seen the expedition wiki page but no name is similar.
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