Everyone present was stunned by Larry's strength, these were top officials from various factions, and even they were taken aback. In the past, the strongest people Cluck had witnessed were President Netero, Ging, and the like, but they weren't in the same league as Larry.
With Larry on their side, she felt confident about this trip. Not only could they handle any danger, but she was sure they'd all return safe and sound.
Larry smiled and shrugged. "It's just a coincidence. I like traveling to different places, and it just happened that I ran into you here."
Cluck looked curious, and Larry continued, "Actually, we met you once shortly after we arrived."
The influence of the Zodiacs was unmatched across the six continents, and most of its people were kind-hearted, which made Cluck beloved by many. Just showing up on the street caused quite a stir.
In fact, Larry could probably cause even more of a commotion if he wanted to, but after arriving in Carter Port, he deliberately kept a low profile and dressed differently. Otherwise, how could he travel with Menchi without being swarmed by crowds?
"Oh?" Cluck's eyes widened slightly. "When exactly did we meet? I don't remember."
Larry chuckled softly. "A few days ago, you performed on the street, controlling those pigeons as if they were an extension of your fingers."
"Right after the show ended, people swarmed around you, asking for autographs," Menchi said with a smile, tucking the sea breeze-blown strands of hair behind her ears.
She clearly remembered that day, it felt like fate. She had only performed on the street that day, and nothing else happened afterward. It just so happened that Larry and she crossed paths at that moment.
"By the way, there's something I want to ask you," Larry said, pausing before revealing the question he had been eager to ask. Professional questions should be directed to professionals, after all.
"Please go ahead," Cluck responded.
"I want to ask about Dark Sonata." Hearing that, Cluck glanced at Larry thoughtfully, feeling a spark of surprise deep inside.
With such power, would Larry really risk searching for Dark Sonata? But soon, she figured it out again. Based on what Morel had mentioned earlier, it seemed that Larry's goal wasn't to harness the effects of Dark Sonata but to remove the death aura linked to it.
"I don't know much about Dark Sonata, it's just too mysterious," Cluck admitted after a moment.
Then, she shared everything she knew. Dark Sonata was said to be a solo piece composed by the satan himself, playable on four instruments: piano, violin, flute, and harp. But when humans play or even listen to it, terrible and unimaginable disasters tend to follow.
The original melody reportedly started with a short flute passage, after which it transformed into the image of a groundhog. Cluck's explanation matched Larry's suspicions perfectly.
"Dark Sonata seems to have its own kind of 'pay and get,'" she said. "Right now, the only thing we really understand is the flute part."
According to her, listening to the flute section would cost health but grant some special abilities. "From what I know, this was the case for a telekinesis user named Melody."
Melody had even sought help from the Hunter Association, so Cluck was familiar with her story. Unfortunately, despite the Association's efforts, Melody couldn't be saved, and in the end, Larry is the one helping her.
"Melody was my friend, and now she's returned to normal," Cluck said unexpectedly.
It was surprising that Cluck knew Melody too, but given her background as a musician, it made sense.
"You know Melody as well? You know she already cured." Larry replied.
"Melody's back to normal? How is that even possible?"
The feathers on her headdress fluttered slightly, and a look of astonishment crossed her face. She knew just how badly Dark Sonata had affected Melody, it was severe.
Even the top mind-healing experts in the Association couldn't fully reverse its effects. For Melody to be restored like this…
"Could it be that?"Cluck suddenly remembered Larry's identity as nen exorcist and couldn't help but wonder quietly to herself.
"Yes, I removed the curse from the melody," Larry said, noticing Cluck's surprised look. He went on to explain how he had cured Melody.
"That's great! It's wonderful that Melody has come back," Cluck said warmly after hearing Larry's story. She felt that now Melody could stand confidently in front of everyone without feeling inferior.
Deep down, she was truly grateful to Larry. At the same time, Melody's experience gave Cluck more confidence that Larry could handle the root of their problem.
As the group chatted, time flew by. From the early morning when they set off to the afternoon, the ship kept speeding deeper into the sea, reaching places where almost no one dared to go. Suddenly, pure white feathers drifted down, floating gently onto the ship's deck.
Looking up, Cluck saw white doves fluttering quickly in the sky, circling in a pattern that seemed carefully planned. While others might not understand what the pigeons were signaling, Cluck knew immediately, danger was coming. Her expression shifted, she fell silent, bent her right hand slightly, and raised it.
A white dove swooped down and landed firmly on her hand, chirping softly. After a moment, Cluck waved her hand, sending the dove back into the sky to keep watch.
Even without Larry's help, this elite team was strong. Having two skilled investigators made this mission, focused on gathering intelligence, well suited to their abilities.
Cluck controlled the birds, alerting the group and providing information. Meanwhile, Morel's smoke machine army could shape the purple smoke into humanoid forms. Like puppets controlled at will, they could explore dangerous areas without putting themselves in harm's way.
"A large school of fish is approaching!" Cluck's voice grew serious. "I don't think it's an ordinary species." Her face lost its earlier carefree look.
Based on the pigeons' sensing, this school of fish was far more dangerous than usual. No one said it out loud, but everyone knew that if the ship was damaged, it would cause serious trouble.
Morel arrived with his two apprentices, and at some point, the large pipe he usually kept wrapped in cloth was revealed, a clear sign he was ready for a fight. The pipe shimmered brightly under the sunlight, its material unknown but clearly very sturdy.
The six of them moved to the side of the ship, lined up, and peered out at the sea. Far off, beneath the blue water, a huge dark shape was speeding toward their ship, standing out sharply against the calm ocean around it.
That dark mass was actually a school of fish, aggressive ones at that. Since the school was close to the surface, occasionally one or two fish leapt out, giving them a chance to see their features clearly.