Chapter 126: I Can't Wait Any Longer
When they arrived, it was early morning, and a thin layer of white mist still covered the sea.
The island's mountains and forests were also shrouded in fog…
Island No. 10 was quite large ... if they split up, it would take them several hours to explore it thoroughly.
Standing on the beach, Haze nodded to Gabwich.
He walked up to Saiyu, placed a hand on his shoulder, and activated his Nen ability.
"Saiyu."
"Here," Shenhou replied.
The Nen ability was officially activated.
Immediately after, Gabwich used the same technique on Gelu.
All eight of them established a mental link.
"Split up and stay alert. If you find anything, don't act rashly ... report your position first and regroup," ordered Haze, acting as captain.
"Yes," Menchi and the others replied. They quickly dispersed, vanishing into the distance as several black shadows.
Ignoring the two Earthly Branches, Haze slowly walked into the jungle and disappeared.
Only after he left did Gail glance at Saiyu beside her. "You don't have any ulterior motives, do you?"
She asked because Saiyu had mentioned receiving orders from Pariston ... and they all knew the vice chairman's character too well.
Remembering what Haze had done to Saiyu on the ship, Gail felt compelled to warn her.
"Basically, we don't want this variable involved, and we don't want to make him an enemy. Whatever the vice chairman told you to do, I hope you'll think carefully about the consequences."
"Pariston and I aren't on the same side… He's the vice chairman ... he gives orders in the Association's name, and I have no choice but to cooperate. Besides, what does it matter if I'm the only one without anything to do?"
Oblivious to Gail's meaning, Saiyu swung her long staff over her shoulder and followed after Haze.
Gail fell silent, unable to keep up with Cheadle's pace. Since Saiyu had said as much, there was nothing more to say.
"…I've almost reached the coast on the far side of the island. Haven't found anything yet."
"Same here. Just common creatures ... nothing unusual. No sign of new species, not even ferocious beasts."
"Looks like the intel was wrong…"
"Hahaha! Perfect! We've completed a three-star mission without lifting a finger!"
Anthony's laughter echoed through everyone's minds.
After entering the forest, Haze didn't go deeper in. Instead, he found a broken log and sat on it.
From the start, he had known that the chance of Dark Continent creatures existing on this island was less than one percent.
The reason for their assignment… was artificial.
And now, it seemed he'd been right.
Time passed. As the sun slowly rose over the sea, the morning chill eased slightly ... but the fog grew thicker, turning the landscape dreamlike.
"Where's Gail…?" Menchi asked.
Gelu ... the Serpent ... was not only a poison hunter but also an excellent forensics expert and apothecary. She had extensive experience exploring natural environments, since pharmacology relied heavily on plant-based ingredients.
Her conclusions might not be certain, but they were trustworthy enough for the two Earthly Branches.
"Indeed, there's no sign of any new creature," Gelu said. "Captain, what should we do now?"
"Should we search again?" Menchi asked Haze. "Captain?"
To her surprise, Haze didn't respond.
As if he hadn't heard her.
A moment later, everyone in the team ... including Haze ... realized that their telepathic link had vanished.
The psychic connection was gone.
That could only mean something had happened to Gabwich.
Haze sat calmly with a blade of grass in his mouth.
Then, from the mist to his left, a figure slowly emerged.
"Pariston sure is something… Even V5 fell for the trap," Haze said, turning to face the newcomer, not the least bit surprised, his tone mocking.
"How did you know… about my connection to him?"
Saiyu's gaze turned dark.
"Who?"
Haze spat out the blade of grass and smiled. "Do you mean Pariston ... or Beyond?"
Saiyu's expression hardened. "So you really do know everything…"
"Yeah."
Haze rose from the wooden stump and met his eyes. "The others will be here soon. You don't have much time. Tell me the real purpose of your trip."
Given the situation, Saiyu's next words were calm but deliberate.
"Join us."
"Who?" Haze asked, smiling faintly.
"Beyond."
Saiyu looked at his smug expression and said impatiently, "Beyond invites you to join his team to explore the Dark Continent! You want to go there too, don't you? Especially since the Guild Leader's there…"
Haze's seemingly omniscient and prophetic demeanor left Saiyu ... who had initially wanted to take the initiative ... without any room to maneuver.
It made the conversation extremely one-sided.
"Is that Pariston's idea too?" Haze asked curiously.
"We're just cooperating. I already told you ... it's Beyond," Saiyu replied.
"I'm not interested," said Haze flatly.
Two tigers couldn't share one mountain. He and Beyond were fundamentally incompatible ... both too assertive, neither willing to submit. Working together would only make the team chaotic.
And the fact that Beyond had asked Saiyu to deliver a message… meant he assumed Haze could be persuaded.
"Are you sure?" Saiyu spun his staff, releasing Nen.
"You're going to attack me?" Haze asked, genuinely surprised.
"Since you refuse, there's no need for you to stay," Saiyu replied coldly.
With a surge of Nen, three monkeys of different shapes and sizes appeared from thin air, each making distinct gestures. Some perched on Saiyu's shoulders, others hung from his arms, and one clung to his thigh.
It was his Nen ability: See No Monkey, Hear No Monkey, Speak No Monkey.
Being struck by these three monkeys would rob the target of their corresponding senses ... an extremely troublesome ability.
But what truly surprised Haze was that Gail was still on the island.
According to the Hunting Rules, even if Saiyu had the strength to kill him, he wouldn't dare act. Once reported to the Association, even as one of the Twelve Zodiacs, he wouldn't escape unscathed.
And yet, judging from the murderous intent radiating off him ... he was dead serious.
Clearly, he had a Plan B for this mission.
"I see…"
In an instant, Haze reviewed all the known details of the mission and spotted something suspicious.
The research team sent by the Kakin Empire was also headed to the island.
By now… they had probably already landed, and the V5 couldn't stop them.
Or rather, the so-called research team from Kakin was actually a group of assassins sent by Yang De ... meant to assist Saiyu, and then silence him afterward.
A perfect trap.
By the time Gail and the others arrived, he could simply blame Kakin's men for the deaths… flawless.
"How foolish," Haze sighed once he understood.
Saiyu took a combat stance.
"In the end, you're just another dog… You and Bryant have been manipulated by that Pariston ... used as pawns."
Haze chuckled. "Even if I explained it to you, you probably wouldn't get it."
Then he took his hands out of his pockets, spreading his arms toward Saiyu, revealing a row of sharp white teeth.
"I don't care… since I can kill you without consequence, I'm delighted!"
"Do you really think you can win?"
Saiyu relaxed as he watched Haze's calm demeanor.
"Between you and me… fifty-fifty."
A fifty percent chance.
Saiyu wasn't underestimating Haze's strength ... judging by his past missions and accomplishments, his level was at least on par with one of the Twelve Earthly Branches, and he was a martial arts master to boot.
But Saiyu had great confidence in his own combat ability as well. Even if he couldn't defeat Haze now, once Bryant's men arrived, Haze would surely die under their combined assault.
After all, every participant in this operation was a top-tier fighter.
He had made ample preparations ...
This was a hunt, with Haze as the prey!
"Hahaha…"
Suddenly, Haze burst out laughing.
His voice boomed through the mist.
"Fifty-fifty, huh? Interesting. Seeing that confidence of yours just makes me more excited for this fight… Come on, let's go ...
I can't wait!"
A gust of cold wind cut through the white fog, brushing past Haze's body.
With a gesture of both hands, he beckoned Saiyu eagerly.
His excitement was genuine.
Ever since reaching the Subworld Nen User level, his strength had transformed ... and he hadn't faced a worthy opponent since.
Perhaps it had been too long since he'd felt real danger.
As an active member of the Twelve Zodiacs, Saiyu was without a doubt a perfect test subject.
Nearly a year ago, Haze had said that, at his level, he could take a Zodiac's seat ... if not for his lack of seniority.
Now… he was eager to see how he'd perform in actual combat.
Compared to Yang De's schemes, Pariston's "borrowed knife to kill" approach satisfied him completely.
(End of Chapter)