"What a strange creature," Kevin said, immediately captivated as he picked up the report and began reading it carefully.
Begel watched Kevin's focused expression and didn't disturb him, simply giving Mo AGu a few quiet instructions before leaving alone.
It wasn't until he had flipped through all the files that Kevin reluctantly closed them.
"It's very interesting, isn't it? This creature."
Hearing the voice from beside him, Kevin nodded: "It is indeed very interesting; to think there's such a unique form of existence."
"This is a sample of a Shadow Larva," Mo AGu said, handing over a long, thin crystal slice.
Kevin took it with curiosity; a specially treated Shadow Larva specimen was sandwiched in the middle of the transparent slice, looking like a long, dark shadow.
A faint sense of longing welled up in his heart. This longing was very subtle, the most minute longing Kevin had ever felt at this stage.
"Is this an endangered species?"
"Sort of. Almost all the endemic species of the Lost Meller Wetland are endangered. However, relatively speaking, this species is still quite safe."
Kevin could understand the reason behind this statement.
The reasoning was simple: unless one was a Nen User, ordinary people would find it difficult to perceive this creature. Moreover, this creature posed little danger to humans, especially after the Lost Meller Wetland was designated a forbidden zone.
Currently, these insects primarily rely on shadows to lure other small animals and mosquitoes for predation. Due to their unique survival method, they are difficult to capture, so they have almost no natural predators.
Although their food sources are limited, thanks to their safe living environment, their numbers have remained relatively stable.
"The boss is busy elsewhere. I'll show you around here and take you to your resting place."
Kevin nodded, stood up, and followed Mo AGu out.
After a tour of the base, Kevin witnessed various strange species and also briefly met and learned about some of the staff.
Afterward, he returned to his resting quarters.
Since the total number of staff in the base was small, Kevin was assigned a spacious single room, which was connected to a small laboratory.
This space was very suitable for Kevin, as he was only staying there temporarily for two or three months.
...
Because a certain area had already been explored and numerous species samples and information materials collected, there would be no outdoor exploration activities arranged for the next week.
Aside from studying various knowledge within the base and reviewing archive materials, Kevin's only remaining activity was training.
Just as Kevin finished a set of simple warm-up exercises, there was a knock at the door.
Kevin looked out the door and saw a middle-aged man wearing black-rimmed glasses, about thirty or forty years old, smiling and waving at him.
Kevin remembered this person; they had met several times over the past week.
"Dr. Belut, what brings you here?"
Belut smiled gently: "It's like this, Mr. Kevin, the food needed for the individuals I found during my last outing has run out. Um… I hope to collect some more, and I was wondering if I could trouble you…"
Kevin waved his hand directly, laughing heartily: "Of course, no problem, Doctor. When do we leave?"
Belut revealed a joyful smile: "If possible, let's go now."
"Then please wait for me for a moment."
Soon, Kevin got dressed and set off in an off-road vehicle with Belut and his two assistants.
The car drove all the way to the end of a small path, where a sign with a danger warning stood.
"Beyond this point, we enter the wetland. Once inside, it's best to proceed on foot. Driving a vehicle might startle the creatures within, leading to danger."
It was nearing noon, but the wetland was shrouded in thick fog.
The group took out special devices and clipped them to their waists. These devices served as both signal transmitters and distress calls, and also had scanning screens, so if anyone accidentally got separated, they could see each other's direction.
Dr. Belut walked in front, with Kevin beside him, and the other two assistants behind them.
The four of them stayed close, and Kevin, standing on one side, could quickly provide support to the other three.
At this moment, Kevin was manipulating his Nen Ability, sometimes releasing it, sometimes retracting it.
This was both to maintain vigilance and, to some extent, to train. He was attempting to control his Nen Ability to emanate irregularly.
Although he hadn't achieved significant results yet, after hearing Gon's analysis, Kevin felt that this attempt was feasible, and he had a faint feeling that he was close to succeeding.
"This damn place, whether day or night, always feels uncomfortable," Toby, one of the assistants trailing behind, couldn't help but complain.
"The scenery might be more beautiful at night, but of course, it's also more dangerous," the other assistant, Haka, replied.
Kevin asked curiously: "Have you been here at night?"
Dr. Belut nodded from the side and replied: "We came here once at night before. The creatures active at night are very different from those active during the day. I even suggested we come back for another exploration at night sometime."
The reason no one wanted to explore deeper at night was simply because the wetland was more dangerous then, especially in such a wild environment.
Not far ahead, Kevin saw a string of footprints appear on a muddy patch. The footprints extended forward into the mist, eventually disappearing.
Belut walked forward with great interest, crouched down, and took out his camera to photograph the footprints.
Kevin also observed curiously from the side.
"Someone's been here?" Toby asked.
Haka, standing nearby, looked at him as if he were an idiot.
Belut also turned his head and scolded him, frustrated: "You idiot, didn't we encounter this plant last time? I even told you to make a record."
"Huh?" Toby looked confused; he completely didn't remember anything of the sort.
Haka couldn't help but interject: "Mentor, he was already paralyzed at the time, have you forgotten?"
Belut seemed to recall and quietly turned his head. Kevin heard him say, "Go back and review the subsequent records thoroughly for me."
Then, he began to briefly explain: "These footprints are an illusion, simulated by a plant. Judging by their appearance, they should be the footprints of someone from our research institute; the sole pattern is from the boots we issue.
It's likely that since we've been frequently entering and exiting this path recently, it detected us and thus simulated them."
Having said that, Belut straightened up, apparently finished with his photos.
"Dr. Kuze named it 'Pseudopod Fern.' This is a mimetic plant; what appears to be footprints are actually its leaves.
The back of its leaves can be subtly adjusted and deformed, changing shape according to the surrounding environment to form patterns resembling footprints.
Those tracking would mistakenly believe them to be the tracks of companions and eventually be led into dangerous areas. It's said that it can also transform into other traces to lure some larger animals.
However, its required environmental conditions for growth are currently unclear, so we haven't excavated samples to bring back to the laboratory."
As they spoke, the group continued to move forward.
At this moment, a cry for help came from the white mist in the distance.
"Help, is anyone there? I'm trapped."
This made Toby roll his eyes and grumble: "Wasn't it the same line last time? Can't these trickster crows come up with something new?"