Finally snapping out of their daze, they quickly turned to Larry, their expressions a mix of admiration and gratitude. "Thanks, Larry! We owe you one!"
If Larry hadn’t stepped in, it would’ve been nearly impossible for the two to deal with the situation on their own. However, he didn’t make a big deal out of it, just another casual move, nothing more.
Gel stole a glance at Dragonite, who had returned to Larry’s side, her eyes widening in surprise. “Is this… a dragon?”
She had seen dragons before a subspecies, the kind the Zoldyck family raised, but this one was completely different. Unlike those vicious and nacing creatures, this Dragonite had an oddly cute and round appearance, with a pudgy belly that made it look deceptively harmless.
But anyone foolish enough to judge it based on looks alone would pay the price. The punch that had just obliterated the three-headed snake had been anything but weak.
As she studied Dragonite, Gel recalled another title Larry held besides being the strongest host in the Sky Arena, he was also known as soone with an unusual number of powerful Nen beasts. Seeing this firsthand, she realized the reputation was well-earned. And this was just one of them.
Still processing the shock, Gel stepped away as Lika took over, sharing the results of their recent hunting and gathering efforts with Larry and nchi. anwhile, Gel’s attention shifted to the pool of corrosive blood left behind by the three-headed snake.
She crouched down, observing the way it sizzled against the ground. “This is worth studying…” she muttered.
It wasn’t just the fact that the blood was corrosive, more importantly, the creature had so level of resistance to its own venom. Understanding how that worked could lead to breakthroughs in toxicology.
It was this very passion for poisons and antidotes that had led Gel to beco a Poison Hunter and, later, a mber of the Zodiac. Like Pyon, her combat ability wasn’t her strongest suit, but in her field, she was unmatched.
By the ti she returned, Lika had wrapped up her conversation with Larry and nchi. The two had gained plenty of resources over the past few days, so after thanking Larry once again, they decided to continue their respective searches.
With different objectives to pursue, traveling separately was more efficient.
Not long after parting ways with Gel and Lika, Larry and nchi’s luck finally turned around.
Riding atop Arcanine, they scoured the wetland for what felt like hours before finally spotting their target, the elusive Sauce Star Mushroom.
Beneath a large tree, three or four golden mushrooms, each shaped like a perfect five-pointed star, nestled quietly in the damp soil. The mont Larry plucked one and brought it close, a rich, savory aroma filled the air.
They had finally secured their target in the wetland area.
By now, another full day had passed. Deciding to spend the night in the wetlands, they set up camp and prepared dinner using diamond at from the previous day’s hunt, enhanced with a sauce made from their newly acquired mushrooms.
The combination was incredible, the deep umami flavor of the Sauce Star Mushroom elevated the already exquisite taste of the diamond at.
Under a vast, starry night sky, two old friends reunited after a long ti.
“How have you been lately? Holding up okay?” The voice was low and serious, devoid of its usual carefree charm.
“…I’m managing,” Linne replied slowly. She made it sound as if things weren’t that bad, but the cloudiness in her eyes and the dark aura clinging to her body told a different story.
A long silence followed.
Then, in a rare mont of solemnity, Netero sighed. “I can’t tell you how many tis I’ve asked myself, was it the right decision for us to go to the Dark Continent? Was it really worth it?”
His voice was heavy with guilt.
“After we ca back… Zigg was gone. You got sick. And I was the only one who made it out unscathed.”
He clenched his fists. “If we hadn’t gone, maybe, ”
Linne cut him off before he could finish. “Netero, when did you beco the kind of person who dwells on the past like this?”
Her wrinkled face tightened with anger.
“It was our decision. All of us agreed. Don’t start burdening yourself with guilt now.”
Netero flinched at the sharpness of her words. Right now, he wasn’t standing here as the legendary chairman of the Hunter Association, he was just Isaac Netero, an old man grappling with the weight of his choices.
This ti, he had co to Gourt Paradise as an official judge, but more importantly, he had co to visit Linne.
Her condition was worsening. The Dark Continent had left its mark on her, and no amount of dical expertise could undo the damage. And in the face of that, the ever-unshakable Netero had finally let slip sothing he rarely showed, regret.
But Linne wouldn’t have it. “Netero, listen to ,” she said firmly. “We chose this path. No one forced us. We knew what we were getting into.”
A long pause. Then, Netero let out a deep breath, his usual carefree smirk slowly creeping back onto his face. “…You’re right,” he admitted. “This was our choice.”
Netero gazed up at the starry sky, his clear eyes reflecting a deep nostalgia. He could almost see it, those days when the three of them road together, sharing the thrill of the hunt. Those mories felt so distant, yet so close. He missed them dearly.
‘A hunter is soone who pursues their passion without fear of hardship or obstacles. No matter the consequences, it’s a path they will never regret choosing.’
***
The next morning, Larry and nchi rode atop Arcanine as they made their way to the final area, the Ice Field. This region had the most targets of all, with three prized ingredients waiting to be collected: white caviar used as an appetizer, white jade cabbage for salads, and dream tuna for soup.
Crossing over from the wetlands, the first thing they felt was the biting cold. It was as if they had stepped into an entirely different world, one made entirely of ice and snow. Everywhere they looked, there was nothing but an endless stretch of white. In a way, it was similar to the desert they had traversed earlier, both were vast and barren, though one was a sea of sand and the other a frozen wasteland.
But compared to the desert, the Ice Field offered much higher-quality ingredients. In fact, this area had so of the rarest and most valuable ingredients, surpassing even the forests and wetlands they had explored before.
The reason? The presence of premium marine ingredients from the Six Continents, so of the best the world had to offer.
Fortunately, riding atop Arcanine made things much more bearable. Its thick, orange-red fur radiated warmth, shielding them from the frigid air. Every now and then, tiny sparks flickered from its mouth, subtly heating the area around them. Even in these icy conditions, the two of them remained relatively warm.
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