Even the Phantom Troupe's Shizuku had once referred to him by the title the world's strongest Nen cleanser.
If even someone like Gon's father had to come to Larry for help, it only confirmed that reputation.
After finishing their visit to the Kurta clan's homeland, Larry and Kurapika parted ways at the airport. Larry had somewhere to be.
The Republic of Begroa, though one of the five nations that originally formed the V5, was considered relatively weak. Its territory was limited confined mostly to a single region, while the other member nations held lands two or even three times larger, with greater influence over international affairs.
Still, Begroa had its own charm. Despite the small size, it was home to some of the most well-known attractions across the six continents.
One of the standout spots was the Forest of Beastsm a wild and untamed land crawling with feral creatures, magical beasts, and rare species. Ordinary people couldn't survive there. Only those with Nen could enter safely.
Some of the exotic ingredients Larry once tasted back in Gourmet Paradise also came from that forest.
The city of Patton, where he was headed, sat near the edge of the Forest of Beasts. As he stepped off the airship, Larry spotted Ging already waiting for him at the terminal.
Ging looked almost exactly like he did in the original Hunter Association records. draped in a brown robe, with layers of white cloth wrapped loosely around his head.
A few strands of hair poked out between the gaps, giving a somewhat unkempt impression. At first glance, he looked more like a wandering vagabond than one of the top Hunters in the world.
But upon closer inspection, Larry noticed something that broke that illusion.
While Ging's outfit was loose and rugged, it wasn't dirty. In fact, everything he wore was surprisingly clean, even if it looked like he didn't care much about appearances. That contrast only made the man more confusing.
The most jarring thing, though, was Ging's face. His features were younger than expected, not quite matching his weathered clothes.
If it weren't for the faint signs of weariness in his eyes and a bit of stubble along his jawline, Larry might have mistaken him for a grown-up version of Gon.
There was no denying it, father and son really did look like they were cut from the same mold.
Still, it wasn't Ging's appearance that caught Larry off guard, it was the person standing beside him. "Hey, Larry! Long time no see!"
The familiar voice brought a smile to Larry's face. Standing there, ears bouncing slightly as she grinned, was Pyon. Her signature rabbit-ear headband swayed with her steps, just like before.
Larry had fought alongside her back during the Solvren Ruins expedition. That had been a dangerous job, and seeing her here now brought back a wave of old memories.
So it wasn't just Ging who'd come. The three of them would be exploring together.
Larry immediately guessed why Ging brought Pyon along. When it came to uncovering ancient ruins, especially ones possibly connected to the Dark Continent, Pyon's abilities were invaluable. Her skill set made her the perfect support when facing the unknown.
In dangerous ruin dives, information could mean the difference between life and death.
Collecting his thoughts, Larry smiled and greeted her. "Yeah, it's been a while, Pyon."
They hadn't seen each other since Solvren. And now they were being reunited for something that felt even more intense.
After exchanging greetings with Pyon, Larry turned to Ging, whose expression was as calm and unreadable as ever.
This was one of the strongest people he had ever met, on par with legends like Chairman Netero and Maha Zoldyck. Ging's power definitely belonged in the S-rank tier.
"Seeing you in person feels different," Ging said with a hint of emotion in his voice. "I've been wanting to meet you for a long time."
It was probably after the incident at the ruins of Solvren that word of his desire to eliminate Dead aura began to spread and eventually reached Ging's ears. While Larry was sizing Ging up, Ging was doing the same.
From appearance alone, Larry seemed like an ordinary young man nothing about him screamed special. Yet, Ging picked up on a few subtle things. He could tell Larry wasn't as simple as he looked.
Besides his well-known magical beasts, Larry himself had no shortage of power. Ging had seen him fight before, at the Sky Arena.
If anyone thought Larry was weak, they were going to regret it. There was a brief spark of light in Ging's sharp eyes. With that, he felt even more confident about this expedition.
Then, as if something had just occurred to him, Ging slipped his right hand inside his robe and started feeling around for something.
The sudden movement caught Larry's attention. He couldn't help but wonder what Ging was up to.
Pyon, who'd already experienced Ging's randomness before, just stood to the side silently, curious to see how Larry would react.
After a moment, Ging suddenly pulled out a banana with a bit of flair, as if performing a magic trick. "Want one? It's really good," he offered casually.
Larry frowned slightly. The banana looked fresh, smooth peel, bright yellow, and giving off a strong, sweet fragrance.
For some reason, even though it looked perfectly clean and tempting, he just didn't feel like eating it. No matter how nice it looked, he had zero interest.
"No," Larry replied flatly. He didn't trust food from unknown sources.
"Man, that's a shame." Ging shrugged, peeled the banana, and took a bite.
He closed his eyes in satisfaction like it was the best thing he'd ever tasted. Maybe it was good?
With all three members now gathered, their team was finally complete.
They were all users of Nen, and since they hadn't just come from a battle, everyone was still fresh and full of energy.
Without wasting time, Ging led them straight toward their destination.
Along the way, Ging gave a proper introduction of their mission, mainly for Larry's sake, though Pyon already had a rough idea.
The place they were headed to was a newly discovered ruin, "freshly unearthed," as Ging put it. But no one had been able to explore it properly. The danger was too high.
It started with someone stumbling across a cave deep in the mountains. The cave was overflowing with death aura, so thick and dark, it felt like it was trying to keep people out.
V5 got involved quickly and sent a team to investigate. None of them came back alive. And these weren't random amateurs they were skilled Nen users.
Still, not one made it out. No one even knew how they died. Maybe the aura itself killed them, or maybe there was something else lurking inside.