Chapter 29: Reunion with Machi
Among the names that caught Germain's attention, two stood out:
"Rat" Pariston and "Boar" Ging.
Both were members of the Twelve Zodiacs, high-ranking figures in the Hunter Association, each with different ties to the Dark Continent.
Pariston was a spy within the Association placed there by Beyond, Netero's son to gather allies for a future expedition back to the Dark Continent.
Netero, aware of this, chose not to interfere.
Jin, meanwhile, was a descendant of Dong Fulishi, the author of Journey to the New World. Inspired by that work, Jin quietly waited for his own chance to set foot on the Dark Continent.
From Netero's attitude toward both Pariston and Jin, it was clear that he wasn't entirely opposed to human exploration of the Dark Continent he simply believed the time wasn't yet right.
Beyond, on the other hand, craved quick success and immediate glory. Having already been to the Dark Continent once, he was desperate to return. The potential "disasters" humanity might unleash from there didn't seem to concern him in the slightest.
Germain disliked the name "Beyond" to him, it sounded almost like an insult.
Still, he refused to let that bias him. He wouldn't judge Beyond based on the memories or opiNeons of a past life.
Only through direct contact could one truly know who was a friend.
After using his Hunter License to access the website, Germain felt satisfied and ready to move on to his next step.
He took out his phone, found a contact saved under the name "Bad Woman", and sent a text message:
"I might need your points in the coming days. Are you available soon?"
The message went unanswered.
Germain didn't mind. He left the cybercafé and took a walk along the riverbank nearby.
Sitting down on a bench to rest, he was soon approached by a black cat.
The cat stared at him for a moment before leaping into his lap, curling up comfortably, and closing its eyes.
Germain didn't push it away he simply began stroking its soft fur.
Just as he was about to drift off himself, his phone vibrated. A reply from Machi had finally arrived.
"Sure. Where?"
"KSW City."
"I'll probably arrive on the morning of the 13th. Is that okay?"
"No problem."
"Then it's settled. The cost will depend on the severity of your injuries."
"Understood."
Their text conversation was brief and direct then ended abruptly.
Germain slipped his phone back into his pocket and looked up at the white clouds drifting across the blue sky, a bird occasionally crossing his line of sight.
It was January 11th. Machi would arrive in two days on the 13th.
He would spend today and tomorrow gathering supplies, and once Machi arrived, he would begin his next journey to the Dark Continent departing at dawn on the 14th with his lantern.
This time, his goal wasn't to hunt the beasts of the Dry River Valley but to explore the lands beyond it traveling as far as possible and finally planting a new lantern in a safe location.
He didn't know what awaited him on this expedition, so he had contacted Machi in advance.
Perhaps her "psychic stitching" ability would be useful when he returned or perhaps not. But it was always better to be prepared.
January 13, Noon
There was a knock on Germain's door at the Opera Hotel.
He opened it to find Machi, her hair tied back in its usual ponytail, her expression cool and composed.
"Sorry I'm late," she said without the slightest hint of remorse.
She looked him up and down, then added,
"I don't see any injuries."
"I'm not injured right now," Germain replied.
"Not right now?" Machi frowned, clearly puzzled. "What do you mean? Planning to fight someone later?"
Germain didn't answer her question. Instead, he handed her a room key card.
"This is for the room next door. I've prepaid it until the morning of the 15th. I might come by during that time if I need healing but I'll let you know if it's not necessary."
Machi held the card in silence for a moment, then tucked it away.
"Alright. I'll be next door until noon on the 15th. If you need to extend, tell me ahead of time."
"Got it."
Without wasting words, Machi picked up her small pale cloth bag, turned, and left. She swiped the card and entered the adjacent room.
Although both were members of the Phantom Troupe, they weren't personally close and had no need for small talk.
January 14, 1:00 A.M.
In his room at the Opera Hotel, Germain stood silently under the chandelier's light.
He raised his Hunter Badge, channeling energy into it until a radiant lantern materialized on the floor.
He switched off the chandelier, letting the room fall into darkness only to have it fill again with the lantern's deep violet glow.
Four shadowy imps clung to the lantern, their unblinking eyes fixed on him.
Germain sensed their yearning. As he approached one of them, a faint cry part surprise, part sorrow echoed in the air.
Two glowing lines appeared on the lantern's surface:
Lantern Location: Dark Continent Dry River Valley
Cooldown Time: 8 minutes (Ready)
With a low hum, Germain and the imp clasped hands. The violet light flared then both vanished in an instant.
Instant teleportation. Day and night reversed.
Germain once again stood beneath the blazing light of the Dry River Valley.
The moment he landed, the wind howled. A wave of dust swept past, revealing the rocky riverbed stretching on both sides.
He turned and noticed the lantern's cooldown time had doubled to sixteen minutes. He wasn't surprised.
Pulling a compass from his bulging backpack, he studied his surroundings briefly before heading toward the mouth of the valley.
Along the way, he encountered carnivorous insects perhaps the most numerous creatures in the valley.
They swarmed relentlessly, flitting through the air like tireless horses.
He killed a few at random, drove off the rest, and from one carcass extracted a "color-shifting stone." He slipped it into his backpack.
That would be enough for Biscuit.
As for the venomous mist centipedes and hurricane moths, he ignored them unless they attacked first.
His flamethrower worked well against such giant insects but he avoided combat whenever possible.
He didn't want to linger in the valley too long. His aim was to explore as far as possible.
Moreover, the value of these creatures had dropped sharply especially the poison of the mist centipede. The Dark World had already begun mass-producing an antidote.
Eventually, Germain reached the gourd-shaped mouth of the valley. Stepping onto a gravel path, he finally left the Dry River Valley behind and entered the desert beyond.
Holding his breath to maintain stealth and focusing his aura in a state of constant awareness, he moved forward.
The farther he went, the more vegetation appeared and the more strange creatures emerged from the shadows.
(End of Chapter)