After discussions among the "A-level and above" members of Greed Island, the next group heading to the Dark Continent has been decided.
The team includes Germain, Shizuku, Buhara, and Sanbica. It's a fair selection.
Honestly, there aren't better candidates for this mission.
Most members must stay behind on Greed Island to handle updates and train new employees. Besides, not everyone is willing to risk their lives exploring the Dark Continent.
The Dark Continent is a perilous place. Just hearing Germain and Shizuku's descriptions makes your skin crawl.
Take Abengane, for example. He prefers to stay on Greed Island.
For him, working hard here is enough to achieve the power, status, and wealth he desires.
If Germain forced him, he would go. But Germain wouldn't do that.
Forcing someone to go to the Dark Continent is like carrying a ticking time bomb—no one knows when it will explode or what the consequences will be.
Even though everyone has seen Germain and others safely return from the Dark Continent, it doesn't mean the journey is easy.
This time, the team includes Germain and Shizuku, both seasoned veterans. Buhara has been to the Dark Continent once with Germain, while Sanbica has never been there.
Both Buhara and Sanbica have their own reasons for volunteering to go.
These reasons give them the courage and determination to face the unknown.
Buhara was inspired by Menchi's decision and hopes to keep up with his partner.
Perhaps, together, they can elevate Gourmet Hunter to new heights on the Dark Continent.
Currently, the pinnacle of Gourmet Hunter is still held by Granny Linne.
To surpass the historical achievements of gourmet hunters, they must make groundbreaking discoveries on the Dark Continent.
As for Sanbica, her decision stems from her research on "Herb for All-illnesses," "Botanical Weapons," and the "immortality disease."
For her, the Dark Continent is a treasure trove of unique viruses waiting to be studied.
This didn't mean she had a strange obsession with viruses. Every bit of her research on viruses was always driven by one goal—to cure illnesses and save lives.
The "Herb for All-illnesses" could treat almost any disease and was already incredibly effective, but there were still rare and complex conditions it couldn't cover.
That's where Hunters like Sanbica and Cheadle came in. Their mission was to ensure that every disease and injury in the human world could have a targeted cure.
For months, they had been studying and analyzing materials related to the Dark Continent. They were already deeply familiar with the details of Germain's previous expeditions.
During the time Germain would spend dealing with the Chimera Ants, Buhara and Sanbica planned to humbly seek guidance from Granny Linne and Shizuku, the "veteran" Hunters.
Granny Linne could share detailed stories about the journey she took decades ago, often adding some legends about the wrinkles on her face for flavor.
As for Shizuku, who had been to the Dark Continent several times, her explanations were often unclear.
Her classic lines included, "Night Stalkers are just Night Stalkers," "I think the curses are manageable," and "Both Germain and Bisky said the same thing."
The departure date was set for December 10th.
While everyone was enthusiastically preparing, Shizuku shared some news with Germain about Meteor City.
After the Phantom Troupe members had gone into hiding, Shizuku resumed her periodic donations to Meteor City's Church, though she did so more discreetly this time.
With help from people like Dwun and List, the donations were handled more cleanly.
Shizuku had become quite wealthy now and could afford to make significant contributions.
The reason she donated to Meteor City's Church was simple—it was where she grew up, and the old priest there had always been kind to orphans like her.
Even the original members of the Phantom Troupe had received help from the old priest.
In fact, for Shizuku and others, the old priest held a position of even greater respect than the Elders of Meteor City, because he had been so kind to them.
Shizuku was willing to anonymously provide a large sum of money to the old priest, ensuring that the Church's charity work could continue.
Not long ago, she learned troubling news about Meteor City.
The area where Meteor City is located isn't too far from the NGL Autonomous Region or the Republic of East Gorteau. This made it a major target of the Chimera Ant invasion.
A female Chimera Ant named Zazan, acting as a squadron leader, led a group of Chimera Ants to seize a section of Meteor City and began building a nest.
Zazan declared herself the "New Queen" of Meteor City. Using her Nen ability, she transformed captured residents of Meteor City into aggressive Chimera Ants.
These transformed Chimera Ants instinctively obeyed Zazan's commands. They either guarded the nest or hunted and captured more Meteor City residents.
The war began.
The elders of Meteor City led the residents in resistance, but they couldn't overpower the growing number of Chimera Ant soldiers created by Zazan.
Zazan's method of turning the enemy into her own army was terrifying. It continuously weakened her opponents while strengthening her forces.
Moreover, like the NGL Autonomous Region, Meteor City is an independent zone where outside interference is prohibited.
Organizations like the V5 turned a blind eye to the Chimera Ant disaster in Meteor City.
In fact, they seemed content to let the Chimera Ants weaken Meteor City further, as long as the threat didn't spread to the outside world.
To them, it was like a septic tank exploding—they didn't care as long as it didn't spill over.
Just when Zazan's forces had almost taken over all of Meteor City, the situation suddenly shifted.
Her nest was attacked fiercely and quickly fell.
Most of the Chimera Ant soldiers were killed, leaving only Zazan and her subordinate Pike to escape.
Shizuku believed that although the report didn't specify, the attackers were most likely the Phantom Troupe.
Only the Phantom Troupe would have the capability and motivation to do something like this.
Afterward, what seemed to be the Phantom Troupe's forces began hunting Zazan and Pike, determined to eliminate them completely.
However, at this point, a new, unknown Chimera Ant appeared, changing the situation once again.
This mysterious Chimera Ant, whose name was not disclosed, displayed power far surpassing Zazan's. Together with Zazan and Pike, they regained a foothold in Meteor City.
A new nest was built, and the mysterious Chimera Ant proclaimed himself the "New King," while Zazan became his "New Queen." Together, they began establishing a Chimera Ant kingdom in Meteor City.
Their forces continued to grow as more residents were transformed into Chimera Ants. Now, their kingdom occupies almost half of Meteor City.
The elders of Meteor City and the suspected Phantom Troupe forces are locked in a stalemate with the New King's forces, with no clear winner in sight yet.
When Shizuku learned about the situation in Meteor City, the new Ant King's kingdom had already been established, and two forces were locked in a bloody battle there.
The V5 nations and other regions stood by as spectators, some even throwing captured Chimera Ants into Meteor City to fuel the chaos.
This wasn't unusual for them. It was their usual approach—dump the races they rejected and the garbage they despised into Meteor City, pretending the problem was solved.
As a result, this toxic pot known as Meteor City now had another poisonous addition, one that was starting to devour the other poisons.
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