Chapter 354: Episode 11

For the first time in my life, I see the ocean. I knew of it, but when I truly saw it, the scale was different. This sea is called Mobius Lake. A massive saltwater lake surrounded by the Dark Continent. In the center of the lake, there is a protected human circle.

It is an absurd story. The continent where billions of people live is nothing more than an island, and the vast ocean surrounding the world is nothing more than a lake. Perhaps, from the "outside," this Dark Continent might also be a trivial little world. It is scattered like the universe.

But humanity does indeed exist. From the footprints of the Sahelta United States expedition team, we can roughly conclude that this is Mobius Lake. Beyond this lake is the Human World.

My goal, of which I cannot even see a fragment, seems to have a faint sense of reality.

Start exploring the coastline. The first thing to check is whether there are any dangerous creatures. I cannot let my guard down because of the crab I mentioned earlier. Strolling along the quiet beach where only the sound of waves echoes.

Seaweed is washed up on the beach. It looks like kelp. Kombu is a seaweed rich in umami components, used to make soup stock. I wonder if it is delicious.

However, the opponent is kelp from the dark seas. It has a different sense of resistance than plants on land. Just in case, I try poking it with a cactus thorn I made with 【carbuncle】.

Suddenly...

Goo...

"Whoa..."

A thick, transparent slime flows out. The viscous liquid gradually begins to turn white and solidifies into a jelly-like consistency. I am glad I did not touch it with my bare hands.

I decide to ignore the slimy kelp, pull myself together, and formulate an action plan for the future.

After all, navigation is essential. Besides ships, we have equipment needed for navigation such as compasses, nautical charts, navigation skills, and crew members. Once you start giving, there is no end.

I know most of them are currently unobtainable, but regardless, the sea I am about to cross is a dark area. Even with all preparations made, there is no guarantee they will be able to travel safely.

The sea area near where humans exist is called "Human Territorial Waters," and the outer sea area is called "Undeveloped Waters." This is an unknown sea area that humanity has not yet conquered. And beyond that, beyond the "Marginal Waters," there is the "Dark Sea Area." Needless to say, the further you go, the more dangerous it becomes.

Nevertheless, humanity managed to form an investigation team and send it to the Dark Continent. A relatively safe route was found. It is difficult to navigate without a leader who not only possesses a ship but also knows such a route.

I do not know where the expedition landed, but it was likely a long time ago. There will be no more ships leaving. I will try to find it, but do not expect too much. Finding more clues seems difficult.

Even if I build a ship myself, I have no shipbuilding knowledge. It is better to build a raft. Just load a little water and food and drift when going out to sea. How many days can a raft stay in its original state?

It is impossible to determine self-escape. The only way to escape is to find the investigation team's ship and board it.

But, in this vast sea, what is the probability that you will be lucky enough to encounter the research team's ship? This is just a story of possibility, not drifting and getting lost.

I have some thoughts on this. Rather than looking for a ship, it is better to look for a place where it can dock.

Due to the nature of the investigation, there always needs to be a place to anchor ships for a long time. It must also be a place where they can rest safely without being discovered by dangerous creatures. In order to complete a long-distance voyage and carry a large number of people, the ship's equipment and size are required to have a certain scale. If it becomes a place where such a large ship can stay, the places that meet the conditions should be greatly squeezed.

Even for ordinary people who want to cross from the human continent to the Dark Continent, it requires a huge amount of money and time to realize. Moreover, even if their wishes are fulfilled and they can land, they can only monitor and ensure safety within a very narrow area.

However, conversely, it also means that a safe zone has already been established on this dark continent. There is such a place somewhere. And there should be a port nearby where a ship can be moored.

If you study steadily along the coastline, you can reach there someday. I do not know how many years it will take, but if I still have a goal, I can keep moving forward without giving up. Whether it is waiting for a ship in one place or looking for a ship while walking.

You have to decide which path to take. Turn left or right? This choice makes a big difference in the time required to reach the port. In some cases, it will be a huge detour.

That said, I cannot know which is the correct answer, so I must decide for myself. If I remember correctly, in this case, it is the Kura, Kura, Kurapika theory. When I am at a loss, I feel like choosing the right is fine. I forgot why.

One step of separation. Their actions led to a huge discovery.

A small white thing fell at my feet. It would not be strange if he usually passed by without ignoring it. They would not even notice that it was a shell or something.

More than half buried in the sand, I picked it up. A small, round object that can be rolled in the palm of a hand. There is the same thing in the knowledge of my past life.

It is a plastic bottle cap.

Did it drift here from the Human Territorial Waters? That is unlikely, and even if it did, it would be worn out by the time it arrived here. There are no traces on this cap. Brand new, even the printed letters are clearly readable.

Did someone bring a plastic bottle and throw away the cap? Who was that person?

A piece of trash washed up on the beach, a small white cap in my hand, looks like an irreplaceable treasure.

Found a ship.

After thoroughly studying the nearby beach, we arrived at a rocky place. A large ship was moored in a depression carved by the waves.

I could not leave the scene.

Various emotions are entangled in one's mind, unable to be unified into one thought. That is a problem that cannot be solved using "Thought Manipulation."

It is understood that the investigation team had landed near this beach in the past. Therefore, it is possible that there is a travel route nearby that is easy to pass even in the dark seas. Of course, considering this, I intend to search the surrounding area.

But I think in my heart that I am dominated by bias, and I cannot find such a thing no matter what. I cannot believe it, I cannot even hold a selfish feeling, "If you count on that kind of wishful thinking, it might be possible, if it doesn't happen you will be disappointed."

How about opening the lid? Not only found a berth, but even a ship. I still cannot accept reality.

In short, I did not foresee this situation. Our goal was to find the expedition's ship, but what will you do after you actually find it? I thought I would have enough time to think during the long journey.

A truly unique opportunity. If you miss this, you will be lucky, you will not have another chance. I might be able to escape from here. I thought it was just another dream opportunity now right before my eyes, so close that I could reach out and touch it.

I cannot sit still. I want to jump out and ask for help now. Suppress the impulse somehow.

To humans, I am a dangerous B-class Threat "Chimera Ant." That is only for the sub-human Chimera Ant, but from their perspective, I look like a similar person.

Even if they did not discover that he was a Chimera Ant, it is only because he is on the Dark Continent that they would be suspicious. It turned into a story about who. I have no intention of being hostile to you, just do not know how the other party will see it. If I use all my words to show that I am harmless, can you believe me?

Or do you want to sneak into the ship? Most of the members of the investigation team are skilled Nen users, so it should be difficult to invade while completely hiding their presence. Even if they managed to sneak in, it is very likely that they would be discovered during the voyage. If that happens, even if you claim you are friendly, you will no longer be trusted. This will definitely be a battle.

Then it would be better to suppress it. If the opponent is human and has Nen Ability, the power I possess will be most effective. It seems that the probability of you winning is high. Threaten with force and take over the ship.

"... Cannot."

However, I cannot let go of that feeling. Another "me" mixed in the depths of my soul denied it.

That is the memory of Luan. By taking over his memory (data), I was able to learn how to operate the suppression program. Ninety-nine percent of the data is knowledge about the program, his existence does not exist in me.

However, the data is flooded with some redundant information. Trapped in the Soul Spring, he made creating countermeasures against the virus his lifelong wish. His principles of action stem from his hatred for the enemy, his selfish curiosity as a researcher, and his sense of mission to protect humanity from the virus and save his comrades.

The suppression plan is information analyzed to save humanity. Even for me who inherited this data, his intentions are rooted in me. When I see a human presence in front of me, the last wish he left in my heart is highlighted again.

However, it is not a strong bond that forces my will. It is an obsession, to the point where it is possible to overwhelm it with your own will. When you find yourself in a dangerous situation, or when you need to use the power of the virus, you can even use it against humans. It should be.

But, at the stage where we have not communicated yet, is it really possible to initiate an attack unilaterally from this side? If such tough measures are taken, after arriving at the human continent, in order to destroy evidence, all crew members must be killed. And after killing it, are you hiding in human society with an innocent face?

As a "human," is it right to do this? From a human perspective, I am clearly just a Disaster (Risk). The reason I want to leave the Dark Continent is not just to escape to a safe place. Because I want to know what kind of existence a human is, and live as a human.

It seems that there is a gap between the rational behavior that is the best way to escape and the image of a human that has not yet been established within oneself. How do I fill this gap? Use "Thought Manipulation" to reach a conclusion.

Even if I think at an unprecedented speed, there is no answer. If this is logical thinking in battle, I have done it countless times. Even for a powerful enemy that cannot be defeated, I can reach an answer. This is why I live here now.

I don't know what to do. We are about to leave this continent soon. Although I am already close to that point, I even feel that the goal is getting further and further away. Quinn thought while scratching his head. I exerted too much force, my hair fell out, and my scalp was bleeding, but I didn't mind.

Let's take a step back and consider it from a different perspective.

First, is the premise that we can easily control that ship correct? No matter how excellent my ability in the antipsychotic battle is, there is no guarantee that I will definitely win. The diversity of thought is such a profound, unfathomable power.

Moreover, the operation of the ship is not something I can do alone. At the very least, the crew required for maneuvering must remain alive and be allowed to act without constraint. This is also a great risk.

From the human perspective, I am nothing more than a Disaster, and I never want to bring it back to the realm of human activity. I would rather self-destruct the ship than cause the extinction of the species. It cannot be said that these measures have not been taken.

Furthermore, it might be countered by weapons rather than Nen Ability. Human power is not limited to thought. Even the Chimera Ants, which possess the power to rule humanity, were easily killed by the poison of chemical weapons. Its scientific power is its greatest threat.

Likewise, we need dialogue. You must tell them that you want a friendly relationship. To that end, just talking is not enough.

I look at my carry-on bag. It contains the "Soul Stone".

The reason the investigation team took such a great risk to visit the Dark Continent must be to obtain Hope (Return). Since that is the case, wouldn't it be a good idea to offer the "Soul Stone" as compensation for letting them board the ship?

... No, that's not certain either. At the end of the day, their biggest concern is whether I am dangerous. I want a return, but whether I can put it on the ship is another matter. At the very least, just because you give it to them doesn't mean they will unconditionally trust you.

Win their trust. That is my mission. I hope you succeed. But if you fail...

This is the conference room of the Dark Continent research ship Quantum Road, sent by the Sahel-Taha United Republic.

There are three figures in that room. One of them is Commander Andam, who holds the supreme command of this ship. He is an old man who has reached middle age, but he is a soldier in good health. With romantic gray hair and a trimmed beard, his elegant and aged appearance gives one a sense of the dignity of standing in a high position.

He receives a report from his subordinate.

"Is that so... The investigation team has reached its limit..."

Bring the new Hope (Return) back to your motherland. The elite unit "Quantum" tasked with this mission is on the verge of collapse. The unit was touted as the face of this investigation, to the point that it was included in the ship's name, but now it has no form left.

At the time of Departure, there were 200 people on the ship. They were all soldiers in uniform, but they were not just strong. Based on the information obtained from the last investigation, this was a unit trained and organized over a great deal of time. Its main focus was stealth and survival, not combat power. Its purpose was to evade the watchdog of Hope (Return) and Disaster (Risk), and to steal treasure.

However, only four soldiers remain at present.

The term "collapse crisis" is inappropriate. It is already in a state of destruction. The sub-commander reporting the results of the expedition before his eyes has dead eyes. Andam continued to listen with a sad expression as he spoke of unimaginable hardships.

The long-awaited tiger cub unit was kicked away like bugs. Thinking of the guilt of his men being killed, Andam nodded deeply as he listened to the commander's account.

In his heart, there was a fierce rage.

These... incompetent people...!

The content of the report was determined by the report submitted in advance. The expression of mourning for the death of his subordinates on his face was merely a mask of personality he had always worn. In fact, apart from cursing, I had no emotions.

"Continuing the mission is impossible."

The captain desperately appealed to stop the search. This was blunt to his superior, but it was a genuine concern for his subordinates, unable to control his own actions.

On the other hand, Andam felt a physiological disgust at the way the captain pouted and showed off. It was the saliva of humans returning from the unexplored lands of the Dark Continent. I don't know what kind of pathogens are lurking. Of course, when I returned to the base, I also conducted a thorough inspection, but even so, I couldn't get rid of the anxiety.

Andam stood up from his chair. Then, he placed both hands on the table and bowed his head deeply to the captain.

"Commander, what are you doing...!"

"I understand what you mean. I feel the same way. If possible, I want to put your safety first. My words will not resonate with you. I don't care how much you hate me."

Why should I bow to someone who is at most a unit captain? Andam frowned in humiliation and gritted his teeth.

"We are soldiers, for the country, please...!"

Andam is a Psychic. He is very good at hiding his emotions in his heart. If you are a normal person, your emotions will appear outside your body in the form of an Aura. If you are a skilled Psychic, you can probably guess the other person's mental state from that subtle change.

Even the slightest change, he is able to suppress it without leaking it. Conversely, one can change the erupting passion into another vector, expressing completely different feelings with the Flow of Aura.

The Aura that Andam is emitting now is truly realistic. Although he is worried about his subordinates, he cannot escape the mission of the army. That sense of tragedy that can only be created by someone overwhelmed by their own helplessness is beautifully expressed with Aura.

"Understood..."

Seeing his determination, the captain had no choice but to withdraw. I realized that further petitioning was meaningless. In fact, no matter how much you endure, Andam will not change the order, so this judgment is correct.

After the captain finished the report, he left the room with a gloomy expression. Andam and one other person remained in the conference room. During the report, a person who never spoke spoke to Andam.

"Commander, that reaction just now... was it a bit too strong? I thought someone with your personality would think we shouldn't sacrifice soldiers needlessly."

He is a chubby man, often sweating and greasy. He is not a person with Nen Ability; he is just an ordinary person. That is to say, although he is an ordinary person, he is also a person with a status high enough to board this ship.

He is a staff member of the Special Travel Division, accompanying the investigation team as the Phantom Troupe. An international organization managed by the Five Great Continents Alliance "V5". Nominally, they are observers sent as an external organization to maintain the safety and transparency of activities in the Dark Continent, but in reality, they are "collars" attached to the travelers.

"You might be a bit overbearing, but I am also just a soldier, and sometimes for the sake of the system, I have to make ruthless decisions."

"Are these sacrifices really necessary? I can't say that the thinking of peacetime is always correct in this Extreme situation, but soldiers are also people with lives."

It was quite beautiful in the past. On the contrary, this employee was not particularly worried about the safety of the soldiers' lives. His mission boiled down to one point: ensuring that the travelers would not do anything unnecessary. The main purpose was to prevent countless Disasters from falling from the Dark Continent into the Human World. Because of this, I even thought it would be better to secretly annihilate the soldiers in the depths of the sea of trees.

Basically, the Special Travel Division did not break its passive attitude towards the Dark Continent investigation. The conditions that must be met to be allowed to travel are very strict, and individuals are not allowed to travel in the first place. Even the armed forces of the great Sahel-Taha United Republic spent a huge amount of time, 40 years after the last investigation, to forcibly meet conditions that would not normally be met.

In other words, I never intended to accept any travelers from the beginning. This is partly to prevent the invasion of Disasters, but also because the Special Travel Division is an international organization led by V5, with a political background where countries' speculations are mixed.

Hope (Return) is a resource that brings huge technological innovation to humanity, but most of the profits are naturally monopolized by the country that discovers it. From the perspective of other countries, this is not interesting. That's why we pull each other's legs so that we don't get ahead. It's almost like an unwritten treaty that has always refused travel. However, if this happens, the country will also lose the opportunity to obtain the return, so they created a loophole that allows it as an exception.

The secret mission's expectation for this expedition is "The Sahel-Taha United Republic will gain nothing and return safely after wasting time." Andam also understands this.

"The purpose of this investigation should be to build a pier for the ships, right? It's about time to go back, but the progress of the construction is not good. Instead of focusing on looking for the return, it would be better to send more personnel to the construction side, thinking foolishly like this."

Andam was burning with rage, his blood boiling. A civilian who can't even give me instructions. With a wave of his arm, the employee's head would be torn from his torso.

Incompetent subordinates are also annoying, but the man in front of me is Andam's clear enemy. I want to tear him apart and throw him into the sea right now.

But you can't. No matter the reason, if a member of the Special Travel Division cannot return safely, it will be a professional error. Someone protected by political power. The killing intent pierced through his whole body, but it did not show on the outside.

"Of course, construction work must be prioritized, but adding a few people now won't change the progress. We have more than enough manpower. The problem is the working environment; everyone is exhausted by the harsh environment. Unless we improve this, we cannot expect a drastic solution. If you have any good ideas, please teach me."

"No, especially me..."

I properly downplayed the topic, but it is a fact that the construction is not progressing. The first mission issued by the national high-level was to build a warehouse as a bridgehead to the Dark Continent. First of all, the Dark Continent is not a place where ships can dock. How to ensure a safe docking location is important for establishing a base.

Seaweed called "Fugura" inhabits the nearby sea area extensively. The epidermis of this seaweed secretes a special mucus that has the property of turning the surrounding seawater into lotion.

It is not particularly toxic, but don't let your guard down. Swimming in this area is very difficult. The viscous seawater grabs your hands and feet, and the more you struggle in the sea, the more the stirred-up mucus reacts with the air and becomes white and elastic. Before long, it's like being wrapped in a cocoon and drowning.

Once you dive into the sea, your whole body is covered with a film of lotion, and you can't even breathe. Even Fugura cannot survive. If you fall into the sea from the ship, you need help immediately.

But thanks to this seaweed, it is rare to encounter fierce giant creatures in this area. This is a valuable place where ships can dock relatively safely. This is a highly valued place, and even after spending 40 years to obtain the right to travel, building a warehouse is still prioritized over seeking the return.

Important work is not progressing. 60% of the research team members are construction workers. Although supplies, equipment, and personnel were more than enough and arrived safely at the Dark Continent, the work has not been completed even halfway as planned.

You never know when a monster might draw your attention, and in an environment where death is right beside you, construction work is done with extra caution. If we discover even the slightest anomaly, we have no choice but to pause construction and evacuate, so we can only be late. This is the administrator's mistake; he had a naive assumption beforehand, but Andam will never admit to it.

The deadline for his return is fast approaching. Even if you use workers like main forces, the construction cannot be completed. If Andam cannot fulfill the primary purpose of building the warehouse, his reputation in his home country will plummet. The national budget of the United States has been poured into this task for years. Failure is absolutely unacceptable.

Everything that has been desperately deceived and built up until now will come to an end. Those who called you incompetent will now think you are incompetent. Such a proud person cannot stand it.

If there is only one chance for recovery, there is no other way but to obtain a reward. I had to transfer a unit that was almost completely wiped out to carry out the mission.

If this were a war, having only four soldiers would be complete trash, but in this mission, as long as one person survives and brings back the reward, they win. Among these 200 elite soldiers, if it is the chosen surviving soldier, there is still a possibility of winning.

The report contains compelling information regarding the return. They seem to have found a place they believe might have a reward. It is uncertain information, but I have no choice but to bet on it.

The problem is the attitude of the commander I saw earlier. This mindset is terrible. Completely heartbroken. If the captain is like this, I imagine the members under him won't be decent either.

The strength of a Nen User is largely influenced by the strength of their mind. No matter how strong or talented a person is, they will compete against those with inner superiority. Given the current mental state of the soldiers, I don't think they can unleash their full potential.

(I need leverage, hmm...)

Andam thought while exchanging opinions with the staff of the Special Travel Division. How to break the board that has already fallen into this predicament. How best to move and use them.

His completely self-centered thoughts never show on his appearance. Even in front of ordinary people who are not Nen Users, he never disguises his aura. Even if I am alone, I cannot solve it.

That extraordinary Spirit Power. Without a doubt, he is a first-class user. This ability has brought him to where he is today. Currently, he is one of the strongest fighters on this ship. No, when limited to the environment of this ship, no one can defeat him.

However, until he was covered in mud, he had no will to obtain a reward by his own power. I didn't even have such a thought.