On the night of October 7th, just before midnight, the not-so-spacious lantern transmission hall was packed with people.
Granny Linne sat in a creaky rocking chair, her thin, bony fingers crossed over her abdomen, which was covered with a layer of padding.
She always looked like this. Except for her, no one knew if she was asleep or awake.
Perhaps this was the result Linne wanted.
In recent days, she rarely showed the kind of energy typical of the young, carefully preparing ingredients for everyone.
It was an experience like heaven and hell. The weight lost after sweating profusely would often rebound after the next meal.
At the end of the day, anyone could voluntarily withdraw from this trial. For example, Sanbica, Abengane, Dwun, List, and the twins Eta and Elena.
They only lasted through two meals before giving up the trial for their own reasons.
The remaining people stuck it out until the end, especially tonight's main characters—Germain, Bisky, Shizuku, and Menchi.
They had successfully passed the Hell Test set by Linne and had shaped their bodies into the proper form before their departure, maintaining either a lean or agile physique.
Everyone was checking to make sure their essential items were prepared, while Germain was confirming his own condition.
"Physique: 149"
"Nen Capacity: 160"
"Overall combat strength: Master level"
Still evolving, still with no end in sight. He knew he still had a long way to go.
Ding ding ding—When the clock struck, the noise in the hall disappeared in an instant as the time passed midnight.
Everyone looked at the group of people about to depart for the Dark Continent, to challenge the next "Threat."
What they were about to do was absolutely unimaginable. In modern times, there were very few people who could even be compared to them.
Only Don Freecss was far ahead of them, so far that they couldn't even see his shadow.
At this moment, the records in New World Chronicles: Eastern Volume Remnants were being verified over and over again.
No one would ever think of him as a liar again, nor would anyone think that New World Chronicles: Eastern Volume Remnants was just a work of fantasy.
If he were still alive, he would undoubtedly be an incredible legendary figure.
Germain lit the lantern, and four little ghosts crawled out, staring at them with empty eyes.
He was wearing a brand-new hunter's black robe, the original style, with a triangular hat lowered and the mask pulled down to his neck.
"Ready?" Germain's glance over his shoulder released the final signal.
The other three nodded in response, everything was ready. Especially since three of them were veterans who had conquered the "Ancient Labyrinth City," their confidence was sky-high at this moment.
It wasn't arrogance; it was the practical experience of having climbed over treacherous mountains and understanding the dangers they would face—this was "wisdom from experience."
Of course, without Germain's "Teleportation Lantern," Shizuku's "Blinky," Bisky's "Magical Beautician," and Ging's combat ability, the difficulty of challenging the "Ancient Labyrinth City" would undoubtedly double.
With the right team, the best outcome was achieved.
The addition of Menchi, and the increase in numbers, whether it was a gift or a burden, would only be determined by the actual result later on.
The four members of Germain's team held the cold, dry hands of the messenger demon, but didn't set off immediately.
They all looked at Linne, an important person who should not be overlooked at the scene.
Linne slowly opened her eyes, revealing a small slit through which sharp light glimmered.
She smiled kindly and said, "Go, children. With me here on Greed Island, the only thing you need to be careful about is the darkness ahead. Go and light up the winding road there."
Germain no longer waited. He issued an order to the messenger spirit, and the twisted force field made them dizzy and distorted.
In an instant, four living people disappeared, along with the lantern.
Even those who had seen this scene over and over again would still feel a sense of novelty, while those seeing it for the first time would be utterly astonished.
Granny Linne closed her eyes, but she remained the calmest of them all. It was as if her soul had left her body and was following the group of young people, returning to the bizarre and dark continent.
She remembered herself from that year, as well as Isaac and Zigg. The journey was dangerous, yet they found joy in hardship, and to this day, they had no regrets about embarking on that adventure.
If there was any regret, it would be that they could never set foot on that land again.
However, these young people had given her hope. Perhaps, with their efforts, humanity would return to the land that gave birth to them.
Maybe before she drew her last breath, she would be able to breathe in the air of that place one more time.
Ging sat cross-legged beside the lamp post emitting a faint yellow glow, glancing up at the gray-white crescent moon outside the tower, then turned to look at the empty space at the very top of the tower.
Before leaving, Germain hadn't specified which day he would return.
He had only said that the "transport lantern" would cool down in five days, and if they were to come, it would definitely be after that, at midnight on some day.
Because of this, Ging left the tower during the day to explore the "Ancient Labyrinth City," especially areas not recorded in the "New World Chronicle: Eastern Volume," to fill in the gaps in the "New World Chronicle."
At night, he would return to the tower, eat a good dinner, and then wait quietly at the transport point at the top of the tower, from midnight to one o'clock.
At one in the morning, after the transport point at the top of the tower showed no reaction, he would get up to stretch his muscles and then crawl into his sleeping bag to sleep.
The next day, he would repeat the process.
One couldn't help but say, this solitary pilgrimage-like routine had an irresistible romance for him.
"Didn't they come tonight either?"
Ging waited for a while, muttering to himself. He wasn't disappointed or expectant. He remained calm, as always.
As one staying in the Dark Continent, it's essential to have an extremely strong mental fortitude. This is inevitable, or the daily torment of doubt will take away one's life.
Ging never had any doubts about whether Germain would return or whether he had been abandoned.
First, because he could act on his own; second, he didn't believe Germain could resist the temptation of the Dark Continent.
Just as he was wondering whether he should turn off the lights and sleep early, purple patterns appeared on the floor where he sat.
These patterns seemed to flow like a stream gathering toward a lake, all pouring into the central teleportation point.
It's here.
Ging smiled.
A lantern floated up from the floor, which had melted like liquid. The light it emitted unfolded like a curtain, revealing four familiar figures and the messenger ghosts they were leading.
The lantern dimmed and then disappeared.
"Looks like you're okay." Germain lifted his triangular hat, and his dark eyes scanned Ging. "As long as it's not the worst-case scenario, that's good."
Standing next to him were, of course, Bisky, Shizuku, and Menchi.
"Did you underestimate me a little?"
Ging got up from the floor and raised an eyebrow.
"The 'Ancient Labyrinth City' has lost its previous aggressiveness during this time. With so many 'Herb for All-illnesses' on hand, I won't get into trouble."
"Alright then. Are you going to rest for the night, or do you want to tell me what happened on Greed Island right now?"
He was still very concerned about Greed Island, especially after supporting Germain's plans for its transformation.
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