Bisky's moment of indecision was brief, and she eventually agreed to follow Germain.
On the following day, January 19th, they boarded an airship, departed from Saba City, landed in another town, and split into two teams as previously arranged.
Bisky and Shizuku were tasked with procuring the necessary supplies locally. The inventory was compiled based on Germain's past experiences and the input from Bisky and Shizuku.
Although she claimed to be merely verifying Germain's claims, Bisky was secretly enthusiastic about acquiring the required items alongside Shizuku.
Yet, her failure to inquire about the "disaster" hinted that she harbored doubts, albeit six or seven times over.
Germain was part of the other team, preoccupied with an urgent matter. He opted for a leisurely bus ride, disembarking after thirty minutes in a sparsely inhabited suburb, alighting at a midway stop.
In the distance lay a village, its structures sprinkled amidst fields, and flags atop wooden poles dancing in the breeze. However, this wasn't Germain's destination. He traversed the road, consulting his phone's map before venturing onto a trail.
Before long, he stumbled upon the stone staircase indicated on the map, winding its way from the base to the summit of the mountain, enveloped in lush foliage with no end in sight.
Without a word of complaint, Germain pocketed his phone and began ascending, step by step, along the winding path.
In the pursuit of his own quest, Germain had arranged to meet someone beforehand at their dwelling.
He hastened his steps, moving so swiftly that his silhouette flickered along the stone stairs. In less than ten minutes, what was originally a half-hour journey had been completed. Arriving at the mountainside, he beheld a stone monument.
Etched upon the black stone tablet was "Elf of the Forest," adorned with a vivid green hue. Beside it lay a path winding through the dense forest, marked by human tread.
Following this path to its end, Germain finally laid eyes on his destination—a humble forest hut with a chimney resembling a muzzle, billowing smoke akin to an aged smoker.
Approaching cautiously, he observed his surroundings with vigilance. Then, the wooden door creaked open, revealing a tall, brown-skinned man.
"You must be Mr. Germain."
The man, with his brown skin and cropped hair, approached Germain.
"I am Abengane. I apologize for the inconvenience of your journey."
"No trouble at all. It didn't take long," Germain replied, surveying both Abengane and his surroundings.
In this world, "Nen Exorcist" were a rare breed, shrouded in secrecy regarding their ability to "Remove Nen Ability." Among them, Abengane stood out in Germain's memory.
Thus, last December, Germain took it upon himself to seek out Abengane through the Hunter-specific network, albeit with no success until recently.
He was eager to enlist the "Nen Exorcist" to rid him of his "negative traits."
"Please, come inside and rest," Abengane gestured, a faint smile playing on his lips. "I've prepared some pastries for you."
"Thank you."
Accepting Abengane's invitation, Germain stepped into the wooden abode. The first sight that greeted him was a crackling fireplace, casting a warm glow upon the room, followed by a round table and several chairs.
"Please, take a seat," Abengane gestured towards a chair with his left hand, pouring tea for Germain. "I rarely have visitors, so forgive the lack of tidiness..."
"I find this place quite pleasant," Germain interrupted the polite words Abengane was about to continue.
Abengane's expression froze momentarily, then he settled into his seat and replied with a smile, "As long as Mr. Germain doesn't mind... Well then, let's discuss the 'Removing Nen' without delay."
"Please, go ahead," Germain said, willing to listen.
Abengane took a moment to gather his thoughts before speaking slowly.
"Truth be told, I've been purposefully concealing my identity as a 'Nen Exorcist,' yet somehow Mr. Germain managed to uncover it." "This has put me in a quandary, but to prevent matters from escalating unfavorably, I felt compelled to reach out to you. You see, the reason behind my actions is that 'removing nen' is a rather complicated affair."
"It's more accurate to describe it as separating 'Nen' from the Human Body. When certain conditions are met, then only these 'Nen' dissipate," Abengane explained further.
"And so, when you approached me regarding the 'removal of Nen,' I sought this meeting before making any decisions."
"This poses a considerable risk for me, Mr. Germain. I implore you not to reveal my status as a 'Nen Exorcist' to anyone else," he added.
Germain nodded understandingly. "I comprehend your concerns."
After a brief pause, Germain inquired, "What do you mean by 'certain conditions'?"
"The safest condition, naturally, is when the individual who implanted the 'Nen' in you willingly or unwillingly releases them. That would be ideal for all parties involved," Abengane replied.
"But on the flip side, the most dangerous condition arises upon the death of the individual who implanted the 'Nen' in you," he continued. "However, this circumstance can sometimes backfire. Instead of the 'Nen' disappearing, they transform into a more malevolent form known as 'Post-mortem Nen' or 'curses.'"
"Mr. Germain should comprehend my explanation," Abengane concluded.
Upon hearing this, Germain pondered these two conditions and realized he didn't meet either of them.
The 'grudges (curses)' that Abengane was wary of happened to be the sustenance for Germain's 'Hunter Badge.' If the 'negative trait' were 'grudges,' he could handle it himself.
As for waiting for the 'Nen' to be released, that wasn't applicable to Germain either.
Strictly speaking, the origin of Germain's "negative traits" lies within his own "lantern" - his unique "Nen ability".
Germain earnestly desired to rid himself of these "negative traits" and possessed a strong will to do so. However, in reality, he found himself unable to achieve it.
"My circumstances are rather unique," Germain pondered for a moment before explaining to Abengane, "The 'Nen' I seek to rid myself of is actually the result of my 'Nen ability'."
Abengane blinked slowly, then composed himself.
"I understand. So, the 'Nen planter' is within yourself, yet you lack the means to actively dispel this 'Nen', hence you seek the aid of a 'Nen Exorcist'," he remarked.
"Exactly," Germain affirmed.
"In that case, the situation isn't as dire as it seems," Abengane mused, resting his chin on his fingertips. "Theoretically speaking, I should be able to assist you in purging your Nen."
"Then I entrust it to you," Germain stated solemnly. "Please name your price. If it can be paid in full immediately, I will do so. Otherwise, I'll settle the balance within two months."
Abengane smiled.
"Mr. Germain, I've heard of your slaying of six 'Shadow Beasts'. That's one reason why I agreed to meet with you."
"You're the infamous 'GG Assassin' of legend. I wouldn't dare pressure you for payment."
Germain's surname and given name both started with 'G', hence, following his assassinations, the perpetrator would leave the 'GG' mark quite brazenly, seeking notoriety.
Previously, when completing the task of the "Phantom Troupe," alongside his name, he left a 'twelve-legged spider' mark next to the 'GG' mark.
Germain's personality bore some resemblance to members like Nobunaga, Feitan, and Phinks within the "Phantom Troupe."
Of course, Germain no longer indulged in such ostentatious acts. However, with his current renown, even without leaving a mark, a significant portion of the "underworld" was aware of his exploits.
After sharing a lighthearted jest, Abengane proposed a deal to Germain.
Germain accepted and made the initial payment, and Abengane agreed to commence the process of "exorcising" Germain's troublesome Nen.
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