Chapter 35: I, Arthur, Never Lie
At night, a group of hired amateur hunters gathered at the residence of Ochima's bald young man, Sloer.
Sloer was surprised, "There really is a ghost?"
Arthur said, "We're hunters; we don't deceive our employers."
"Of course, I'm not questioning your professionalism," Sloer nodded, rubbing his mostly bald head.
Bodyguard Kanzai frowned. Ghosts? It's probably some form of Nen!
Although he was simple-minded and practically illiterate, he had basic professional ethics. In the presence of ordinary people, or non-Nen users, he wouldn't mention anything related to Nen Ability.
Exchanging glances with Arthur and the others, Kanzai understood they had similar suspicions.
However, Daga and the others seriously doubted that the ghost-like Nen was some kind of illusion created by Arthur to fool them and double the reward before the task deadline.
Shizuku, not one to beat around the bush, asked Sloer, "Does this count as a result?"
Ahem! Daga and the others felt a bit awkward but said nothing. Even if Arthur was faking it for the reward, so what? Everyone would benefit...
Sloer hesitated, "The Blanchet Company staff accompanying you claimed they didn't see any ghost or hear any sound. I'm afraid I can't consider the current findings as a reportable result... I'll have to ask you hunters to keep trying, to produce something tangible that I can see. That way, you get double the reward, and I can report back."
With that said, what else could they do?
Daga and the others nodded silently.
Shizuku followed Arthur and Menchi out. In the night, the professional and amateur hunters looked at each other. Daga rubbed his face and dove into the forest, followed by a few sighing Blanchet Company staff members.
Arthur looked around, flanked by two beauties.
"Finding ghosts at night adds to the atmosphere, right?" he said, waving his hand. "Let's go!"
Shizuku was the first to follow. Menchi shook her head and caught up.
Nearby, emerging from the woods was a high-end Miyagi Ryota lookalike... Babimyna. He watched Arthur and the others leave, thought for a moment, and called his subordinates to follow the Blanchet Company staff accompanying Arthur, trailing behind them at a distance.
...
"They say the Kakin Empire..."
"If you have grievances..."
"If you have hatred towards Kakin..."
As Arthur and the others walked through the dark forest, they heard familiar calls echoing around them.
Menchi said, "It's Daga and the others."
Arthur laughed, "Just copying?"
"Because your method worked," Shizuku said.
Arthur said, "But it can't work again. That little ghost disappeared after chanting. Calling him again might not make him reappear... It's pitch black in the woods at night, making it hard to find anything."
Menchi said, "Weren't you the one who wanted to continue at night?"
"Then what should we do?" Shizuku asked. "None of us know En."
Arthur thought for a moment, "We don't know..."
He suddenly turned around, looking past the Blanchet Company staff to the Kakin personnel further back. "But someone does!"
...
"En?"
Babimyna remained expressionless, "How can you be sure I know that?"
"You look like an expert," Arthur said. "When I threatened Daga and the others with that Nen Bullet, you were calm. Ordinary people would react like Sloer did. Just give me a straight answer. Do you know En or not?"
Babimyna said, "I don't know what your so-called 'ghost' is. Even if my En covers it, I can't be sure it will react."
Menchi asked, "Do you Kakin people really know nothing about this island?"
Babimyna reminded the three of them, "This place has been here for almost 25 years."
In other words, even if Kakin once knew something about this place, that was in the past.
Shizuku said, "So you're willing to help us."
Babimyna didn't answer, glancing at the two girls before focusing on Arthur.
Arthur said, "I'm not asking you to find ghosts."
"If not ghosts, then what?" Babimyna asked.
Arthur said, "Divine Script."
Babimyna said, "For research on Nen Ability, the Hunter Association is the most professional worldwide."
Arthur understood that Babimyna hadn't understood what Divine Script was.
"Divine Script is a special text or symbol infused with Nen. I'm not an expert from the association, so I don't know much."
Arthur half-truthfully said, "I've seen it a few times. Once, someone etched Divine Script on a rope, and when it touched Nen Aura above Ten strength, the rope would break; once, someone covered a wooden box with Divine Script, making it indestructible; I've also seen an island where someone etched Divine Script on an arena to assist Nen Ability moves..."
Babimyna listened, nodding thoughtfully.
Menchi muttered, surprised by Arthur's seemingly rich experiences. Was he really 20 years old?
Arthur smiled, "The most recent time was over there."
He pointed towards the northern end of the fairy amusement park, then glanced at the nearby Blanchet Company staff, "Shizuku and I found Divine Script while playing in the fairy amusement park."
He didn't need to continue; Babimyna had already connected the dots.
Blanchet Company's founder was a professional hunter.
His amusement park contained Divine Script.
His company had managed this island's reserve for four years. If they had done something, it might have involved Divine Script...
Babimyna asked, "What does Divine Script look like?"
Menchi waved her hand, "Don't look at me; I've never seen it."
Shizuku said, "I forgot."
Arthur said, "Just some incomprehensible symbols! Didn't Sloer say you arrived on this island with Ochima's people? After more than half a month, don't tell me you have no direction in your investigation?"
Babimyna remained expressionless as Arthur continued, "Where you suspect something exists is likely where Blanchet Company would leave Divine Script..."
, , , , , , , ,
The night was dark, the moon nearly full, and the surroundings were silent.
Arthur and the others walked slowly through the core area, stepping on a ground covered in moonlight like frost.
Ahead, in the sparse woods, on the grass between jagged rocks, clusters of blue-green light moved back and forth or lay still. As Arthur and the others approached, pairs of glowing eyes turned towards them, like a swarm of fireflies in the night, mingling with their stripes and the moonlight.
Leading the way, Babimyna stared at the group of Crescent Moon Tigers.
The others raised their guns and tranquilizers.
Menchi patted Arthur, pointing to another side, where Lumin and another Crescent Moon Tiger stood. The other tiger was the one Arthur had saved from poachers.
Arthur gestured to Lumin to stay back for now.
Lumin, confused, paced nearby with the other tiger.
"Found it," Babimyna suddenly said, walking straight ahead.
The Crescent Moon Tigers scattered like a field of stars.
(End of Chapter)