Chapter 447: Madara's Interests
After the demons retreated, the Mink Tribe finally found the mood to greet Shinko.
Having exchanged greetings with Shinko, they soon boarded the ship belonging to the Holy Wing.
On the expansive deck, the Mink Tribe offered their respects to the humans.
"Karuchu!" A bear girl exclaimed.
She ran toward Nozomi, arms outstretched, eager to touch her face.
Boom!
A white light shield appeared instantly, leaving the bear girl dazed.
"Stay back! Only I can embrace Nozomi!" Hina declared.
She raised a light barrier to block the Mink Tribe member attempting to approach.
Charging forward with determination, she reached Nozomi's side.
Clearly, she had intercepted the bear girl.
"Karuchu!" Hina mimicked.
After reaching Nozomi, she released the shield.
Her entire body clung to Nozomi, her face rubbing against Nozomi's fair cheek.
Seeing Hina mimic the Mink Tribe's call, Nozomi could not help but stretch out her fingers and pinch Hina's tender cheek firmly.
"It hurts, it hurts!" Hina cried.
"Nozomi, you are too much! Hina is very angry!"
Tears welled in her eyes from the pain, her cheeks puffed out in a show of anger.
"Who makes you act like a child? You are already 27 years old!" Nozomi said, exasperated.
She reached out and gently rubbed Hina's cheek.
The gesture made Hina smile again.
"Let us go! We must explain to Shinko-sama!" Nozomi said.
She noticed Shinko approaching and took the initiative to walk toward him.
This commission had not been completed to satisfaction.
It could only be considered barely fulfilled. At least the Gluttonous Blood Leech should no longer target Zunesha.
Nozomi could not guarantee much beyond that.
The most pressing matter now was the Phantom Beast Conference hosted by the Yamata God Orochimaru. Fighting demons over a commission was unwise.
Soon, after a brief exchange with the Mink Tribe, Nozomi and Hina, representing the Holy Wing, prepared to depart.
Under the regretful gazes of the Mink Tribe, their ship sailed away.
After the Holy Wing ship left, on the Yamata Church's vessel, Inuarashi and Nekomamushi exchanged glances.
They turned to Shinko and spoke with resolve.
"Brother Shinko, we wish to attend the Phantom Beast Conference."
While Shinko conversed with Inuarashi, thousands of meters above, near Zunesha, a figure floated in the sky.
A figure stood atop a large fan with black edges and a white center. It was Uchiha Madara.
His ability to hover high above stemmed from Gunbai beneath his feet.
This versatile technique allowed flight through sustained Wind Style chakra.
Madara's presence here was sparked by the sight of countless beams piercing the sky.
Upon arriving, he witnessed the confrontation between the renowned demi-god Flower Queen and the demon apostle.
He saw with his own eyes the woman unleash a terrifying beam of light stretching far into the distance.
This spectacle astonished Madara.
Truthfully, with his current strength, he was no match for these demi-gods.
He was still in his developmental phase, his incomplete Susanoo could scarcely defeat the Gluttonous Demon King Blood Leech.
After all, this original Demon King, among the first pure gluttonous species, bore the title of one of the world's five great gluttonous disasters.
The Blood Leech's abilities and strength were beyond question.
Though its spiritual attributes remained at S, even Whitebeard and Garp from the old era, with double S+ attributes, could likely only match it, not overpower it.
Its S-class twin-star status was not a mere show.
The Blood Leech's life form and abilities gave it an edge over humans of the same level who relied solely on Haki.
On the sea, only three-star gem-level hunters could hunt it alone.
Such hunters were rare, mostly concentrated in the three emerging transcendent forces.
Even the World Government had no registered three-star gem hunters in the Hunter Association.
The world had grown more challenging.
For Madara, this presented an opportunity.
"It seems this world is full of powerful beings! A Phantom Beast Conference, is it?"
"Let me go meet those strong warriors."
He gazed at Zunesha, so near, and the ships sailing away, reduced to mere black dots.
The Mangekyō Sharingan in his eyes spun slowly.
Two days later, in the New World, on Wilbur Island, neatly planned streets lined with well-proportioned buildings bustled with a sea of people.
Compared to when it first hosted the Kendo Tournament, Wilbur Island had transformed dramatically.
Once home to tens of thousands of permanent residents, it now housed hundreds of thousands.
The transient population reached millions.
This was all thanks to the Kendo Tournament.
Since its inception, every year on the same day, Wilbur Island has held a new Kendo Conference for swordsmanship exchanges.
It has become a tradition.
Now, the Kendo Conference was in its third iteration.
In the subsequent conferences, Wilbur Island's economy had soared, and its kendo culture spread worldwide.
Many turned their attention here.
The proximity of Shiki the Golden Lion's island was a contributing factor.
"The Phantom Beast Conference is about to begin. Let us go to the square to watch the live broadcast!" one man said.
"No matter where you go, it is crowded. Why not spend money on a video Den Den Mushi and watch it at home? What is the point of squeezing in there?" another asked.
"Hahaha, you do not understand! There are so many people discussing it there, but none at home!" the first replied.
"Is that so? Why not join together?" a third suggested.
Several burly men in the crowd discussed eagerly and hurried to one of their homes.
Such scenes were common across Wilbur Island.
The first-ever Phantom Beast Conference, organized by the Yamata God Orochimaru, sparked immense curiosity.
The event's prestige alone drew countless intrigued onlookers.
Many hoped to try their luck at Phantom Beast Island, where the conference was held.
A conference hosted by the Yamata God Orochimaru!
Perhaps participation could catapult them to greatness.
However, most people were self-aware.
With countless participants, including formidable warriors, an ordinary person joining the fray might find their "step to the sky" leading straight to the afterlife.
Still, before facing real challenges, many enthusiastic individuals were eager to try.
Even if they did not participate, visiting Wilbur Island, the holy land of swordsmanship, was appealing.
Thus, Wilbur Island was extraordinarily lively.
The flow of people reached millions, several times higher than usual.
Time passed slowly.
On the sea, twenty kilometers from Wilbur Island, a diverse array of ships gathered.
Vessels of major factions, pirate ships, Marine warships, underground forces' ships, kingdom vessels, and merchant ships dotted the waters.
They converged here because Phantom Beast Island, host of the Phantom Beast Conference, lay ahead.
Suspended hundreds of meters above the sea, its massive size made it appear connected to the ocean from a distance.
(End of Chapter)