The elegant and noble man slightly nodded, and then a surge of Nen power emanated from him. He himself was also a Nen user!
He tapped his fingers gently on the table in front of him, and the large screen behind the round table suddenly lit up. Following this, five silhouettes appeared on the screen.
All five individuals at the round table stood up and respectfully addressed the screen: "All opinions have been unanimously agreed upon. We can consider proceeding with the next step."
At the forefront, the elegant man spoke on behalf of them. "Approved."
The five silhouettes on the screen slowly uttered a single word, "Permission to establish contact with the Gatekeepers is granted."
"Yes!!" The five figures responded in unison, their presence visibly shaken.
Morin, who was sitting quietly in the room like a stone, observed and listened to everything attentively.
"The five people on the screen are likely rulers of the V5 or their contacts here, right?" Morin mused. "So, after obtaining permission, the so-called 'establishing contact with them' refers to..."
He fixed his gaze on the large screen. "The Gatekeepers~"
To travel safely from Mobius Lake to the Dark Continent, the safest method is through a gate that marks the boundary between the Dark Continent and the Six Continents. The adventurers must find the Gatekeepers there, who will summon demi-human beasts to lead the expedition team safely to the Dark Continent.
It's worth mentioning that for hundreds of years, adventure teams exploring the Dark Continent have almost always gone through the Gatekeepers' route. This has allowed them to establish a certain rapport with the Gatekeepers and gain an understanding of their temperament.
"They despise disrespectful people the most."
The goal of the V5 and the Navigation Bureau has always been the Dark Continent. Therefore, how could they not invest effort in the Gatekeepers who can safely lead them there? After centuries of respectful and friendly exchanges, the Gatekeepers have reluctantly deemed the V5 and the Navigation Bureau worthy of communication, thus establishing contact.
Now is the time to transform their relationship into tangible benefits.
After the five silhouettes on the screen disappeared, the elegant man straightened up. "Let's begin."
His face no longer bore a faint smile but was instead filled with seriousness and gravity. The others mirrored his expression, nodding heavily.
In the next moment, Nen power surged around him, and he clasped his hands together, closing his eyes and muttering incantations. The others followed suit, their faces displaying piety and respect.
As the five chanted, their Nen power grew stronger, eventually converging and covering the darkened screen in front of them. In the next second, the screen burst into sudden brightness! Simultaneously, an ancient, historical weight seemed to seep out from it.
Meanwhile, on a distant, dark island far from the Six Continents, the island appeared barren, mostly covered by oddly shaped, ochre rocks. At the center of the island stood a massive, ancient gate, carved with intricate patterns that exuded a profound, historical aura, intimidating all who gazed upon it.
Within the gate lay peculiar structures resembling houses, extending into the depths. These structures were neither too many nor too few, strategically positioned across the area, forming a mysterious configuration. Each house was constructed of stone, looking particularly eerie and sinister.
The environment was so quiet it felt lifeless, until—
"Hmm?"
A soft exclamation emanated from within one of the buildings. "The humans are contacting us again?!"
The words were spoken in a language entirely different from the common tongue of the Six Continents. The voice itself sounded like ten sharp nails scraping across a chalkboard, grating and challenging the limits of auditory tolerance.
As the voice echoed, a gust of cold wind swept through the other buildings, instantly silencing the commotion from which the voice had originated.
"They've contacted us again? How long has it been since the last time?"
"I can't recall, but it wasn't long. The last human was interesting and indeed managed to return from the Dark Continent."
"Was it that man? He not only took the plant but also brought back the Immortal Disease, Zobae."
"Yes, that's him. That man was quite strong, leaving a deep impression on me."
"He's one of the few who managed to bring back 'hope' from the Dark Continent without looking too bedraggled."
"So, because of that human male's achievements, the humans of the Six Continents are once again restless?"
"Heh, those humans have become increasingly arrogant, their greed driving them to covet the treasures of darkness. After their ignominious retreat, they now wish to return. Do they think it's that easy?!"
"If this time their contact is still driven by unchecked greed, should we let them experience true terror of the darkness?"
"Teaching them a lesson, making them truly feel the dread of darkness, wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing."
The conversation carried a hint of mockery and disdain, quickly swallowed by the chilling wind.
---
They were the Gatekeepers, who have existed here for generations, responsible for the connection between Mobius Lake and the Dark Continent.
"The connection has been established," the first Gatekeeper suddenly spoke.
Instantly, everything returned to its original quiet state. Meanwhile, a faint light emanated from the stone house where the voice had originated.
Inside the stone house, positioned at the center, was a purple-blue sphere. Its crystal-clear material suggested it was made of crystal. The faint light was coming from this sphere.
Soon, the chaotic light grew from weak to strong, illuminating the entire house and the surrounding area with exceptional brightness!
As the sphere emitted a bright glow, it displayed an image different from this continent—a scene from the Navigation Bureau's internal meeting room!
"What is your purpose?" the Gatekeeper asked coldly, not uttering a word more than necessary, maintaining an air of aloofness.
"We wish to request something from you," the elegant man replied respectfully, getting straight to the point. "We want something from the Dark Continent."
"Don't overreach, humans!" the Gatekeeper's smile turned even colder. "If you truly desire the 'treasures' of the Dark Continent, come and take them with your own abilities!"
At this point, a hint of disdain appeared in the Gatekeeper's eyes. What was once merely a desire for information about the Dark Continent and seeking guides had now evolved into direct interest in the 'treasures' themselves?! Could it be that the success of that previous man had given them a certain confidence and boldness?
Otherwise, how dare they make such a request?!!
"Humans are becoming more and more unruly."
"No, perhaps they were always like this. Otherwise, how do you think they were driven out of the Dark Continent in the first place?"
"Haha, filthy humans, no wonder they became the failures of the Dark Continent..."
The Gatekeepers' hearing was exceptional. They had all listened to the conversation between the Gatekeeper in the house and the high officials of the Navigation Bureau, leading to a chorus of disdainful laughter.
"I believe you and your people have misunderstood something," the elegant man maintained his composure, displaying even greater humility and poise. As a high official, maintaining one's composure was a fundamental quality.
"We do not seek the so-called 'treasures' of the Dark Continent," he said with a gentle smile. "Instead, we seek the 'calamities' that are everywhere above!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the mocking voices within the tribe abruptly halted.
After a moment.
"Have you gone mad?!" a Gatekeeper couldn't help but exclaim in shock.
Simultaneously, other Gatekeepers quickly reacted, engaging in a flurry of discussions.
"Do you know what you're saying?" The Gatekeeper communicating with the elegant man was also taken aback, looking at the crystal sphere with surprise.
"We are well aware," the elegant man's expression turned solemn. "We mainly wish to challenge ourselves, to see if we are prepared to continue coming here."
Before the Gatekeeper could voice any doubts, he provided an answer. He knew that Gatekeepers despised disrespectful individuals, and lying would be the greatest form of disrespect. Most importantly, the Gatekeeper could discern whether he was lying or not. So, he chose to speak the truth.
"A challenge? Whether to continue coming here? Preparedness? ... I see."
With just a simple sentence, the Gatekeeper understood the gist of it. A knowing look flashed in his eyes, along with a hint of intrigue.
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