The black disc floating motionless in the air carried an unknown number of Humanoids. If each Humanoid's combat power was similar to those encountered earlier inside the ruins, then the total combat power carried by this black disc might exceed the combined total of the Six Continents.
Originally, the number of Nen Users on the Six Continents was not small, but the proportion seemed low compared to the large population base.
However, the combat power of a single Masked Humanoid might be comparable to fifty ordinary Nen Users. This gap in individual combat power elevated the external threat posed by the black disc to a level that was difficult to ignore.
"If the Menders' purpose is to maintain order, then what the Humanoids want to do is break that order?"
"Heh..."
Coo suddenly leaped up and landed on Law's shoulder.
Almost by reflex, Law released his Aura to cover his body, his nerves tensing slightly. This over-cautious reaction showed Law's wariness towards Coo.
Even though a cooperative relationship had been established, this reaction indicated that he had not yet fully trusted Coo.
Coo did not mind Law's reaction.
In her view, such a reaction was normal. For two different species to huddle together for cooperation and warmth, it inherently required a long time to build a foundation of trust.
Cooperation between different races for survival was very common on the Dark Continent, and even existed in ordinary ecosystems.
However, compared to ordinary ecosystems, establishing a cooperative relationship between different races on the Dark Continent was no simple matter. But if successful, it could greatly reduce survival pressure.
Law and Coo had originally been hostile. Even though they were now cooperating, once their goal was achieved, they would likely become hostile again immediately.
Under these circumstances, it was not strange for Law to have this reaction. As for Coo, since her vital organs were under Law's control, she had no choice but to go along.
Law realized he had overreacted, while also being surprised by Coo's action. If not for the certain differences in appearance between Coo and Kuro, for a moment he almost thought it was Kuro who had jumped onto his shoulder, not Coo.
"Sorry."
Law silently withdrew his Aura.
Coo gave Law a strange look but did not dwell on it. She brought her face close to Law's ear and said in a cold tone, "The Humanoids want to kill the Mender, not just to break the order the Mender established. What they really want is a blessed land."
Law's eyes sharpened.
'A blessed land?'
"You who came from the Sacred Land have lived too easily."
Coo leaned her head back, away from Law's ear, and looked at the black disc in the projection.
The Humanoids clearly understood the existence of the Gatekeeper Clan, and the Gatekeeper Clan also understood the existence of the Humanoids.
The black disc represented the second strongest faction among the Humanoids in terms of overall combat power.
Relying on the mobility of ancient relics, they roamed the Dark Continent like other humans, searching for relics of ancient humans.
'Lived too easily...'
Law could not argue. Compared to the living environment of the Dark Continent, humans living on the Six Continents indeed lived very easily, so easily that they started wars just to compete for more resources.
"Humanoids want to go to the Six Continents?"
"Yes."
Law frowned, looking at the black disc in the projection. With such a large artifact, not to mention reaching the Six Continents, they could probably even go beyond the atmosphere.
"The reason they cannot go is because of the Menders?"
"Yes."
Law could not help but fall silent. If the Humanoids reached the Six Continents, with that kind of large artifact, they could probably destroy human settlements on the Six Continents within a month.
"You need not worry too much. Even if you have the ability to eliminate that Mender, it will not affect the existing order. As I said before, the Menders each have their own duties."
Law's mind settled slightly, and he suddenly changed the subject.
"What the Humanoids want is a blessed land. What about your Gatekeeper Clan?"
"Us?"
Coo's eyes narrowed slightly, a hint of self-mockery flashing across her face.
"What we want is simply to gain more, but we once deluded ourselves into thinking we could replace the Menders. The truth proved that we were just a bunch of frogs at the bottom of a well."
Law turned his head to look at Coo, whose face showed a self-mocking expression. There was nothing wrong with the Gatekeeper Clan having such aspirations.
Any intelligent creature, standing in the Gatekeeper Clan's position, might make the same choice. Having desires was not entirely a bad thing. Desires could bring motivation.
The human and the cat suddenly fell silent, both calmly gazing at the black disc in the projection.
Not far away, Kuro looked up at them. After thinking for a moment, he pitifully came behind Law and leaped up, trying to jump onto Law's other shoulder.
Just then, Coo swung a silver spike and smacked Kuro, who was in mid-air, down to the ground.
Hearing the noise, Law looked back at Kuro, who had fallen headfirst, then at Coo, whose face was full of indifference, and could not help but shake his head. He did not know if these two counted as a pair of quarrelling lovers.
If possible, he still hoped that Kuro and Coo could get together.
But the premise was that they needed to find their child first.
Kuro lay on the ground, feeling the indifferent gaze from behind, his heart full of desolation. That spot rightfully belonged to him. Besides, was there not still an empty spot?
The more Kuro thought about it, the sadder he became, but he could not vent his feelings. He could only keep them bottled up inside.
He slowly got up, turned to Coo, and put on an optimistic smile. In return, Coo gave him the back of her head.
Law looked at the pitiful Kuro. He had no desire to get involved in the matters between Kuro and Coo... he would let them develop on their own.
His gaze fell back on the black disc in the projection. He wondered when this group of Humanoids would leave.
Over the following days, Coo cooperated by providing considerable intelligence.
Except for the Skeleton, who remained marginalized and did not participate, every member focused on memorizing the information Coo provided.
The more information they mastered, the more they felt that the Dark Continent was extremely complex.
During the idle time waiting for the black disc to leave, Law planned to use the Surprise Box to fuse and enhance the effects of the Lichen and Nitro Rice.
Fusion and enhancement carried a risk of failure, meaning each failure would cost precious Lichen and Nitro Rice. But if successful, they would obtain items with superior effects.
On the platform in the planting area, everyone gathered to watch.
The Surprise Box was placed in the center of the platform. Perhaps because it had been sealed for too long, the clown on the box kept laughing exaggeratedly.
Coo walked over, her sharp eyes sweeping across the box. She was not targeting the clown but observing the Surprise Box itself. She sensed a trace of ancient relic Aura from this box.
The clown looked at Coo. Although she was not targeting him, he was still so frightened that he slowly stopped laughing, shrinking like a turtle.
'Damn, when did this tigress-like creature arrive?'