The Kakin Empire's prior groundwork for the New Continent exploration plan, conducted through online platforms and television channels, was more of a probe directed at the V5. But regardless of how the V5 might react, nothing could shake the Kakin Empire's determination and declaration to explore the new world continent.
The Kakin Empire was determined to become a pioneer whose name would be recorded in the annals of history.
This was precisely the ambition of King Nasubi Hui Guo Rou.
The V5 were also aware that Kakin's preliminary announcement of the new world exploration plan was not just a probe, but an open provocation. They attempted to resolve the issue through negotiations, but Kakin's attitude was far more unyielding than anticipated.
The V5 could only resort to information blackouts and public opinion manipulation in an attempt to mitigate the impact of the matter.
However, due to the lingering aftereffects of Chimera Ant incident, fragmented information about the Dark Continent had already spread across the internet, fanned by interested parties.
This made a complete information blockade exceptionally difficult.
More and more ordinary people were beginning to form a preliminary understanding of that unknown Dark Continent.
Kakin's propaganda, however, cleverly focused on the enticing aspects while completely avoiding any mention of the Dark Continent's various fatal dangers. Instead, it directed all attention to the temptations: endless resources and bountiful products.
A brand-new social hierarchy and life opportunities...
This promise, like a demon's whisper, precisely struck a chord with those who yearned to change their destinies.
More importantly, the pledge that there would be no restrictions on age, gender, nationality, profession, or race, that everyone was qualified to go, was something countless people found themselves longing for.
"The great nations of the past are gradually weakening; it is meaningless to be constrained by the superstitions spread by the V5."
"Only an emerging great nation like ours can lead the world today!"
"The time to open a new door is now!"
"Our Kakin Empire will carry the dreams of all humanity! I hereby declare that Kakin will inevitably lead all of humanity to the Dark Continent! To that new world where the prosperous future of mankind lies dormant!"
King Hui Guo Rou's live declaration to the entire world was like a resounding slap, viciously striking the face of the V5, who had long been committed to information control.
Their pride as a superpower was clearly on the line.
"How dare they?!"
This became the common roar echoing in the minds of the V5's top brass.
However, the Kakin Empire not only dared to say it, but they also dared to do it.
This was the absolute confidence that came from "national power."
It was precisely because Beyond had clarified this goal that he had willingly poured decades of effort into this emerging great nation.
He and Hui Guo Rou both knew full well that unless the V5 lost their minds and resorted to military force, there was no way to stop Kakin from becoming a "pioneer."
But it was absolutely impossible for the V5 to let the situation escalate to a military level.
That would be tantamount to lighting the fuse of a world war, completely destroying the long-maintained peace.
For this reason, Beyond and Hui Guo Rou had absolute confidence that the V5 would compromise and back down.
Their only concern was that the V5, in order to save face, might turn to dealing with Beyond personally.
After all, the V5 did not want a complete falling out with the Kakin Empire.
And Beyond, the general director of the Dark Continent expedition team pushed to the forefront by King Hui Guo Rou, became the most suitable target for them to vent their frustrations on.
—--
"Pandora's Box has been opened."
In the Dentora Region, Ging was still sitting cross-legged on the ground in his usual disheveled manner, a radio in his arms.
Emanating from it were the resounding and impassioned declarations made by Hui Guo Rou and Beyond on the world stage.
For the humans of the six continents, everything about the Dark Continent was like a Pandora's Box containing "the truth."
Given the calamities it held, anyone with a modicum of common sense would deliberately avoid touching it, let alone opening it with their own hands.
Yet Beyond and the Kakin Empire had joined forces to lift the lid of Pandora's Box, exposing the "truth" sealed within to the eyes of the entire world.
"The V5 have completely lost face this time."
Ging reached out to lower the radio's volume, then looked up at Morrow, who was sitting on a low stool.
"So, it goes without saying," he said lazily, "the V5 will most likely go after Beyond."
Morrow nodded with a calm expression.
"The 'permit conditions' set by the International Permit Agencies were tossed aside by Kakin like scrap paper. It'd be strange if the V5 weren't furious. But even so, major powers won't clash easily. So, the general director of the Dark Continent expedition, who was pushed to the forefront, is indeed the most suitable target."
"Yep, that's the logic."
Ging propped his chin on his hand.
"Looks like I'll have to make a trip to the Association in the near future. Given the V5's usual style, they might act in secret, but on the surface, the mission to hunt Beyond will most likely fall to the Hunter Association."
"You're going to participate?"
Morrow raised an eyebrow.
He knew that Ging had likely been tricked by Netero back then, which was why he made a pact to only go to the Dark Continent through conventional channels.
From a god's-eye view, the so-called permit from the International Permit Agencies was nothing but a sham.
So as long as Ging abided by his agreement with Netero, he would never be able to go to the Dark Continent.
Now that Netero was gone, the agreement, which was binding until death, naturally lost its power.
Freed from his constraints, Ging should be able to freely decide to go to the Dark Continent, but from the looks of it, he didn't seem to be in that much of a hurry.
This was actually quite out of character.
With Ging's personality, after seeing Morrow's team return from the Dark Continent laden with spoils, he would surely be unable to suppress his desire to go. But based on his current reaction, Ging's desire wasn't that strong.
The only reason Morrow could think of was that perhaps Ging didn't want to deliberately ignore Netero's last wish?
As if he could read Morrow's mind, Ging slowly stood up, stuck his hands in his pockets, and sighed.
"Who's to blame for me being there at the time? I can't just pretend I didn't see it, right? That's not something a decent person would do."
The DVD Netero left behind needed to be witnessed by all members of the Zodiac Twelve.
In other words, it was a video recording he had specifically left for the Zodiacs.
As a member of the Zodiac Twelve, Ging had no thought of hitching a ride with Beyond, since the Kakin Empire hadn't announced its Dark Continent plan yet. It was even more impossible for him to suddenly quit the Zodiacs.
This development, different from the original story's plot, led to Ging witnessing Netero's last words along with the other Zodiacs in the conference room at the Hunter Association Headquarters.
If he hadn't seen it, he might have been able to feign ignorance.
But since he had, he couldn't just pretend to ignore it because it was troublesome.
After all, this was different in nature from exploiting a workhorse.
It concerned a responsibility that had to be faced head-on.
"Indeed."
Hearing Ging's words, Morrow nodded, then added, "But if it were you who did such a thing, I wouldn't find it strange at all."
"Hey, hey..."
Ging's eyelids drooped instantly.
"Is my 'image' in your mind really that bad?" he asked helplessly.
"In terms of 'irresponsibility' alone..."
Morrow was only halfway through his sentence when Ging cut him off.
"Let's talk about something more important."
He quickly changed the subject, saying seriously, "Like what you plan to do with that Alchemy Plant."
He had to admit, Morrow's comment about irresponsibility had hit a nerve.
To preserve what little image he had left, he decisively chose to switch topics.
Morrow shook his head slightly and calmly went along with the new topic.
"Is that even a question? Of course, I'll keep refining it to see if it can produce any other good things. But before starting that plan, it has another role to play."
"What role?" Ging asked subconsciously.
"Showing off."
"Huh?"
Ging stared at Morrow with dead fish eyes.
"If you're showing off to me, you've already succeeded."
The moment he finished speaking, Ging suddenly realized something was wrong, and his brow quickly furrowed.
He remembered Beyond's voyage that had come closest to success.
"Are you planning to... show off the Alchemy Plant to Beyond?"
Ging's reaction was extremely fast; he immediately guessed Morrow's intention.
Morrow nodded.
Ging asked, puzzled, "What's the point of that?"
"Beyond is a lot like the Chairman. I even think his willpower in pursuing his goals is stronger than the Chairman's. So just killing him won't make him truly realize that he has completely lost."
Morrow said calmly, "But if you add this Alchemy Plant, the effect will be completely different."
Hearing this, the corner of Ging's mouth twitched imperceptibly, and he inwardly sighed, What a guy.
But on second thought, the content of Chairman Netero's last will, besides stopping Beyond, was to ask the Zodiac Twelve to succeed in obtaining some kind of "hope" from the Dark Continent before Beyond did.
From this perspective, Morrow's approach was not actually different from the content of Netero's last will.
And judging from Netero's shaved head and beard in the video, the recording must have been made shortly after Chimera Ant incident. At the time, he hadn't thought anything was amiss.
Now, it seemed there must be a connecting thread between Netero, Morrow, and Beyond that he didn't know about.
Not only that...
From Morrow's soul-crushing remarks, Ging keenly sensed that Netero had likely recorded this last will while mentally prepared to be killed by Beyond, or had even actively chosen to be killed by him.
If that was the case, then this matter...
It was best not to let the other Zodiacs know, lest it shake their determination to avenge the Chairman.
Ging deduced a large amount of information in a very short time, even considering the potential impact on the other members' will to carry out the last testament.
"Morrow, if you really want to go after Beyond, it's best to 'ride the momentum.' It'll save you a lot of trouble."
After clarifying the key points, Ging suddenly made this suggestion.
He could see that Morrow had already made up his mind to kill Beyond.
In that case, to avoid potential trouble from the Kakin Empire later on, the best way was to use the "hunt Beyond" commission issued by the V5 to the Hunter Association as cover.
Morrow glanced at Ging, slightly surprised.
"You mean I should also become one of those who 'accept the V5's commission'?"
"You could put it that way."
Ging nodded.
Although the V5 had not yet made a formal response regarding Beyond and the Kakin Empire, let alone issued a commission to the Hunter Association, both Morrow and Ging took it for granted that this commission was inevitable.
"That works."
Morrow thought for a moment and saw no issue with it.
Although he wasn't worried about the Kakin Empire's reaction, less trouble was better than more.
Using the V5's commission and the Zodiacs' operation as cover would indeed minimize his presence in this action as much as possible.
Thinking about having to deal with the Meteor City problem later, Morrow felt it was best not to get too deeply involved in actions that could easily affect the international situation.
Besides, perhaps he could take this opportunity to witness the true power and resources of superpowers like the V5 and Kakin.
Morrow decided to go to the Hunter Association Headquarters with Ging.
As for Kalluto and Kurapika, they would most likely have to stay in the Unexplored Land within the Petrus' Eye of Death Sinkhole for the next period to study the Divine Script.
Speaking of the Unexplored Land...
After returning to the six continents, one of Morrow's plans was to start developing a Nen space ability.
He intended to use his Tree Rings power to absorb the Unexplored Land within the sinkhole and see if he could extract basic ability materials from it.
If successful, developing a Nen space would become much easier.
It wasn't that he was incapable of developing such an ability on his own now, but if he could use the Unexplored Land as material, he might be able to replicate its massive internal space.
This was the real reason Morrow needed the Unexplored Land as material.
If the Unexplored Land in the sinkhole couldn't provide the materials, then he would travel the world to find more Unexplored Lands.
He refused to believe he couldn't get a single piece of material to drop.
Even if, in the end, he found none, as long as he could convert the Unexplored Lands into Tree Rings energy, it wouldn't be a wasted effort.
In response to the Kakin Empire's wanton actions, the V5's reaction was just as Morrow and Ging had predicted. They quickly issued a commission to the Hunter Association to hunt down Beyond.
Such a swift move was enough to demonstrate the V5's attitude on the matter.
Morrow and Ging were certain the V5 would issue this commission, but they hadn't expected them to be so impatient.
When Ging received Cheadle's summons, he and Morrow had just sent Kurapika and Kalluto into the Unexplored Land.
"The V5... seem to be in a real hurry."
Morrow stood against the wind on Chimera's back, murmuring to himself.
Ging was standing right next to him and could just make out Morrow's words mixed with the wind.
He didn't reply, but instead suddenly asked, "Morrow, if the Zodiac Twelve invited you to explore the Dark Continent with them, would you agree?"
"No."
Morrow replied without a second thought.
Ging glanced at Morrow's profile, vaguely understanding his thoughts, and didn't ask anything further.
—--
"That bastard Ging is late again!"
In the conference room at the Hunter Association Headquarters, Kanzai glanced at Ging's empty chair, his tone unfriendly.
Mizaistom said calmly, "When it comes to exploring the Dark Continent, Ging is only more invested than we are. Even if he's not present now, we don't need to worry too much."
"Anyway, if you all insist on going to the Dark Continent..."
Gel crossed her arms and coolly interjected, "If you can't get Morrow, I suggest you'd be better off focusing on dealing with Beyond."
Among the Zodiac Twelve members present, everyone except Kanzai looked at Gel, who had been missing for months, with surprise.
Just as Mizaistom and the others were about to ask why Gel suddenly valued Morrow so highly, an uninvited guest arrived.
It was Beyond.
"Yo, so polite, you all came out to welcome me?"
The moment he stepped onto the floor where the conference room was located, he saw the Zodiac Twelve blocking the hallway in a neat line.
Beyond gave a relaxed smile and, meeting the sharp, imposing gazes of the crowd, casually threw out a sentence:
"That's right, I did kill Netero. What are you going to do about it?"