Three days later.
On an island somewhere in the unexplored waters, far beyond the borders of the Hunter Continent.
The sea breeze blew from all directions, carrying a salty, fishy scent.
The roar of machinery on the island merged into a single sound, mixed with the loud crashing of waves against the reefs, making one's eardrums buzz.
Excavators dug into the slopes, bulldozers pushed rubble and vegetation into piles, rollers rolled back and forth over leveled ground, and loaders shuttled across temporary dirt roads, kicking up clouds of dust.
Various instruments were placed around: some for surveying terrain, some for underground exploration, some for monitoring weather, and other specialized devices.
Over a thousand workers, wearing hard hats and reflective vests, were busy at their respective posts.
A large portion of the hillside had already been leveled.
Leo stood on a distant hilltop with his hands in his pockets, his gaze passing over the operating machinery to land on the distant horizon.
Behind him stood Ashir and Morel, one on each side.
The wind blew, making the hems of their clothes flap loudly.
Morel stepped forward, adjusted his sunglasses, and pointed to the leveled land below the hill.
"So, what do you think? I spent a lot of effort finding this island."
His voice carried a hint of pride.
"The island is about three square kilometers. It has a rich ecological environment, a water source, and even an open-pit gold mine. I spent three days diving in the surrounding waters, mapping the seafloor terrain and current directions. The location is excellent; I've marked the reefs, and fish resources are abundant."
Leo nodded, pulling his gaze back from the horizon to the construction site.
"Not bad. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Morel. I'm very satisfied; the remaining payment will be transferred to your account."
Morel grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
"OK, as long as you're satisfied."
Ashir stepped forward, holding a set of blueprints.
The blueprints were large, densely marked with dimensions, elevations, material specifications, and various symbols he didn't quite understand.
His finger traced over the blueprints as he reported to Leo.
"According to your requirements, the surface base will have two floors, kept visible. A hundred-meter-tall watchtower will be built next to it, with radar and long-range communication equipment on top, capable of monitoring the sea within a fifty-nautical-mile radius. The underground portion will be expanded to four floors, separated by blast doors, each with independent ventilation Systems and backup power. All safety measures will be implemented—biometric access control, surveillance cameras, emergency exits, chemical decontamination rooms, and NBC filtration Systems."
Ashir paused before continuing.
"These workers were all transported in via trucks; they have no idea where they are. All equipment and supplies have been checked and are fine. Vivian has also arranged for three hundred Mafia members to maintain security on-site."
He looked up at Leo.
"The total investment is initially estimated at six hundred billion jenny, and significant funds may be needed for maintenance and management later on."
Leo nodded, his tone showing no hesitation.
"Very well. Don't skimp on the money; the construction Materials must be the best. Have Dean come over; the two of you will be in charge here from now on. He'll handle personnel and supplies, while you handle teleportation and security."
Fortunately, he had the foresight to seize Battera's entire fortune, which could support the construction of this island.
Ashir nodded and rolled the blueprints back up.
"Understood. I'll head down now. Call me if you need anything."
He turned and walked down the hillside.
Morel watched Ashir's retreating back, adjusted his sunglasses, and let his gaze through the dark lenses fall on the figure moving away.
A wave of emotion rose in his heart.
He's the same type of ability user as Knov.
However, his teleportation ability is even stronger than Knov's; I didn't expect him to open it so easily over such a long distance.
Five days ago, when he found this island that met the requirements and contacted Ashir after finishing his inspection, he placed the medium Ashir had given him on the ground.
After waiting less than five minutes, a light door emerged in front of him.
Ashir stepped out of the light door, followed by a group of blindfolded people—engineers, surveyors, construction foremen, and several technicians.
He was indeed surprised at the time, but he didn't show it on his face.
This made him understand why Leo was so confident and had the backbone to explore the Dark Continent.
With Ashir's ability, they could return safely even if there was danger.
This strategic value was even more advantageous than Knov's ability—it allowed for large-scale teleportation of advance teams into the Dark Continent, the establishment of stable supply lines between the exploration team and the base, and the withdrawal of the entire crew when encountering unmanageable danger.
While Knov's ability allowed for hiding in a dimensional space and storing supplies, his range was limited, and he couldn't set coordinates between the Dark Continent and the human world.
This light door was Leo's true trump card for exploring the Dark Continent.
Morel withdrew his gaze, turned to look at Leo, and adjusted his sunglasses.
"His ability is very strong."
His tone was flat, but his words carried weight.
"It seems you're determined to conquer the Dark Continent."
Leo smiled.
"To accomplish something, one must be fully prepared. Isn't that a required course for a Hunter?"
Morel laughed heartily, his laughter scattering across the hilltop.
"You're right about that. Well, I'll wish you success then."
He turned, preparing to head down the hill as well.
Leo looked quietly at the sky, not looking at him.
"Are you interested in joining us?"
His voice wasn't loud, as if asking about something very ordinary.
"Compared to this peaceful human world, that place holds dreams that humans flock to."
Morel stopped in his tracks.
He didn't turn around, just stood there with his back to Leo.
He was silent for a long time.
"It's too dangerous there."
His voice was slightly lower than before.
"Over ninety percent of the people who step onto that continent will die there."
Leo turned his head, looking at Morel's back.
"As a Hunter, holding firm to one's convictions, overcoming all difficulties, and bravely advancing toward the dreams in one's heart—isn't that exactly a Hunter's job!"
His voice was calm, but Morel's breathing hitched for a second.
Morel looked up, also gazing at the horizon.
The clouds had split open there, and sunlight poured through the gap, spreading a golden band of light across the sea.
"Right, a Hunter..."
His voice was very soft.
"True Hunters are those who spend their entire lives pursuing their 'prey'!"
He had always been exploring unknown marine life and protecting the marine environment, but for all these years, he had been trapped in these waters, circling the Hunter Continent.
But the Boundary Waters of the Dark Continent had many unknown creatures waiting for him to discover.
Species recorded only in ancient texts, marine life never named by humans, and existences that might overturn existing biological knowledge—they were all in those unknown waters.
Morel took a deep breath; air entered through his nose, passed through his throat, and filled his lungs.
"You make a lot of sense. To be honest, I'm a bit tempted."
His voice regained its usual steadiness.
"But I have to discuss it with my disciples. Knuckle and Shoot have followed me for so long; I can't make a rash decision."
Leo smiled and nodded.
"No problem. If you make up your mind, let us know. You're welcome to join anytime."
Morel adjusted his sunglasses, the corners of his mouth turning up slightly.
"I'll head down then. I plan to explore the surrounding waters some more; there are many rich species here, so I'll collect more samples."
He stepped forward and walked down the hillside.
Leo didn't look back.
He quietly watched the bustling construction site below, the operating machinery, and the foundations taking shape.
The most critical step in exploring the Dark Continent had been taken.
Morel also intended to join.
Everything was moving in a good direction.
Posted July 13 at 4:35 PM
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