That day, Ging proposed a suggestion that could change the future fate of this Dark Continent exploration team.
The first to respond to this suggestion, as expected, was Germain, followed closely by Shizuku.
No one was surprised by this outcome.
Germain and Ging were always considered the radicals of the team.
Their decisions often pushed boundaries and tested limits.
However, so far, their decisions had never been wrong, proving their instincts to be exceptionally sharp.
Instinct wasn't just blind action or stubbornness.
On the contrary, it was the culmination of countless thoughts and experiences, condensed into a split-second response.
Since Germain and Ging hadn't made mistakes yet, their decisions always garnered support, no matter how absurd they seemed.
Shizuku, for instance, supported Germain unconditionally.
Sometimes, it felt to the others that Shizuku would side with Germain's ideas before even thinking for herself.
If Germain and Ging represented the radicals, then the conservatives were led by Bisky, along with the remaining hunters.
Bisky, Menchi, Buhara, and Sanbica weren't hostile toward the Scela of moose centaurs tribe, nor were they overly worried about the scrolls and texts left behind by the Don.
Their caution was simply necessary.
When two out of the team's three core members—Germain, Ging, and Bisky—sided with the radicals, the rest naturally leaned conservative.
This wasn't about maintaining balance but about preparing for the possibility that Germain and Ging might make a mistake. They needed to ensure a backup plan.
It was only human nature.
However, after spending two days and one night with the five moose centaurs in the ancient labyrinthine tower stronghold, their attitudes began to change.
The moose centaurs were a straightforward and candid race, rarely beating around the bush.
Because of this, they sometimes said things that might offend others, but everyone understood they meant no harm.
Due to the cultural and emotional differences between humans and the Moose Centaur tribe, they didn't even realize that some of their words might be offensive.
So, whenever they praised someone for something, everyone understood their words were sincere, not hypocritical or sarcastic.
Scela was always loudly praising Menchi and Buhara's cooking, admiring the group's tower stronghold, and enthusiastically calling others to join in building the castle towers.
It was hard not to respect them for their genuine nature.
Thus, when everyone decided to engage in an exchange with the Moose Centaur tribe, the next step was simple—follow Scela and the other centaurs back to their tribe to finalize the details.
On the morning of December 22nd, a team of twelve set off from the newly built tower fortress.
During this time, Germain casually shared some news from the Six Continent with Ging.
Ging silently pondered for a moment but still showed no interest in returning to the Six Continent. He even suggested that Netero could revoke his "Boar" title if needed.
No matter what Beyond, Pariston, or others were scheming on the Six Continent, Ging didn't care.
To him, whether it was about deciding a winner or collaborating, those matters could wait until they reached the Dark Continent.
Germain, Ging, and Scela led the group, with Bisky, Shizuku, and the others trailing closely behind.
Thanks to the recent sacrificial blood ritual offered to the Bloodthirsty Apostle, most of the parasitic Botanical Weapons were wiped out, leaving the ancient labyrinth in a rare state of peace.
The area was calm, with relatively low danger.
Ging had grown so familiar with the ancient labyrinth's pathways over the past few months that he could navigate them without needing a map.
While leading the way, he confidently guided the group, his steps never faltering.
Germain noticed that the cubic stone pillars along the path frequently bore the symbol of a Möbius strip.
These markings were likely new additions made by Ging, Bisky, and Menchi.
The Möbius strip had become the standard marker throughout the ancient labyrinth.
Ging chose a particularly short route, so within half a day, the group had weaved through the forest of stone pillars and approached an arched gate.
This archway wasn't the same one that Germain, Ging, Bisky, or Shizuku had passed through when they first entered the ancient labyrinth.
Everyone knew that the ancient labyrinth had more than one entrance.
However, this was Germain and Shizuku's first time standing beneath this unfamiliar archway.
As for Buhara and Sanbica, it was their first time stepping outside the tower's boundaries and leaving the ancient labyrinth. Their curious gazes wandered everywhere.
After leaving the ancient labyrinth, the guide changed from Ging to Scela.
Outside the ancient labyrinth, it was natural for Scela, a native, to be more familiar with the terrain.
The other four moose-centaurs were finally able to stretch their legs and run freely across the open plains.
Occasionally, they would suddenly dart to either side, only to return a while later. It wasn't playful wandering but essential reconnaissance.
The details of their reconnaissance focused on nearby footprints, droppings, and scents to avoid dangerous creatures.
The use of "En" was vast and flexible, but both the natives and the Hunters understood its limitations.
Since "En" existed, so did "Zetsu" or other abilities capable of concealing or disguising themselves.
Sometimes, relying on sharp eyes and quick judgment was more dependable than "En."
Half a day passed, and the sun sank lower in the sky, its fading rays staining the land crimson like blood.
The group entered a valley and decided to rest there.
Even though some of them were the robust moose-centaurs and others were energetic Nen users, the journey was long enough to warrant occasional breaks.
Scela chose a spot shaded by dense trees, with a canopy of interwoven branches above and a ground covered in fallen leaves below.
This would be their campsite for the night.
It was only after some time that they noticed the place where they had stopped was actually a massive tree vine.
The vine had hung down and become buried in the soil over countless years.
Da-da-da—
The four moose-centaurs who had wandered into the forest returned.
They carried back a creature that looked like a giant snail, but it was as big as a truck. It was said that the tender pink flesh hidden inside the shell was a rare delicacy.
In addition, they brought back a variety of wild fruits—bright red, lush green, and golden yellow—an assortment of every kind.
Like humans, the moose-centaurs were omnivores. Their diet was something humans could find inspiration from.
This made Menchi particularly excited.
She couldn't wait to see the moose-centaurs, led by Scela, prepare a feast using their most authentic cooking methods. She was eager to taste and learn from their culinary skills.
Of course, to feed a team of twelve, the giant snail's pink flesh and the wild fruits weren't enough. Menchi and Buhara had to step in to help.
Soon, a campfire and an iron pot were set up. Thin smoke began to rise, only to be completely concealed by the dense canopy above.
While Menchi, Buhara, and two of the moose-centaurs focused on cooking dinner, the rest of the group scattered around, each occupied with their own tasks.
Germain sat in the coiled nest of a massive tree vine buried underground. He pulled out his phone and began typing on the glowing screen.
After a while, he heard approaching footsteps. Looking up, he saw it was Shizuku, wandering around with nothing to do.
Shizuku clasped her hands behind her back and leaned slightly toward Germain's phone. Her large, curious eyes sparkled behind her reflective glasses as she looked at the screen.
"You're typing. What's that?"
She asked, plopping down right next to Germain without hesitation. She didn't seem to care at all if her black sweater or jeans got dirty.
Perhaps she simply didn't mind—or maybe she hadn't even thought about it. Only Shizuku herself knew her real thoughts.
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