Nen Sage - Chapter 403
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Aug 25
4
Conrad went out onto the deck together with the others without wasting much time. He approached Morel and the others and looked toward the same point they were all watching in the distance.
On the horizon, there was clearly a piece of land visible. He could not determine its exact size yet, but it was obvious that it was not a particularly small island.
Just like Netero had done when observing Neferpitou, Conrad formed a circle with his fingers and used Nen to turn it into a kind of telescope.
"Interesting," he commented to himself.
Morel turned slightly and looked at everyone.
"Now."
"The appearance and shape of the island match the information we have. From that perspective, the first stage of the mission has been completed."
"There is no longer any reason to delay the second stage of the mission or to avoid taking action."
He smiled as he finished speaking.
Everyone nodded and smiled as well.
"How does everyone want to proceed?" Morel asked.
Normally, during missions, the movements and actions of the members would be determined by the person who organized and led the mission. However, that was not the case for this particular mission.
Since this was an exploration mission, rather than moving together as a single group, it made more sense to split up and explore a wider area in a shorter amount of time.
Conrad raised his hand and began to speak.
"I'll proceed together with Lenfani."
Morel remained silent for a moment. He exchanged a brief glance with Grachan, then looked at Lenfani.
He saw that she was also nodding in agreement.
"If you two agree on that, then the decision is yours," Morel said.
Within a few minutes, the other members of the group had also decided where they would go and who they would work with.
Conrad moved away from the others together with Lenfani and began speaking.
"I learned quite a few things."
"You don't have much of a secret left."
Lenfani swallowed and slightly furrowed her brows.
"Then, if you really learned everything, why am I still alive?" she asked.
Conrad smiled.
"Why? Do you want to die?"
Lenfani shook her head.
She looked toward the sea for a moment before giving a faint, almost nervous smile.
"Of course I don't want to die. But, as you said, if you really know everything—and considering that I don't think you carried out all those previous actions randomly—I can't find a reason for you to lie to me either."
"When you consider all of that, it feels strange that you're not killing me."
The deep breath she took after finishing her words made it clear how heavy they actually were and how difficult they had been for her to say.
Questioning why someone was not killing her was a rather unusual feeling.
Fortunately, Nen users, and Hunters in particular, had generally developed themselves mentally and spiritually enough to deal with matters like this.
Conrad thought for a moment before answering.
"You may be right. But I don't think you need to die yet."
"There will probably be situations where you can be useful to me again."
Lenfani said nothing more. She simply nodded slightly.
Rules and consequences were things understood by Hunters and Nen users. Among assassins and people who professionally dealt with killing, there was also a clear understanding of them.
If you have planned to kill someone and taken action against them, then you must also be prepared to be killed yourself.
It was a simple rule, but a powerful one.
Two or three hours later, the distance between the ship and Ancient Bloodsun Island had decreased to less than a kilometer.
Morel turned toward everyone and began speaking.
"Yes!"
"Now, we're going to reach the island using a small canoe that I'll create with my Nen ability."
"Once we reach the island, everyone will proceed along the route they have chosen with their respective partners."
"I'll give each of you a high-range, valuable radio. Report any information or discoveries you make through these radios."
Everyone nodded.
Once everyone had confirmed that they understood, Morel entered the cabin and returned with his enormous pipe.
He took a deep breath from it, then looked down from the deck.
He began blowing through the pipe, and before long, a small canoe started taking shape.
It continued expanding until it became large enough to carry everyone.
A few seconds later, Morel stepped into it.
Grachan followed, then the others, including Conrad and Lenfani.
Once everyone had climbed aboard, the canoe began moving toward the island.
After a short ten-minute journey, they finally reached the sandy shore.
Conrad immediately began looking around and concentrating his senses.
"Hmm…"
"This is truly surprising," he said.
When Conrad spread his perception throughout the surrounding area, he immediately sensed that something was strange.
Something about the island was different.
It did not feel like he had simply stepped onto an ordinary island.
There was something unusual about the atmosphere.
Morel looked around with a smile on his face.
"I like this feeling…"
"The feeling of being the first explorers to set foot on an unknown island."
Although the others did not make any comments, the smiles on their faces showed that they shared Morel's sentiment.
There was something naturally exciting about stepping onto land that had remained unknown to them until now.
The group spent the next few minutes determining which directions everyone would take.
They had no reason to remain together. Their objective was exploration, and covering as much of the island as possible was more important than maintaining a single formation.
Conrad decided to head toward the northeast, entering the forest that covered that side of the island.
Lenfani followed him.
The dense vegetation quickly began surrounding them.
Conrad continued walking while occasionally spreading his perception around them.
He did not used "En" to make it clear that his range his huge to others.
He did not immediately sense anything that could be considered a direct threat.
Still, he remained cautious.
This was an unknown island, and the very fact that it had remained hidden for so long meant that there was no reason to assume everything they encountered would be harmless.
Behind them, Morel's voice suddenly came through the radio.
"Radio test!"
One by one, the others responded.
"Clear."
"Loud and clear."
"I can hear you."
Conrad pressed the radio slightly closer to his ear.
"Clear."
Lenfani also responded.
"Clear."
Morel laughed lightly after hearing everyone's responses.
"Good."
"The range is working exactly as expected."
Conrad continued walking.
He looked ahead at the unfamiliar vegetation and continued moving deeper into the island.
Conrad smiled faintly.
"So…"
"Now we explore."
Lenfani glanced toward him.
"Do you think we'll find something dangerous?"
Conrad continued looking ahead.
"Probably."
"After all, this is supposed to be the Ancient Bloodsun Island."
He paused for a moment.
"But whether what we find is dangerous or valuable…"
"We'll find out soon enough."
Lenfani nodded.
At the same time, when Lenfani looked at Conrad, she felt like the most dangerous thing in this island is this very man that she is following.
The two continued deeper into the forest.
The others were already spreading out across different sections of the island, each team moving independently while remaining connected through the radios.
For the first time since arriving, the mission had truly begun.
There was nothing left to prepare.
Nothing left to discuss.
They had finally reached the place they had been searching for.
Ancient Bloodsun Island.
And from this point onward, there was only exploration and adventure left.