Shiro had decided to join the team.
The reason prompting his final decision wasn't the Kakin Empire's declaration but a sentence from his wife.
"Don't miss any opportunity that might make you regret."
Thus, he put aside all concerns, prepared to wholeheartedly follow the team to explore the Dark Continent.
To be honest, he wasn't short on money. Age-wise, he lacked the sharpness and drive of the young.
So, his motivation for wanting to go to the Dark Continent was essentially his pursuit and preference… tobacco.
At the same time, he felt that if he didn't board this time, he would definitely regret it later.
As a newly joined member, Shiro didn't yet know who among those present were also team members. To lay the groundwork for future teammate relationships, he didn't pick and choose, transforming into a chatterbox, able to talk with everyone.
Compared to Shiro's seasoned approach, Knov appeared much more reserved. However, he also knew this evening party was the first step into Law's circle officially.
From getting to know each other to nurturing basic interpersonal relationships.
So, he wasn't silent and reserved. In the chatting atmosphere, he could occasionally join the conversation, sometimes even smiling.
At the entire table, the quietest were Nique and Palm.
The banquet ended. Knov had initially integrated into this relationship circle. Shiro and Sabro were already arm in arm, like old friends who had known each other for decades, their relationship progressing very quickly.
"Don't be timid, just go for it!"
"Is that okay?"
"I say, Sabo, you're too timid. Let me tell you, don't be afraid of anything because women like brave men."
"But I'm afraid of being too abrupt and scaring her."
"I already told you, don't be afraid. Tomorrow I'll accompany you. You invite her out, and I'll strategize for you from the shadows. One complete set, guaranteed she'll never leave you."
"What's 'one complete set'?"
"Dinner, movie, then... ahem, anyway, you'll know tomorrow." Shiro patted Sabro's shoulder confidently.
"Good brother!"
Sabro's eyes sparkled as he looked at Shiro.
Beside them, Law watched these two with half-lidded eyes, shaking his head slightly, then called Ging out.
The two went to the rooftop of the Association building.
The wind on the rooftop was strong, almost making one unsteady.
"For a period after this, I'll likely only be able to use Ten," Law suddenly said.
"What?"
Ging was puzzled.
Law took out the flute-like movement of the Dark Sonata, entwined with black Nen, from Kuro's space.
Seeing the score, a subtle feeling made Ging instinctively use Gyo, then he saw the smoke-like black Nen swirling on the score. He raised an eyebrow slightly but still didn't understand Law's words.
"This is the Dark Sonata score. I plan to remove the Nen from it," Law explained.
"Related to you only being able to use Ten?" Ging asked.
Law nodded. "The specific method of Nen removal is absorbing the Nen from the score into my body and gradually digesting it. The cost is that before completely digesting it, I'll be in a semi-forced Zetsu, with my Aura Nodes only able to open a small part."
Ging's eyes showed confusion. 'If so, why remove the Nen from the score during such a critical period now?'
Though puzzled, he didn't interrupt, just listened as Law continued.
"Once all the Nen is digested, I can return to normal and also become stronger."
Law concealed the true information but revealed the ability's essence.
Hearing Law's final explanation, Ging looked astonished. 'Could Nen Exorcism have such an effect?'
He knew among many Nen Exorcism methods, there was one where the Nen was transferred onto oneself.
That method carried great risk. Nen Exorcists would judge whether to absorb based on the target's risk, considering whether they could completely eliminate it without any aftereffects.
But now he learned Law wasn't eliminating it… he was digesting it.
This ability, like swallowing experience books, was truly unbelievable.
"This is the secret you mentioned last time?"
Ging looked at Law as if looking at a monster, 'This ability was simply cheating. And this ability must be related to Law's significant strength increase after the Chimera Ant extermination?'
'Most importantly, did this ability have an upper limit?'
'Even with a limit, the end point was the peak and limit humans could reach, right?'
It was terrifying upon deeper thought.
'Wouldn't that mean Law had the condition to reign over humanity's peak?'
Law didn't notice the thoughts swirling in Ging's mind at that moment. He nodded in reply. "Yes. I've been hesitating whether to digest it. After all, we're going to the Dark Continent soon. I'm worried about time. But if I can finish digesting, my strength will rise a level."
"How long specifically?" Ging suppressed the shock in his heart, looking at the score in Law's hand.
"I'm not sure. I'll know after absorbing it," Law said.
"This isn't your first time using this method to remove Nen and get stronger, right?" Ging asked.
"No, this isn't the first time."
"Then can't you estimate the approximate time based on past experience?" Ging continued.
"No, because this time is special," Law shook his head.
Hearing this, Ging pondered. Nen was a necessary tool for exploring the Dark Continent. Without Nen, going to the Dark Continent was basically suicide.
He weighed the pros and cons slightly, then looked at Law and said, "If you think it's necessary to absorb it, then absorb it. Regardless of the outcome, I'll fully support you."
Hearing this, Law smiled, making Kuro appear.
Kuro emerged, floating beside him.
"Before digesting the Nen, this guy is my bodyguard. If I haven't finished digesting after reaching the Dark Continent, you'll need to wait for me at the starting point," Law said.
For those eager to explore the Dark Continent, stepping onto it but having to stay put, waiting for an unknown duration, was torture.
"That's not a problem. And before you digest the Nen, I'll also protect you," Ging nodded. If this was a necessary process, then he didn't see it as a problem.
Getting Ging's affirmative reply, Law no longer hesitated. In front of Kuro and Ging, he directly activated the White Smoke Font's ability, absorbing the Nen from the score into his body. His numerical value instantly reached 100%.
In Kuro and Ging's eyes, a strong wind inexplicably arose from the score, spreading outward, merging with the strong evening wind.
The smoke-like black Nen suddenly swelled into black snakes, as if drawn by some force, attaching to Law's body, twisting and writhing, then visibly shrinking and thinning.
Simultaneously, the Aura on Law's body was slowly pressed inward, leaving only a thin layer.
And in Law's eyes, it was no longer the rooftop, Ging, and Kuro.
As if teleported through time and space, he found himself in another black-and-white TV-like world, a place he was familiar with.
But what caught his attention wasn't this black-and-white world that might carry some soul memory fragments, but the time limit prompted by the White Smoke Font, which was rapidly jumping.
The initial time limit displayed was: Six Years.
A rather despairing time limit. However, the time limit's flow was incredibly fast, rapidly decreasing.
Precisely this change captured all of Law's attention.
If this time limit could continuously shrink to zero, it would be a delightful outcome. Even if it shrank to just one year, Law would be grinning from ear to ear.
'What caused this phenomenon?'
'Was it because the score's absorption effect was excessively overflowing?'