"Well? Did they agree to the conditions you set?"
The moment Allen hung up the phone, Baise couldn't help but ask. Having witnessed the horrors of creatures from the Dark Continent firsthand, she placed immense value on those classified files. Only by understanding more could they better navigate the looming dangers.
"In a way," Allen shrugged. "Though that guy didn't give a concrete guarantee, I don't think he has the guts to lie to me."
"So... we're finally going to war with Beyond's team?" Bodoro stood up from his chair, his eyes gleaming with excitement.
"Yeah. Total war. The V5's order is to hunt Beyond, dead or alive." Allen curled his lips into a meaningful, affirmative smile.
Since successfully clearing both Blackwing Lair and Zul'Gurub, he had essentially transitioned his gear from Tier 1 to Tier 2. With his base attributes receiving another comprehensive boost, he was itching for a worthy opponent to test his strength. Beyond was clearly an excellent target for the hunt.
His only regret was that Vaelastrasz, currently in her dragon egg form, showed no signs of hatching despite many days passing. However, with Allen's current power, he was undeniably the strongest Nen user in the human world even without the Red Dragon possession. Thus, he wasn't worried about hunting Beyond; if anything, he was eager.
"Hahaha! Brilliant! Fantastic! Finally, a real fight!" Bodoro laughed. "Shall we head out now and track Beyond down in Kakin?"
Allen shook his head with a smile. "No, there's no need. He's already on his way to the Hunter Association Headquarters. It won't be long before he presents himself right in front of us."
With that, Allen tossed the crafted Hunting Map onto the table. The red dot representing Beyond had already left Kakin; barring any accidents, he would arrive within a few days.
"Is he insane? The V5 has issued a 'kill on sight' order! Coming to the Association is basically walking into a trap!" Baise exclaimed in disbelief.
"No, Beyond isn't crazy. In fact, he's chosen a theoretically safe method to escape his current predicament. Haven't you heard that the most dangerous place is often the safest? Besides, Kakin has likely already established contact with the V5 and is secretly conducting backroom negotiations or interest swaps. Once a new agreement is reached, the Hunter Association won't be a threat to him, it will be a form of disguised protection," Allen analyzed seriously, stroking his chin.
Baise nodded thoughtfully. "I see! But you aren't going to let him step through those doors, are you?"
"Precisely. I won't. I'll be right at the gates of the Hunter Association to remind him once again of the terror of his father's dominance, and the shame that comes with defeat."
As he spoke, the massive silhouette of a golden Guanyin statue flickered behind Allen. It was obvious he intended to use Chairman Netero's ability to give Beyond a lesson he would never forget.
"Heh, looks like I can look forward to this fight. I'm sure it will be quite the spectacle, and very entertaining," Baise said with a schadenfreude-filled smile.
Bodoro chimed in, "Indeed. No matter what Beyond chooses, the end result for him is failure. If he tries to keep his distance, he'll be bombarded by a rain of arrows. If he tries to close in, he faces the 100-Type Guanyin Bodhisattva. Just thinking about it is despair-inducing. I wonder if he'll just surrender once he realizes that."
"Unlikely. Beyond is an incredibly proud and arrogant man; he'd rather die than admit defeat. And besides, I have no intention of letting him set foot on the Dark Continent alive," Allen said meaningfully.
…
Meanwhile, inside an airship far above the ocean, Beyond sat in his chair, gazing at the azure scenery outside with a triumphant smile.
From the Chimera Ant incursion to the death of Chairman Netero, combined with the "show" he had put on a few days ago, there was no power left in the human world that could stop him from reaching his dream—the Dark Continent. All that remained was to strike a series of deals and interest swaps with the V5. He himself was the most crucial bargaining chip. At the very least, he had to make the V5 believe he was willing to share whatever he brought back from the Dark Continent.
However, just as Beyond was reveling in his success, the phone in his pocket rang. Without hesitation, he picked it up and answered with a chuckle. "Yo! I didn't expect you to be out so soon. I thought you'd be locked up for at least a few months to clear your name."
"I didn't exactly leave that godforsaken place through legal means. I broke out with the help of some friends," Pariston's voice came from the other end.
"Broke you out? Who? Are they insane? That's practically a declaration of war against the V5," Beyond said, his tone heavy with surprise. He had every reason to be; the last guy who tried something that bold already had several towering trees growing over his grave.
"You won't believe it. The ones who rescued me were none other than the newly formed New Phantom Troupe. They claim they want to pull off a massive heist in Kakin and want to join us temporarily. Do you think we should accept?" Pariston asked playfully.
Beyond shrugged dismissively. "Suit yourself. Though I suspect their motives aren't purely about theft."
"Alright. Understood. Also... you aren't currently on your way to the Hunter Association, are you?" Pariston probed.
"I am. I plan to surrender directly to the Association to show the V5 I'm willing to cooperate. Otherwise, the negotiations on Kakin's side will be extremely difficult and lack any real progress," Beyond explained his reasoning.
But Pariston clearly didn't think it was a good idea and immediately warned, "I'm willing to bet that Allen is waiting for you at the Association gates right now. If you actually go, I doubt you'll make it into the building alive."
"Don't worry. I admit the kid is talented, but there's no way he's my match right now. Besides, it's not like I didn't bring backup." Beyond turned to glance at two team members standing nearby. These were experts he had specifically trained for the Dark Continent exploration; each possessed a level of power comparable to the Zodiacs.
"You really are as stubborn as Chairman Netero; you never listen to advice. Fine, if you want to test it, go ahead. But if you happen to die, I'll take over your entire legacy and become the leader of this expedition. No objections, right?"
Pariston clearly didn't have much faith in Beyond's plan, nor did he think Beyond could survive Allen's terrifying, storm-like onslaught.
"No objections. If I die, the whole team is yours to command. You can do whatever you want," Beyond agreed without a second thought.
With the deal struck, the two hung up simultaneously.