Kolenu wasn't tall, but he was built solid.
Average-looking—yet easy on the eyes, with thick eyebrows and sincere eyes. The kind of guy you instinctively liked.
Joey skipped the small talk.
"You've seen the job description. I need someone with a solid background in both biology and virology."
Kolenu went straight to his backpack and pulled out a stack of certificates.
"This one's a doctorate in Biology from Ifaris University, accredited by the Begrace Union—one of the V5. As for virology, I'm working on it. Master's level for now."
Joey blinked. Begrace was a top-tier V5 nation, and while he hadn't heard of the school, it didn't matter. The credentials looked legit.
Kolenu was clearly more qualified than he expected. Joey admitted to himself—he probably couldn't even match this guy's academic weight in bio-sciences.
Flipping through the documents, he kept his tone even.
"What are your expectations? Salary, workspace? I'm looking for someone long-term, not a temp."
"I'm not picky," Kolenu replied. "I want two things: money and the ability to create real value. I've heard the creature you're studying is… unique. I'd like to assess it myself. If I find it worthwhile, I'm in for the long haul."
So he'd done his homework—likely had inside information from someone Joey knew. Joey didn't mind.
"Fine. Let's go meet the subject."
He stood, added casually, "Your salary will be high-tier: one billion jeni annually, with bonus commissions."
Kolenu's eyes lit up.
Joey smirked. One billion wasn't absurd—but it put Kolenu in the elite bracket. Most Nen users made a few hundred million a year, if that.
Of course, business-minded hunters like Nob could rake in billions with ease.
Compared to Mizaistom's flat base salary, Joey's offer was extremely generous—though Mizaistom made up for it with high commissions and bonuses.
They drove to Crook's lab. Joey introduced Orange Cat to Kolenu, and things went shockingly smooth.
The contract was signed on the spot. Kolenu officially became a member of Joey's team.
And Joey quickly realized: this guy was a cat nut.
Didn't matter. After talking with Crook, Joey left Kolenu to handle things.
Kolenu wasted no time. He summoned a white-haired gorilla to babysit the cat, while he dove into research—firing up a laptop and diving into academic texts.
Seeing that dedication, Joey clenched the boat ticket in his hand.
He had to step up too.
While Joey traveled the world, chasing extreme weather events, the Hunter Association finally formalized the Kakin expedition. Official documents, background checks, coordination… everything moved forward—quietly but efficiently.
Joey was in Begrace Union, experiencing a massive tornado when he got Nob's message:
"I'll be going to the Dark Continent. As part of the logistics crew.
You'll need to manage the horse ranch."
Joey replied instantly:
"Let Kolenu handle it. I'll be joining you."
Nob's reply came within seconds.
"You're going too? Are you insane? No offense to your power…"
Joey rolled his eyes.
"It's not like I have a choice, Nob. If I had my way, I'd be lounging in the V5 or chilling near Mobius Lake!"
Begrace was one of the five V5 nations—and it had already ventured into the Dark Continent.
Back when Joey committed to going, Leiza gave him another intel file from Ging, detailing V5 expeditions.
Begrace had gone northeast of Mobius Lake. There, their Survey Corps discovered stones that generated electricity when submerged in water.
They called it the Unmanned Stone.
Just one—about the size of a bead—could produce 20,000 kilowatts a day.
And in the Dark Continent?
There were mountains full of them.
But there was a problem.
That mountain range was claimed by one of the Five Calamities: the Humanoid Beast Papu.
Out of a thousand surveyors, only seven returned alive.
Details were vague. Had Begrace sent more expeditions after that? What were the Papu's abilities? What did the survivors bring back?
So much was redacted.
Kakin's destination wasn't confirmed yet.
But Joey's target was: Due north of Mobius Lake.
Why?
Because that's where the Plant Weapon: Gold-Silver Ingot was.
According to Ging's notes, Saherta Union—another V5 nation—had explored that region.
Heading north, they reached a massive sea of trees. Beyond that, 400 kilometers in, they found a ruined labyrinth city.
There, they discovered a miracle herb that cured all diseases.
But the guardian of that city?
The Plant Weapon, Gold-Silver Ingot.
Saherta's special forces entered the maze.
Only two made it out.
Again, key info was missing.
How dangerous was the forest? How did the Ingot attack? Were there other secrets inside?
But the efficacy of the herb seemed confirmed.
Otherwise, the "cure-all" title wouldn't exist.
That meant Saherta had likely brought some back. Maybe they still had more.
Joey wasn't hopeful—but he had to try.
Especially since Mizaistom once referred him to Chito as a medical case.
Maybe he really was sick in some hidden way.
Joey's next stop: Saherta Union.
Even if he found nothing, the weather data would be worth the trip.
Then Nob texted again.
"Morel will be going too. His team's handling logistics in the second half of the voyage. Knuckle and Shoot are with him."
Seconds later, Morel called directly.
"You sure about this?" Morel asked, voice heavy. "Dark Continent isn't exactly a vacation."
"I know," Joey said gently. "But I have to go."
He felt warm hearing the concern.
Whatever mess he'd fallen into—he'd made real friends here.
From Kite, who'd protected him like a mentor after regaining his body.
To Nob, Morel, Andre, Gon, Killua, the whole exorcist squad.
They'd pulled him into this world until it felt… like home.
"You want to join us?" Morel offered. "My team's made for sea travel. It'd be the safest ride."
Joey hesitated. "Not sure. Kakin's princes… I've had bad run-ins. Safer if I board with a fake ID."
He wasn't wrong.
The Succession War was a spider's nest—and Nen among the princes was twisted and dangerous.
Better to avoid that game entirely.
And faking his way aboard, while risky, was still less risky than being targeted by royalty.
"Well, you've got a seat here anytime," Morel said. "Just say the word."
"Thanks. If I need it, I'll call. I mean it."
"You better. We fought back-to-back. I won't let you crash and burn now." Morel laughed.
Joey grinned.
He knew Morel and Nob had probably figured out some of his secrets by now.
Still, it was good to be understood.
After Morel hung up, Joey sent a quick message to Nob, then resumed his trip.
Saherta was massive, politically chaotic internally, but fierce and united outwardly.
Joey entered the desert to observe sandstorms and tornados.
He bought an off-road vehicle, stocked it with food—but didn't need water.
Weather Report could produce plenty.
The world was huge.
Even V5 nations didn't have total control over their land.
Much of it was still wild—mystical ecosystems. Untouched zones.
Inside the desert, he soon hit his first extreme sandstorm.
A wall of black sand swept toward him, blotting out the sun.
Even with full control over his 2-meter En, Joey felt the power of nature.
This storm wasn't some trick—it was raw, primal, terrifying.
But it was also a perfect training ground.
His Nen blocked the dust. Wind tamed itself within his bubble.
Only problem?
Energy cost.
Under constant pressure, Joey could only sustain full Weather Report for half an hour before running dry.
Shrinking the En helped—but not much.
So he had 30 minutes to find shelter.
Luckily, his En was wide enough to protect both himself and the vehicle.
He found a slope—nestled in beneath it.
In two hours, the car was half-buried in sand, even with constant protection.
When the storm passed, he resumed his journey.
Two days later, he made it to a frontier town in Saherta, just past the desert.
There were uniforms everywhere.
Joey thought his temporary Hunter license would help.
Nope.
"Foreigners need temporary residency permits," the officer beside him explained. "Expensive. Complicated. Our country isn't big on visitors these days."
The guy looked completely serious.
"You've seen the news, right? The election between Breed and Yason? It's chaos. And without a real Hunter license, travelers like you get three days max."
He pointed at Joey's hand.
"You saw it, right? The mark? Ever since you crossed into Saherta, you've been tagged. If you're not out in three days, the enforcement squads will find you."
Joey sighed.
So much for stealth.
He'd noticed the mark days ago—a black snake etched into his skin, impossible to remove. Like a Nen tattoo.
Worse—it was made from God Script.
The symbols spelled one thing:
"Foreigner."
This wasn't just Nen.
It was Nen fused with God Script, bound by some massive vow and restriction.
Just one of the hidden weapons V5 nations possessed.
If he needed proof of their power?
This was it.
And this was just a sliver of what Saherta could do.
He thought of Kakin again.
The V5 had agreed to let them sail not out of generosity—but to use them as pioneers.
Send the expendables in first.
Worst-case? They die.
Best-case? They open a new path.
And Joey remembered what Ging had told him:
"The Guides wanted to warn us. So they gave us the Five Calamities."
Meaning…
Those monsters were deliberate gifts.
Messages.
Warnings.
And now?
It was humanity's turn to answer.