Over the next few days, Law took Gon, who had sneaked out, to the forest several more times to continue practicing fishing.
Perhaps due to his natural talent, Gon improved remarkably fast, needing only to refine his physical foundation.
After spending these days together, Law considered teaching Gon Nen multiple times, but each time, he ultimately dismissed the idea.
Killua and Gon were both rare geniuses. If they could start building their Nen Foundation early, like Zushi had at five or six years old, their future training would proceed smoothly, giving them a head start.
Unfortunately, Killua had restrictions imposed by the Zoldyck family, so Law couldn't teach him. As for Gon, there was Ging. Without his consent, Law naturally wouldn't teach Gon either.
During this time, Gon repeatedly invited Law to visit his home, but Law always politely declined. However, he did prepare a delicious dish every day for Gon to take back.
Perhaps because of this, even though Gon frequently entered the forest, he was no longer scolded by Mito.
Days passed like this, and a week later, Ging arrived on Whale Island to meet up with Law.
Under the dim crescent moon, Law and Ging stood atop the tallest tree in the forest. The night breeze carried the faint chill of early autumn.
From the treetop, they could see the village's lights in the distance to the west.
"Since you're back, aren't you going home to take a look?"
Law teased Ging, knowing full well he wouldn't go home.
Ging stood with his hands in his pockets, the wind ruffling the white scarf around his neck. His head was wrapped haphazardly in a cloth, revealing messy strands of hair, and his unshaven stubble gave him the appearance of a wanderer with no fixed abode.
"No, I'm feeling a bit homesick."
He said, staring at the village lights as if pinpointing the tree-entwined house. His tone was oddly sincere.
Law rolled his eyes, "You think I'd believe that?"
"Yes." Ging replied earnestly.
Law shook his head slightly and didn't press the issue. Changing the subject, he asked, "Do you want to check the Divine Script first, or go straight to the mountaintop?"
"Let's eat first. I haven't had dinner yet." Ging said seriously.
"You're hopeless." Law sighed.
Twenty minutes later, Law and Ging strolled through the forest. The latter held a skewered roast chicken in his hand, eating with relish.
"Can you spare me some of those spices?"
Ging's mouth was greasy as he turned to Law, asking for Linne's specially crafted spices.
"No." Luo refused decisively.
"I'll pay for them." Ging said.
"Priceless."
"Don't make me resort to extreme measures!" Ging threatened.
"Go ahead, try me," Law shot back.
"I recently found a nest of Winged Dragons in the Kruz Mountains. I was considering whether to put in the effort to tame one." Ging mused.
Winged Dragons were the same species as the Zoldyck Family's tamed dragon. Law had asked Ging to help him get one, but the matter had been delayed repeatedly… and now it was being used as leverage.
In response, Law simply smiled and said, "Greed Island."
Ging immediately backed down and dropped the subject of the spices.
He had forbidden Law from playing Greed Island because Law's abilities could severely disrupt the game's system. With that hanging over his head, Ging's half-threat, half-joke tactic was useless.
The two arrived at the giant tree where Law had first discovered the Divine Script. They carefully unearthed the roots and examined them up close with a prepared flashlight.
After thorough inspection, they reburied the roots.
"Well?" Law asked.
"The structure is meticulous, and the details are flawless. Even factors like the tree's growth and root expansion were accounted for." Ging praised.
"If you were to inscribe runes like this on a tree, how long would it take you?" Law asked.
"My speed for inscribing runes is about the same as yours. What do you think?" Ging countered.
"An hour, maybe longer." Law replied.
"Exactly. These runes weren't inscribed using Nen. Even if their properties are simple, the structure isn't overly complex. But the mechanism that borrows the tree's life force… that's the hardest part."
Ging placed a hand on the tree trunk.
He already had an idea of who could have left such a masterpiece.
However, even though he had treated the forest as his backyard since childhood, he had never discovered the secrets hidden within the tree roots.
"If we could fully decipher that mechanism, even if it can't be used in combat, it would have many other applications." Law mused.
"Mm, let's set that aside for now and check out the other locations." Ging said.
The two left and headed toward the volcano, also inspecting the Divine Script on the stone tablet along the way.
Thirty minutes later, they arrived near the active volcano.
"So this is the Lichen..."
Ging crouched beside the Lichen, lightly running his fingers over it, experiencing the same sensation Law had before.
A strong vitality.
It was a strange feeling. To put it simply… if a tree were made into wooden flooring, would the flooring still retain life force?
This so-called Lichen was exactly that kind of existence.
"You said this is a plant from the Dark Continent. What's your basis for that?" Ging stood up and looked at Law.
"No basis. It's up to whether you believe it or not." Law replied.
Ging scratched his cheekwhen he heard this. To be honest, without any evidence, he really couldn't bring himself to believe that this Lichen came from the Dark Continent.
But the one saying this was Law.
So, despite his usual skepticism and absolute rationality when evaluating things, Ging found his internal scale balancing precariously in the middle.
If all of this had been left behind by that person, the scale might tip toward belief.
Having already deciphered the Divine Script, there was no need to waste more time. Law led Ging to the crater, letting him see the mysterious magma entity with his own eyes.
Even though Ging had traveled the world, seen countless wonders, and even co-created Greed Island, a game filled with miraculous cards, he was still left speechless after observing and testing the magma bird.
"So, after all this, do you have any leads?" Law crossed his arms, watching the chaotic movements of the magma bird below.
Ging was silent for a moment before speaking, "Those [Hopes] and [Calamities] I told you about come from a travelogue written hundreds of years ago… The Journey to the New World. The author's name was..."
He turned to look at Law, who waited expectantly.
"Don Freecss."
"Freecss?" Law raised an eyebrow.
Ging nodded calmly, "It's my family name. There's a high probability that all of this is his handiwork… though I can't say for certain."
Law was inwardly startled. He had learned a lot about the Dark Continent from Ging and Linne, but he hadn't known that the information all came from a single book. And…
"You said that book was a travelogue?"
"That's right."
Ging's eyes gleamed with excitement.
For some reason, Law suddenly felt his heart surge with exhilaration.
Vaguely, a different kind of thought took shape in his mind.
'A true adventurer needed a memoir… or a travelogue.'
At this moment, an irresistible urge to set off for the Dark Continent immediately welled up inside him.