Hellbell, the Twin-Tailed Snake, uses its bell-shaped organs as a medium to emit bells that can infect listeners with murderous intent, making creatures who hear the sound become bloodthirsty.
Its range of activity is in the southeastern swampland.
Among the known voyage records, the Federation of Ochima, in order to find the longevity food Nitro Rice, dispatched a team of eleven hundred people towards the swampland.
However, the team couldn't even set foot into the swampland; 99% of the members became prey for Hellbell. Ultimately, only eleven people fled its territory in disarray.
Law once saw Hellbell, the Twin-Tailed Snake, in the parasitic dream of the Mirage Beetle and personally experienced the terror of its bells.
Aside from matching appearances, there was no basis to prove that the Hellbell in the dream was the same one that destroyed the Federation of Ochima's team.
Among the five known Hopes in the eastern Dark Continent, Law believed the most necessary to obtain was Nitro Rice, which could increase lifespan.
Therefore, when he returned to the Dark Continent this time, he didn't choose to land on the more familiar western Dark Continent but set his sights on the eastern Dark Continent.
Having undergone the Mirage Tick's mental baptism and possessing information left by predecessors, he felt obtaining Nitro Rice wasn't particularly difficult.
Actually, he had this idea very early on.
Initially, he even had thoughts about Melody.
Because Hellbell could infect prey with murderous intent through sound, fitting the Emission category, and Melody's Nen Ability also belonged to Emission. She could calm listeners' minds by playing her flute.
There seemed to be a mutually counteracting relationship between the two.
So, very early on, Law thought Melody's ability might be Hellbell's bane.
Unfortunately, Melody didn't have the heart to explore the Dark Continent, so Law didn't extend an olive branch to her.
If Melody were with the team, this operation would probably be more assured.
Regarding Law's plan to obtain Nitro Rice, no one in the team would oppose it.
After all, the pursuit of longevity is a chord that easily plucks at people's hearts.
Who wouldn't want to live longer?
Even if some didn't have such thoughts before, after learning about Nitro Rice's existence, if they could obtain it, they definitely wouldn't let go.
For the team to reach the swampland, they first had to traverse the perilous Sea of Trees.
Encountering a supernatural creature like the Ice Silkworm at the forest entrance made them think the forest would be even more dangerous, so they remained highly vigilant.
However, the team traveled uneventfully through the forest for three days.
It wasn't that they encountered no danger, but compared to the Ice Silkworm, the creatures they met within three days weren't much to look at, at best just food to fill their teeth.
Nothing encountered along the way warranted the team's lingering. Plus, with Tonpa's radar detection ability constantly active, the team's progress became much smoother, not needing excessive worry.
Such uneventful exploration also somewhat reassured Nique, whose mentality was the poorest in the team.
The team's goal was clear, so they didn't actively stir up trouble, focusing on travel.
Ten days later, the team passed through the Sea of Trees without major incident, entering a vast grassland.
The grassland terrain here wasn't flat. Looking far ahead, it was uneven with gentle undulations, like rolling ocean waves.
The green grass grew well, all surpassing knee-height.
Looking just from the grassland's edge, neither in the air nor on the ground could any creatures be seen.
However, no one could be sure if dangers lurked beneath the grass.
"Crossing this grassland, we'll see the swampland where Nitro Rice is located," Law said, looking at the quiet, silent grassland. "We have Knov's Hide-and-Seek dimension, so there's no need to rush through the grassland."
Saying this, Law glanced at the sky.
This grassland, with nearly zero visibility at foot level, wasn't suitable as a temporary campsite.
If they marched hastily across the grassland, they would encounter the potentially approaching Hellbell in a fatigued state.
The Federation of Ochima back then likely failed to cover both ends, leading to being easily wiped out by Hellbell's bells before even entering the swampland.
But Law's team had Knov… they could enter the safe Hide-and-Seek dimension anytime to rest, ensuring they faced potential threats at 100% condition.
The team didn't linger long before directly stepping into the grassland.
Tonpa suggested, "Should we reduce the detection range to prolong its duration?"
Law decisively shook his head: "No, the detection range is crucial. Even if it shortens the duration, we can't reduce the range. If your Nen consumption crosses the red line, directly take the Lichen assigned to you."
Tonpa hesitated, "Won't that be too wasteful?"
Law glanced at him sideways and said calmly, "In this team, you alone don't need to think about conserving Lichen consumption. That's why I allocated double the portion to you."
"Understood."
Tonpa was already used to being entrusted with important tasks by Law and said no more.
The team advanced steadily, not seeking speed, only stability.
Traveling during the day, resting in Knov's Hide-and-Seek dimension at night.
Two days later, the team crossed the grassland, standing on a small grassy hill.
Looking ahead, a muddy swampland came into view.
Golden, haystack-shaped low aquatic grass clumps were everywhere, scattered across the swamp.
Muddy streams and rivers, like spreading tree roots, wove through countless haystack-shaped aquatic grass clumps, resembling dense veins on leaves.
Seemingly shallow water floated atop the soil, with sunlight falling vertically, reflecting shimmering points.
This swampland wasn't just low aquatic grass clumps… patches of small groves composed of a dozen or so trees were scattered about.
"According to records in the International Permit Agencies, witnesses saw the Hellbell in trees, but it's hard to guarantee it won't move beneath the aquatic grass," Ging said.
"No matter. We can first use a safe method to locate Hellbell and Nitro Rice."
"What method?"
Five minutes later, everyone was in Knov's largest Hide-and-Seek dimension room, with only Kuro left outside, accompanied by the little fox Nen Beast conjured by Nique, though Kuro couldn't see that Nen Beast.
The Unseen Thing.
This was Nique's Nen ability. Based on gaining the target's trust, he materialized a little fox Nen beast only he could see, constantly staying beside the target, unafraid of any harm.
The scenes seen by the little fox were transmitted synchronously to Nique's right eye, and he could freely adjust the viewing angle within a twenty-meter range.
Although Kuro wasn't as invulnerable to harm as the little fox, his mobility was extremely high, and he was a Nen Beast, making him most suitable for the scout position.
"I'm ready."
Nique stuffed a large handful of grass into his mouth, then looked up at the room's wall.
Beside him, everyone followed his gaze to the wall.
Nique's right eye shimmered with Nen, transforming into a beam imprinting on the wall, projecting the little fox Nen Beast's perspective.
Kuro, the little fox, plus Knov's Hide-and-Seek dimension.
With several abilities coordinated, they could achieve a zero-risk scouting effect.
"This reminds me of underwater cameras," Salin said sincerely.
Her statement was immediately agreed upon by several present.
Seeing Nique had completed the perspective projection, Law inserted Kuro's ear onto the wall beside the picture and asked, "If you hear this, slap yourself once."
In the projection, the conjured Kuro, without ears, instinctively raised his hand to slap his own face but quickly realized, stopping abruptly.
His dark face instantly showed anger, cursing several times, but those in the Hide-and-Seek's dimension couldn't hear Kuro at all, though they could probably tell he was cursing.
"Test complete. You can enter the swampland now. Raise your right hand to indicate you heard the command." Law smiled, signaling Kuro to begin scouting.
In the projection, Kuro raised his right hand, then directly stepped into the swampland.