After taking a sip, Larry set the glass down and looked at Beyond expectantly. Now that he'd nearly finished eating, it was time to get down to business.
Beyond's breath caught for a moment before he broke into a bright smile. He clearly understood what Larry was getting at and continued, "As expected of you, Mr. Larry."
"In this case, I won't hold back. Besides thanking you for meeting with me, there's something else I want to say," Beyond began, his eyes fixed intently on Larry.
"Do you have any plans to head to the Dark Continent next?"
Although Beyond already understood what was on Larry's mind, he asked anyway to draw out the answer.
Since the restaurant was nearly empty and only the two of them were there, Beyond spoke openly about the Dark Continent, not caring if anyone overheard.
In fact, he planned to team up with his ally, the King Nasubi, to spread the truth about the Dark Continent across the six continents.
Soon, everyone would learn that their so-called "six continents" and "world map" were merely a few small islands on a vast lake. The world was far bigger than anyone imagined.
Beyond wouldn't bother saying something vague like, "Did you know there's an unknown continent out there?"
Someone of Larry's caliber had to have some knowledge about the Dark Continent, and probably wanted to explore it.
After all, anyone strong enough would naturally be curious about such a mysterious and unexplored place.
"The Dark Continent? Of course I'm thinking about going," Larry admitted with a nod, openly sharing his plan.
Beyond the various hopes tied to the Dark Continent, like the legendary Nitolomi that could extend human life, what interested him most were the Pokemon that could be found there.
Compared to the small islands of the six continents, the Pokemon on the Dark Continent had to be of a much higher level, and there was even a chance to encounter legendary Pokemon.
No matter what, Larry was determined to make the journey.
"That's easy to handle," Beyond said with a smile, recalling his own experience.
"I actually went to the Dark Continent once, a long time ago. I'm the only person who's been there in all these years and is still alive."
A look of thrill crossed his face as he remembered that time.
"It was intense.
Every one of my friends died. I escaped by hiding among the dead, and then I ran like a stray dog."
He shook his head.
"The Dark Continent is truly a forbidden land for humans."
"In a place like that, even wanting to escape feels like a luxury," Beyond said quietly, his face darkening without him realizing it.
It was the kind of helpless feeling people get when they come up against someone far beyond their level. But despite all that, he wasn't ready to give up on exploring that unknown continent.
The rewards he found there kept him motivated to push forward.
"Last time, I had to run away in a panic, but I still managed to come back with something valuable, an incredibly rare alchemy plant," he continued.
"The materials inside it don't exist on any of the six continents and could be really important for research."
He smiled faintly.
"Even if it's just a small plant, it's proof of what I've gained.
So no matter what setbacks I face, I won't give up. I'll keep exploring."
As he spoke, the gloom on his face slowly lifted, and the cloudy look in his eyes cleared, replaced by a bright, determined spark.
It was like the sun breaking through a thick fog.
Larry listened quietly as Beyond spoke passionately, but he didn't react much to the emotional words. What really caught Larry's attention was Beyond's firsthand experience of venturing into the Dark Continent and making it back alive.
Larry remembered the original account of the Dark Continent: Version 5 had organized 149 expeditions there, but only five people ever returned.
In total, just 28 survivors came back, and most of them later died from the aftereffects of their journey or brought back terrible disasters.
Many returned seriously injured or suffering from debilitating illnesses, much like Linne. In the end, only three people managed to live a normal life again, and two of those three have already passed away.
That leaves only one survivor of those 28: Beyond, sitting right in front of Larry.
Out of 7,500 people sent by V5, only three were considered healthy survivors. That means the chance of returning unscathed from the Dark Continent is a mere 0.04%.
This alone speaks volumes about Beyond's value. Like his father Netero, he's one of the very few who survived the Dark Continent.
The difference is, Beyond went through official channels, while Netero ventured with just two companions. Even Netero, Linne, and Zigg never truly made it into the Dark Continent.
In the original story, Netero left behind a videotape explaining that he only barely reached the "gate" of the Dark Continent and didn't cross the threshold. Even at his peak, Netero had only touched the edge but never truly stepped inside.
This only highlights how exceptional Beyond's achievement is. What Beyond said was true.
He's one of the very few people across the six continents who has actually been to the Dark Continent and lived to tell the tale.
Having someone like him as a companion on an expedition would definitely be a huge advantage.
"So, what exactly are you trying to say?" Larry gathered his thoughts and asked Beyond directly.
"Ahem, what I mean is... I want to invite you to join my team," Beyond said, clearing his throat twice and adopting a more serious expression.
He knew this was the most important moment of the meeting and that convincing Larry was absolutely crucial. This way, his dream of exploring the Dark Continent could finally come true.
"Ever since I got back last time, I've been thinking about building my own team," he said.
Over the years, through steady effort and cooperation with the Kakin Empire, his team had taken shape, gathering a large group of partners, each with a clear role. They covered almost every aspect of travel, investigation, knowledge, combat, transportation, and more.
And everyone was pretty strong. Except for a few support members handling specialized knowledge, the rest were basically top-tier Nen users.
"This time, I'm determined to go to the Dark Continent."
But as Beyond spoke, his tone grew more excited, almost like he was gearing up for a challenge. Then he paused, reconsidered, and continued, "Honestly, whether it's our partners from the Kakin Empire or even the professional team I've built over the years... none of it compares to you alone."
The words sounded a bit exaggerated, but Larry could feel the genuine respect behind them.