A Wanderer's Lies - Chapter 89: Excursion [3]

Considering where we finish on tomorrow’s ranking, I’ll decide whether I’ll post an extra chapter.

But if you don’t want me nagging you about powerstoens all the time, head to my Patreon.

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The only thing I nag to about people over there is…I’ll let you find out

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In a cold and dark auditorium, the large doors lay wide open as the moonlight crept as far inside as it could.

Isaac, standing before Xavier who had his back turned, could feel his heart skip a beat as he tried his best to remain calm.

“Well, Isaac. Tell me, what do you know about the Dark Continent?”

Xavier repeated as Isaac’s hope that he may have heard that wrong disappeared.

‘Fuck! What happened?! What did I do wrong?! How does he know about my knowledge on the Dark Continent?!’

Isaac yelled inwardly, falling into a slight panic as a singular thought crossed his mind.

‘I have to kill him.’

What else could he do? This was exactly what he was trying to avoid, yet he found himself in the mess that would bring nothing but trouble.

However, before Isaac let his mind run rampant any longer, he took a deep breath as he quelled his emotions.

‘Calm down, Isaac. You don’t know if he’s talking about you. Let him finish first.’

Isaac reassured himself inwardly.

“Nervous, Isaac?” Xavier asked, seemingly catching onto Isaac’s subtle mishap.

“No, Professor. And no, I’ve never heard of anything named the Dark Continent.” Isaac replied, causing Xavier to pause for a second, soon turning around and coming face to face with Isaac.

“I read your file, Isaac. Your quest. How you failed the Hunter’s Exam.”

Isaac narrowed his eyes.

“I was quite surprised to see you were a Wanderer. But even more surprised to see you were an F-Rank, despite your clear talent in Nen. And from what you’ve told us, you returned back as soon as you failed in the Hunter’s Exam, is that right?”

Isaac controlled his heartbeat, slowing it due to the nervousness he was feeling. If he didn’t, he had no doubt Xavier would notice it.

Additionally, he was prepared to activate his Ren at any moment.

“Yes, Professor. My quest was simply to participate. Nothing further.”

Xavier once again paused as he let out a slight hum of understanding.

“Then it makes sense you’ve never heard of the Dark Continent. Even some Elites of the Hunter X Hunter verse go their whole lives without ever hearing the name. The same goes for Spawn as well.” Xavier nodded, turning his head and walking a few steps away from Isaac.

Isaac felt a sense of relief wash over him as he resisted the urge to let out a sigh to expunge the tense feeling that had tortured him.

“The Dark Continent, a hidden land beyond the known world where you resided whilst in your Scenario. A land so dangerous and unknown that it has been labelled to have a survival rate of 0.04%.”

‘0.04% seems fair. But with Netero I was pretty safe.’

“Everything known about this landmass can be listed on one hand. The mysteries surrounding it are endless and those who discover a piece of knowledge surrounding it are greatly rewarded, both in the Scenario and Spawn.”

Upon saying this, Xavier turned his head till his eyes were barely able to meet with Isaac’s.

“But I have something better than knowledge. Experience. See, I’ve been to the Dark Continent.”

Isaac widened his eyes, not bothering to hide it as doing so might cause Xavier to become suspicious of him.

This was the first time he’d met another Inheritor who travelled to the Dark Continent, or even knew about it.

“I wasn’t alone. I was joined by two other individuals, each of us with our own goals that led us to trick the Hunter’s Association and convince them to venture to the Dark Continent, allowing us the means to reach there.”

‘Trick?’

“But see, it wasn’t easy. We had obstacles blocking our path. One of them being the Chairman of the Hunter’s Association at the time.”

Isaac’s ears perked upon hearing this.

“Isaac Netero?” He asked, prompting Xavier to nod.

“Yes, I guess it makes sense you know that much. He banned all ventures into the Dark Continent, destroying any chance we had.”

“So what did you do?”

Isaac asked this with his mouth, but inwardly, he let out a cocky chuckle.

‘Idiots. I’m surprised you’re still alive after messing with that old man.’

“What else? We killed him.”

‘What…’

Isaac stood, stunned as he momentarily lost the ability to speak.

“With the help of his son, Beyond Netero. The three of us were able to dispose of him, plotting against him and leading him into a fight against the Chimera Ant king, Meruem.” Xavier continued, seeming as though he hadn’t noticed Isaac’s peculiar behaviour.

However, despite Isaac regaining his composure on the surface, countless questions and emotions were running through his mind.

‘Ant? It can’t be. And Netero had a son?’

“Though there was another obstacle. The Gate leading to the Dark Continent could only be opened with Scarlet Eyes, but we already had enough of those after our third companion, Pariston Hill, gave the command to execute all the Kurtas and gather their eyes. Though it was the Phantom Troupe who did the deed, it was him who struck a deal with them.”

This time around, despite his shock, Isaac was better prepared, showing an adequate reaction on the outside, while his mind raced.

‘Relax, none of this is from your timeline. It has nothing to do with you.’

Although Isaac thought this, the Kurta genocide didn’t seem like it had much to do with Xavier either, meaning it may have been something that happened in every timelines.

Same with Netero’s death.

Depending on Xavier’s action, it may be an event bound to happen.

“Why are you telling me this?” Isaac asked, not being able to hold it in any longer.

“Why? To tell you how my eyes became the way they are.” Xavier replied without looking back.

“You’ve already told me why. Because of a Nen Vow.”

“But what was it that drove me to make this Vow? What situation could I have been in that made me feel like sacrificing my eyes was a wise decision.”

Xavier let out a slight chuckle.

“Well, it’s simple. I was in over my head. The atmosphere of the Dark Continent was something I had no knowledge of, not to mention the monsters which were nothing like the beasts in the known world.”

Isaac raised an eyebrow as he heard this.

“Don’t you mean ‘we’, Professor?” After all, he was with a team.

“No, you heard me correctly. I was alone. I’d been tossed into the wild after I’d outgrown my usefulness.”

Xavier then raised his two hands just as Isaac had questions running through his mind.

Pressing his two hands together, Isaac could feel the Nen radiating off Xavier, as a dark and void like space suddenly appeared, stretching across his two hands.

“This is my Nen ability, Hide and Seek.”

[Name: Xavier Hall (Stage 6/S- Rank)]

[Inherited Character: Knov]

[Verse: Hunter X Hunter]

‘A…portal?’

“With my desire for revenge and the strong emotions welling up inside me, in that moment, I was willing to sacrifice anything to attain vengeance. And so, my Nen manifested, taking my eyes and rewarding me with power beyond my imagination.”

Xavier grinned, his tone becoming more and more sinister.

“That is something Inheritors don’t understand. Nen. One tends to underestimate something they cannot comprehend.”

Xavier paused, staring at Isaac as he continued to smile.

“So? Then what?” Isaac asked. He had become immersed in Xavier’s story despite the tense atmosphere.

Though he still kept his guard up.

“That is all I’m willing to tell you, Isaac. It would be unwise to tell a mere F-Rank child a scary story after dark.” Xavier replied in a mocking tone.

Isaac narrowed his eyes, confused by the sudden change in attitude and personality.

“Because in truth, no matter how talented in Nen or how brave and hungry for knowledge you are, you will always simply be an F-Rank.”

As Xavier said this, he extended his hand.

“But you don’t have to accept that fate. I can help you pass your forsaken limit, just as I did. I will teach you and all you have to do is pledge your loyalty to me. Become my subordinate, Isaac.”

‘I knew it.’

Isaac inwardly scoffed, though made sure his outward demeanour remained naive.

‘This is an invitation to Onyx.’

Each Bishop had at least three Priests working under them, as those Priests were in command of dozens of Onyx followers.

Though Isaac had thought Xavier was a follower under Jayne, a Priest, he could only assume Xavier was given a promotion upon Jayne’s untimely death.

Despite Xavier’s outrageous offer, Isaac couldn’t help but ponder upon it.

If he was a member, he could better follow Onyx’s plans and find out any other Professor who was a traitor.

However…

“I thank you for this opportunity, Professor Hall. However, may I ask for some time to think about it?” Isaac replied after a few seconds with a slight bow.

Though, Isaac had no intention of joining.

Yes, the benefits could help Isaac considerably, but the cons to accepting the offer were too dangerous.

Additionally, he would only be a simple follower. Seeing the vague information the Priests, who were a higher level, were given, he couldn’t imagine the followers were offered better treatment.

And if Xavier was to be caught, there was a chance of Isaac being outed as an Onyx member, destroying his hope for peace.

‘There are too many risks that aren’t worth the effort.’

Therefore, he decided to reply with what he did.

If he were to say no, he would be nothing but a teenage boy with powerful information, meaning he would be nothing but a loose end.

Therefore, he opted for this answer.

Xavier stayed quiet, still smiling as his hand hung in the air.

‘Is he going to try something?’

Isaac thought, but his worries were soon put to rest as he heard Xavier sigh slightly.

“Of course. This is a life changing offer. You’d be peculiar if you didn’t put any thought into it.” Xavier chuckled, lowering his hand.

“However, I trust what you’ve learnt here today doesn’t leave this auditorium.” Xavier peered at Isaac, a wisp of Nen exuding from him.

“What I’ve learnt? Sir, I don’t even remember seeing you tonight.”

Xavier smiled as he heard this.

“Good man. You’re dismissed.”

Isaac bowed, turning around and walking out of the auditorium.

“Think hard about it, Isaac. There’s great benefit in it for you.”

‘No, there isn’t.’

Xavier only had the knowledge of Nen Vows to bargain with.

However, the Professor didn’t know he had already lost that advantage the day he’d introduced Isaac to the concept.

‘He’s lost his trump card and he doesn’t even realise it.’

***

One could see the sun rising over the horizon as the early morning breeze carried a brisk chill.

Usually at this time, Isaac would be in the forest, training. But not today.

No, today was the day.

“Students, may I have your attention.”

A familiar man, with his usual black shirt folded at the forearms, glasses and black sweatpants, as well as his signature hunched back and lacklustre tone, stood at the front of a class filled with ecstatic students.

The students, most wearing coats or something to protect them from the morning chill, turned their heads as they all faced Orion.

“I still haven’t forgotten that sloth’s voice.” Oliver whispered to Isaac as they both chuckled.

After just entering the class, they took their seats at the back, like usual.

“I assume you all know why we’re here bright and early? I trust you’ve all packed your belongings into your dimensional space because you won’t be given a chance to go back and grab forgotten items.”

The students all nodded as bright smiles were painted on their face, waiting for Orion to say the words they were waiting for.

‘This is it. No more preparation. I’ve waited for this day since Ravenwood.’

Isaac breathed in, he too felt his heartbeat quicken like the rest of the students, but for very different reasons.

“Today is the day. The first year excursion to Ashton City.”

-CLAP

-CLAP

-CLAP

“Finally!”

“I’m so excited!”

“Ashton City, here comes the first year class of B-21!”

The students cheered, whistled and clapped as they practically leapt out from their seats in excitement.

Yet, a single student in the back exhaled as he opened his eyes, a burning light of determination and fearlessness erupting from them.

‘Let’s do it!’

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Next chapter title: Tracked [Single Chapter]

NNext chapter title: Ashton City [Single Chapter]

I just wanna say, no one was able to guess Lucy’s character. Then there was also that one guy who asked, “Who’s Lucy?”

But we don’t talk about that one guy.

I wanna give mild hints, but I’m not sure if people will consider that a spoiler and find it annoying, so I’ll let you guys continue guessing.

But if you can’t wait, there’s always the Patreon!

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And as usual…

POWERSTONESSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS

Ill say it again, considering where we finish on tomorrow’s ranking, I’ll decide whether I’ll post an extra chapter.

OK bye…

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