Chapitre 189: Chapter 186 : Confrontation??
Beyond stretched out three fingers toward Germain and spoke in a matter-of-fact tone.
"Hand over three members of your team to us, and I can guarantee a smooth cooperation between you, us, and the Kakin Royal Family."
"Two of them will be turned over to the Kakin Royal Family as the primary suspects in the Fourth Prince's murder."
He pointed at his own mercenary captain.
"The last one will go to my mercenary captain, Muherr."
Beyond assigned the fate of three out of Germain's five team members with an air of authority, as though they were livestock, a move that felt disturbingly degrading.
Germain glanced at Muherr, curious as to why one person needed to go to him specifically.
Muherr, with his pointed ears, explained, "Germain, do you remember the 'airship hijacking incident' from back in April?"
"The airship hijacking?" Germain quickly recalled. That was when he had just met Kurapika. They'd encountered a group of crazed hijackers on an airship.
In the end, Germain had taken them all down single-handedly.
Could they have been connected to Muherr?
Thinking back, they were indeed mercenaries.
Germain looked at the mercenary captain without betraying any emotion, waiting for him to continue.
"They weren't exactly under my command," Muherr added, "but we were connected through the Norwell Mercenary Survivors' Mutual Aid Fund."
As the name suggests, this fund was set up to ensure a basic living for the families of deceased mercenaries.
"Yes, their hijacking of the airship was extreme, and it embarrassed all of us in the mercenary world."
"But at the end of the day, they were still 'our people,' and they died for the Norwell Mercenary Survivors' Mutual Aid Fund. So, we can't ignore them completely."
"We don't ask for much—just the life of anyone from your team. That's all."
"In the future, you'll need to work with mercenaries like them. Giving up one life now will at least earn you a minimum level of trust. I think it's a fair trade."
Beyond let out a hearty laugh.
"Muherr is right. We'll be working together from now on, so it's best to balance things without causing unnecessary friction. Let's stick to this arrangement…"
"These two go to the Kakin Royal Family." He gestured toward Kurapika and Sheila. "Their motive for murder will be the 'Scarlet Eyes.'"
Kurapika's brows furrowed.
Sheila's expression went stiff.
Beyond then pointed to Shizuku. "She'll go to the mercenaries. This way, every side has a concession. After all, 'a life for a life' is a fundamental principle."
Shizuku's expression remained unchanged.
Beyond continued laughing and nodding as he spoke.
"Even if they realize that these three aren't the real killers, or aren't the only ones involved, they'll accept it for the sake of the Dark Continent. With this, I can settle the remaining issues easily."
"Alright, this is the lowest price I can offer. If you can't bring yourselves to agree, my people can handle it and take action directly," Beyond said.
Saiyu, Muherr, and the mercenaries stepped forward in unison, like a pack of wolves closing in on their prey.
Shizuku and Kurapika immediately summoned Blinky and Chains, watching Beyond's group warily, ready to fight.
Meanwhile, Sheila trembled behind them, silently praying.
The atmosphere grew tense.
"What kind of joke is this?!" Bisky puffed up, her strong physique standing protectively in front of the trio. "We would never trade them, and you don't have the authority to demand that."
Her voice was fierce, showing she was prepared to resist to the end.
Beyond's face twisted with a troubled look, his scarred face wrinkling up.
"Well, that's difficult... fine, we can compromise. Those two women can be replaced by two others."
"As for Kurapika, there's no substitute. His eyes, and that large batch of Scarlet Eyes you've taken from him, can answer a lot of questions."
"We can't just find random scapegoats to brush this off. The Kakin Royal Family wouldn't accept it, and it wouldn't show enough sincerity on our part."
"I hope you understand. You can't just give us no one—that would be unreasonable and would damage our partnership…"
"Who wants to work with you?! And you call this a 'compromise'?!" Bisky's face flushed with anger, and she turned to look at Germain. "Say something!"
Beyond stroked his long beard and smiled at Germain.
"Yes, say something. You're their backbone, after all. But I trust you can see the reality here."
He pointed at Saiyu, Muherr, and then at himself.
"With just me alone, you and Bisky would need to team up to handle it. So how do you plan to handle Saiyu and Muherr along with the others?"
"The outcome is inevitable, but I'd rather we don't have to reach that point. Let's keep a little dignity on both sides. What do you think, Germain?"
Beyond always appeared to be reasonable, but his actions would gradually corner his opponents, leaving them with only the choices he'd suggested from the start.
Germain understood the situation clearly.
He signaled Bisky to calm down, then stepped forward.
Bisky paused, then realized his intent.
Germain said, "We can work together, but we absolutely cannot use them as a bargaining chip."
Beyond shook his head and sighed. "What's the point of your insistence? Do you really want to start a war with us?"
"We can find three other people to act as scapegoats," Germain extended his hand toward Beyond and continued, "At the same time, I can tell you my method of traveling to the 'Dark Continent' right now."
"As for how to weave lies and persuade the 'Kakin Empire Royal Family' and those mercenaries, that's up to you."
"If you don't agree, we'll have no choice but to resist to the end."
Beyond looked at Germain's outstretched hand, his brow slightly furrowing. This time, he was unwilling to shake hands easily.
"First, tell me about your 'Nen ability.'"
Germain stepped forward two more paces, standing in front of Beyond and his group.
"My 'method' is actually my 'Nen ability.' By conjuring a 'Teleport Lantern,' I can make the 'Messenger Ghost' grab the 'person,' triggering the teleportation."
Beyond and the others weren't surprised that Germain's 'Nen ability' was his method; they had mostly guessed it. What truly shocked them was Germain's next action.
"Just like this."
While Beyond and the others were still processing his words, Germain suddenly crouched down and pressed one hand against the ground.
Hunter Badge: Teleport Lantern activated—
Purple light flashed, and the 'Teleport Lantern' appeared, revealing four thin little ghosts that let out piercing howls.
Three of them lunged at Beyond, Saiyu, and Muherr without hesitation.
Beyond, Saiyu, and Muherr were startled. If those three 'Messenger Ghosts' caught them, they would be 'forced to teleport' to the 'Dark Continent' or some other place.
In the brief moment they had to react, the three made the most reasonable judgments and actions based on Germain's words.
They all instinctively chose to leap back, avoiding the ghosts' attacks.
The three ghosts, unable to grab anyone, landed on the ground and let out disappointed shrieks that seemed to pierce everyone's eardrums.
However, when Beyond, Saiyu, and Muherr were pushed back ten meters, they gradually came to realize.
They understood that such a 'super long-distance forced teleportation' should be impossible because it was too easy to trigger, violating 'Vows and Limitations.'
And indeed, that was the case.
Germain's 'Teleport Lantern' could send a maximum of four people to the 'Dark Continent.'
However, Beyond carried the "lock" set by Netero, which meant that if he were really sent to the "Dark Continent," he could be immediately affected by the "rebound of the lock."
So, even if there was only a slight chance, Beyond couldn't take the risk. He had to keep his distance from the "Messenger Ghost" and couldn't even attempt to counterattack.
However, Germain never expected that this attack would succeed.
Just like Beyond and the others thought, the "Teleport Lantern" required too many "Vows and Limitations" to activate.
First, Germain had to crouch down and place his hand on the ground to complete the series of actions needed to "set down and light the lamp."
Second, one of the "people being transported" had to be Germain himself.
Moreover, the "Teleport Lantern" had a cooldown period, and Germain would accumulate "pressure," "traits," and "diseases" with each return trip.
Finally, the "people being transmitted" must shake hands with the "Messenger Ghost" and must not have a strong desire to resist being "transmitted."
These four conditions, especially the last one, meant that the "Teleport Lantern" generally could not be used as an offensive tool.
Not to mention, it was nearly impossible for Beyond, Saiyu, and Muherr to meet all these conditions at the same time.
Additionally, Germain couldn't use the "Teleport Lantern" to take anyone with him in the current situation.
Because there were exactly five of them, but the "Teleport Lantern" could only send away four people, which meant someone would be left behind—something Germain didn't want to see.
Moreover, even if Germain and the others were transmitted to the "Dark Continent," Beyond and his group could easily lie in wait near the "Teleport Lantern."
Germain and the others would have to return eventually—either through the "Teleport Lantern" or by finding the "Gatekeeper" and "Guide" to come back.
The first option still required contact with Beyond's group, while the second was not only perilous and difficult but also likely to bring back "disasters."
In either case, the risks were too high.
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