Six Continents, in a rather remote small courtyard.
Surrounded by no other buildings, only an old-fashioned house stood, appearing quaint from the outside.
It wasn't yet noon, and the gentle sunlight spilled into the yard, where a yellow recliner was placed.
Netero lay quietly on the recliner, basking in the warm sunlight, exuding an air of leisure.
Since resigning as chairman, he had found himself with much more free time, spending his days simply enjoying life without a care in the world.
Perhaps freed from numerous worries and able to live leisurely, he seemed to have grown younger.
Not in body, but in spirit.
Now he was different from his former self, living the life an old man truly ought to live.
Occasionally sipping some wine, reminiscing about his experiences over the past hundred years, and from time to time going out to visit old friends...
This was his life now.
It seemed he was thoroughly enjoying this lifestyle, but in reality, that wasn't the case.
Netero lay on the recliner, squinting slightly as he gazed at the azure sky above, occasionally spotting flocks of birds passing by.
Yet his thoughts drifted to that distant and mysterious continent.
Netero gently stroked his long beard, a nostalgic gleam appearing in his eyes as he murmured softly:
"Though this life is quite comfortable, I still can't help feeling a bit envious~"
"I wonder how deep Akira and the others have gone by now, and whether they've obtained what they wanted?"
Netero had no concerns about Akira's safety.
One could say that in the entire team, anyone might encounter trouble—including his son Beyond.
But Akira was the last person Netero thought would face any danger.
If nothing else, just those two terrifying Aura Beasts of Akira's alone guaranteed absolute safety in the peripheral areas.
Coupled with Akira's other abilities, Netero had no worries about his well-being.
After a period of quietude, though Netero no longer harbored any desire for adventure, he couldn't help but feel envious of Akira and the others.
Envious that they could witness more sights he himself had never seen.
The Dark Continent was perilous, brimming with Hope, and above all—unknown and mysterious.
It was like a kaleidoscope, reflecting the deepest desires in everyone's hearts.
Because it was unknown, everyone could boldly imagine.
They could envision it as the version they hoped for.
For Netero, he wasn't like Ging who saw the Dark Continent as a challenge to conquer.
Nor was he like Beyond, who treated it as a troublesome gold mine.
Netero simply wanted to see the landscapes within the Dark Continent, to go where he had never been before.
"I wonder when they'll return. Surely they won't just stay there forever?"
Netero yawned and dug at his ear with his pinky—it was perfectly clean, just a habit of his.
No sooner had he spoken than a familiar voice came from nearby.
"No need to worry, old man. I'm back already."
At the sound of the voice, Netero's body instantly tensed, the dormant Aura on his surface suddenly surging to life.
His aged frame abruptly brimmed with vitality as he flipped upright from the recliner in one swift motion.
Those weathered eyes quickly locked onto the direction of the voice.
There stood two figures.
Recognizing them, Netero's pupils contracted, and the swirling Aura around him gradually settled.
"Akira?"
"And.... Beyond?"
Netero's face was a picture of astonishment, his aged eyes wide as he spoke in a tone of disbelief.
Rubbing his eyes, Netero confirmed again and again that these two were indeed standing before him.
What a coincidence—just as he'd been thinking of them, here they were.
Akira raised a hand in greeting and chuckled lightly:
"You're looking well, old man. Haven't seen you in a while, and you're picking up more and more habits of a typical elderly."
Netero cleared his throat, retracting his astonished expression as he adopted a solemn demeanor.
"Not at all? I was merely enjoying myself."
With a sudden shift in tone, Netero pretended to shed tears, forcibly altering his voice as he spoke:
"Ah, a lonely old man like me has no one to keep me company, left to bask in the sun all by myself."
After saying this, Netero shrugged, putting on an expression of helplessness.
Seeing this familiar Netero, Akira couldn't help but chuckle silently.
The old man was indeed still the same old man.
Hearing this, Beyond, standing nearby, couldn't hold back and quickly interjected.
"Old man, the way you say that makes me sound like an unfilial son. We really shouldn't speak like this."
Netero glanced at Beyond, and seeing that he had returned safely, a flicker of joy flashed in his eyes.
After all, he knew exactly what kind of place the Dark Continent was.
He was confident that Akira could return unscathed, but whether he could protect the others was something he couldn't guarantee.
So even for his own son, Beyond, there was a considerable risk of perishing in the Dark Continent.
Despite his inner delight, Netero still feigned "surprise".
"Oh, you're here too. Didn't notice you earlier."
As he spoke, Netero gently stroked his distinctive "boot-shaped" beard, his eyes glancing upward.
Deliberately avoiding Beyond's gaze, pretending not to care.
Beyond frowned, a few dark lines appearing on his forehead, then let out a long sigh before his expression returned to normal.
He was already used to his father's eccentric behavior.
He also knew very well that Netero must have felt joy upon seeing him return safely.
It was just that this "old rascal" wouldn't say it outright.
Akira, standing nearby, quietly watched the exchange between this old "father and son" pair, his lips unconsciously curling upward.
These two, a father over a hundred years old and a son several decades old.
Yet their interactions were utterly amusing.
"Ahem."
Netero made a fist with his hand and coughed twice into it, trying to ease the awkward atmosphere.
Turning to Akira, he asked calmly:
"So? Was this expedition satisfactory?"
Seeing Netero steer the conversation back on track, Akira also set aside his amusement and responded:
"That brings me to the second purpose of my visit."
"The first was to see you, old man. The second was to bring you this."
Before Netero could guess the purpose, Akira spread open his right hand, and suddenly a ripple appeared in the air.
Waves of distortion appeared in the void, even warping space itself, and then a bowl of rice suddenly materialized in Akira's hand.
Netero's breath hitched as he stared at the bowl in Akira's hand, momentarily confused.
The next moment, an aroma he had never smelled before drifted into his nostrils.
This fragrance was extraordinarily enticing, an incredibly rich rice scent mixed with an invigorating life energy.
Just one whiff of this rice's aroma made Netero feel his mind clear slightly, refreshed and alert.
At the same time, a thought sprouted in his heart, growing wildly like weeds, quickly spreading to every corner.
'I want to eat it.'
This was Netero's first thought.
A moment later, Netero shook his head vigorously, pulling himself out of the Flow state, trying his best to remain composed.
Glancing at the still-glowing rice with wisps of mist rising from it, Netero reluctantly tore his gaze away.
Just then, a sudden realization struck Netero.
'Rice?'
'Could it be...'
Seeing Netero sudden realization as he looked at him, Akira nodded and pointed to the bowl in his hand, saying.
"This rice isn't ordinary."
"It's one of the [Hope]—[Nitro Rice]."
As expected!
A look of understanding flashed across Netero face—his earlier guess had been correct.
With a slightly trembling voice, he murmured.
"So this is... the Nitro Rice that can extend one's lifespan..."
Upon closer analysis, Netero had to admit that this rice most likely could indeed prolong life.
After all, the life energy contained within it was so abundant that it had fused into the aroma, dispersing into the air.
Anyone could tell that consuming this rice would provide an immense amount of life energy.
Given this, extending one's lifespan wasn't just empty talk—it was something that could truly be achieved.
After a moment of silence, Netero slowly raised his head, a trace of astonishment in his eyes.
"So the second goal you mentioned earlier was..."
Akira handed the bowl of rice to him, his tone firm:
"To give this bowl of rice to you."
"That is my second goal."
Upon returning to the Six Continents this time, he had not only brought back all his team members unharmed but also ensured that none of their gains were left behind.
The Nitro Rice, being the most significant of these gains, was no exception—he had taken the entire rice field, including the soil beneath it.
For Porygon-Z, the energy expenditure had indeed been considerable, having to transport so many people and objects simultaneously.
However, in reality, this consumption paled in comparison to the cost of long-distance teleportation.
Since there was no network outside the Six Continents, Porygon-Z had to create its own network for spatial movement.
The farther the distance, the greater the strain.
Fortunately, Porygon-Z hadn't wasted the journey from the Six Continents to the Dark Continent.
At regular intervals along the way, it had established permanent network nodes.
This way, when returning from the Dark Continent to the Six Continents, the energy required to create the network could be minimized.
If they made the trip a few more times, Porygon-Z might even be able to establish a complete, uninterrupted permanent network between the Six Continents and the Dark Continent.
At that point, transporting people and objects would require almost no energy expenditure.
And this was part of Akira's plan—to create a passage that would allow easy travel between the two regions.
This would be incredibly convenient, both for himself and for future developments.
Thanks to the special circumstances in the Dark Continent, Porygon-Z had now reached a new level.
With this newfound strength, it could enable Akira to travel between the Six Continents and the Dark Continent in a short time.
In other words, he no longer needed to sleep within the Digital World of the Dark Continent.
He could spend his days exploring the Dark Continent and return to the Six Continents to rest at night.
Even better, he could see the people he missed every day.
This was undoubtedly a monumental breakthrough.
Akira collected his thoughts and smiled at Netero.
"Don't worry, I still have plenty. This bowl is specifically for you."
This time, he had taken all the Nitro Rice, so his stock was more than sufficient.
Every member of his team had already received a bowl—Netero wouldn't be left out.
Moreover, Menchi and Pyon's shares were also accounted for.
They were different—he would give them as much as they wanted.
After all, he was about to embark on the long-contemplated planting plan.
By then, not only would there be no shortage of [Nitro Rice], but other varieties like [Melori] and [Vitality Beans] would also be plentiful.
He could eat as much as he wanted.
Netero's eyes flickered slightly as he observed Akira's expression, which showed no sign of deception.
After a moment of silence, he spoke his gratitude.
"Thank you, Akira."
As a man who had lived over a hundred years, served as the former chairman of the Hunter Association, and once held the title of the world's strongest...
Netero had seen—and even experienced—far too much in life, making him acutely aware of the darkness in human nature.
It was no exaggeration to say that the bowl of rice before him could turn two sworn brothers into bitter enemies.
Or make the most devoted couple turn their backs on each other...
Because the value of this bowl of rice was simply too immense.
Money could buy many things, but it couldn't buy longevity.
And this Nitro Rice was a Hope capable of extending life—its worth beyond measure.
Netero believed that if Akira were to auction this bowl of rice, he could obtain an unimaginable fortune.
Yet here he was, offering it to an old man like him.
Lost in thought, Netero suddenly recalled an incident from the past.
After Akira and Netero explored a certain ruin, they obtained [Hope]—specifically, [Fragrant Grass].
Akira had even given a portion of the [Fragrant Grass] to Linne, who was suffering from a severe illness.
It seemed that in his eyes, these things were trivial, and the items themselves weren't particularly valuable.
'To have such a junior... what a blessing~'
'Thank you... Akira'
Netero lowered his gaze and slowly took the bowl of rice, still warm in his hands.
Staring at the radiant golden [Nitro Rice] in the bowl, Netero felt an overwhelming surge of emotion.
He had originally thought his life would end here.
But now...
It seemed there was still more to come?
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